RTB

I would agree for some key jobs a year is helpful. But IMO we went full retard on 365s for a while to prove we were in for the win. For a while back in the late 200x's, those thing were dropping all the time for jobs I'd categorize as less than critical. I'd also argue that someone who's there for 3-4 months can make an impact, as long as others around them are willing to listen to new ideas. Problem is it doesn't look good to our Army brothers who always deploy for 12+ months. And I personally wouldn't presume Big Blue has done the robust calculus on which jobs need a 12 month stint, although someone may think it's a good idea. Maybe I'm too jaded but I saw FAR too many unnecessary deployments in my time to believe we did a good job using our manpower downrange. I'd also argue that turning an otherwise fired up warrior into a bitter hater of all things Blue during a painful 365 doesn't help the greater AF situation.

This is SO TRUE! I very clearly (and fondly) remember the days before the 365 monster was born. Prior to about 2005, deployments that are now 365s were always filled by 90-120 deployments. SIGNIFICANTLY more palatable for everyone. Not sure why we had to go to the 365's either because the personnel drain is essentially the same (1 body-equivalent deployed for a year). But with a 365 you have the added pressure of a TX course for the 365 dude, not to mention the morale crushing effects to a guy and his family. I've asked the question many times in the past but was never able to get a good answer on why we let that genie out of the bottle. About the only reason I can fathom is the continuity of a single person, which IMO is significantly overshadowed by the negative retention impacts.

I sure hope you're right.

My thoughts exactly! WTF!

What exactly is an 11F AD recall?

IMO, any talk about disenfranchisement because the popular vote was opposite the EC vote is pointless. Yes, the losing side is upset and understandably, but they have to acknowledge the facts. This election outcome was a direct result of the campaign plan and execution by both candidates. The Donald and his team campaigned to win the EC, NOT necessarily to win the popular vote. Campaigning to win the popular vote would have looked very different. And likely would have resulted in a significantly different number of voters turning out to vote since they would know their vote would count in hard left states like CA and NY.

Do all those cards waive the annual fee for Active Duty?

Clear, Correct and Concise!

Wow. That was a serious Holy Shit moment.

Absolutely worth it. I served 21+ years flying F-15s and T-38s and wouldn't trade it for anything. Sure, there were times I was annoyed and disillusioned by the queep and mis-prioritization of Big Blue, but flying fighters was a dream come true and serving with some of the finest people I've ever known was even better. Lifelong friends, incredible flying, great experiences and now a follow on career in the airlines that was enabled by all of the above. I was never interested in Med School so can't give advice on what to pursue, but I've known a couple guys who went to Med School after their initial flying commitment was up. Also know 2 guys who are docs but went to pilot training and now fly as pilot flight surgeons. So there are options to do both, although very limited obviously.

Not sure the Contact Us link is working on your website. Sent 2 different emails requesting info on a VA IRRRL several weeks ago but never heard from you guys.

Copy. I'm slow.

That happened?

Quick turn on the HUD tape getting released to YouTube!

The fighter pilot shortage is real, but the shortfall could be significantly reduced IMHO if the AF did an honest scrub of fighter requirements. And I'm talking about requirements going away, not getting transferred to another AFSC. NAF-level Stan/Eval shops for example...what would you say they do here... In my experience, they just duplicated effort and got in the way. My staff job as an 11F was training Joint Operations Center staffs around the world....completely unrelated to my AFSC and something I had no prior experience doing -- total waste of 22 months. And overseas deployed billets that "require fighter pilot experience" frequently don't. Kill all those worthless 'requirements' and we might close the gap on the shortfall a bit.

You mean a link in the threat titled "WTF? (**NSFW**)"?

- Definitely see the flight doc. ASAP. Don't risk your long term health! - Probably DNIF right away if any numbness and/or tingling from what i've seen in the past. - Anytime nerves are getting pinched, it's serious IMO! - Totally depends on what's happening and how hard it will be to correct. I've known quite a few pointy nose guys with similar situations who went back to flying fighters. But also know a couple who were determined to be 'non-ejection seat qualified', although those guys had neck problems, not lower back problems. - Happened to a classmate of mine in UPT and while he was out for awhile and had to have back surgery, he was back flying 6 months later.

IOC today. http://www.defensenews.com/story/breaking-news/2016/08/02/f35-ioc-air-force-operational-acc-combat/87948142/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Breaking News 8.2.16&utm_term=Editorial - Breaking News

Seriously?? What Wing?

So this "retired fighter pilot" guy isn't even a pilot?? Pretty much destroys the credibility of the entire story.

I'll throw in my 2 cents as a guy who was told I wasn't pilot qualified many times both prior to and after commissioning. Never accepted that answer, eventually got the waivers, went to UPT, and had a long, successful AF flying career. I'm sure you've done this but I assume you've tried to get second opinions on both issues to either confirm or refute that you have the conditions that disqualify you? Every situation is different but I think a common theme is that as a cold call, email, or letter, you stand a near 0 chance of getting something fixed or waived if you're coming in off the street. Meeting with someone in person almost always gets you more traction. And using a congressman is usually a dead end as others have suggested. That said, do you know anyone stationed at Robins in Georgia? The AFRC pilot selection office is there as well as the AFRC Command Surgeon. The pilot selection office would know who to contact to proceed with a waiver. The Command Surgeon's office would be involved in such a waiver. A quick Google search turned up the AFRC SG as Col James Dienst. I think your Hail Mary option is to find a way to meet with him or someone in his office to plead your case. Still a long shot but if you don't have any other options, I'd give it a try.

I'll throw in another data point for those considering NBKC. I recently closed on my third mortgage with NBKC and this most recent experience sucked so I wanted to offer a word of caution. First purchase through them and subsequent refi several years ago both went well but this latest purchase was rough. TL:DR version: Best rate around, $6k+ in closing credit, very easy application process...all good until a week prior then all hell broke loose and we closed a week and half late after serious stress for all parties. MASSIVE thrash for 2.5 weeks I never want to repeat. Lots of rude interactions with them, terrible treatment of my realtor by them, and lots of stress as the deal almost fell through. Closing agent and realtors for both sides all recommended we just start over with a new bank because it was so difficult and the "fix" seemed to keep changing from NBKC. We closed a week and a half late so all's well that ends well but it wasn't pleasant for anyone involved. I'll consider them again, but if your situation is at all unusual, keep after them to make sure you're good to go, but even that may not be enough. They had all of our info/documentation for weeks and we had multiple assurances that "we have everything we need and we're all set for closing". Then a week prior, that changed to essentially, "there's no way we can move forward with this". It was far from the smooth transaction we'd expected.

Damn, rough thread. We bitch all the time about a lack of veterans running for office and when a guy finally does, he gets vilified over some pics he took years ago and used on his campaign website? Rough. From what he said, it sounds like he didn't stage those pics for his campaign, they were taken while he was on AD. Give the dude a break.

From this morning's Air Force Magazine Daily Report: Air Force Seeks Pilot Bonus Bump —WILL SKOWRONSKI To stave off a fighter pilot exodus and reduce the growing pilot shortage, Air Force planners are considering a myriad of approaches. But they believe increasing the retention bonus could have the most immediate impact. Notably, about 800 pilots will be eligible to sign new commitments in exchange for a bonus in Fiscal 2017, planners told Air Force Magazine. In March, Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh Welsh told members of Congress the service would be seeking legislation to increase the retention bonus from the $25,000 a year that has been in place since 1999 to $35,000 a year. But even that might not be enough. Last year, the airlines hired 3,500 pilots and are expected to hire at the same rate, if not higher, for the next 10 years. Air Force studies indicate a $48,500 bonus will be needed to maintain the pilot inventory when the airlines hire just 3,200 pilots a year. Between $54,750 and $61,500 would be required if the airlines hire between 3,500 and 3,800 pilots a year, according to the Air Force. It costs an average of $10 million to train a fighter pilot, so planners see the bonuses—even when they amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars for extended commitments—as worthy investments. "We retain experience using the bonus," Lt. Col. Robert Butkovich, chief of rated force policy, said. "If we lose that experience, it's going to continually erode the Air Force's position." Offering the right amount, Butkovich said, could return the bonus take rate to the ideal 65 percent within two to three years.

Hilarious!