General Discussion

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've tried using the search feature, but have came up dry. I understand general physical fitness will be beneficial to having an effective AGSM and maintaining a fitness program (beyond the stellar unit PT program) is required. I didn't know if there was any experience with certain types of exercises that could contribute to handling g-forces more effectively. To me, the un-anointed, the AGSM is a heavy core and lower-body strain, so it would seem that full-body movements would produce the best results (squat, deadlift, standing press, et cetera). I'm a fit dude and have lifted competitively in the past, but am I giving this too much brain power? Should I just k…

I am logging on under my husband's screen name to find out if the military member, their dependants, or both need a passport for personal travel?

Interesting article. https://warontherocks.com/2016/11/offsetting-air-superiority-with-air-force-special-operations/ Not 100% on board but does beg the question (as a sidebar) whether or not we should develop / acquire new smaller SAM systems, good example being the Israeli SPYDER SAM system: or resurrect the SLAAMRAM?

WTF? How is it that this can happen? It's is beyond mild frustration and is impacting orders, PCS, retirements...Nothing better that putting all our eggs in one crappy basket! MilPDS Maintenance, 20 Oct/0600-28 Oct/0001 CDT (SECOND EXTENSION) 26 Oct/1922 CDT: The MilPDS maintenance scheduled for completion on Thursday, 27 Oct 16 has been extended to 0001 CDT (0501Z) on Friday, 28 Oct. Please remember, if you have not been identified by your component lead as a tester, please do not attempt to login to MilPDS until the validation period is over. Personnel will be notified when validation is complete and the application is ready for use. 24 Oct/1537 CDT:…

I'm in the middle of pilot training and have some downtime before my Phase 3 starts. What I'd like to do is do the Mil Comp commercial/instrument test solely to get my instrument add on so I can enjoy instrument flying during my down-time. However I am about 30 hours shy of the 200hr commercial requirement. The Part 61 verbage on mil comp requirements states that you need to have an instrument check and documentation of qualification in a military aircraft (e.g. T6 time) but makes no distinction on how to apply the equivalency testing towards only one rating (e.g. just the IR add on versus commercial/instrument simultaneously). I spoke to Sheppard Air but they wouldn't gi…

Who has some recent gouge about Hill/Ogden, etc? I've got a possible job opportunity there and need some vectors on where to narrow a house search. Looking for an area that doesn't have houses right on top of each other (aka decent yard size), near "things to do", outdoor activities like hiking, etc, and near good restaurants (cool locally owned places, not national chains). Quality of schools is not something to factor into my decision (no kids). Low crime area, and within say a 20 ish min drive to base. I don't want suburban boring. This could potentially be a long-term situation if it works out. North of base in Ogden? South of base anywhere? To the west?

So the AF is considering getting some new, light aircraft basically to fly with A-10s (eventually replacing them) during counter-terrorism missions. With all of the flak the A-10 has received (especially regarding the possibility of its retirement, only to be replaced by a multi-role fighter) do you all think having a short-term replacement is a good idea? Should we just stick with the original multi-role option? Sources -- https://warontherocks.com/2016/08/oa-x-more-than-just-light-attack/ -- https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usaf-seeks-two-new-close-air-support-aircraft-427769/

Hello, I am very green here and am looking for advice on the topic subject everywhere I can find it. I was hoping to gain insight from those with experience in/retired from the CAF about the pro/cons of flying a single seat fighter vs. the Strike Eagle, specifically on the individual vs. crew aircaft aspect. I've been able to get small bits and pieces of opinion from people around base, but nothing polarizing for either option. I am a UPT student and realize this may be moot as needs of the air force will ultimately be the deciding factor in the assignment I receive, but if granted the opportunity to choose, I'd like to be as informed as possible. Thank you in advance for…

https://thediplomat.com/2014/04/us-philippines-enhanced-defense-cooperation-agreement-bolsters-pivot-to-asia/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/04/28/remarks-president-obama-filipino-and-us-armed-forces-fort-bonifacio The President (or somebody from the US government) signed the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the Philippines yesterday. I glanced through the brief 10 pages of the agreement, and it does not stipulate the number of personnel, aircraft, vessels, or locations, but that certainly will follow in the next few years. FYI for anybody with memories of Clark AB, the former installation now has some 50K residents and is a sizable inte…

What would you change regarding Red Flag-Nellis? Asking for a friend...

Hello Everyone! I'm an ex navy pilot in the process of swapping from gold to silver wings. I remember when I graduated from navy SERE, the guy who handed me my graduation certificate told me to place a copy in a safety deposit box. Despite the fact I have all my SERE documentation in order, I was recently told I will have to attend air force SERE and would like to see if anyone has made the gold to silver transition without attending air force SERE. Or, if you haven't made the transition, do you know anyone else I can reach out to for clarification? I'll name my firstborn grandchild in your honor if you can help me get out of this. Thanks everyone!

How long are deployments currently.Also where are bases located. Thanks Scoobs

https://www.airforcetimes.com/articles/f16-pilot-remains-recovered-from-iraq?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EBB 10.6.16&utm_term=Editorial - Early Bird Brief My buddy was on station when it happened....my crew manned up and pushed early as his relief. What a shit day this was back in 2006. Welcome home. ATIS

I'm looking at a flight pay table here and I was curious why the jump from $206 (>4 yrs) to $650 (>6 yrs)??

The Air Force MARS phone patch net supports all DoD, Federal and State agencies providing HF radio to telephone interfacing. We have increased our monitoring due to hurricane Matthew and would like to remind pilots / operations that we are available to handle Official (and Morale) HF phone patch to DSN or commercial numbers. Specific information is in the Flight Information Pilot (FLIP) document. Please feel free to contact me or the net via https://marsphonepatch.net for any further information. PhonePatchNetBooklet.pdf

Does anyone have any knowledge on the NOAA Corps' flying programs? Been down at MacDill for a while now and have seen them around but don't have a lot of background. Exploring feasible options post ADSC.

Way back when I was an LT someone in our lunch push group produced a reg that said it was ok to have up to two drinks during your duty day at lunch or something. Anyone know of such a thing?

Lost another one. Him him https://www.gofundme.com/2quyr24

Last update from Apr 16 said candidate locations would be identified by summer 16.( https://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/719458/af-releases-criteria-for-basing-new-rpa-units.aspx) Does anyone here know anything new or is it still shutup and color? With the first few batches of 18xers ready to punch soon I thought maybe there would be good sourced rumors as to what to expect.

Northrop beats out Lockheed/Boeing. https://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/2015/10/27/northrop-grumman-wins-usaf-bomber-contract/74661394/

So, I don't have a passport (gov or civilian). Yes, save me the lecture. My commander is open to releasing me a bit early because my replacement is getting out here early. I can hop on a Mil Air and get to Italy or Germany pretty easily. How difficult would it be to get home commercial from there? All I have are NATO Orders and military ID. If not commercial, Space-A?

I'm about to get passed over for a 2nd time to Major. I've done a lot of research, but I just want some back up to see if my thinking is correct. I've asked numerous people in MPF these questions and I get different answers each time... Being an 11F, will I most likely be offered continuation to 20 years? Could it possibly be for a shorter period? If I turn down continuation to 20 years, I will have to separate within 6 months. I understand that I will not receive invol sep pay, but will I receive the other benefits of invol sep such as the commissary/bx privileges, the medical coverage, and the HHG storage? Is there any possible way to let them know that …

I read some stuff on weapons school the other day and the term "w prefix" kept coming up. I know it probably has something to do with your AFSC, but what does it physically mean? Example: F-16 - W11F3H? [ 16. November 2004, 23:21: Message edited by: Dirt Beater ]

I actually did a search figuring that this has been discussed, not much came up. Sounds like it should be flying in 2008, and half of Europe is ordering them, but not the US (according to google). European made I suppose. H3 - $30 million J model - $60 million A400M - $90 million payload of 64k, a little faster than the Herc, cargo area a little bigger than the Herc, and it has that neat tiger-stripe paint job.