brabus

Not related to the tax discussion, but my wife also distrust the long term financial future (I do all of our long term investing). she wants me to pull it all out and buy airplanes and property...her words. So tempting - I hate being a responsible adult.

I’m aware of how OPM pay works...it’s still not great. I don’t know the OP’s location, but 11 step 1, “rest of US” locality = 80k/yr, all taxable. Compare that to let’s say 3 year O-2 (assuming based on training timeline), you’re only 60k taxable + another $24k non-taxable (assuming $1.5k BAH...I picked a random value). Not saying you can’t do ok on it, but it’s not a phenomenal deal. Also, I thought TDART was a contract, as in it’s not easy to just walk away? Maybe it changed. Now that said, I’d say regionals is the only reality for the OP in 1.69 years, but like you said, he’ll accumulate hours rapidly, hopefully upgrade to CA (and AC on the mil side) in a reasonable amount of time, then log a bunch of turbine PIC - snatched up by a major fairly quickly at that point.

Personally I think less than GS-13 is bullshit pay for a pilot. While the ART system has received a decent overhaul in pay a couple years ago, it’s still grossly underpaid for pilots less than -13 (my opinion). You also have to ask yourself if you want to be doing this until your 55 (the general point of permanent ARTs, which I think TDART logically dovetails into). It sounds good in your 20s, not so good for 99% of dudes in their late 30s/early 40s. That said, how many turbine PIC hours do you currently have? Reason I ask is seeing how competitive you’d be for airline hiring. While I understand that’s not your desire 1.69 years from now, it’s good to know what your odds are in case more orders don’t come right away. Bottom line, I don’t think it’s a great deal, and rolling the bones on future orders seems to work out much of the time...may require some flexibility on your part, but generally there’s always a way to stay fed...until you say fuck this and go get your line number.

That’s great news. What’s also interesting is while suicides fell 6%, gun sales increased 85%. Anti-gun crowd trying to explain how people only killed themselves because guns exist...

I stopped watching all sports a few years ago; maybe a game a year. Turns out there’s tons of stuff to do with my time that is infinitely better than sitting on the couch supporting these bullshit organizations. Life without football and baseball is phenomenal...never would have said that a few years ago.

That’s true, they did get an interview. But point is being home unit doesn't give them any amount of leg up in the interview/job offer itself. That’s why age is very important when considering enlistment for the ultimate purpose of getting a UPT slot. Enlist at 18-20, sure...20s post college maybe not. But that’s just an opinion based off how we specifically run our hiring. I know some other units are like us, and I know some are not. I also don’t know even remotely every unit’s stance on this subject. Play accordingly.

Option A: The highest probability for getting a fighter slot, but have a back up plan for life if it doesn’t work out. Option B: Very little chance of flying fighters (age), but if you’re content with serving in a non-flying capacity, go for it. Maybe more chance getting a slot at a heavy unit if that’s where you enlist, but that’s pure conjecture on my part. Option C : Doesn’t hurt to look into it. See if they’re offering OCS pilot slots...I’d rather fly fighters in the Navy/Marines than not fly fighters at all. Option D : You won’t clean up financially for a LONG time. Getting to CFI is expensive and then you make peanuts, then eventually you get hired by a regional...and make peanuts. Then God only knows how many years later you finally make it to a major. So somewhere in your 40s you’ll start making good money, after a decade+ of humping it for probably less pay than your engineering job. Maybe you get hired for UPT as a 30-something and avoid some of this, but are you content with the aforementioned path if UPT doesn’t work out? Also, very unlikely to get a fighter slot going this route (at your age). I can’t tell you what to do, but those are my opinions of the options you laid out.

Fine, let’s just call it even and you have to pass an FBI background check every time you want to exercise your constitutional right to vote. Also, you can’t vote directly by mail, but you can drop a ballot off and stand there while someone takes 20-69 min to validate whether you’re legally allowed to vote. Lastly, some guy in the govt decided arbitrarily that if you want to vote for anyone shorter than 6’, you have to pay $200 and go on a list that you voted for said candidate. I do understand what you’re saying, but had to point out how hypocritical it is for people to be so pro-gun control legislation, but lose their minds over voter ID. What do they want, no infringement of constitutional rights, or is it just on parts they don’t personally like? To be clear, not saying this pertains to you personally.

On the ID topic... https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-black-americans-debunk-liberal-talking-point-that-voter-id-is-racist-theyre-ignorant?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=benshapiro&fbclid=IwAR3LXnfay3S0y2WPcMfwIq__8NhTOLvRO4v9-_KnD1wB1AUmWHuOpPFh_nU

Not saying it’s not a fast moving ballgame; in 12 days 30+ can get it, and in 15 days 16+ can get it. That doesn’t change the fact this is blatant racism. Is it acceptable and not racist if I use the N word in public, as long as I clarify I’m only doing it for the next two weeks?

We didn’t hire a single home unit person this board (we hired three last time). Not every unit puts a lot of weight into an applicant being a current member. Kicking ass at the interview is what matters most.

It’s even worse than that. A 16 yr old healthy, black person who has almost no risk of dying from COVID gets a shot while a 39 yr old white person who has a high-risk child or parent at home does not. This has nothing to do with risk and everything to do with political pandering. Congrats Gov Scott, now you’re not just an idiot, you’re a racist too.

There's always setbacks. Can't remember rebuilding an engine and not having one Did a full rebuild of everything forward of the firewall. Moment of truth, running pretty well...and quit. No restart, fuck! 3 hours later - did I put the fuel pump push rod in? The little things will get you!

Time to break out the Mike Hunt name tag...new SSN 069-69-6969. Game over China.

Familiar with the WTI accident - task saturated and misprioritized tasks, not really an inability to fly formation in of itself. I saw similar stuff in some young guys in the Viper before I left. Haven’t seen it in the F-35, but I think we’re just starting to see new guys who aren’t necessarily the top of their UPT class. We expect the overall quality will decline, but for now the young guys are doing pretty well.

Your background is more transferable than a C-12 pilot (for example), but I can’t tell you how much that factors into their hiring decision. It certainly is a positive, but can’t say how much it helps you. You’re probably competing against the young guys off the street; do they take an “old” but experienced flyer who needs UPT/IFF/FTU, or do they take a young guy who probably has more years to give the unit/learns stuff faster with no old habits to break. Both choices have their own risk and reward.

And CRM occurs every day in fighters, we’re just doing it over the radio vs. physically sitting next to someone in the same airplane. CRM isn’t a heavy-only thing, and it’s dumb to think a T-1 is necessary to teach it. Any old guys here who went through UPT back in the 38 only days, can you confirm the following: I have heard there were dudes who washed out in 38s because they couldn’t do “fighter things,” like close formation (including takeoff/landings). They otherwise would have been fine in a non-fighter aircraft. Is there truth to that, or is this just an excuse for guys who didn’t deserve to graduate regardless?

The only issues regarding tankers that I’m aware of is the shitty night visuals in the jet, which makes flying on a tanker way worse than with NVGs. There isn’t any systemic lack of basic form skills. But, I agree with your general premise that formation flying skills still has its place, even in modern fighters.

If you completed pilot training, you’re rated. It will be easier to get hired at a unit with a similar aircraft to what you’re flying in the Navy/USMC (e.g. fighter to fighter). But, it is completely possible to do a course or two to switch from heavy to fighter or helo to fixed wing (fighter or heavy). That said, your chances of getting hired are significantly reduced, but certainly not impossible. It’s unit dependent (what are their current needs) and if AETC has slots for your specific training requirement on the timeline you want/unit wants.

Well yeah, it was a basic scenario for a 9 yr old. Doesn’t change the fact it’s an incredibly stupid/naive statement to say raising taxes on businesses, raw materials, etc. won’t affect things like consumer prices, employee benefits, employee hours, or even job availability.

Just asked my 9 year old what he would do if he sold a toy for $10 and the government decided to start taking an extra $100 a month from him in taxes? He replied, “I’d sell my toy for $15.” This was with no leading questions/information or previous discussion of this article. So yeah, a 9 year old understands basic economics better than the President’s press secretary (or worse, the entire administration...if her statement truly represents the administration’s position).

Good clarification mcbush. How bad does the AF want you to stay in...maybe tell your boss you’re happy to stay without an ADSC, but you’ll walk if they won’t take the deal. May work out, may not. Seen it work for several friends, but they’re pilots and and this was pre-COVID

It’s spot on satire of our acquisitions process. I like the F-35 - still doesn’t mean it wasn’t, and still is, a total acquisitions shit show.

Do you have any current ADSC before this possible PCS? Because the AF can’t force you to take a PCS ADSC if it would take you past the longest ADSC you currently have. If this is the case, they could still PCS you, but you don’t incur additional ADSC.

Did you already interview? Not sure what you’re trying to communicate with “69% chance.” If you’ve already interviewed, that answer should come pretty quick...those aren’t decisions a squadron is going to hem and haw over for weeks on end (at least in my experience). For reference, we hired an AD guy who couldn’t get out for a year and change, so the unit may work with you if you have to take the next assignment and try to PC off some time.