Splash95

Isolated in Enid and not up for studying 15 hours a day so why not update the timeline here: [Ex-AD, ANG Nav seeking Pilot slot with home unit. O-4, 37 with 12 years TFSC, needed ETP approved by NGB/A1 and AF/A1P. Have PPL.] Board: March 2018 <- canxed, pilots overmanned Board: April 2019 Hired, pending ETP approval: April 2019 FC1 Scheduled: May 2019 FC1: July 2019 (soonest available after finishing IN school) ETP submitted: July 2019 FC1 stamped, ETP updated: August 2019 ETP approved: 26 December 2019 Deployed: May-July 2020 (planned), heard no UPT slots for at least rest of FY2020 so didn't seem like an issue < Call from Cathy Rico while broke in NH enroute to the AOR, mid-May, asking if I can get to Vance for a June class. I'm optimistic enough to reply "let me see" rather than flat out "no". While I still have to deploy, a mad scramble ensues involving me, my deployed chain, my home station chain, AFCENT, AMC, NGB, NASA, CIA, MiB, etc to get me recalled and send a replacement. That effort succeeds just under a month later; happily my Sq/CC and the STUS civilian work it out where I can roll a couple of classes. I get a rotator back to CONUS, throw a few things in my car, sublet my apt, and set out for Oklahoma. > UPT (2.5!): 3 August 2020

The guard. Granted, I posted without knowing exactly what those dudes did and I'm not up to speed on all the latest AD guidelines. Booted from WIC for leaving the local area on a weekend just seemed like an extreme consequence.

One more piece of confirmation that people have officially lost their minds.

Hello all, I'm headed to Vance for UPT soon and considering housing options. I recently had a guy tell me that O-3s and above cannot be forced to live in the dorms. He, a single O-3, was assigned a house (to himself...?!) on base and seemed to like it. Can anyone corroborate his statement? I've also had a couple recommend that I (single O-4) live in the dorms anyway to foster class cohesiveness. I'm not stoked on that idea but haven't ruled anything out. I've gotten recommendations for the Esplanade apartments off base as well, though looking on my own, the Edgewood Arms is closer and gets decent reviews. Any info/advice welcome.

AFI 36-2105 is your friend. To my knowledge there's no "age waiver" per se; you'll have to request an Exception to Policy (ETP) if above the age limit. Reference chapters 3 and 5 of that reg. I'm fairly familiar with the ETP process as I successfully worked my way through it last year. You're welcome to PM me if you have questions.

@Jetpower, who informed you about Banzai flight and how soon do you start class? Looking to gather any info I can about UPT at KEND as I have a slot in the class starting 15 July, so others are welcome to chime in here or PM. Thanks!

Weather canx 😕 next attempt Saturday at 1522 eastern according to NASA.

Anyone here remember when (then-) Col Donovan was OTS/CC?

Checks. Older guard guy here, ETP approved, no words on UPT date (or location) even before the Corona stuff. Assuming next FY at best now.

My info is a bit dated, but while stationed at D-M ('09 to '11) I lived in a downtown apartment complex called La Entrada (seems it's now 255 North, https://www.255north.com/). Reasonable rent, walking distance to 4th Ave, an easy Uber these days to the University area, 15 minute commute to base right down Aviation Pkwy with few traffic issues. Hardly anyone else in the ECG lived there, but I enjoyed it and would recommend it to any young single person or childless couple who finds urban-ish areas appealing. When back in town last December I ran through the neighborhood and didn't notice it having gone downhill or anything. I hope some find that useful!

Yep. In my unit (ANG 130s) it's pretty common for individuals to go fly with other folks for a while. Not sure about ARC/AD.

Ex-AD, ANG Nav (ECs -> ACs -> slicks) looking to X-train to Pilot with same unit. 37 yo O-4, 12 years TFSC, needed ETP approved by NGB/A1 and AF/A1P. Have PPL. Board: March 2018 <- canxed, pilots overmanned Board: April 2019 Hired, pending ETP approval: April 2019 FC1 Scheduled: May 2019 FC1: July 2019 (soonest available after finishing IN school) ETP submitted: July 2019 FC1 stamped, ETP updated: August 2019 ETP approved: 26 December 2019 UPT: ??

@YoungnDumb Get an answer on this? Probably not the ideal spot but I UTFSF'd without much success...who here is currently/directly in the know about PTN (or just Randolph UPT if that exists)? Would appreciate being able to PM someone. Thanks, Splash

Anyone doing FC1 this week and already in Dayton? I rolled into town a day early...staying at Hope hotel.

I thought business casual meant khakis and a button down? I get that you'd rather be a bit too formal than too low key, but suit and tie??

Where are the single dudes TDY to LRAFB staying these days? Back in '16 I was at the Metropolitan (former Enclave) and liked it, so I'll go with that again unless anyone has an awesome alternative to suggest. Thanks!

Has anyone had issues with the contact email for Tampa (63 ARS) as posted on bogidope? I've tried sending twice, including manually typing out the address once, and have received "address not found" auto-replies.

I was in a community that had both callsigns and enlisted aircrew. Naming nights were a blast (from what I recall), the E's just didn't attend...YMMV

Hello all. I'm in the unusual position of retaking the AFOQT, 14 years after my first testing and 11.5 years after commissioning. Apparently my scores "didn't transfer over" and/or were invalidated with the format change a few years ago. ISO general tips, lessons learned, or mst-have study guide recs. The first time around I did well on the academic measures, decent on Nav (93) and not great on Pilot (79); at the time I knew almost nothing about flying and wasn't going for a Pilot slot. Hoping I can bring up my P score at least by virtue of nearly 10 years as a Nav plus a PPL and some private instrument training. Any advice appreciated!

This is satire, right? (check the last sentence)

Also I've personally gotten encouragement in my efforts toward UPT at age 35. Depends a lot on the unit.

You guys are both right in some respects. As of just a few years ago, the hubris is quite well. I knew gunships would be a rough fit when I got orders there (rock bottom on my dream sheet) and frankly struggled throughout much of my 3 years in the assignment. So I'm likely as far away from a knee-jerk gunship apologist as anyone who spent significant time in the community would be. That said, I don't recall any occasion where we did not have SIGNIFICANTLY better SA than everyone else, despite being saddled with equipment as ostensibly aged and inadequate as we had. Mark1 isn't a very popular figure on the board right now, but his points about the USE of the equipment on the gunship vs newer/fancier installations is spot on. Without knowing much detail on AC-J development, I'd hope and expect that it's a marriage of newer tech, similarly rigorous training, and maybe a moderation of the overarching "we're awesome, everyone else sucks" mentality. Cheers

Right, I think most of us single guys realize that deployments are tougher on those with wives and/or kids. That's why I and, in my experience, many bachelors try to raise our hands first for trips to the sandbox (as well as stuff like alert weekends, super late or early shows and "bad deal" TDYs). It's a reasonable give and take.

@HookEmAll Similar situation; DSG on orders (deployed) and have been getting all kinds of random, token LES amounts in the past month. Word on the street is they are starting/attempting to fix the glitch for us.

@PlanePhlyer and @gthsd87, PMs sent.