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I don't understand the excitement over the Air Force having Enlisted do Officer jobs for Enlisted pay. You'd think the Enlisted Union would be up in arms about the lack of pay and incentives given to Enlisted aircrew vis a vis Officer aircrew. Nobody doubts the competency of Enlisted aircrew. But it certainly seems ironic that we bash the Air Force for not providing pilot pay commensurate with the civilian economy but we're celebrating the fact that the Air Force can get away with paying an E-4 half of what they would pay an O-4 to do the same job. This is the argument that goes through my head every time someone shouts "bring back Warrants!" We should demand that the Air Force pay incentives and bonuses something near the market wage for a particular skill. (edit to add: I'm not opposed to the enlisted RPA program)

I think that remains to be seen when a.) Their commitments are up and b.) If there is an availability of contractor positions for their skill set. I'm not sure about GH pilots but Reaper pilots with an LR background can pull as far north as tree fiddy. Hard for me to immagine someone on the enlisted pay scale bypassing that as a norm.

I really wish more had been done for Afghan interpreters. They risked life and limb.

If anything, those numbers are a little low ... at least for delta. Low for gross pay, about right to 5% high for take home ... and I’m not a striver nor hard worker (anyone who knows me will vouch).

I got hired to a fighter unit with a slightly lower GPA, similar(a couple of points lower) AFOQT scores, similar hours, and a slightly higher PCSM. Different units have different priorities. I had one interview where I was grilled about my GPA and another where it wasn't even mentioned. As long as your transcript isn't covered in Fs, you'll be fine. And even if it is, you'll probably be fine if your recent performance is good and you can show what you learned from the previous failure. Everything else looks solid and your scores are great. Regarding the interviews questions being casual, again, it depends. They MIGHT give you one or two, so I'd be prepared for it, but wouldn't count on it. Check out the interview questions topic. I can't speak for heavies since I didn't interview with any, but expect a few extremely serious questions at fighter interviews. The interviews weren't equivalent to any job interview I've had before. Overall, I think you're in good shape. Just remember to apply everywhere. If you want to focus on fighters, take a year and do that. But apply to every unit that has an A-10, F-15, F-16, F-22, or F-35. It's hard to do, so don't limit yourself. And one last thing, please don't repeat "I'd take a C-17 or C-130". Really makes it sound like they're your back up, and they may be, but it's not the best idea to vocalize that. They're great aircraft with aircrew that love them. It's difficult enough to get hired, so avoid saying things that could make your process harder. Sent from my SM-N975U using Baseops Network mobile app

Yes manning is quite healthy on paper. Of course the reports don’t show the full truth. Ie: folks on long term DNID/DNIF or the amount of folks who are duties at in positions they won’t deploy for the unit. Ample O-5s on staff... and I don’t disagree with having only two O-5s in the squadron. Most all pilots who are O-4s are bailing for the airlines, those that aren’t are generally “on the path” or HPOS. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Pretty sure I rode with this same dude in SF earlier this year. It was such a great story, I only wish there more cases like his than of those who were killed/imprisoned trying to gain the asylum they’d earned. zb

Recently took an Uber ride in San Francisco with an Afghani interpreter who was given asylum status for him and his family a few years ago. Amazing conversation. I'd place his patriotism far above 90% of the people we drove past (which may not be saying much).

100% concur - it's akin to hiring scab workers (not to denigrate the enlisted force ...or scab workers). If you're enlisted, and want to fly ...get your degree, and put your OTS application in. Don't do what officers do for much less.

My biggest complaint with the ACTF is the auto-reponse of "we can't compete with the airlines" when you mention pay. Nobody is asking that you compete with the airlines. Just pay more than what you are. Military members are generally hesitant, I believe, to say that pay is a causal factor in leaving because they don't want to appear un-patriotic. You join out of Pride, you stay because of Quality of Life/Job Satisfaction, and Compensation. You cannot disregard the Compensation aspect. The Air Force continues to cop out when they say that they simply can't compete with the airlines. I don't mind the initiatives to produce our way out of the aircrew crisis. But compensation has to continue to be on the table or people will continue to walk.

The AF needs to produce 1,400 pilots/year and retain 65% until 2034 to emerge from the aircrew crisis. That according to the ACTF Maj Gen Mack. UPT fell short of that by like 200 pilots this year. Probably going to underproduce next year as well. It does seem that in a way the Air Force is really just waiting for an economic downturn. Nobody wishes for another 9/11, but another shock like that would fix the aircrew crisis over night. Also, according to the ACTF, the AF is overmanned on FGOs and undermanned on CGOs. You may not see it that way in your neck of the woods, but those are the numbers.

Supply and demand. Let it play out.

When is traffic in and around Austin not shit?!?

The school doesn’t necessarily matter. I did my degree online and will be going fighters. You have good stats and I would apply to everywhere.

Yes, many moons ago. 40% for fixed wing pilots. Which the AF is apparently cool with. 40 is the new 65.

This is not how the U-28s are looking. No O-5s in the sq except for DO and CC. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

@MilitaryToFinance I can't speak from personal experience, but know multiple people that went to Indy and have been to Austin and they all said it was a night and day difference. They've done a really good job at making the entire COTA experience enjoyable. Also, it is worth buying the parking pass, just look at the map and see which area is best. Traffic is still shitty, but even one of the mid tier parking passes made getting from your car to the circuit much more convient. And if you have a group, people were tailgating. @brickhistory I'd recommend it, especially if you're close and you could get some people to make the trip with you.

Me. I'll argue that. We could pull out of a number of bases in the Middle East and save a shit ton of money. We could close bases in the US and get the ones remaining back to 100% manning, and increase the morale at the same time (can you imagine if we closed Cannon and relocated all those guys to places like Hurlburt, Ellsworth, hell...even Dyess?) I'll argue that we've been wasting a ton of money, people, and resources in these never-ending wars in the Middle East. I have no idea what the hell we're still doing in Afghanistan. I have no idea why we thought it was a good idea to execute airstrikes in Libya. I'm still scratching my head at the idea that Syria was worth the first salvo of JASSM in combat. So...maybe I'm in the minority, but I am absolutely willing to argue the cost of maintaining a world-wide empire, both in terms of military spending and foreign aid. I'm also willing to argue it isn't an empire. An empire would result in a net gain being returned to the home country. Our model seems to be predicated on paying for everyone else while getting basically no tangible returns out of it.

yes i am. first time at any F1 or even NASCAR event im pretty pumped!

Maybe with that attitude.

Didnt read any of the last 6-9 post but it's obvious this thread needs some of these:

Interested in Trump by 300+. Not interested in Trump by 62 with 4 caveats. Interested in prosecuting crimes committed by anyone regardless of party or position. Not interested in debating the "Deep State."

I think everything is way worse than we thought. If Trump wins, the nation should mourn. America deserves better. If Warren or Sanders win, the nation as we know it could die. I'm flummoxed. Trump has been giving them opportunity after opportunity to beat him next year, and each time they find a way to be more politically and philosophically toxic. And if Trump does win, which I think he might, I'm not sure how Democrats go on. RBG gets replaced by Amy Barrett, another woman loses to the (perceived) ultimate misogynist, and the country continues to fragment. It's ugly

The mighty MD-88 has speed cards in a holder on the dash. Flip to the one with your gross weight listed, fly the printed speeds. Like any true cave man. 😂

https://thefederalist.com/2019/10/23/why-retired-military-officers-need-to-shut-up-about-politics/?fbclid=IwAR2W14sK-4DU-9aScaoUsH8YvNTYoWS2iIRBLNfu7azrE9TKYfzgJoKNFRU The armed forces should remain APOLITICAL and the most trusted government institution by the public. Sadly, the ole army colonel who is now a hero for the left, is doing the opposite. Either declare a candidacy and run for office, or retire... once he is all used up by the left, I am sure he will get a book deal on how wearing the uniform gave him some high moral ground on public policy. Stop the politicization of the military! Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app