Cougar Driver

Well said...for any guys w/ a fair amount of prior time, like myself, this is what you're going to learn, since you should already know how to fly. Learn the BOLDFACE, how to put up with AETC queep (which IFS IPs do a fantastic job of imitating), how to do a tabletop EP, and how to design a wildly inappropriate (but on the surface, clean) class patch that will still get approved. That PFT is no joke. If you're not from the Academy, and run an average 1.5 mile time (11:30 or slower), you're in danger of failing if they're using the new PT standards. Not that it's a real PT test that'll end up on your record, but prepare accordingly... Finally, some common sense from one of the many people that didn't struggle at IFS. Here's some real advice: If you have a lot of prior time, don't tell anyone. Don't raise your hand when they ask who the PPL/Comm/CFI-rated guys in the audience are, and definitely don't tell your IPs unless they bring it up or notice. FWIW, the guy in your class with the most prior hours will be the SRO. That job sucks, but is easy to do well. If you you have some prior time (solo-PPL), don't take it for granted as it probably won't help that much. Learn the BF/Ops Limits cold, but don't stress about it. It shouldn't take more than a couple of hours to learn. Practice writing it down while sitting at "modified attention," using a checklist as a clipboard, and giving yourself a 10 minute time limit. That's the best practice you'll get...and if you show up day 1 and some poor soul in your class doesn't have a kneeboard to write on, don't be a douche and help the guy out. For everyone else, if you have no time, don't stress out. Study Gleim, AOPA, or Sporty's PPL test bank (~600 questions or so) until you know all the answers (might take some time). Once you have that down, you'll ace the academics. Know the BF before you show up. Pay attention during ground week and bank some sleep, and study what the IPs tell you to do. The In-Flt Guide and the checklist should be your bible starting week two. After your dollar ride, start chairflying...but focus on procedures, radio calls, checklists, and timing. Practicing steep turns and sight pictures in a chair won't make you a better pilot. Memorizing radio calls so you don't have to think about them while you're trying to fly will. Finally, bring a computer/iPad w/ plenty of movies on it and a good book. Hell, I even brought my Xbox (not recommended...). Go to the store your first day there (bring a car if able) and buy some booze and snacks. Settle into your little cave and learn to relax! Take Saturday off, go catch a baseball game, go hiking, or go out to eat. Studying for 6 hours a day won't help you if you're constantly stressing out. The guys in my class who washed out didn't do so because they weren't smart enough or good enough. They failed because they couldn't take the implied stress that's imposed on you. Enjoy your 3-6 weeks in Pueblo, learn what you can, BS the rest, cooperate to graduate (help your bros), and move on. Good luck! Edit: "don't be a douche and help the guy out" = "help the guy out"

The current trend is that as long as you're not one of the two worst studs in your UPT class, you'll find yourself in a cockpit. I'm not sure that I see the problem with that.

I heard this the other day:"Sir, we've been (insert word for doing poorly) for a while with late DTS authorizations but we're trending back above glideslope now." Isn't being above glideslope a bad thing?

No heritage, are you kidding? Aim High...Fly! Fight! Win! Beats Semper Fi any day.

You're right, it probably wouldn't. The prior E's that were in OTS and UPT with me were all great Officers and good guys. They also had a harder time getting a UPT slot than any of the ROTC or OTS guys did. Grindblaster: you'll be happy in the long run, suck it up for a few years and work hard and you'll be fine.

I think you're wasting your time with enlisting. Skip the Guard recruiter and go find a Guard squadron. Tell the Commander there that you'll excel at UPT and you should have no trouble getting a AMS slot. Seriously, don't enlist. Do ROTC, if you really do excel, you'll get your pilot slot. If you don't, you wouldn't have made it to OTS from being enlisted anyway, and you'll still have a degree and a job as a Finance Officer. You can get an ROTC scholarship to pay for tuition. When you commission, you can get a $25,000 low interest loan to pay off your debts. If you enlist, you won't be able to concentrate on a degree, and you'll have a helluva time getting an OTS slot. There was a guy in my IFS class who bragged about his 900+ hours as a boomie. He washed out. (edit to add real advice)

They actually might care... When I went in Dec (all the snow stories brought back the good memories!)they specifically told us that to get on the bus to go out "to field," that we had to be in accordance with 36-2903. No kidding, end quote. Once you're in the field, however, nobody cares. One guy was wearing a North Face fleece with his flight suit every night around the campfire and nobody cared. Bottom line, if you show up in full Gore Tex, they won't know what you have on underneath, but you have to look like you're in compliance. I'd just take flightsuits and BDUs and anything else you even think you might need and ask your instructor when you get there. Anything you don't want to pack just throw on the floor of your room. For what it's worth, I wore thermal pants (issued creamy looking stuff, sts), an Under Armor cold gear thing, my flightsuit on top of that, and full Gore Tex on top of that. I couldn't have been more comfortable, I often took off the Under Armor because it was too hot. I bought the Gore-Tex on my own dime and sold it to a buddy who went the week after...I lost about $50 on the deal, and it couldn't have been better spent! The whole shitting in a flight suit is over-rated. The first night I climbed out of my sleeping bag at about 0300 to drop the kids off in the snow, needless to say BDU's wouldn't have saved me then. If you wear ABUs/BDUs, the ABU belt + a belt for the Gore Tex + your pack's hip belt chafes in all the wrong places. Also, somebody mentioned having your zippers to warm socks/gloves, it works. Speaking of socks...Smart Wool! Hope that helps! The one night I was given water at 3am I don't recall being in a sleeping bag...or being cozy for that matter

Get 'em at any BX... if that's not practical just show up without them (they had extras for us). Nothing on the sleeves (you can bring a flag but they wouldn't let us wear it). After you solo, you'll get their patch, and if your class chooses, you'll make a class patch. Also, if you have time beforehand, feel free to order a sweet nametag, as they don't care what you have. If you show up without one, you'll wear a rubber nametag with your name on a piece of label-maker tape, no kidding! Oh, and get out on the weekends. No need to study for 12 hours on a Saturday at IFS...

The first thing that came to mind when I read this was "WTF?!?" Therefore I'm certain this is in the appropriate thread. This is cut and paste from a "Wingman Alert" sent out to our base recently: This is a final report. On the morning of 5 February 2011, a member of the Wing was arrested for assault following a party at his residence where alcohol was consumed. According to Police, a party guest reported that she had been written on with markers after she had fallen asleep at the party. ARI Results: No action taken against the host of the party. (Thanks God!) Lesson Learned: Although party hosts may ensure designated drivers are identified, do not consume alcohol, and transport party goers to their homes, hosts should know the people attending their parties and monitor their actions. Excessive alcohol consumption impairs judgment, memory, and increases individual risk and the risk to others. In this incident, drunkenness resulted in someone behaving poorly. Every Airman is responsible to represent themselves and the Air Force in a positive manner on or off duty, as our actions can either bring credit or discredit to our unit, the Air Force, and our nation. Evidently becoming drunk enough to be drawn on with with a Sharpie (I'm a multiple offender) is cause for filing a police report.