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Also looking for some recent info on this. Any help would be appreciated. Some good resources on YouTube and the base website but looking for someone that's personally done it. Also curious if your assignment may be curtailed for PME in residence.

Got the unofficial word today that fitness tests are going back to the way they used to be....in very short order. More oversight and only a handful of people on base that can input scores. Apparently the Air Force saw some cheating on a scale large enough to make us go back to the shitty days. This info came up in a wing standup and from emails from the MPF.

I ended up doing the two bedroom with Alamo. As it turned out my family only visited a couple of times. My intent was to have them stay most of the time but the new baby proved to be a pain in the ass and my wife decided it was easier for her to stay with her parents in DFW. Alamo gave me a place at “retreat at Chelsea Place.” It’s located behind a bunch of car dealerships on the 4 mile T-38 final for rwy 15L. It’s not bad but it’s not great. My apt was on the closest side to the interstate and the dealerships which meant a shit ton of road noise and car alarms from the retards at the dealerships. I think if if you got one further south in the same complex it would be ok. Alamo was super easy to work with and I had no issues. PIT with a family is tough. But it also sucks being away from family. Several dudes in my class had family and made it happen. You can also look into renting on on base house and filling it with min furnishings. A dude in my class was able to negotiate this with randolph housing and it worked great for him. good luck

What’s wrong with the Air Force? Just look at how f’d up the uniforms look.

I just wanted to give my recommendation for Marty at Trident Home Loans. My process isn't complete yet but I felt like it would be worth letting the bros know the experience so far has been very good. It's my first time using a VA loan. Compared to the lender we used before this has been a much better experience. Marty will take plenty of time to discuss options with you and doesn't try to rush you. I initially talked to the national bank of Kansas and really didn't enjoy the initial conversation (I felt like I was getting talked down to). Anyway, we had one minor glitch last week as rates started to rise. The ladies at Trident called me to give me the head's up and recommended me locking in asap, which I did over the phone. Several days later there was some confusion due to an admin error showing I had actually locked a higher rate. I brought it up to Marty and he was quick to discuss it with his staff and they cleared things up. Bottom line is that they did the right thing and honored the lower rate when there was a bit of a gray area .....where other companies might have stuck me with a higher rate or made me fight to prove it. I'll let everyone know how the experience ends but at this point I highly recommend Marty's team. They're super quick to get back to you and process your paperwork.

Anyone have any SA if mardon is still open for business? Tried calling all the lines listed on their website the last several days and never an answer. No response to email either.

Good insight and I think that's my gameplan. Appreciate your responses. I tread lightly because I'm an old guy in the wing staff and I know that eyes of the young airmen are on the Wg leaders. But I really just don't understand why the hell the AF keeps putting in place stupid knee jerk policies that cause everyone to flail. This "memo" I've seen once and promptly deleted months ago...and it looked legit since it came from AFPC. But what the hell? Oh, and despite a dozen searches on the internet it hasn't come up. It just resides with the Chiefs and AFI sticklers.

Yes I've tried to use common logic and reasoning and have shown them the reg, but they seem to think this new policy letter supercedes all. I can also take the test at randolph (TDY). At the same time I don't want to come across as trying to snake out of a PT test. I'm at a small remote base and don't want to damage the reputation of the bag wearers further. But yeah, I'll reattack.

Yeah it seems the push is related to this new SECAF policy letter I only saw once a few months ago. I get the intent but doesn't seem like it was meant to apply to extended TDYs. But, my base now has it fully implemented on every possible checklist and even the wing front office told me I had to retest. Figured someone else on here might have dealt with it already.

Since this deals with PT tests (which we all hate)I figured it could fall under "what's wrong with the Air Force" category. I'm PCS'ing next week with an approx 4.5 month enroute Conus TDY. My MPF is telling me I have to retake my PT test prior to leaving even though I am current through Jan. My interpretation of the reg was that I fell into an extended TDY exemption. They were citing a newish policy that says you have to be current at gaining PCS location plus 42 days. However, unless I get excellent there is no way the math would work out anyway based on the length of my TDY. I would still not have the 42 days after RNLTD even if I took one day prior to my class start (assuming only a SAT score). I really don't want to quibble but I don't want to unnecessarily take it because of a WOM. Any thoughts or experiences on this? Thanks

Thanks everyone for the responses. Looks like I'll go for an Alamo apt off base. Just curious: does anyone know what the PIT squadrons typically do over Christmas/New Years? Is there opportunity to take leave or do they work some days between Christmas and 1 Jan?

I know some of these topics have been kicked around before so I apologize in advance. I'm coming off a remote where my family was non-csp with me and I'm headed to Randolph PIT enroute to my next base. Ideally, I'd like to bring them with me for some of the time and I'm looking at trying to stay off base in a furnished apartment, or potentially try to get a TLF. I know all the drama a few months back with big blue trying to force us to stay on base and it seems that was squashed. Does anyone know if the wg/cc there has a specific policy directing students to stay on base? Ideally, I'd like to just show up and never even visit the lodging office. Also, any good recommendations for furnished apartments (not PIT pads)? Are TLFs even worth trying to get? Thanks

I did DLI-East in Washington. Private school 2 blocks from the white house. 1 on 1 instruction. Drank coffee and chatted for 4-5 hours. Never wore uniform the entire time. Best assignment I've had in the AF.

For Cobra Kai: I paid $2,650 plus an additional $200 for an extra .5 I flew on the 2nd sortie because I boned up the single engine GPS approach and had to repeat. Then, a $550 examiner fee. Hotel was off base at a courtyard marriot for about 80 bucks a night with a flight school rate (good bar, food and lounge area for group study). $280 round trip on SWA from PHX. Whatever. I'm deploying for 7.5 months. Don't care at this point.

KDUC was fairly benign. I heard a couple of t-6 callsigns enroute but no issues at all in the pattern. It wasn't busy.

I did my ATP Checkride today with the Cobra Kai program in Wichita Falls. I passed and I am now drinking beer. I honestly don't think you are going to get better instructors for the money. They are all ex-ENJPT dudes and know how to make things happen quickly. The plane is a Baron, and is more expensive and better performing than a duchess. I am a viper dude and had a multi from back in college--it helped slightly. The program is fast (2 flights) and a ground eval review the morning of the check. I did not feel 100% going into the check! But, they will tell you that is the norm. Another viper group went recently and one dude said he was 100% prepped. I don't know how but each guy is different. The profile is busy...but manageable. Based on what the FAA requires I don't think you could have a better setup than Cobra Kai. KCWC is uncontrolled and zero hassle. KDUC is the field you do approaches at. No big deal as far as traffic goes. It is a challenge, but the guys have a fairly good idea what the standard is and won't send you to test if you don't meet it. My 2nd flight was not so great and I was seriously losing sleep over it, but no issue on the check. Contacting these guys is the hard part. Bare bones (ish) operation with no receptionist. The lead instructor told me the best way is to email direct from their website and request dates and fill out the forms. Sounds like they are booked until/through March. I would repeat this again--but it ain't easy on the stress-meter. I think the best deal going is the higher power 737/ATP. Controlled WX, profile, etc. PM me if you need more info

Yeah man I got hit as well. I was a couple grand above the limit for contributing to a Roth for myself and my wife. I had already put 5k in a Roth for each of us in 2013, so I had to call USAA and have those contributions converted to a traditional IRA. Not a huge deal I guess since it is only one year---but with that 50% ACP up front my agi was around 192k for 2013! I was also living overseas and am not 100% sure how cola, etc affects AGI.

10% truth? I was flying at aviano that week. I remember the event (last name spelled wrong on the lineup card and he had the #2 locker) but don't recall canceling the first go. I believe he went to the ops desk and said he was not in the mood to fly and jumped on the c-21. Later, he called the WG/CC to complain about the way the 555th did business. From then on he unfortunately flew exclusively with the 510th.

I think I was on the same conference call or at least heard the same from him. My last look and I had an awesome strat as a candidate...but that is a no-go now. Whatever.

Sort of a different venture being developed by textron/cessna. Interesting concept. http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/2013-09-16/textron-airland-jv-unveils-scorpion-tactical-jet

Fellas, I am doing a PCS back to CONUS from Europe. I am having to go through a state dept TMO guy that just took over. He knows nothing about DOD moves. Anyway, my orders have no unaccompanied weight allowance printed on them. It just references the JFTR weight allowance chapter. I referenced this and it only says something about NTE 10% of total weight allowance. Anyway, everytime in the past I've done an OCONUS move the USAF TMO people usually have a table/printout that says something like 01-04s=600 lbs. I have googled everywhere and can't find this or any source data. Movers come on monday AM so just throwing this out there to see if anyone has the gouge. I'm an 0-4 w/dep.

Yeah that is a joke. I lost close to that much as well. Maybe someone needs to ask Bob about it. Actually it cost me about 13.6k--Based on a January ASD.

Does it go off of the date you applied online on AMS? I am one of those that delayed about 2.5 weeks. No, I didn't think about each day costing me cash either.

I plan on spending the 50% up front on land for a retirement home. But that all depends on us having a retirement at 20--which you know how that might pan out.

This brings up some good points. I didn't see anything about proration and was wondering how that would affect me as well. My aviation start date was January 02. I have only done the AMS application but haven't received an actual agreement to sign yet. I will go take a look at the message again to see if it describes proration.