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Thought this video was interesting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Evhrk5tY-Yo&feature=youtu.be

"We send our worst pilots to helicopter training..." Helicopter pilots...

Nah, the flexibility to leave if I want is worth more than $20k a year, even in the current jobs environment. That should tell the AF something about its climate. (Yeah, I know it won’t actually.)

Fuck yeah...that’s about the only thing that will matter to anyone when they’re having a beer on their porch at age 69, unless they were a careerist douche, then they’re drinking zima on their porch alone, lamenting “their” staff job they never got. There are lots of bros who probably should have been given a DFC, etc., but what went down was glossed over as “just doing their job.” The good, and even the bad, memories are all that matter in the end, not what job was held, school attended, or even airframe flown. Here’s to wiping shitbags off the face of this earth!

A story from the U-28 within AFSOC. The U-28 flies more combat hours annually than every other AFSOC MWS combined. This was brought up for bullet writing on OPR/PRF and the Bob said that those hours are “different” and “don’t count as much” as a CV-22 guy. Also, the U-28 community hasn’t been around long enough to get a purebred Sq/CC (about to change) and above. As such, it’s natural for the single engine doctor plane with some sensors on it to be pushed to the side in favor of AC/MC-130 or CV-22 people. Additionally, not a single DFC has been rewarded to a U-28 aircrew member. There are many, many missions where Draco crews have done outstanding work to save friendlies on the ground and some fantastic work in the counter VEO fight, but no DFC. Reason? “They’re just doing their job”. This includes the most meritorious military sortie of the entire year in the entire Air Force (https://www.afsoc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2020763/u-28a-draco-crew-receives-2018-mackay-trophy/). During that same time, over 2 dozen AC-130 crew members were awarded DFC’s (https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2018/05/14/distinguished-flying-crosses-awarded-to-23-ac-130-crew-members/). Those guys absolutely deserved to be recognized for their awesome job on the referenced missions. However, it’s just an interesting comparison. I think a big part of the lack of Draco recognition comes from classification of certain missions, but it’s still unfortunate. U-28 people get school and other jobs, but there is definitely a outsider feel to the community. I don’t have a quantifiable comparison, unfortunately. However, the mission satisfaction and impact you get to have against some really bad people is amazing.

I feel ya. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The MAF has always had boner for T-Tail airlifters in leadership positions. The running joke at the KC-135 FTU was if you’re the #1 tanker guy in the wing, you were #15 guy in the wing behind all the C-17 drivers. Getting rid of Phoenix programs would be a positive in the MAF.

We can have a conversation about VA grift without having to justify one's personal choices. When you do that, you risk falling under "lady doth protest too much", and that doesn't help your own point. IOW, don't feed into the false dichotomy. We can recognize both dynamics without having to circle our personal wagons. This is exactly why the grift persists, because legitimate claimants feel it's an encroachment on "muh benefits" to have the conversation in the first place, and the grifters take advantage of that. Stop raising strawmen like the bolded above.

Absolutely MWS affects career opportunities; however, as a rule of thumb, not absolute rule. Big MWS = more opportunities but more competition, and typically more relesability later in career for different options/paths. Smaller MWS = fewer competitors however not necessarily less opportunities, depends how far apart the asset is spread. Positions like staff, test, DETs, etc. vary in size, location, and impact. For both types of MWS, big amd small fleet: Look at mission, typical TDY locations (i.e. MSN/CC or DET/CC), etc. Opportunities abound in the next few years due to high attrition in the near past. Some briefs now say whomever, Officer-wise, is still in-service in mid-2020's will command whether they like to or not. Don't know if COVID change that on a macro level or not, but do know several (~10) who are staying in for lack of outside opportunities. FGOs will bloat the next few years for this reason surely, and Aircrew Retention TF/CC recently, publicly said this. LD/HD assets typically experience personnel burnout, attrition, and therefore little releasability when you want it. LD assets have people jump ship for better opportunities on the outside.

The standard YMMV. Three and four SQ/CCs ago, I would have been thinking similarly, but we’re on a pretty good vector now.

I’d temper that a little on just being technically capable. I’ve also worked with a lot of partner nations, and the general ability of them to organize tactically is low. And our ability there isn’t because of industry, it’s complex training environments and expectations. Edit: that being said, with respect to current AF and career progression, there’s nothing in the AF today I want to do beyond the rank of Captain. So there’s definitely something off.

It’s not our officer quality, it’s our overall culture that makes us superior to most other Air Forces. Let’s face it, 10% of the USAF keeps the other 90% afloat. If you’ve gone to shoe flag, you understand that there are many piss poor officers. I too have worked with partner nations. Their great officers in our great culture works out well. Sadly, I’ve seen their great officers get crushed by their home country crappy military culture. I think about 50% of USAF officers (mostly on the support side) are A. overpaid for their contribution and B. Probably non-essential to our success in reality. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app

I agree some people milk the system, that’s inevitable. But I’ve known a few dudes who were 90-100% that looked able bodied. However, they’re all getting hip and knee replacements in the next few years, as well as spinal surgery to replace buldged disks and to fuse vertebrae. YMMV. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app

In TX, you are completely exempt from property tax on your home at 100%. That's essentially trifecta in a state with no income tax. Many other examples of perverse incentive exist nationwide that promote the rampant maligning of the VA disability rating system. To suggest the criterion requires a fundamental overhaul is an understatement. But as long as people use legitimate cases as the third rail political shield for this servicemember grift, the looting will continue to worsen.

i think humor in 2020 is just suggesting someone watch a three hour documentary about some horrible material reality

Why? I’m not looking to buy, just wondering

Line pilots still do the staff work, even if they aren’t on staff... Sent from my iPad using Baseops Network mobile app

Let’s not forget.. when the Bobs say AMC is overmanned, it’s because they lowered the crew ratios..

DB, you know your happier pulling 60 and 2 at 300A. Don't lie, you ended up where you really wanted to be.

Having worked MAJCOM staff, while it’s not as sexy as flying, fighting and winning, there is absolutely a need for rated expertise. There is a glut of retired AF aviators running divisions, who fill GS billets, but their currency is often decades old. Being able to participate, lead, and work on MAJCOM/HAF level projects is eye opening and expands your professional aperture. While some despise the idea of manning a desk, we need to be there, as we know what’s best for our fellows flyers.

First step to fixing staff issues is to eliminate the Group staff. Single most useless organization I’ve seen. They exist to be middle men. I’ve actually been counting, and my last 7 interactions with them have produced exactly zero. Outside of the directorates, the number of execs they’re pulling from ops units to do nothing but forward emails and work on a rack and stack is a joke.

Couple month trip to the sandbox and some tax free income or 18 years of responsibility for another person and all the hardships that come with children. Unsat on SA/Decision making. Please, get prego and stay home if that’s how you make decisions, I don’t want you anywhere near me in a combat zone.

Why do you think you’ll get passed over with a DP? Seems like you should be set.

Minus multi and being prior service, I'm in pretty much the same boat. I'm half way through 35, have a master's degree and CFI, and previously applied to units in 2012-2013 before they increased the age limit. Anyway, just wanted to say best of luck! Hopefully some of us mid-30s folks will get picked up somewhere!

Better than peanut butter like the French.

You may have heard other students and IPs saying, “If you ain’t first, you’re last,” but that’s just not true. You can be second, third, fourth...hell you can even be fifth.

Lots of good advice here, so I dont feel the need to add anything (except the stare at the VSI 90% of the time...dont do that). Just wanted to say that I was probably on CAP more than I wasn't throughout all of UPT. I tell people "I graduated in the top 10% of the bottom 20% of my class." But, I went on to be an instructor in three different airframes. Currently in the Reserves and a captain at FedEx. Bottom line, dont sweat it, keep giving 100% and dont give up.

Las Vegas running CTAF ops. I knew all those patterns at NTAs would pay off. Pretty neat, though.