FUEL

I seem to be on the same path Pessimist, however there may be a glimmer of hope for me. I'm an 11M with an RPA training start date of Jan 13th and an expected Grad date of May 2nd. With minimal to lose I plan on talking with my SQ/CC as soon as I come off leave. Does anyone have any experience on when my duty AFSC will change and when I pick up a second AFSC of 11U?

From KGS nightwatch email today (May 17), hasn't posted on their site yet http://www.kforcegov.com/Services/IS/Nightwatch.aspx Looks like those in the air aren't the only ones that have to worry (S-300); but the Navy too, 72 Yakhont and added Russian Navy. On the bright side, I think we'll be home for Christmas or in a "real" war.

2nd, I want to feel the full effect of my regret.

Don't usually get my news from the Huff, but there seems to be a trend here... A Fort Hood sexual assault prevention coordinator charged with "abusive sexual contact." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/14/army-sexual-assault_n_3275941.html#slide=1599290 This should at least hint that the "training" we are getting is inconsequential and a waste of time if it is impotent for those charged with developing and instructing said training.

Manas Memorial Service http://www.manas.afcent.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123347769 As expected and appropriate, there was a huge showing for the HR transfer at the deid. Blue skies and tailwinds crew

Done

And wouldn't that be necessary for a FID role, considering instructing has to happen too? Or am I off base and current rumblings are for it not to double with a training role?

Wonder if they will sell tickets for the fight on the hill?

Definitely agreed with you on the 1:1, just trying to show the perspective of the people that will be supplying (congress, who take into account QDR) not those that request. Even so, I assumed a 1:1 for the aircraft that replacement was still justified.

The GAO report (http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08388.pdf) on the F-35 program that came out this month is hitting more headlines as people start doing some simple math. $300 billion (The GAO total cost figure that they think is more realistic) divided by the expected total buy of 2,458 aircraft comes out to around $122 million per copy. A Defense Acquisition Board meets today to give it the go ahead for low rate initial production 2. Should we be surprised if they give a pause until the program office recalculates its projected cost with more up to date and realistic numbers like the GAO report recommends? And would the following affect their decision? - Cost per flight hour exceeds that of the F-16 (I would assume that means current cost per hour) - Compare $122 million per F-35 to $138 million per F-22 right now at (USAF FY 2009 budget estimates: http://www.saffm.hq.af.mil/shared/media/do...080204-081.pdf) That is at incremental cost and to be fair to the F-35 program the average cost for the projected buy of 183 F-22s averages to $338 million per copy. On the other hand, the $135 million per F-22 could drop significantly with a larger buy. Thinking realistically... - From what I see the program is planning on the AF buying 1,763 - The USAF operates around 1,315 F-16s and 350 A-10s (1,665 total). Not taking into account the F-15E and any F-117s, since they don't have large argument for F-35 replacement, and dropping 223 A-10s from that number since deciding to modernize them, that leaves just 1,442 F-35 as replacements (322 less) for the AF - Furthermore, do we have a strong argument for a 1:1 buy, especially with the CSAF saying it "will be so much more capable than the F-16"? The 1997 QDR dropped the F-22 buy from 442 to 341 due to the "more capable" reasoning. However, going ahead with the 1:1 ratio buy, but dropping the AF buy to 1,442, that makes a total F-35 buy to $140 million per copy [$300 billion divided by 2,136 F-35s, (takes into account 322 less AF)] So just looking at a readjusted and very realistic AF buy, while not even touching the other service's buys and expecting a 1:1 AF buy... the cost is just over the current cost of an F-22. Am I looking at this from the wrong perspective? Sources GAO F-35 March 2008 report http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08388.pdf Making the Best of the Fighter Force, by: John A. Tirpak http://www.afa.org/magazine/march2007/0307force.asp CSBA's US Fighter Modernization Plans: Near Term Choices http://www.csbaonline.org/4Publications/Pu...ter_Moderni.pdf