Mongoose

Erm, all the pilots in my TPS class who wanted to stay flying were able to do so. All the ones that wanted to get on the O-6 train (School, Staff, PM, AQL, etc...) were also able to do so. Those that wanted to do both, weren't so successful... You gotta pick your poison. From what I can see, this is also the same in other MAJCOMs.

@pcola, WeMeantWell pretty much hit the nail on the cranium - I only have a couple of things to add. Don't try to "alibi" the Q3, just focus on your strengths, and have your recommendation writers focus on your strengths. The fact that you don't have a MWS IP qual is completely mitigated by the fact that you were a C-21 IP. The biggest reason that TPS AFMC wants prior IPs is so your future AFMC Squadron isn't required by AFI to send you to a formal IP school for your future IP ugrade, they can do it in-house. This saves TDY time and $$, time being the most important factor. As to the FWIC -> TPS route, I'd say that those are 6 sigma (yes I'm a geek) outliers and some special circumstances. Honestly, you aren't doing anyone any favors if you plan to go and use up years and millions of the AF's $$ going to FWIC and then back to the CAF, then turn around and go to TPS. There is a reason that most of the OT guys are FWIC graduates - that's where they are needed. DT is an entirely different mindset. Not that FWIC guys can't do it, most of those guys can do anything, it's just that it is a waste of their f*#(ing time. Cheers, Jason

Sketch, Just put your time where it makes the most sense. They know you're a 12XX. They're only evaluating you against other 12XX guys, and there's only typically one spot per class (so two per board). Good luck! Edited for grammar...

Ground ops + 1.5 + ground ops. (yea, it would have been easier to say "2 hr conversation". Copy - debriefed) Hacker was correct Huggy, but nice threat reaction anyway. Rainman, sorry you took my comment as bragging, that's not what was intended. -Mongoose

Not sure where you heard this, but he spoke to my class (2006), and at least 2 classes after mine. As well as speaking to EDW as a whole on the 60th anniversary of his flight in the X-1. The other thing everyone needs to realize, is that the man is 84 years old. I had a 2 hour (.3 + 1.5 + .2 - you do the math) uninterrupted conversation with him in October of 2009. Yes he is opinionated, but how many of you (current and former fighter pilots) aren't? He is also to the point in his life where if he refrains from speaking his mind, he might not get the chance to do so at a later date. Is calling out a dude you don't know, in a situation that you only have part of the data right? No, but he's not the first guy to do so. Cheers, -Mongoose

Actually Dupe that is incorrect (or just outdated). This last board they selected 2x guys with RPV *ptooey* time. One had ~669 F-16 hours, and they gave him a pass on the min hour requirement (now 750) and selected him as a pilot. He will go through the normal pilot track and be a "Test Pilot" when he is done. The other guy got Tami-21'ed with less than 300 F-16 hours, and has a lot of RPV experience. He will go through as a modified Nav/WSO - i.e. he'll get more sorties than an FTE, but not nearly as many as a pilot. When he is done, he'll be a Test-RPV-pilot, or something like that. The community isn't sure really what form his course should look like, but they know we're going to need lots more like him in the near future. So it's time to bite the bullet and dive in. I can't remember if those guys started in June, or not till January. Cheers, -Jason

Why doesn't anyone post what this kid really wants to know? Total number of fighter aircraft in the AF (Active Duty - not counting Guard/Reserve) inventory = ~2261 Total number of fighter aircraft in the Navy inventory = ~444 If you want (the chance) to fly fighters, it's a no-brainer. I've flown with and trained (as an IP) guys from both services. There are superstars and douche-bags in both. But the odds are pretty straight forward. Cheers, -Mongoose