MooseAg03
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Posts posted by MooseAg03
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Watch it like a hawk and don't let them change it on you.
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Except 2:1 dwell only creates a large surge capacity that I'm sure will be taken advantage of at some point. When there are new GCS's being built, you don't think they'll actually stop using the old ones do you? They will expand the combat lines to 90 like they've been talking about and there will be no dwell.
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...or for the coming exodus of 18X folks in the next couple of years. Buddy of mine at Cannon said nearly all of the ones he knows plan to bail after their 6 years.
I do hope that I'm wrong, but I don't see a crossflow/UPT-direct ever truly going away, unfortunately (although we may be lucky enough to see them stop, for short periods at a time).
True, they have no idea what percentage of retention they should plan for, I've asked them three times and gotten no answer as to what they're planning for. Dropping an RPA on this VML makes no sense to backfill a shortage that might happen in 2 years. URT and Holloman have ramped up production significantly, and some of us are being let go back into cockpits. I have a small bit of optimism that the next VML might see me escape RPAs. If not, add one more loss to the pilot exodus.
Not only will 18Xs be a problem in a few years, they aren't even thinking about Sensor Operator retention right now.
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Latest VML at TCM has at least one...also the crossflow is being discussed over in the "switching airframes" thread.
...Back to the drops!
This may be the wing planning for the worst, according to the AFPC RPA assignments guy, there will be no more crossflows or UPT directs unless something changes like a huge increase in CAPs.
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I upgraded with minimum time exactly 18 months after my dollar ride in the C-17, just over 800 hours total time (including UPT time).
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Any rumors of this making it to RPA squadrons? Our manning is "getting better" and dudes are slowly being released back to cockpits. I haven't heard a peep...
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21 hours ago, Clark Griswold said:
On the subject of CAS, read this a couple of years ago on the not praised enough A-37B Killer Tweet, enjoy.
http://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/legends-of-vietnam-super-tweet-8974282/?no-ist
What a great article. If we did this for a decade during the Cold War and unlimited defense budgets, how have we not acquired any light attack aircraft in today's fiscal environment? 5th Gen and stealth are great, but very expensive for COIN. As the article states, the guys that flew thousands of ground attack sorties were just your average pilots. I know a place where the USAF could find hundreds of guys willing to do that job, and most now have weapons employment experience. I'd love to trade my GCS for anything with a view, and if it had stores hanging on the wings that would be even better. Instead, the just declared combat ready F-35 will be overseas killing ISIS to the tune of $30K per flight hour within a year or two. Makes sense.
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Another thumbs up for Downtown Aviation. If they can take a guy stuck in droids for three years with only six recent instrument approaches and 2.8 hours in a Cessna over the last 3 years and get him to pass the ATP I'd call that successful. Don't get me wrong, I worked my ass off preparing for it and studying their materials, and I walked away with my rating.
If anyone needs any info, PM me.
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Dude... wow. March? That's crazy.
Isn't it? We've gone from guys waiting forever to pin on to almost having the board as early as possible in the year very quickly. Is this a symptom of a larger problem? So few O-4s we now have to promote as early as we can?
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New Senate proposal to screw us even more..
If some areas have people paying hundreds less than BAH, what about those of us paying hundreds more? Vegas BAH has not kept up with housing price increases, I currently pay $210 more just in rent before utilities.
Let's take some of the Senate's pay & guaranteed pension first.
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This, I've heard the retention of Sensor Operators is just as bad as the Pilots.
The number I've heard thrown around recently is 2% retention. In typical Big Blue fashion, their eye is on the closest obstacle (RPA pilot manning) and they can't see the brick wall just beyond that we are flying toward (Sensor manning).
We all shook our heads 2 years ago when we forced out qualified SOs based on crap they had done years before as an A1C. Then they cut the re-enlistment bonus completely and only just recently reinstated it for first term SOs. What did they expect would happen? I saw this happening at least 2 years ago.
I wonder how senior leaders will explain away the RPA sensor operator manning crisis that will immediately follow the RPA pilot manning crisis.
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As an recent O-4 bonus taker, I'd have to make $150k on the outside to pull in what I currently take home in net pay. Yes, that means you'd have to stay in...
Just wait until you see contractors making much more than that doing much less than what you'll be doing.
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We like to print out the lowest 30-60-90 times and hang it in the office so we can shame those you speak of.
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This is only the first step. If we can get more enlisted RPA pilots to take over all non-combat RPA roles, then permanently reclassify all current RPA pilots into the RPA career field, we will no longer need to pull pilots out of cockpits for RPAs. This would solve rated manning problems faster than any bonus increase (although A1 will continue to pursue that with Congress). Lots of reasons to be positive, people.
If a forced re-cat happens, there are a large number of non-vol'd guys in my squadron who will punch at the earliest opportunity. Right now the only thing keeping us holding on is the slim possibility of returning to ANY manned aircraft.
If I see 11M3K disappear from my primary AFSC, I will drop PC paperwork the next day. And I'll keep applying until I'm let go to the guard or my ADSC expires.
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Agreed, 15+ years would be insane. Though I'd rather be a shoe with a 5 yr commitment than an 18X with a 6 yr. As things currently stand, an 18X would still need to get their commercial license (200 hours real flying) to be employable outside big blue.
True. I'm questioning my life choices and wondering why I didn't choose Acquisitions or Contracting.
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As a former URT instructor, I'm inclined to disagree. The vast majority of Academy grads to come through the program were either medically disqualified from flying, or bottom of their class.
They could be bottom of the class, I never asked. The commitment difference did come up though. Wonder what would happen if it was 15+ years.
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There are quite a few academy grads that I've run into in RPAs who went 18X specifically for the shorter commitment. I think that says something.
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Just curious:
If you haven't done the ATP written yet, are you planning on paying out-of-pocket (or burning GI Bill) for ATP-CTP or are you expecting an airline to pick that up?
In that case, get hired by a regional with no training contract. Complete the ATP-CTP, get some 121 time, and keep your apps in at the majors. I would only pay the $$ out of pocket if I knew I had the hours to go straight to the majors.
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7 BW/CC at Dyess from what I understand.I'm still wondering which Wing Commanders allow concealed carry on base. If someone knows, can you put them in touch with the 99th ABW/CC, please?Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkI was told by our leadership that policy at Dyess was revoked pending legal review...
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I'm still wondering which Wing Commanders allow concealed carry on base. If someone knows, can you put them in touch with the 99th ABW/CC, please?
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Apparently it's combat now.
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Except this is another illustration of how not allowing law abiding CHL holders to carry on base just means those who break the law or plan to are the only ones who will be armed.
I think this is an example of why we need to be able to carry on base.
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Hell of a first post.
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I'd love to go teach pilot training, if I can make it out of this shit hole. I agree all of the medals are inflated today, and this would only make it worse. Unfortunately, the RPA/ISR enterprise as a whole is structured in a way that precludes us from receiving recognition for much of what we do, and a few extra medals won't fix that.
New RPA bases, any updates?
in General Discussion
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I knew that number included contract lines, but I didn't read close enough to see the Army was taking so many. Are they finally going to MCE ops?
If they stick to the dwell plan, I think it will make a huge difference in QOL and retention. I just hope they don't pick the wrong bases (Davis-Monthan).
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