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12xu2a3x3

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Posts posted by 12xu2a3x3

    Changing/Switching airframes

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    44 minutes ago, EvilEagle said:

    Fair enough.  The way you phrased it sounded like you were saying if you aren't credible in the jet you can just go be a commander in the ARC because it won't matter.  Just caught me funny.

    Yeah, I'm not the most articulate person, sorry.

    45 minutes ago, EvilEagle said:

    I was a squadron CC in the ANG and looked at the guys that were CC's on AD in my community.  From many conversations with them it's a hell of a lot harder to be a CC in the ANG due to all the additional stuff that doesn't automatically happen (orders, recruiting, OTS, pipeline, etc).  If you don't have cred you won't get jack done for your guys - which is why you are a commander in the first place.  

    100% valid. i was a crew chief for an ANG fighter SQ/CC and heard pretty regularly about all those woes. he was a great guy who came from a long-ish active duty career. truly don't know if he could have been a commander in the active duty or not, but ultimately it's irrelevant because he excelled in the guard.

    Changing/Switching airframes

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by 12xu2a3x3

    7 hours ago, EvilEagle said:

    Why do you think this is the case?  Do you think the ARC is such a second string option that you don't need cred to be a commander?  C'mon man, you can't be that far under a rock?  

    No, not at all, in fact I think the opposite. To clarify, the ANG/AFRC seem to have a slightly broader aperture for evaluating who they put in leadership positions.To that end, I don’t think having flown a jet outside the one the squadron does is a non-starter, which outside of Phoenix Reach or the like seems to be the case sometimes.

    (I came from the guard)

    Civilian to Fighters

    in What Are My Chances?

    Posted

    On 12/11/2019 at 6:40 PM, givingitmybest said:

    Also.. No, I don't have a PPL and my GPA is 2.04.

    i don't want to give you more stuff to stress about but i think you need a 2.5 GPA for a Rated commission (2.75 for non Rated), not sure if that's still a rule

    Changing/Switching airframes

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    1 minute ago, Bigred said:

    The Navy does have a process but the numbers are exceptionally small that do it. The irony is the Navy seems to make it easier to do (as compared to the AF) but less guys do it. From what I’ve seen it’s mainly because of how the officer career path is built and crossing from rotary to fixed, etc, can be difficult to recover from career wise. 

    my understanding is that, if you elect to do that switch, you unofficially give up any shot at command since you never have the same level of cred in the jet. i think people in the air force would take that deal, they can always punch to the guard/reserves if they truly want to command. this reminds me a bit of people i know coming out of UPT to C-17s fighting to go back to their previous base when they're told that they "need" to go to either a big or small base (whichever they weren't at previously) for career progression.

    i don't believe that most people who are trying to crossflow are worried about box checking sts. in the U-2/B-2 communities it seems like carefully selecting self-actualized pilots who are nicely seasoned in various airframes is a net gain to the community. this is a bit in contrast to what i've heard from some 11Fs where FAIPs show up late and have all the associated hassle and the community gets what it gets, good or bad.

    Changing/Switching airframes

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by 12xu2a3x3

    On 12/19/2019 at 8:03 PM, WheelsOff said:

    He was one of 4 lucky heavy dudes that were part of a heavy to fighter crossflow “experiment”. They also sent 4 more to bombers. Know one of them personally. 
     

    The version I heard was that AFPC was kept out of the loop on this crossflow good idea fairy, and it pissed them off, and subsequently shut down any future crossflow chances for the fat kids, unfortunately. 
     

    Edit: spelling

    someone significantly wiser than I recently said to me that there have always been paths to oddball crossflow and that; they exist as they are, amorphous and ephemeral, because it ensures only the most determined can successfully navigate the entire way. while i appreciate this deeply not cynical view of crossflow it's not really the best solution.

    this isn't a new take but: there's an extremely reasonable case to be made that, for reasons ranging from leveraging individual potential to simply making people happy to retain them, a well-defined and regularly held cross flow process should be established. hell, the navy has one and it works pretty damn well from what i've heard. a flag officer came and spoke to some pilots in my community not too long ago and i left with the distinct impression that there is some awareness and potentially, willingness to push for that type of program.

     

    U-2 Dragonlady info

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    18 hours ago, HuggyU2 said:

    It took a long time and a lot of effort by some great people to start a U-2 WIC... but it finally happened.  And the initial cadre was Patched Thursday, and graduated tonight.  

    A very HUGE congrats to Jester, Posit and Gump.  Leading the way for the Brotherhood, they are great reps for the U-2 weapons system.  

    I was able to attend Thursday's festivities, and the O'Club was mobbed with U-2 folks... Intel, Mission Planners, 9RW Chief, and all of the Drivers.  It really was an epic evening.  Thanks to all involved for allowing the Old Guys to show up and be a part of it.  

    Hail Dragons.  

    absolutely and long overdue 

    • Like 1

    B-21 Raider

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    On 12/12/2019 at 1:47 PM, Sketch said:

    Is it reasonable to say that a brand new F/A-18F is a more capable and cost-effective platform than the F-111?

    combat radius of the F-111C was almost triple the F/A-18F

    • Like 1
    • Upvote 1

    B-21 Raider

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by 12xu2a3x3

    On 11/19/2019 at 10:36 PM, Clark Griswold said:

    They've had their problems in the past, including recent memory:

    https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/event/indonesian-confrontation

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_East_Timorese_crisis

    https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/indonesia-future-threat-australia/

    Regaining the capability to hold targets at risk at distance from Australia only enhances their defense position lost when the F-111s where retired.

    This is a fantastic and regrettably out of print text on the F-111 in Straya: http://airpower.airforce.gov.au/APDC/media/PDF-Files/Historical Publications/HIST22-From-Controversy-to-Cutting-Edge-A-History-of-the-F-111-in-Australian-Service.pdf

    Lots of interesting takeaways, this one in particular stuck with me:

    "Plans to retire the USAF F-111Gs as part of the Clinton Administration military forces drawdown coincided with the Australian Government considering its options to extend the life of the F-111C fleet beyond 2010. "

    Does make you wonder if their doctrine will drive them to a bomber acquisition. Presumably they'd plus up the 6 Sq Growlers by converting the 1 Sq Super Hornets if they purchased a bomber.

    Incidentally, if anyone is on exchange in the RAAF or for that matter has joined the RAAF please shoot me a DM.

    AD Pilot to CSO or USN NFO

    in Q & A Forum

    Posted

    Pair of truly bizarre questions:

    could I go to:

    UCT as an AD 11x? (I get the "why the hell would you" is another matter) I'd guess most of the "well over 30s" in UCT are guard/reserve types like UPT. Is there:

    a.) a path

    b.) no path because no one has tried, or

    c.) no path because there isn't supposed to be one

    or could i go to:

    The Navy to be an NFO if I'm already a rated USAF pilot? I know their max age is 26 waiver-able up to additional 48 months for those in the military (I'm older than that). It's not a 1:1 change, pilot to pilot, so i would need their version of UCT correct?

    probably just have to keep being a pilot right?

    Thanks!

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