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Definitely recommend getting out. Like others said its an awesome new chapter and its up to you on how you look back. Accept the dogshit but embrace the good (people, good trips, etc.). You are gonna find a lot of people are having a similar experience. There is a 311 page thread about what's wrong with big blue.

I felt similarly on my way out. Almost a decade later I'm grateful for the training that's enabled me to go out to civilian life and make more money than I ever thought was possible. Once it started to stack up, it got much easier to look back without resentment.

The AFGSC/CC said “Unleashing the Raider’s full potential demands a complex blend of skills: airmanship, weaponeering, electromagnetic spectrum operations, sensor management, real-time battle management and agile replanning in combat.“ Could pilots go to EWO school? Sure. Do they want to? Hell no. It makes more sense to have two aviators working together providing different skill sets rather than having two people with the same training on the airplane, or making a pilot go through another year of training to be a pissed of PWSO.

The way you phrase it makes it sound like you have a superiority complex and blame external things when you don't get what you want. That may or may not be true, but that's the one-post impression. If the AF doesn't do it for you, go seek greener pastures. Figure out what is important to you, and go do that. Best wishes that you find what fulfills you.

A-10s have been killing it for years. The question is if the GIB is worth it to ease the workload.

Hear hear

That sucks, but also only you can control your attitude. Go forward with life choosing a positive outlook and find something that gives you purpose/sense of accomplishment. The airlines are great for pay/benefits/QOL, but you will get zero feelings of accomplishment or satisfaction out of it. Your AF career should not define the rest of your life.

It’s far worse than that. We have medical people making decisions that directly affect the CAF, for example. The amount of shoe clerks with zero combat experience on the staff is probably 75%. It’s so bad.

I should be leaving the Air Force soon if they process my paperwork right this time. I spent a lot of time stuck in places and airframes I didn't want to be in. It was UPT and AMC. I didn't end up there due to bad performance, it was mostly due to luck and timing. I had a really hard time watching people who failed courses, struggled in UPT, got in trouble, get the assignments I wanted due to missing VMLs, waivers needed for instructor duty, changing rules, or other factors. I feel like my youth was just... wasted and I have little to show for it. I don't have much pride in what I accomplished and I never was truly engaged or challenged. I am angry I spent 15 years of my life generally working hard and not screwing up like many of my peers and I got exactly what I didn't want. I have a CJO lined up which is great, but I am concerned I am going to spend the rest of my life unsatisfied because I never really scratched the itch of getting enough action or getting anything I wanted out of the Air Force. Some people suggested I stay, but after being dragged through the mud for 10 years I have significant trust issues with the institution, and watching better people than me leave for the Airlines says a lot. Am I missing something? Was this is it, and does it get better when you separate? I don't want to be resentful for the rest of my life.

Sorry to take us off topic, but if anyone here hasn't read Hauling Checks by Alex Stone they should.

The perpetual military pilot shortage due to civilian market forces is the only reason this idea is even being considered. But I have a very very strong suspicion that the idea was conceived by HAF staffs that are 90% non-pilots in a bid to get their union to the tip of the spear. There may have been a day where the radiator wings were leading the way, but now staff is all WSOs, EWOs, ABMs, and RPA guys. All great people, but we’re seeing widespread effects from what happens when you fail to retain what you originally stratified as your best guys. If you’re a pilot and know a pilot on staff, make sure they always drink for free because they’re carrying the water for all of us.

Haven't y'all heard?!?

Hard to believe this was 12 years ago. For all of you out there deployed or remote standing watch...you are not alone, you are NOT forgotten. I am grateful for each and everyone of you. God Bless

Those two knuckleheads don't have the privilege of being provided the protection that comes with occupying a spot on the Epstein list.

Hard to stay in position as #4 in a T-38 when the formation is in burner.

Most are aware of Flightaware, Flightradar24 and ADS-B exchange and now there is a new option that tracks in 3D. Tons of overlays including airspace. Air LoomAir Loom - 3D Flight TrackerReal-time 3D visualization of aircraft flight paths. Watch live flights with stunning ribbon trails across the sky.

Haha, yeah he took a lot of grief. But of the 71,337 in attendance, about 22 even noticed. And seldom do I see the players react like they did I'll wait to see how well a formation of jets that are less than 60 years old manage the next one (14 Dec) in that overly complicated airspace. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRgdW09kceb/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Was #4 a photo chase?

Beale back in the saddle for the MNF flyover 2 nights ago. George Kittle saw the pilots and made an effort to thank them for an epic flyover at dusk. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRdz4P-AAMW/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Really? Ask Gislaine how she's doing, all thanks to Trump.

So, is the island still available? Some Epsteiners are curious.

This is definitely the case, which is why it's such a perfectly corrosive maneuver. I saw a talking head on CNN bring up a good point, however: what would be the difference if it were the joint chiefs of staff putting out that video? Would that have been a problem? I think we all agree it would have been. Now, the fact that Mark Kelly is no longer in the chain of command makes a difference, but he also knows exactly what he was doing.

Child molester is not a good thing to be, especially in prison.

Fixed it...Thank you. I had two windows open and copied the wrong URL.

You're touching on a related issue. As time goes by more and more roles and platforms will be automated/uncrewed especially in the military given the advantages and reduced risks to our personnel. Fewer military pilots available for the airlines overall. Airlines will arguably be the last things to go single pilot but so many other lower-level jobs in aviation will be automated. The CFI pyramid scheme is just going to get worse on the civilian side with things like pipeline patrol eventually gets taken over by drones. A few on here are old enough to remember writing checks all the time and that pilots built time back in the day in beat up twins flying checks in bulk back to the bank. A lot of kids now are staring at 6 figure loans with no real way to pay them off and AI/automation is already on its way taking the entry level jobs across a whole range of industries. My biggest concern for the B-21 is will we build enough of them? For the B-21 and its overall contribution and value to national defense the expense of putting in two pilots is relatively small IMHO.