Dukeorions

After a phone call with base MPF found they had me loaded up for a mission qual after PIQ, they just never notified me of it until I called and specifically asked if I had anything projected for after PIQ. Little disappointing to be going back through PIQ starting with the power-up checklist and ending with a instrument fm8, which i have and is current, but at this rate I'm just ready to get out of AMC.

I'm an ex slick H co-pilot that had enough hours for the slick J transition course which I just finished up. I've got a RIP to Kirtland for MC130J PIQ. Looking at ETCA, the PIQ course makes you an FP in the MC-J and looks to be geared for UPT direct folks. I've got a projected PCS overseas a few months after I finish PIQ. Apparently there is a lack of available TX courses so that's the reason they stuck me in a PIQ course. If I come out of ABQ as an FP do I go through an in-house upgrade to MP once I get to my unit or can I expect to do that after the PIQ in ABQ before I PCS?

Any changes for the TX course for guys coming in from slick Js?

I'm deployed right now and received a Kindle Fire in a care package. After getting it all set up the AF WiFi and linking my amazon prime account I go to pull up a streaming movie and it plays for about a second before a pop up comes on screen saying the selection cannot be played due to geographic restrictions. So, Amazon, a deployed member of the military cannot stream Dexter in Afghanistan because why?

What do you mean by "blew USAA out of the water"? How so?

It depends on how quickly Congress gets the budget signed and the how soon the squadron commanders get the execute call to begin the transition. If congress drops 10 J models on the ramp in three months, obviously that's not enough time to send cadre through from the 50th to be spun up for the new aircraft. You'll probably be seeing already qualified J guys from the 41st picking up some of those spots, especially since crew ratios are going from 2.75 to 2.0. On the other hand, if Congress wants to slow roll the transition and we start seeing airplanes trickling in this time next year, we may have the opportunity to send some H guys through the J schoolhouse. The problem right now though is the J schoolhouse is pretty well tapped out for the foreseeable future.

What's everyone's take on getting a 5.45x39 upper for an AR to take advantage of the availability and low price of the 5.45x39. Next to non-priced gouged 22lr, seems to be the cheapest stuff around to shoot. http://www.usacsales.com/ammunition/545x39-ammo-can

Haha, you're damn right brabus. Thanks for the input fellas, sts.

I think I've got around 4k worth of 556 and 45 so I don't think I'll be S'ing anyone's D.

VFINX. USAA expense ratios are ridiculous compared to VG. As a single 1Lt with no payments or debt, I can live like a homeless person for a couple months if I have too. I'm thinking if SHTF I can easily get by on 1000 bucks a month. Already maxing my Vanguard Roth. I guess the question now is do I try and max my TSP or do I try and do better with something a little more self-directed? I can put everything in index/mutual funds and be sealed in to 7-8% until retirement, but with a little extra effort I think I could double that. I want to be clearedhot rich.

Renting now because I'm in between assignments, AKA H models at LRF. Next assignment I will definitely be buying a house. In the mean time, I feel like I can be doing something better than the TSP and SP500 Index, but maybe I'm wrong.

24 yr old, 1Lt Pilot: 8,500 in Roth TSP 10,000 in Vanguard Roth (SP500 Index) 4,000 Emergency Fund No Debt/Payments Renting a house with two friends 2K/month going towards investments of some kind Thinking about waiting for the next market correction to get into stockpiling some good companies at good prices for the long term. Otherwise, I'm not really sure what the best investment vehicle is for me right now. Any suggestions if you were in my shoes?

Is there any way to transfer a Roth TSP balance to say, a Vanguard Roth IRA without leaving federal service?

About damn time you get out of XL

I always laugh when I see/hear comments like this one. You reeally must have pushed it up, man. Granted, some cadets are white new-balance with jeans faux leather jacket wearin narps, but a good time could be had by all. Most of my high school friends went to CSU or Boulder. I saw what I missed out on. I'm glad I did. Because after a weekend of hitting the slopes and the beers equally hard, we were back to work, jumping out of airplanes and learning Russian. I feel like we got the best of both worlds. I got to party my ass off and still feel like I accomplished something come Friday. I mean how crazy do you think your civilian college life was? Short of doing coke off hookers' asses on a Tuesday morning, I can't really see what the huge void in my college experience was.

I was to stay at LR. Have you heard of different options for 38 dudes fresh out of UPT?

What would you tell a recent AD UPT graduate headed to the 714th to fly the slick in less than a month, advice wise? Options or just hold on tight?

XL 38s: F-22 x2 F-15C F-15E MC-12 B-52

More than what you asked for, but I figured I'd throw in my experience. As far as preparedness, IFS sets the tone. In my opinion, as mentioned by many others, IFS has less information delivered at a much faster pace, simply because you don't have that much time to learn it all. Academics in Phase 1 of UPT are slow comparatively. You typically spend a week/week and a half on each block (systems, aero..) learning everything through CBTs, studying on your own, and powerpoints. At the end of each block are review sessions where hopefully there is a lot of footstomping for the test. Guys who did really well in academics read the books, had study sessions, asked a lot of questions, made flashcards etc...pretty standard. Don't brain dump systems knowledge in phase one because you will be expected to still be intimately familiar with it in phase 2. Things pick up quite a bit in phase 2 because you are not done with ac yet but now you've got flying on your plate. Learning groundops, EPs, and local procedures should be your number one priority when you enter your flightroom for the first time. Chairflying is helpful at first, but there comes a time when your learning will/must happen in the jet, regardless of how much you study and push 2d buttons on your cockpit poster. Phase two is where people begin to feel the pain. You must begin using your time carefully. 12 hours a day in the flight room goes by fast when you're double turning, but when you're not, you've got plenty of time to study until your head explodes. I think that if you use your time wisely enough during the day there is no need to study when you get home at 5-7pm. So you can hit the gym, cook a nice dinner, play call of duty etc..Get plenty of sleep and show up in the morning with a smile on your face and ready to go. Most guys wash out in phase 2 between contact and final contact. I'd say most do not wash out for academic reasons but because they simply could not fly well. It's not for everyone. When formation starts, charflying becomes very beneficial again; you and your wingman need to be on the same page. Showing up knowing the numbers, procedures, or anything else that can be read might sound like something an IP would say, but looking back, it makes your life way easier. Knowing this information opens up those brain bytes for learning how to manipulate the AC, not trying to remember shit in the jet that you should already know. ie, When your flying the recovery you won't have to pull out your IFG and look up what radial you're supposed to be on or what DME you were supposed to descend for your striaght in etc. Big picture overall tips for UPT: -Stay motivated. It's only 1 year of your life that determines the rest of your career. Be able to tell yourself on assignment night that you could not have studied harder, flown better, or had a better attitude. -Be organized. You get handed a lot of crap to learn. Get binders and label things so you know exactly where to look to find answers. When your lying there in bed the night before your Inst. checkride and you can't sleep because you don't rememeber the T in SNERT, you know right where to look. -Be a genuine bro/team player/wingman. This is not a mystery to anyone. A lot of guys come to UPT having heard so much about being a "Bro" that it turns into brown nosing and sucking up. Do not suck anyones d*ck to make yourself look better. This is abundantly evident to IPs and you will hear about it. You still must help people out, take out the trash, make coffee and a good batch of jalepeno corn, just don't go overboard with it. Don't go bouncing around the flight room finishing people sentences and correcting conversations that you're not involved in. Let people know you are willing to help them if you are particularly good with something and let them come to you. Volunteer to DD once in awhile, throw an awesome party, bring your hot sister to town to visit. These are all very important for good "bromanship" -Have a good attitude. It's easy to be all smiles when you're doing well, but when you hit a rough patch it's important to bounce back. I saw a lot of guys in my class have a bad ride turn into 5 because they lost confidence, second guessed themselves, etc. Roll with the punches and ask more questions. Find that buddy that offered to help you. Any more questions PM me.

One for me and each of my classmates.

Finished T6s number 1 in my class. Above average academics. Flight CC ranking of #3. T-38 dollar rides approaching fast.

XL: F-22 F-15E F-16 x 2 (one Singapore) A-10 x 2 MC-12 Nothin' like a little motivation. Lot of Herks and C-17s for the toners, with a guard E-3 and an E-8, and a handful of 135s. More sober people present at the drop feel free to correct anything above.

Anyone seen the infamous autobiography floating around?

Tebowner

I had a few hours in gliders coming in like most, and heeded the advice to purge any techniques that may have been developed along the way to make room for the USAF way of doing things. I enjoyed my time at IFS and the instruction I received (for the most part) was outstanding. I think I got the gist of IFS, the greatest lessons for me being coming together as a class to achieve what as an individual would be very difficult, not being afraid to lean on or pick up your buddies, RTFQs, the importance of a good debrief, learn from other's mistakes, get and stay fit, work hard/play hard...I'm probably missing some of the training objectives here but all in all, good experience. I'm in phase one right now, near 100% academic avg, and just getting back from a group study session on systems. Things seems to be going quite well and I'm eager to get in the "jet". I'll be around here with updates as I progress and will let everyone know where I'm at. And I wouldn't say I have the mindset of a slacker, it's more of disease I've been struggling with whose only cure is the right amount of coal-black coffee.