biggie17

TMFan, Good point with the note, I did not mention that. However, if you see the list from the Dept of Education, it is quite extensive (think of all the things they normally offer at a community college). There are several aviation schools on it, but I did not see a sailing school. I did find Dog Obedience Instructor, Gunsmith,and Kick Boxing , so I bet a sailing cert may be found somewhere. Biggie

Barney, This is somewhat true. The AF will pay for a one-time certification program with a $9,000 cap (still up to a max of $4,500 per FY). It is part of AF Tuition Assitance, with a similar approval process. It's only good once for your AF career (so if you used in on your $50 CPR cert, that's it). However, this will not cover "Tuition for in-flight training, even when it is part of a degree program." Ground school is not included in this restriction, so I asked the question in the past about an ATP school with simulators only (not in-flight instruction) but I never recieved an answer. Here's the AFI section 5.3.1. (The dollar amounts have increased since this AFI was published) Here is the only story I could find that referred to it. Biggie

Talked with a friend who works at AFPC, asked the same question. He just laughed and said, "Uh, no." Anyone have any other info on recent Palace Chase approvals?

Momann, I have a good friend who was a Bio Environmental Engineer officer and cross trained into OSI. As has been stated already, they (OSI) seem to be more willing to take either prior enlisted or officers from other career fields than they are to take someone off the street. BE often deals with OSHA, water samples, workplace hazards kind of work among other things. As for COT, (I have heard from those who have gone) it is 4 weeks of this is the Air Force for Med Officers/JAGs/Chaplins/other direct commisions. You are already an officer when you go, you stay in a room that is cleaned by a maid, you learn history of the AF, saluting, marching, etc all day. Apparently it used to be a very relaxed four weeks in Florida but the leadership got wind of this several years ago and aligned it under AFOATS (ROTC/OTS/COT) and moved it Maxwell. Now it is more "expeditionary" tng and is going to increase to 6 six weeks total time soon. Good luck!

AAFMAA (Army Air Force Mutal Aid Association) is what I use...It has been around since Custer's Last Stand, it has no flying or war clause (started it when I was deployed), and it has awesome customer support. $35/month for 800,000, $19/month for 400,000 for term fixed until you are 50, no physical/blood test required.

mjk5401, The last I heard they are going to have 8 tails total at Elmendorf. They are not getting brand new jets, but rather some "gently-used" models from Charleston & McChord (Maybe any CHS/TCM people can tell you which tails). The rumor is that they are getting 6 this summer and then 2 in the fall. As far as the things entailed in standing up a new Squadron, it depends on how much has been done by the PIO, and how much of the infrastructure they are using from the Hercs, and how much they have to create. I heard on another forum that they were moving into some of the old Herc bldgs until a new bldg was done (anyone at Elmendorf right now have any intel on that). PACAF vs. AMC, this would take up a good page, so here is the abbreviated version. There are good and bad things with being in PACAF vs. AMC. They are not used to Strat Air in PACAF (or airlift in general, they are structured around the fighter community), so you will have more protection from the usual TACC abuse (i.e. not usually Friday or Sat at 1830 drop downs, etc). However, since they are not used to airlift, you will have some heartache in dealing with AMD or PACAF or your own base wing (don't always understand the dynamics of going on a trip without your whole Sq with you). Bottom line: if you want to fly more/deploy, go to CHS/TCM . If you want more quality of life/time with family/get your masters done for 3-4 years, go to Alaska. You will still get to fly a good amount, but I am guessing it would be less than the CHS/TCM and definitely less combat time. Elmendorf may still get a chance to have a few crews deployed to the EAS, but it will be more like 1-2 crews at a time, probably not the entire Squadron. In addition, you will be working with the Alaska Guard since they will be a C-17 associate unit, something currently unique to PACAF (as far as Guard associates in Strat Air, that is). Hope that helps, congrats on almost being done with SUPT! Biggie