SocialD

Crazy enough, some states have a policy of making their O-3s ROPMA to O-4. On the other hand, we have a dude who ROPMA'd to O-4 and will be heading to a ROPMA board for O-5 soon. I'm expecting that he'll be promoted. If early promotion is something you're wanting, research your squadrons/states closely.

If you're not first, you're last! But seriously, it's an absolute shitshow, I was called 6 times yesterday for multiple greenslips per call. It was the same the day prior. We should have already pulled back our flying like most of the other airlines.

Strange, I can't seem to find that part that says we should have done it a decade prior.

I wouldn't get to worried and/or excited just yet. Even with age 65, our average pilot still leaves at 62.5. How many pilots would even make to age 67? I'm guessing if this makes it through, the realized impact would be miniscule. On the flip side, if it does pass, I'll take 2 more years of our disability. 🤣 My understanding is that ICAO can only recommend and not the final authority. So even if they raised the age, each country would have to raise it themselves. I'd love to see that 350 Captain come on down and fly my CHA turn (25 min flights) followed by 2 or 3 more legs. I'm sure they did that at one time in their career, but im guessing it doesn't sound to appetizing at 66 years old and years of the international good life.

You can go ahead and share his name, douche canoes deserve to be outed, especially in the ARC.

People get too wrapped up about the pax/box issue. In 10+ years of airline flying, my "dealing with the pax," has amounted to a single divert for a heart attack (got more pay for that day) and kicking off one (1) drunk dude at the gate while still pushing on time. Even with that, homie don't do "dealing with pax." We have people who are specially trained to do that, so I have the FO call them out to "deal with the pax." Meanwhile, I'll be in the cockpit flipping through baseops.net, wondering how many minds have been changed on the abortion thread. What really matters is how long it takes you to get from your home, to work and back. This single item will have the biggest impact of your QOL in an airline career. As an example, I'm typing away while drinking my morning coffee at 0500 (I've become my old man who can't sleep past 0500). Here in about an hour, I'll drive 55 minutes (about 60 miles) to the airport. I'll fly a 2-leg turn that is 2.2 hours of block. I'll block in before noon and be back in my car, headed home about 15 minutes later (Westin Valet will have my car waiting at the curb). If I don't stop at a squadron mates house for a beer, I should be home by 1300. I often bid reserve because I can sit short call from my house...hell I've flown my plane around on short call before (just stay ~500 feet to keep a cell signal). My days on long call are often spent flying my plane/hanging out at the hangar, tooling around the house, visiting family or drinking coffee/beer with current/former squadron mates who live within a mile or two of my house. Being able to do all of this, if infinitely more valuable than "not dealing with pax." So I'd recommend going to wherever allows you to do this the most.

Is their bro network reviewing their apps or are they having them professionally review? That's the first place I'd be looking. Do they have a recent "blemish" on their records. I know a few with DUIs called, but their DUIs were over a decade old when they were in their late teens/early 20s. I can't imagine why they wouldn't be getting calls right now.

When 20% of my squadron gets hired within the last 6 months, I'd say the shortage is here. Almost all of them received invites within days of hitting submit. The only ones that didn't get multiple invites/CJOs were the ones that only applied to DAL. One has been at AAL for two years and got interview invites at DAL/FDX/UPS, and is now at DAL after turning down the FDX/UPS invites...that shit is bonkers. My a squadron is now 65% airline guys and I think we have 4 more who are looking to hit submit in the next few months. I suspect they'll get invites quickly after submitting. That would put us at 76% airline...less than a decade ago, we were maybe at 25%. We're living in crazy times.

The one, the only. There has always been some level of disdain toward the ARC, but it appears to be getting worse. Some of my friends in higher places say it's the worst they've ever seen in their careers. Admittedly, it was probably well deserved back in the day, but this ain't your daddies Guard. Hell, it's not even the same Guard I enlisted in 21 years ago. On the flip side, they have no problem sending us their LTs for an assignment to get them experienced. This has the possibility to be a great thing for the Guard as we grow a new generation of AD pilots who gain some understanding of the Guard. However, I'm guessing all we'll see is those guys trying to get back into the Guard as soon as their ADSC is up.

Sounds likes the 2-Star that recently told a group of pilots at Luke the quoted text below (2nd hand info). I think this dude has put his finger right on the issue at hand, expect retention numbers to turn around any day now lol. If you looking in the mirror and say, I'm a fighter pilot first and love being in the bar, then the Guard and Reserve are for you. If you say, I'm an officer first and love serving my country, then there's a place for you in my Air Force...

I don't think in-residence schools count toward the USERRA clock. Doesn't sound like much fun, but something to consider if you get desperate.

I was today years old (hit 21 YOS today) when I learned the term PMCR, which I assume is post mission crew rest? Been ACC (but ANG...probably the difference) the entire time, but if I get home at 0300, there is no way you'll see me at work anytime before 1300. I'm continually astounded at the crazy shit that goes on out there.

Having flown 6 different transport category aircraft (including the 75/76), I don't necessarily disagree that the G/A switch position is less than ideal. However, this jet has been flown free of major incidents like this for decades. Clearly the risk is easily mitigated by proper training/procedures. The bigger issue here is the complete lack of airmanship, which based on the FOs record, doesn't sound like it should be all that shocking. An inadvertent activation of the GA switches should have been a simple thing to recover from, AP/AT/FD - OFF, set known pitch/power setting, reestablish the automation at the level you want. That's basic airmanship shit right there! Linked below is an outstanding video series (might have to click through the recommended videos to get them all...I think 6 videos total). Very dated, but I feel most of his points are even more applicable today. Children of the Magenta

"Soon" as in, "our base will be getting a new OPS building very soon," which they've been saying since I enlisted in 2001 (and we still haven't started with planning)... Or is this something that we actually expect to happen? But seriously, this is the first time I've heard of such a concept. What's the idea/reasoning for such a change?

15 years and the only Q-3 I've heard of was my B-Course roommate who Q-3d his inst check in the B-Course (by a serious reserve Santa Claus...funny story)...he later became a patch. I'm sure if I dug through the squadron FEFs, I might find one or two, but probably not more than that. For the most part, we've always viewed checkrides as just another ride. I know I've had a few downgrades and probably deserved a few more, but I couldn't tell you what they were. They were likely debriefed by myself anyway. I've heard ridiculous stories from my MAF bros about how a Q-3 is used as a punishment for buffonery. This is foreign to us, we just use the ole fear, sarcasm and ridicule method. Temp groundings, blues briefings during academics...stand up in front of the bros and explain how I fucked up. Everyone learns and the point is usually driven home.

Right! It was real fun last week explaining to the loan assumptions department why I had 6 paychecks one month and 1 the next month. So now I just let my 105s stack up and sign them all at once on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. Our CSS chick was like, must be nice to not need your paycheck lol.

It's still showing up via a secondary paycheck. Nothing like getting 6-9 pay stubs every month. Don't worry though...I was assured in 2018, that it would all be fixed when DFAS rolls out the new pay system in Jan of 2020...

So I'm listening to a book Accidental Super Power, which pretty much hit on this. Although I haven't finished the book yet, from a book that was written in 2014, he seems to have mostly shacked it on the current Russia vs Ukraine conflict.

The guy who taught me to fly tailwheel was a WW2 tank driver. Dude never talked about his time over there, and as much as I wanted to hear his story, I never brought it up. He did have a shadow box hanging in the hangar, dude had 2 Silver Stars, 2 Bronze Stars w/V device and a Purple Heart. Most humble and unassuming dude I've ever met. I can't even imagine what he saw/experienced, what a generation!

Pretty quiet on this front, not even a peep so far in the MSM talking heads... Sounds like they hit "close by."

Legend has it that he was out of SAPR currency and had an out of regs stashe. Given that information, I'm not sure how he could have been an effective fighter pilot.

I used 31 months of MGIB-SR in the early 2000s. Talking with multiple VA folks, they say I have to find a way to burn up the remaining 5 months of MGIB, if I want to get the full 12 months of post 9/11 benefit. If I don't burn it (I can't forfeit it), then I'll only get 7 months of post 9/11 GI bill. What a jacked up system. Sooo....anyone know of any 4-5 month programs that cost about $400/month to blow some MGIB? Lol.

No no, its only treasonous to poke fun at the "enlightened" one in office right now.

In this case, I believe you can only use one or the other. If you've already used some of your MGIB, remember you're only eligible for 36 months of any one GI Bill and a total of 48 months of all GI Bill.

Having spent some time there as well, I tend to agree. The Estonians love us and wanted us there big time...though their views may not be shared across the EU.