flyusaf83
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Posts posted by flyusaf83
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17 hours ago, Bigred said:
I’ll throw a grenade here, but the fact that you put (sts) behind a comment like that is also part of the culture/retention problem. It’s the same thing as flying in the 60s at Nellis and hearing all of the Air Force call it the ‘container’ vice ‘box’, or ‘Hook-152’ vice ‘prick-152’.
Flame away, but from the outside looking in, that’s an obvious contributor.
Hey guys, I was totally ready to sign up for 9 more years of OPRs, PT tests, PCSs to shitty places, deployments to shitty places, a useless 365 resulting in missing seeing my kids grow up, crappy leadership, crappy support agencies, flying falling apart aircraft that are twice my age, creating trackers to track the other trackers, hustling strats to make O-5, 1206s, POCing some change of commands, getting chiefed for morale patches, commanders calls, SAPR briefs, resiliency training, my wife putting her career on hold for just another decade, my kids needing to go to 9 schools to graduate HS, sitting Sup/SOF, being forced to volunteer for BS to fill up OPR blank space, and some other crap I don’t want to think about. I was totally gonna keep doing all this shit.
But then I heard another pilot say STS 6-9 times. So I’m getting the fuck out now.
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That was underwhelming. The AF is just going through the motions of pretending they want things to improve, while giving lame ass excuses as to why they aren’t actually fixing anything.
I’m sick of things like this (AMA, surveys, etc.). They fucking know what’s wrong. They just don’t give a shit. The generals got where they are playing the current game and without the improvements we are advocating for. So they aren’t the one that can fix this. They don’t want to fix it.
McCain is gone. We need go VFR direct to Congress and force the GOs hands. Congress as a whole is a vile incompetent dumpster fire, but there are some good Reps our there. We need some top cover.
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3 hours ago, Homestar said:
What year group?
AMC has reduced their rated 365s to 26 down from 47.
I really could not care less what crap the AF peddles through its propaganda arm. I just see what’s around me. Everyone I know that is staying in is planning on a 365. Some guys volunteer for one so they can control the timing/location/job and negotiate an assignment with AFPC.
I don’t really give a crap what the AF says, I’ll believe they are making a fix when I see it. I still am seeing guys getting “hot” for that 365 around the 15 year mark and trying to figure out how to avoid it, and ending up “volunteering” for one for the above said reasons.
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13 hours ago, IDALPHA said:
Perfect example why the bonus doesn’t work.....
Dudes that are staying in anyway boosting the take rate for the managers to hang their hat on.
Should move this to “What’s Wrong” thread.
As it stands, you have a point. I think the bonus at $28-35k has a limited effect. Fence-sitters will still get out.
I guess I am somewhat of a fence-sitter, in that I see myself having a 1/20 chance of staying in. I have two more years until decision time. A couple major things will have to change for me to stay in. One, is no chance of a 365. The other is a significant bonus hike. In the neighborhood of at least $60k.
I love wearing the bag, and it’s going to be hard leaving that. Lots of intrinsic things that draw me to the military pilot thing. But is that worth 8 years of airline seniority, especially when I can still wear the bag in a reserve unit? Not worth the $35k, IMO.
Some guys say that it’s not about the money. That’s bull. There’s a reason this thread is 169 pages long. Money helps deal with the sacrifices of military service easier on my family. It helps with my spouse not being able to stick with a job longer than 3 years because of moves. It helps my family fly home for holidays instead of driving. Money does talk, even when the choice would involve other factors. It’s not just the money, but money is a key factor.
Mccain is gone. Time for a real bonus.
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O-4 and O-5 w/dependents up around $200 in San Antonio.
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1 hour ago, pawnman said:
Worked with someone who had to do a CDI. Basically, a 20-30 minute brief with the legal office, then they turn you loose to collect evidence.
And then careers are ruined by these investigations?
Sounds like a great system.
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49 minutes ago, pawnman said:
My favorite part is we spend all our time on here complaining about piss-poor leadership. Then whenever leadership is removed for cause, there's always a brigade of people calling the guy who got removed "the best commander I ever worked for" and saying "it wasn't the commander, it was his subordinates".
I wonder which leadership the board actually thinks deserves to be removed. Because if this is the kind of environment guys are cheering for...holy hell, what's left to remove someone that the salty aviators of BODN would actually agree with?The problem is the AF is firing commanders for the wrong reasons. Something written on a flight room white board gets 4 guys fired. That is a huge overreaction, unless there’s more to the story.
Meanwhile, the AF is riddled with “leaders” who screw their people over time and time again in an effort to push their own careers forward. Commanders aren’t fired for making their people miserable and for contributing to the AF’s retention problem. They are fired for not stopping some random dumbass from writing something stupid in some flight room.
Why would I bet my career on the AF when it can be ruined for something like that?
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3 hours ago, FLEA said:
Holy crap.... who will run the squadrons in 5 years? Apparently CSOs (take rate 70%).
CSOs, late-rated pilots, and a handful of career pilots.
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So I spoke with an AFPC functional today. Apparently AFPC is pretty stunned with how abysmal take rates were this last FY. He said take rates of 11X initial eligibiles for most communities was in the teens. Some bases had less than ten percent takers. The actual number will be higher (just under 30%). But that number is inflated due to 12x takers and guys who renegotiated their bonus. Reality is much worse than that.
McCain is gone. Time for Congress to pass a real bonus.
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5 minutes ago, milkman said:
Is that at END by chance?
Nope, but I’m sure it’s similar cluster there. The UPT bases and PIT are all rushing to set up VR right now, and not exactly working together to do it. In fact, they are competing with each other for resources. Each commander is invested in the innovation dick-measuring contest, and whoever gets VR done first wins.
This is what happens under a dickless vacuum of leadership with vague guidance and a bunch of zealot CCs and DOs desperate for that next carrot in the AF pyramid scheme. I think SOS called it laissez faire leadership or something like that.
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On the topic of having the rank and file fix the GOs’ problems, let me tell you about the “innovation” team here at my AETC squadron.
The team consists of a few senior capts and junior majors, who have other additional duties. They have been charged with figuring out how to acquire the VR equipment without the AF working a contract for it, set up the VR in the squadron without comm support, and incorporate it into the syllabus without staff support. No support from the staff, no contracting support, no IT support, nothing. Just figure it out. It’s really important apparently, but not important enough for the staff to fund it and write it into the syllabus.
So now this team is working long hours, attempting to learn the job of contracting and comm, and fix the AF’s mess. And oh yeah. Flying sometimes gets in the way.
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The last couple pages of this thread show me why we have effed things up so badly as an AF, and can’t retain pilots. PIT is somewhat of an oasis from all the BS that is driving people away. Not that there’s not queep and BS, it’s just that so many pilots here don’t give a crap about playing the AF’s game.
The result is a community that focuses on the mission, pushes back against stupid ideas, and shelves queep to the max extent possible. Isn’t that exactly what we want and what we have been bitching about not having?
Instead of attempting to embrace that kind of climate in the rest of the AF, a lot of you guys are acting like petulant children shouting “no fair”. Make your communities “flying clubs” where you don’t give a shit about managing your career, instead of pushing to close ours to make you feel better about your community.
Or do what I did, and come here and actually enjoy your life.
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12 minutes ago, YoungnDumb said:
Correct me if I'm wrong but I heard a rumor that as soon as MIF was attained the UP was advanced through the rest of the phase. Something something Air Education and TIMELINE Command.
That was correct for a brief time, but there was a loud outcry about this in the 559th and that guidance was rescinded.
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8 hours ago, Laxer69 said:
Dude I would much rather have PIT in house rather than the sham that is the flying club at PIT. Ive literally heard from guys coming back from PIT that some ips won't fly with Wx <030 due to their EFIS concerns. Or that some refuse to double turn due to being worried about obogs. issues. Meanwhile ips are trip turning at the upt bases and students are going solo on the reg. What a strange disconnect...
Dang man, who pissed in your cheerios? Nobody here at the 559th that I know of refuses to double turn or has personal wx mins that you describe. Your buddies are lying if that’s what they are saying.
Maybe T-6 PIT used to be a place where IPs don’t work especially hard, but that’s not true at all right now. If you look at our 7/30/90, our guys are flying their asses off. In fact, due to the dynamic of the squadron (no FAIPs or junior O-3s) our O-4s and O-5s fly a hell lot more at KRND than I saw guys of similar experience level fly when I was a Vance IP. It’s not uncommon for O-4s and O-5s to double or triple turn every day of the week here.
8 hours ago, Laxer69 said:On top of that I would much rather be able to shape our IP corps from the get go in-house by instilling a culture of excellence and transferable skills in regards to briefing, instructing, and debriefing rather than have them get negatively shaped by the cess pool that is PIT. Plus there's all the time saved of no TDY travel, the faips at least are already familiar with the LAO, and TI can be drastically shortened.
Since the t-6 stand down my squadron has literally had brand new dudes from PIT that have doubled the TI syllabus due to lack of flying proficiency. Things like not being able to consistently land safely, not knowing the switchology of the GPS, and no concept of how to run an instructional brief or debrief. It's inexcusabl
My briefs and debrief are 60-90% longer here than when I was at Vance. Teaching UIs is a lot different than teaching Stan, and a lot more difficult. Personally, I’d much rather be teaching Stan than UIs. It’s easier. More dangerous, but easier. I think most guys at the 559th would agree.
PIT is getting guys with less and less experience as the AF bleeds experience. Unless you make PIT longer, guys are not going to be as good as they would if they had more experience. Believe it or not, leadership above the 559th recently believed that we were “overtraining” UIs and pushed us to PA guys as soon as they got up to MIF. The guys in the 559th fought hard against that BS and got it overturned.
Look, PIT is different animal than a UPT squadron. Most guys here are on their last AD assignment. They speak their minds more and leadership gets away with less BS since guys aren’t thinking about their next assignment. That dynamic actually serves all of T-6 nation.
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3 hours ago, ThreeHoler said:
A RAND study the AF commissioned said $72k/yr was required to retain what the AF wants. The AF asked for $60k/yr in 2016. House gave $48k/yr. McCain and cronies cut it to $35k/yr and won’t budge. I was at a briefing by a General from HAF/A3 where he gave all this info.While Congress certainly shares blame, I call bullshit on this. If the AF really wants to pay us more, and it’s just mean old Congress stopping them - then why in the name of God does the AF elect to pay LESS flight pay than Congress authorized them to pay?
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11 minutes ago, Right Seat Driver said:
Are dudes seriously stopping you to make sure your crew matches? So glad the CSAF's statements on focusing on "multi-domain warfare" have reaches the masses...
Oh wait, I forgot. It is the war on Airman.
When I was checking into my ops squadron after my FAIP tour, I got chiefed in the hallway for having an AETC patch on my leather jacket and not an ACC one. I said something to the effect of “Copy that, thanks” to the chief.
She got butt hurt for me not apologizing about the patch and for not taking it off right away. Another NCO came to me later that day and told me she was bothered by my reaction. I told him to tell her to come and talk to me if she has a problem, and I could not care less about the patch, and I’ll buy an ACC one as soon as the BX restocks them. But I will be wearing my leather jacket in the mean time. AETC patch and all.
She then went to the commander about me being an arrogant officer in need of correction. Luckily, the commander didn’t give a shit. But good hell. We make life so damn hard on ourselves. I don’t think the AF can handle something as simple as multiple uniform options, because we have promoted and empowered the douchiest amongst us.
Zero chance we don’t fuck that up.
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For me, the bag is one of the things I love about my job. I’ll be pissed if the AF takes that too. I’m not a shoe clerk or some Army dumbass. I’m a pilot. And I want to look like one, even if the AF riddles me with a bunch of nonner BS.
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52 minutes ago, Fuzz said:
They keep missing the boat with all this after the UPT commitment is up, by that point it’s too late. Also like previously mentioned other AFSCs don’t have to wait until the end of their commitment to receive professional pay, so this will likely backfire once again.
Agreed. I think the AF should adjust the bonus. You should be able to take it halfway into your UPT commitment. So take a 8 year ADSC that begins when your UPT commitment ends. But start the bonus payments right away, beginning year 6.
That way you’d get a lot more takers.
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Will there be another PTN class now? Or will the AF wait to see what kind of product they have first? It will take at least a couple years to see how PTN pilots stack up against their traditionally trained peers, IMO.
I’d also think it would be smart to have a class of non-handpicked studs as well, before the AF goes balls deep on the concept.
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4 hours ago, ThreeHoler said:
You have to pay back the unearned portion.
Well.... if we are talking about the Nav bonus... all of it then?
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3 hours ago, Sprkt69 said:
I think the Air Force gives Airmen a chance to live a meaningful life and you get to see tangible results of the work you do. It’s important. It matters. You don’t wake up in the Air Force and go to work and go, “I wonder if what I do today, if it matters or not?”
Raise your hand if many of the days you drive into work, you dread the fact that your day will be littered with stupid unimportant bullshit that has no tangible meaning.
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1 hour ago, HU&W said:
Official propo on the current status of the aircrew crisis.
Cute video. Still a complete lack of root cause analysis, though.
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3 hours ago, Guardian said:
The expense is in life. Who cares about the dollars compared to that.
Our leadership, both Congressional and AF. For example, In our latest T-6 PIT safety day, we were told by the OG/CC that leadership understands that there is a realistic chance that by continuing to fly the T-6 with the current rate of UPEs, there will be eventually be class A mishaps and fatalities.
However, the AF is also bleeding pilots and has decided to grow their way out of the pilot manning crisis, meaning increasing pilot production. So they have conducted their strategic risk assessment and have chosen to accept the risk of flying bad jets so we can churn out pilots. They are willing to accept some smoking holes in the ground, rather than stand down the whole fleet for a few months and lose a few hundred pilots.
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This reminds me of last time we deployed. We took a 777 contracted rotator out to the desert. All of us were waiting for hours of course in the pax terminal. There was this sadistic Lt Col who was the deployment office chief. She shrieked at us every 15 minutes about her arbitrary Nazi rules of when we could use the bathroom and get water, over the course of 3-4 hours. I’m not exaggerating when I say this lady’s yelling voice would make that Frau chick on Austin Powers cringe.
Finally, it was time to board. She said she’d board us by rank. Lt Cols first, then Majors. Us Captains figured we were next so we got ready. Then a twist. Airmen next. Then NCOs. Then SNCOs. Ok, whatever lady, just let us on the damn plane so we can go to our desert paradise already. Nope. Lts next.
Now it’s just the Captains. When it’s just us and her, she gives us her SJW speech. She says we are the group that typically comes first in the AF, so she boarded the plane to take care of the ranks that are typically not taken care of. She said we should be happy to board last and take the worst seats.
After being locked in a warehouse for 4 hours needlessly, none of us were really in a mood for a lecture, but whatever. We finally board the buses to the plane.
When we walk on the plane, the flight attendants point us towards first class. The contract airline has a policy of filling the plane back to front. So us entitied Captains all rode first class the whole way to the desert.
Best case of instant justice I’ve seen. Though I’ve always regretted not taking a picture of all us Captains in first class and sending it to her with a thank you card.
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Promotion and PRF Information
in General Discussion
Posted
I’m expecting to be passed over for Lt Col. What can I expect with continuation? Is it automatic for passed over Majors, or is it something they offer on an individual basis?