General Discussion

Hey all: Leaving for 1 year remote in Korea soon. Any advice on what to send over early with the movers?

I was referred to this forum by a current active duty AF pilot. I am currently in the end process of the AF Officer application process and currently have a scheduled start date for OTS. There are a couple of things that have come up in the last couple of weeks that have raised some red flags regarding the information I have been given by my recruiter versus what I have been told by several current AF pilots as well as a flight instructor. I am wanting to fly, however my overall GPA from college is just under the 3.00 requirement (2.75). What I was told by the recruiter that I have been dealing with is that if I want to apply for a pilot slot, I would have to get in…

We’re looking to change our squadron call sign to better align with our heritage, but the base call sign manager says our choice isn’t legal based on AFI 33-217. We want to use CHETR XX (pronounced Cheater). 33-217 has been rescinded according to the e-pubs website, but the call sign manager says that he has to still apply it because the Air Force level call sign manager still uses it. Anybody got experience dealing with this?

I heard that they're starting to send heavy guys to instruct Phase III T-38s. Does anyone know if this is only guys with prior T-38 time or if they are taking T-1 guys as well?

Link to the Air Force times article this afternoon https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2019/05/01/t-6-from-sheppard-crashes-pilots-safely-eject/

I thought there was a general TDY thread but I can't find it (if it exists). Has anyone used Turo on a TDY instead of going through a traditional rental car company? If so, have you gotten reimbursed? If I can find a nice car on Turo for the same price as the shitbox Hertz is going to give me, why can't I use Turo instead? For those of you unfamiliar with Turo, it's basically AirBnB for cars.

I'm going to go to Kirtland AFB next month for the FSO course. It's about three weeks long. I'll probably be the oldest guy ever to go throught the damn thing, but it AFRC is willing to pay for it, I'm willing to put it on my resume. I heard it's a pretty cool school. Anyway...I haven't spent much time in Albuquergue over the years, just a bunch of gas-n-goes and the occasional RON. I'm going to fly my own small airplane out there for the TDY and have a rental car too. Couple questions for anyone in the know... What's a decent FBO, either on ABQ or any of the outlying airports, to park a small plane for a few weeks? For anyone who's gone through the course…

"We anticipate that the Secretary of Defense will delegate the authority to the Secretary of the Air Force to recall up to 1,000 retired pilots for up to three years," Navy Cdr. Gary Ross, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement. @HuggyU2 @Hacker @ClearedHot et al, back in the game! Although I think just means the VRRAD will be expanded. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/10/20/air-force-recall-many-1-000-retired-pilots-address-serious-shortage/785344001/ Text: WASHINGTON — President Trump signed an executive order Friday allowing the Air Force to recall as many as 1,000 retired pilots to active duty to address a sh…

Is there a way to get a GPS plug in puck like bad elf, and use foreflight military with the GPS on our issued EFBs? Or we only allowed to use something like stratux, which we connect wirelessly? Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Baseops Network mobile app

Can general aviation peeps file an 1801?

Another baseops guy asked me to share my experience/knowledge of the Career Skills Program. If you're looking to get out early and get setup as you transition to the civilian world the CSP is definitely a great alternative to Palace Chase and a lot less bureaucracy. Once you have a date of separation in the system you can apply for the CSP but at a minimum you have to apply 30 days prior to when you want to start. You can do the CSP for up to 180 days. You will work for a civilian company as an unpaid intern (some other unpaid options available too) while getting all your normal pay and benefits from the AF. Basically you're on PTDY to anywhere you want (and your CC…

Just saw this in the news this morning. I thought this would have already been posted here, but couldn't find it. I'd like to buy this guy a beer. I bet he has some insane stories. U.S. Air Force veteran accused as mercenary in Libya’s civil war is freed June 25 at 10:48 PM An American Air Force veteran who was accused of acting as a mercenary in Libya has been freed after a six-week detention, officials said Tuesday, in a murky episode that highlights the tangled nature of that country’s civil war. Jamie Sponaugle, a 31-year-old Florida man, was piloting an aircraft near the Libyan capital of Tripoli on May 7 when his plane went down, according to off…

Has anyone ever successfully fought a commander directed Q3? If so, what is the winning strategy? I realize that there are times when a commander directed Q3 is warranted, but I have also heard way too many stories of BS ones too - mainly from risk averse commanders attempting to save face in front of their boss. Other than an MFR to the next highest commander in the chain, what should one do to contest it? -9- Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I just got out of pilot training and I'm heading to Kadena, Japan. Does anyone have any info about it?

First time poster and I know it's a stupid question but had to ask. I'll explain. I'm a Navy pilot and mod over at airwarriors. Lately we've had a rash of posers pretending to be aviators. They've been exposed, much to their chagrin. To think, people pretending to be something they are not on the net . Anyway, on another forum a guy claims to be an F-16 pilot and AF lawyer, a major select at age 26. He might very well be, I don't really know but he does call it the Fighting Falcon and makes some other strange claims. Anyway, it has become an issue of discussion. So I told him I would ask about it both here and F16.net. Obviously I have way to much time on my han…

What would you do? Disclaimer: this is worth zero AWC or ACSC credits

From War on the Rocks: https://warontherocks.com/2019/04/air-force-manned-reconnaissance-at-a-crossroads/ From the article: The world today isn’t the Cold War world of yesterday, and Cold War requirements should not justify acquisition of new assets for tomorrow’s military needs. The RC-135’s innocence has long been compromised as it has evolved from its original peacetime role into a valuable combat asset, but both missions must be performed in the future. No single replacement solution can meet both of these disparate operational requirements. The U.S. Air Force must look beyond its obsession with warfighting to identify and procure a second manned big-wi…

Okay my question might be a little dull but my question is genuine. I have been doing research but I am kind of stuck on a point. So my question is what are your suggestions for schools for flight training and particularly ones that offer a bachelors degree? UND, Embry Rittle, and Bridgewater is all out of my state and I don't see the point of going out of state, if I can find a college in state that would be much more affordable. Im in Virginia. Also another thing I have been researching is whether I should join first then go to college or join later out of college? And will they still pay the tution? What are my options cause I can't seem to make up my mind on thi…

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-30614627 Cap-10

They say that if you get paid to do something you love, then you never work a day in your life. But they also say that if you throw money in the mix, it makes that 'hobby' feel more like work. When you're off the clock so to say, do you ever still feel like flying? I've heard stories of certain people getting out of the Air Force or Navy and never flying again but it seems like a lot of people enjoy the career path. I feel like I won't ever get tired of it but how has it affected you? Do you take your family flying for fun? Ever have planes on buying a small plane? Are the huge amounts of commercial pilots from the Air Force an indicator of a lack of flight time…

I may not get a response to this question. Pilots normally don't give a sh t. Does the Major service cap have the farts and darts or is it for Lt Cols and above.

A guy I know saw it today. I'm sure Phoenix is a-buzz with talk.

Just kinda wondering, if they ever get the J off the ground, and regular joe-schmo slick guys switch to the J, what would the service commitment be? Would there be one since it would be going from C-130 to C-130? Any guesses out there? Just asking

Anyone else watch that? Interesting piece that talked about the frat where an ODA inadvertently called a strike on themselves and the B-1 was unable to see the friendlies marked by strobes. Thoughts? Perspective from that incident?

Just heard from a friend. Anyone confirm?