I don't exist

Trust me, there is no AFSOC FAC(A). There are plenty of platforms acting as TAC(A), but no one in AFSOC has the FAC(A) qual. Maybe I didn't understand where you were coming from. Let me give my perspective. I believe this should be a SOF owned gig for several reasons: 1. The snake eaters want a SOF owned light CAS platform that will fly day or night. That's the point of this thread. 2. We should be building the future combat aviation advisors in-house. We can't teach other countries how to do forward-firing CAS (drop bombs) because AFSOC doesn't currently do that. Right now, we have to beg ACC to let some of its CAS qualified instructors join AFSOC. Communities don't normally let their instructors go. 3. We should be training SOF JTACS with SOF aircraft. Habitual training relationships are inherent to SOF.

Hey bro, AFSOC needs to get out of this "we are better than you" mentality. Everyone cries foul when they see the Raptor procurement and O&M costs, but riddle me this. How much does a new U-Model Gunship cost? What does it cost to maintain one? Sure, we're not trying to buy 187 Gunships, but we've got to move past this "AFSOC is so much better than ACC" b@llsh@t! Do you think AFSOC leadership cares about a light strike platform when they want to buy the next generation gunship, the talon replacement, or to continue to get the CV-22 fielded. Every General has priorities and they don't normally match up with what the Captains think should be happening. The reason AFSOC won't be flying a Super T anytime soon is because of the Talon and Gunship mafias in AFSOC that are afraid some of the fighter jocks from ACC will make the switch and start taking away some of their glory. The boys on the ground were asking for FAC(A)s back in 2002, but AFSOC did not answer the call and won't. The recommendation to the SOCOM commander was that this is not a SOF specific platform or mission so there is no need to use SOCOM money for it. That's why the Navy had to ask the Air Force (ACC) to help them pay for it for the Navy SOF guys. Sarcasm: Isn't AFSOC the SOF air arm? To make matters worse, ACC is peforming a land grab to prevent them from being accused of not supporting the war effort. The ACC commander says that light strike is not an AFSOC mission. Further, all the BRAC'd A-10 units are frothing at the mouth over the possibility of getting back in the ground attack game. In case you didn't know, all the BRAC'd A-10 units are ACC gained. Don't be blinded by what you think the AFSOC mission is. Sure, the bros flying the line are dedicated to hacking the mission, but that doesn't mean that the leadership has the same mindset. If leadership was as dedicated to the mission as they say they are, if they really thought of us as part of SOF, they would uphold the SOF truths. The running joke in my unit is, "how many of the SOF truths did you break today?" Bottom line: no matter how much the Captains say we need this to be AFSOC owned, it won't be because of tribalism and parochialism on both sides of ACC and AFSOC. The Air Force, ACC, and AFSOC will continue to be viewed by the other services as more concerned about buying the latest greatest toy instead of doing what needs to be done to support the dudes getting shot at on the ground.

I appreciate the info so far. What happens if mine is blank? I've been qualified in two MWS's since graduating from UPT.

In reference to my SURF, I don't know what this acronym stands for, or what it is for. Any ideas?

****NOT INTENDED TO PERTAIN TO ANY PARTICULAR INCIDENT**** I believe the military aviation community is too focused on hours/experience. We need to focus more on currency and proficiency. Just because I've got 690 combat hours in the last twelve months doesn't mean I can go out and fight-tank-fight. That 690 hours where I was flying circles on the auto-pilot hasn't prepared me for the rigors of stateside training. How many times do you guys rush to complete your semi-annual currencies just so you can deploy? How many are rushed to complete said currencies so they can attend a Red Flag, start an upgrade, take baby leave, etc, etc, etc. The absolute best is a crew airplane where the IPs rarely get to put their hands on the controls, but are logging off currencies because they observed their students perform the act. They don't have time for any CT because their so busy pushing studs. Thoughts?

Have you guys heard the same rumors I have about ACC taking some of the TAMI guys back in the next couple of years?

From Inside Defense: Discuss. Edited to title correctly.

I've been flying on active duty for 4 years and this has been an issue for at least the last two. It took me having the Hemilich performed on me for my wife to insist I see the doc. My doctor and I suspect that I have a chronic esophogeal stricture due to chronic acid reflux. Even after treatment, will this disqualify me for continued flying duties?