General Discussion

Does the DG status take into account all phases of UPT(1-3) or just the last phase? I keep hearing different takes on this. Anybody know how they formulate class rankings for this? Guppyguy

Just wondering what the situation is with the dorms at UPT. Are bachelors required to stay there, and are there dorms at all of the UPT bases? Also, if it's not required to stay there, what do you all think is better...dorms or off base? Thanks.

Just a quick question for any women currently in training at UPT - I'm heading off to Columbus in the near future to start training, and read in the student guide that: Does this mean that only short hair is allowed? I can't see any other way for hair to be "unbound" and still meet requirements. I'd love to know some real-life answers, as if I'm going to be cutting my hair, it might as well be before OTS : ) Thanks!

I understand the basic U,F,G,E and downgrade grading system at UPT but I was wondering exactly what types of things count as downgrades during flights? How much do you have to bust airspeed or altitude to get a downgrade? what other things would you get a downgrade for? what things would cause you to hook a ride? if you have specific examples from rides that would help. Thanks.

I'm just curious... When I went to UPT, we did a winging ceremony on Friday in the base theater with family, and a mess dress dinner at the Club. It was a large time. I've heard that has changed quite a bit. What is being done now for UPT graduation? And how did it look 2 years ago before the Wu-Flu changed things? (I asked this elsewhere but no reply.)

I'm a current AMC dude on the VML this cycle. I love my current airframe but I do not love how much I've been on the road this assignment and I'm looking to spend more time at home. I'm looking for input from any current Laughlin/Vance/Columbus IPs to share their qualities of life. How often you fly per week and typical/expected work hours. I have bros in my squadron who were former UPT IPs and I have spoken with them but I would like to hear from current IPs, if able. Not sure if it's still a thrash implementing the 2.5 syllabus or if it's a somewhat predictable work schedule at all now. Thanks.

does anyone know of any good active UPT journals on the web, right now. I used to read a few but with the hectic schedule of UPT they sort of dried up. Thanx.

As an instructor currently in the pilot training enterprise, I think it's safe to say that "UPT Next" has enough momentum that it's here to stay. https://warontherocks.com/2019/01/rebuilding-the-forge-reshaping-how-the-air-force-trains-fighter-aviators/ That being said, I'm interested in hearing what FTUs and Ops Units are seeing with regard to baseline results.

Hey guys, About to put together a package here. I had eye surgery in accordance with AFI 48-123 a while back, does anyone know if there is any paperwork needed to go in the packet stating I had the surgery but my eyes are good to go? Also, do I need to include a flight physical in the packet? Thanks

We know UPT is stressful. But it is stressful likely because the students are learning new stuff and have never done it before. I believe some of the stress can be taken off if you have prior training that is similar and therefore can perform well on rides. It is easy to do something that you have already done before. I am interested to fly formation, low level flying, maneuvers, tactics, etc with a private instructor and a private aircraft in order to prepare better for UPT. I live in New York city, and if anyone who is/was a fighter/aerobatic pilot and lives in the area is interested to teach few lessons, I am willing to pay out of pocket. Please PM me if anyo…

In tonight's installment of "Ideas that sounded good but JQP will have an absolute field day with".. Has anyone heard about this new "America class" initiative at UPT bases? Apparently AETC leadership has decided to create entire UPT classes of only women and minorities.

Since a lot of you have "been there done that" I could use some advice or words of encouragement on UPT. I've only been going for a few months now and it's a lot different than what I expected. I thought I could handle stress, and flying planes, but this is a whole different ball of wax. Basically, I suck flying and I'm probably the worst in academics. However, I'm not ever going to give up and I'll take it one day at a time. Just wanted to know if anyone else could relate to what I'm going through and if you had any ideas on what I could do in order not to get so down on myself.

I am currently awaiting dates for OCS and UPT and I have a question that I have had a hard time finding an answer to. How feasible is it to make a visit home on weekends from upt? My reason for asking is because I currently have a girlfriend, but she will not be able to move with me because she is still in school. I know that this depends on what base I get selected for, but I am really keeping my fingers crossed for Columbus ( I live in Georgia). I also have a Piper Comanche that I was thinking I may could take with me and keep at one of the local airports and use it to fly back to Georgia some weekends which would only take about 2 hours(From Columbus). I know that I wo…

I have a general question about flight training with the military translating into the civilian world. If someone enters UPT without a license and works their way through flight school, do they earn instrument ratings, multi engine ratings, etc. just like they would in the civilian world? How would that be applied if they don’t have a PPL? Are they automatically applied to their civilian ratings or would a pilot have to sit for a written/oral/practical exam as a civilian as well? I’m assuming the knowledge is the same or very similar. Military pilots have to know how to fly instrument approaches and multi engine aircraft. As a follow-up, does a mi…

https://www.foxnews.c...intcmp=obinsite

https://amp.timeinc.net/thedrive/the-war-zone/22988/us-air-force-t-38-talon-jet-trainer-crashed-into-a-field-in-oklahoma?source=dam

US Aircraft Crashes in Djibouti, Four Fatalities :beer: :beer:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2017/04/13/politics/afghanistan-isis-moab-bomb/index.html Was the MOAB created to be dropped on an ex wife when she divorces you, takes your kids and favorite dog, then she takes half of your retirement? When the AF first revealed and tested the MOAB at Eglin, North Korea was acting up. The irony...

US helicopter crash in western Iraq causes fatalities: Official https://abcnews.go.com/International/us-helicopter-crash-western-iraq-fatalities-official/story?id=53782732

Launch at 4:30pm EDT today (27MAY):

Unconfirmed reports of a tanker down after take-off in Kyrgyzstan: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22397266 If correct, a really bad couple of weeks for US aviation.

Report says so: https://www.smh.com.au/national/us-marine-base-for-darwin-20111110-1n9lk.html

Once again we've pulled off a pristine pirate-killing, hostage-rescuing operation. Awesome! https://news.yahoo.co...-063438091.html US military raid in Somalia frees American, Dane By ABDI GULED and KATHARINE HOURELD | Associated Press – 53 mins ago MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — U.S. Special Forces troops flew into Somalia on a nighttime helicopter raid early Wednesday, freed an American and a Danish hostage and killed nine of the kidnappers in a mission that President Barack Obama said he personally authorized. The Danish Refugee Council confirmed that the two aid workers, American Jessica Buchanan and Dane Poul Hagen Thisted, were freed and "are on thei…

US Navy helicopter and fighter jet crash in separate incidents in the South China Sea Blackhawk and Hornet down within 30 minutes. Possibly bad fuel...

The Obama administration has proposed the possible pull out of all 40 F-16s from Misawa AB to the government of Japan. The discussion are supposed to have taken place back in April and have only now been released. The move could possibly start at the end of the year with the agreement of the new incoming administration of Democratic Party of Japanese leader Yukio Hatoyama. As part of the same strategic review plan the US has also told Japan that they may also remove 50 or so F-15s from its base in Kadena, Okinawa. Both proposals are pending as the Japanese government are still concerned about the situations in North Korea. Japanese officials say the moves could s…