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Duck

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Posts posted by Duck

    Neck and Back Injury

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Having been through the MEB process myself, I was removed from single seat aircraft and restricted to crew aircraft. From what I saw in the process and it was a very lengthy process, it takes a lot to actually be removed from duty. I would go in with the argument that it was the high G aircraft that caused your issues and petition to be restricted to crew aircraft. Whether you can prove it or not is not as important as you think, I think most flight docs should understand that high Gs on a herniated disc is probably not the best thing for you long-term. I’ve known quite a few people go through the MEB process and Only one of them kicked out of the Air Force and she wanted to be kicked out.

    Someone else can speak to this, but my assumption would be that since you are an ACC asset you would probably look forward to an ACC crew aircraft, which kind of limits your options. I’m not saying a C-17 to Hickam is out of the question, but I wouldn’t bet the Farm.

    From my experience you can sway the flight docs to get what you want to get within limits and reason. The first person to come up with a plan typically wins. If you want to stay and fly I’m sure they can make a way for you to do that as long as you are healthy. If you are looking for a different lifestyle and a different aircraft, I would go in and lead with that, with the reason being that you don’t want to live the rest of your life in a wheelchair.

    Regardless of what you decide realize that you are on a long path. It took the Air Force nine months to figure out what to do with me and that was with just a simple shellfish allergy.

    Best of luck and keep us up-to-date with how it goes!


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    • Upvote 1

    Want fighters, age limited?

    in What Are My Chances?

    Posted

    Good for you guys, I don't give AF what you say or think. I'm going to get picked up to either fly the F-35 or F-22 and prove you wrong. What you think of me doesn't matter, your snowflake opinion is worthless to me. Have fun complaining about me on here, looks like that is the only thing going on in your lives! Pathetic you took that much time to reply to me on a Saturday night. Don't have any better plans? Whatever. Have a good life people, your opinion has no bearing on my future. See you in UPT. 

    Thanks for the comedy. Preciate it.


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    Want fighters, age limited?

    in What Are My Chances?

    Posted

    That didn’t take long. They usually last a couple posts before going straight to self-elimination.

    I’m gonna give you some advice, take it or leave it. This was tame compared to how it is in the real flying community. If you get offended just because people call you out that maybe you aren’t as “desperate” an applicant as you would like to think, then you should either grow some thicker skin or quit now, because you aren’t going to make it.

    That’s not me being a dick either. That’s just 100% honest truth. People here are willing to help but check yourself.


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    Want fighters, age limited?

    in What Are My Chances?

    Posted

    So where did you deploy with the Army and what was your job if you don't mind my asking? I know after a deployment I was thankful to be able to live pretty much anywhere in the good old USA with running water and a toilet. LOL
    Never been a fighter pilot but I know it does take a lot of different moving parts in the military  to "prevent war if possible and win a war if necessary" which is what we ultimately all strive to do. Hope you find the place that works for you.
    All deference to Duck but I've never turned down a BJ no matter where she was on the scale

    Nor have I young one, nor have I...


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    What's wrong with the Air Force?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    As a former PIT IP, who actually volunteered for AETC even though my Commander was saying it was a career killer, I understand the elimination of blanket waivers. Sometime back in 2015-2016ish timeframe I saw a huge uptick in “waiver guys” coming through and it was a huge problem. My issue though was the guys that were RPA, MWS CoPilot, then AC upgrade enroute (if at all) to UPT IP. Talk about a recipe for disaster. These guys were coming in as senior Captain/Majors and had never signed for a manned aircraft before. Depending on attitude they struggled through PIT and then had multiple issues on the line. One guy was so stressed that he started drinking his problems away and even started showing up for work drunk/hungover.

    So while I get them trying to fix it, you don’t do that to people who have already PCS’d bought a house, etc., all under the name of eliminating “blanket waivers”.

    We used to say “People Always” or some stupid catchphrase like that. It’s become apparent that the AF organization really doesn’t give a $hit about the “people”. And while an organization can’t “care” about people, it reflects the vision and intent of the people who are in charge/making decisions and policies.

    I’m so sorry for all those affected by decades of poor management and absentee leadership.

    When you get tired of the race, hit me up and hopefully I can help you find a truly better life for you and your families.


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    • Like 3
    • Upvote 3

    Take my Chances or Retake? HELP!

    in What Are My Chances?

    Posted

    Tell your boyfriend he can post for himself if he wants advice.

    Disagree completely. Thanks for being a part of the board and supporting your significant other. Go into this journey with open eyes and realize the path is a difficult one for the whole family. In many respects I believe it to be harder on the non-mil member. I hope some of the younger/more recent applicants can offer some good advice. Best of luck to you both.


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    What's wrong with the Air Force?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    From a friends FB post - "I just want to fly airplanes. Why do they make that so ing hard?"
    Long story short, my buddy flys Hercs. Was selected to be a T-38 IP at Sheppard.  He went through ENJJPT during the "drones are as good as fighters" days.  Didn't do as well as he'd liked, but got to fly.  He's one of the best men I know.

    Enrolled kids in new school, wife got a new job she'd always wanted, put down money on a house they were going to close on this week.  Then of course the USAF made a brilliant decision to NOT have him PCS 6 days before he was to close on that house.
    I'll let him say why -

    "So how do I explain what happened without violating Article 89 of the UCMJ? Last week, a… person… made a blanket decision to reject and/or revoke all waivers for T-38 pilots going to PIT. I required a waiver to become a T-38 instructor pilot. This was not because I didn’t have enough flight hours or an excessive number of Q-2 or Q-3s, but because following pilot training I hadn’t flown a fighter or a bomber. I flew the Herc, and that meant that I wasn’t as qualified to fly the T-38 as, say, a brand new ing FAIP with 1/20th the flight hours and a decade less experience. But it's not just me, it's everyone. Blanket rejection and revocation of all waivers. None of it makes ing sense to me."
    Pilot crisis is solved folks.  Guess the airlines are done hiring.

    Talked to one of my fighter buddies out at Sheppard in the T-38 world. According to him, the T-38 PIT standard for non-11Fs is absolutely ridiculous. Those guys are being held to a completely different standard. Granted some guys don’t belong instructing in the T-38, but according to my buddy (a reservist who has been there for a decade) a political point is trying to be made. Take it for what it’s worth.


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    VA Loans

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I see a note in there about zero funding fee if awarded a Purple Heart - any idea on what future guidance will be on funding fees and normal a VA disability rating? Specifically 40%?

    Unless things change I think 10% and above means no funding fee. Someone correct me if I’m wrong!


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    Degradation of SUPT

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Guys chill, relax. This has been in the works for at least 5 years. Everyone knows the product is worse. No one is even trying to debate that. The Air Force has realized that they are never going to be able to retain the pilots that they need. They made a conscious effort and even publicized it that they are going to grow out of the retention problem from the bottom. The problem is the pipe is too long to push out as many pilots as they need to grow out of the problem. Who cares about absorption, all they care about is bodies. I sat on countless meetings in T6 land with leadership trying to figure out just how much they can cut to get the very bare minimum Air Force pilot trained. Couple that with massive changes to the pit syllabus and big cutbacks to the simulators required in the instrument phase and you have what you have now. Read the tea leaves what is UPT next all about or the VR experiment going on in Austin? The Air Force has made a clear choice that they need quantity and they don’t care about your idea of quality. I agree that as a fighter pilot you would be able to add more big picture training to the T6 and T38 syllabus. You are fooling yourself though if you think that would magically make a better product. Sheppard is a great case study in that. When I left there were only 2 heavy 38 pilots who both flew 38‘s in UPT. Yet magically we were still getting complaints in the T6 world from IFF and the FTU that Sheppard grads were not living up to the standard of basic formation skills in follow on training. This has so much more to do than just a bunch of heavy guys trying to teach guys in 38‘s how to stay in position and do tac turns, but I guarantee the Air Force will use that excuse on why we need more fighter pilots and completely overlooked the fact that training has been cut by over 40%.

     

     

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    What's wrong with the Air Force?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    That’s the great thing about the airlines.... one persons trash is another persons treasure. Some people love redeyes for commuting, some people (me) avoid them at all costs. 
     
    To answer your question, I haven’t set an alarm clock in months because I prefer late morning to afternoon shows.  

    Which is awesome because I like the AM shows and being done with my day around noon. It’s awesome to have the flexibility.


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    What's wrong with the Air Force?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Got a chance to talk to my old sister squadron Commander while he was doing his new-hire orientation ride at my airline. He punched before hitting 20 and told me that during his whole 2 year stint as a commander, he did not PCS a single Major. The Wing Commander called him and the other flying squadron commanders in and was seriously confused why no one was staying in past their Initial UPT commitment. UFB.


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