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If that’s the kind of advice they’re giving you I’d seek better folks to get advice from. That’s nonsense.

Heading to mediation soon. The story got crazier and crazier after my original post. One day soon when the dust settles I will entertain you all with the story. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app

Lt FAIPs... "let me tell you how the Air Force works, son"

Got a chance to talk to my old sister squadron Commander while he was doing his new-hire orientation ride at my airline. He punched before hitting 20 and told me that during his whole 2 year stint as a commander, he did not PCS a single Major. The Wing Commander called him and the other flying squadron commanders in and was seriously confused why no one was staying in past their Initial UPT commitment. UFB. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app

On the contrary, there appears to be a blood pact from the top to simply not discuss the pilot shortage anymore. There’s been little to no publicly distributed news, briefs, or media, for what seems like months. I’m sure it will fix itself. Just turn it off and back on again.

Multiple fighter squadrons out there with roughly 2 Lt Cols, 1 Maj, 5 Capt (3 of whom are first assignment) and 15 LTs. The lack of experience in the AD CAF is alarming. 90% of the experience has punched at first opportunity.

Current Manned Fixed-Wing Pilot take rate is 35%. Data is skewed by a close to 50% rate from E-3s and E-8s. The rest are similar to the C-17 and fighter take rates around 12%. 12%!

Just picked up my first AK, it’s a PSA AKV, 10.5” 9mm. Got it out to the range yesterday and it’s a blast to shoot, put 350 rounds through it and had zero issues with what I’d call gen 1.5. I put a Bushnell red dot on it that nicely co-witness with the iron sights.

Finally got my tentative approval this week. Well over 7 months for the process to work itself out. Likely because my DOS isn’t until Jan ‘20. 11M asking for a little less than 6 months off, approval recommendations all the way up. The end is in sight!

So what was "normal" is now a "surplus?"

Seems like we now have an "It is what it is" attitude from leadership. You can't maintain a "crisis" mode of thinking indefinitely, and everyone involved in the pilot shortage issue capable of making any sort of a change is probably looking at their next assignment. Problems have been elevated to Congress with regard to financial incentives. No meaningful response. For quality of life, the bureaucratic inertia is too great to change directions, especially when everyone in the chain has been selected because they say "Yes, Sir! Right away, Sir!" instead of challenging poor policies and directives that are detrimental to their subordinates. How long can you maintain a pilot shortage before it simply becomes the status quo?

If you’re the best pilot you will get what you want. In my experience age has nothing to do with drops. Plenty of fighter guys that were older/faips. Anecdotally, older guys often had other responsibilities like a family to take care of, so I saw some of them that couldn’t put in as much work as the single 21 year olds. But there is nothing stopping you from flying whatever you want other than standard luck and timing (which affects everyone).

PSA: about PSA, palmetto state armory, they have a good deal on complete ar-15 lowers right now with magpul hardware.

Standby for your HAF mandated down day to “address” suicides. I’m waiting for the part where they ask our airmen what’s wrong, then dismiss all the things brought up as whining/complaining. Sounds just like the pilot retention task force. Therefore, my only conclusion is they don’t actually give a shit about any of their people and will just produce more airmen to replace the ones they lose from the big air force perspective. But the appearance of having done something has been accomplished.

My opinion? Some folks in Congress will use this as an opportunity to attack Trump and/or military handling of sexual assault cases. Gen Hyten will get confirmed. Then we'll never hear about it again.

Can’t fail a test if you’re always exempt...

Haven't been in this thread since I was passed over IPZ last year, but I got picked up 1 above (O5). The O6 who made it happen (I think) moved so I haven't had a chance to ask him how he did it, but I'm convinced he went to our 2 star SR and made a case for me.. my record definitely didn't change 😄. Oh well, more money I suppose.

I had 2 consecutive #1/150 Majs from Wg CC plus #3/270 CGOs and #2/80 Jt O-4s at a Joint Command, finishing behind only an Army infantrymen on the way to Battalion Command; same push, no commission DG, no SOS DG and I did not make it 1BPZ. If there was such thing as a late bloomer, it would be me -- truth is you can't make BPZ as a late bloomer. Fine by me. 7 more years until check of the month club.

we didn't do that a few months ago, you must have been the special winner

If you told me that is from a AFROTC how the AF operates 101 booklet or something I would 100% believe it. 🤢