brabus

Yeah, I didn't mean they have to drink, I was just giving an example of how we made ours fun while they seem to strive to take any kind of fun out of it and make it as drawn out and dry as possible (per a friend on staff this semester). And you're right about the puking, it wasn't necessarily the WK (although he shouldn't be such a weak-ass and just stomach it until he can at least get to a bathroom :D ) that ruined it, it was the lame-ass leadership. No, I'm in Boulder, CO.

No sh*t man. Last semester our wing staff meetings were an hour long with drinking beer and f*cking around taking up 45 min of that (at Old Chicago's). Apparently this semester the new guys are taking roughly 2 hrs for their's and that's just at the Det, all business...NO BEER. How f*cking lame. It's like seeing shoe clerks in the making (I don't profess to know anything about AD, but from what I've heard and read, these guys are complete shoe clerks-to be). Not to mention I was in front of over 400 people the entire time at Dining Out while very drunk...and I didn't vomit and ruin it for everyone; maybe a few slured words in the mic, but whatcha gonna do about that!

No alcoholic grog!!!??? F*ck that, just do two if you have to like shark said. Where the hell's the fun if you can't be up infront trying not to slur your words at the same time trying not to stumble. Screw PC and make one hell of a toxic grog...there's ways around things (such as when our Col scratched everclear, so we used Bacardi 151; close enough and he saw Bacardi, not paying much attention to the 151 part).

Sorry about the acronyms...thanks for the save mambo. Also, I know you're only 17, but family considerations in the future could be a big thing. Yes you'll be TDY a good amount (can be very dependent on what you're flying), but in the long run, seems to me AF guys are home more with families than the Navy guys. That's one of the biggest complaints I've heard from Navy guys who have families...and not to mention they're on a boat with 5,000 other guys. [ 08. February 2006, 20:08: Message edited by: brabus ]

You might want to think about some of the bigger aspects. Such as, do you want to be on a boat for at least 6 months at a time, then back for a month or so, then back out for 6 and so on? Would you rather be in the AF and deploy or go TDY a good amount, but still at least have a "concrete" home (i.e. on land ;) ). Some people seem to love ship life, others did a few tours and hated it. So think about that one seriously. Also, Navy flight training takes longer to do (i.e. 1.5 yrs to wings vs ~ 1 yr in AF)...that may or may not matter to you. What type of A/C do you want to fly; probably fighters at this point (who doesn't in high school), and if so, which types would you rather fly...18's vs 16's, etc. If you want to fly heavies (tac airlift, refuel, etc.) then sure as hell don't go Navy. From what you said, sounds like you have the full ride scholarship w/ AFROTC, but none with NROTC. That fact right there should be a HUGE consideration...I'd definitely say go with the scholarship and fly AF. Overall, I'm so grateful to have a slot w/ the AF can't wait to start UPT next year. I know a few Navy guys and they like it a lot, but personally for me, AF is the only way to go...for many of the reasons I mentioned above. Think about the ones I mentioned (I know others will throw in their opinions), and then post back with any follow-up questions you might have. Good luck on the decision.

Yeah that makes sense...just don't think it came out that way (at least to me) in the other one.

Well I think all that cadet was saying is that ROTC gets something like 2-3 slots/yr and the Academy is about the same. So, sure seems like a pretty damn hard AFSC to get into...don't think he was wrong in making that assertion.

Hate to say it, but he's pretty much screwed. I've seen multiple people gone for asthma. Our cadre tried hard for each one, but there's just no way to get around it...at least at this time (when the AF is overmanned for LTs in many positions).

You get an alt card which allows you to go above 18k. Plus, you know how the oxygen regulator works I suppose.

Yeah I don't really know, I just know there were way less than I thought there would be. Maybe it's more like 10-15, but either way, not a ton.

Cadets from our det have the opportunity to go at least once, if not twice to the chamber during each semester. However, we're only 1.5 hrs from the nearest chamber, so it's not that big of deal. I think there's only like 5 or 6 chambers...something like that. So obviously it's a real b*tch if your school isn't near one. [ 01. February 2006, 16:35: Message edited by: brabus ]

they're all pulling pretty quickly out of the aircraft...you need as much altitude as possible to put 81 guys together.

A stud I talked to down there last week said they were given the list of assignments and for the most part all was decided with a dice game. Pretty crazy to know your first ops tour could very well be based on a pair of dice.

CH...I didn't realize there had to be 2 passengers, so yes, the extra guy should bring some intimidation to stop a situation from occuring (unless both passengers are working together). But even being stuck in the HOV lane, that doesn't stop him from making you give him your wallet, cell, etc. and then he jumps out and runs across the freeway. I mean sure it's far-fetched and he's probably going to get nailed, but what's to stop it from happening? Guess it's ok since it's been working for 18 years...it just still sounds pretty much like standard hitch hiking to me. I'm sure 95% of the hitch hikers you pick up on any road side are probably fine, but it's that 5% a person should be worried about.

So what's to stop some guy from just getting in line and pulling a weapon on you once on the road? Wonder why hitch hiking is all of the sudden considered safe.

1. I think it'd be hard to get a civilian doctor to do all the eye crap that the AF will do for your FC1...why would you want to anyways? 2. Getting a pilot slot depends about 1% on where you go and 99% on your personal performance. Pilot slots come from GPA, PFT, AFOQT, PCSM (BAT test/flight hours), and Commander's ranking. All of those you can control. If you have the money, you can go to ERAU and fly nice equipment, get all your ratings, etc...but it's gonna cost you up the ass. Or you can go somewhere else, get your license and ratings for cheaper on your own time (but maybe with drawbacks such as not as new equipment), and maybe not major in aviation science (because you're pretty screwed if military or civilian flying falls through). Sticking with your buisness degree might be a better idea because at least you have another career to turn towards if flying doesn't work out...it's just better planning for worst case scenario to not put all your eggs in one basket. Thirdly, you by no means need any ratings at all past your private. Everything else will be taken care of in UPT or through some exams/checkrides for APT and such down the road (after you retire from the military to go fly civilian...if you choose to do that). If you have the money to get your instrument and such, great, but if not, you're certainly not screwed for military flying. Just seems to me schools like ERAU are great if you plan on going into civilian flying, or just don't care about tuition costs, but other than that, why not go to a regular college with a good business school and still get your pilot slot?

That was one of the funniest damn things I've ever read flyguy! Especially the part about having to distract your wife so you could get into your house...somehow I know that'll happen to me one of these days.

There was a guy a few years ago who was in freefall and fell between the horizontal stabilizer and the wing of a slurry bomber...talk about lucky!

Hmmm, I don't remember any direct question at the FC1/MFS that I think would pertain to this, but of course maybe I was just really tired and don't remember. Guess rage and f16pilotmd would know.

Sounds like the best thing you can do is keep your mouth shut about it...to anyone. But that's just my opinion...how bad do you want to fly? Seems pretty dumb to me to get yourself DQ'd because you said something about a medical condition that doesn't really have any adverse affects (according to the 1st Class Medical doc).

You suck horribly if you can't pass freefall...unless you just freak out because you're deathly afraid of something like that, in which case, why would you even go? [ 02. January 2006, 17:59: Message edited by: brabus ]

The Stud was a guy who graduated from my Det about 1.5 yr of so ago. Crazy...good thing he's ok. [ 14. December 2005, 01:11: Message edited by: brabus ]

Yeah you're right, confidence is needed, maybe even some cockiness...but saying straight up at 16 that you're gonna graduate USAFA and become a fighter pilot w/ all certainty is taking cockiness too far and lends others to believe that you just might be what bigiron described. Walk the line, but don't cross it. My 2 cents.

Because that attitude is going to get the sh*t rocked out of you at USAFA/ROTC and UPT (if you even get there). Not trying to be negative, just an observation.

"When Thunder Rolled" by Ed Rasimus (Retired Maj) is awesome. It details his life from getting out of UPT, going to Nellis for 105 training and then to SEA. It has incredible stories about flying fighters in Vietnam...I couldn't put it down. He also came out with a new book "Palace Cobra" detailing his experiences as an F-4 pilot over Vietnam. Obviously, he did two tours. Haven't read that one yet, but I'm going to as soon as break hits and I have some time. I'm sure it'll be just as awesome as the first.