VigilanteNav
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Posts posted by VigilanteNav
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On 1/9/2020 at 12:36 AM, Lisenbyjacob said:
Hi guys, figured it was my time to jump in this conversation since I'm finally gearing up to start putting in my first applications. Gonna shoot for the 158th in Savannah to break the ice. Tricky thing about my situation is that I'm currently AD assigned to Andersen AFB in Guam so I'm not sure how that's gonna work with my DEROS. If anyone has any insight on the 158th, it would be much appreciated.
PM me. Long time ANG C-130 Nav with lots of insights on how the hiring process goes for fully qualified bubbas.
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Thread revival, any CSOs who just completed CSO school or in school now have the current gouge on the school as it currently exists? I'm an AFROTC Det CC with a CSO select who is about to commission and head to P'Cola this summer. And, I'm an ol' school Panel Nav (slick 130's) who went through P'cola in '96 so very interested in what the school looks like now.
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Not sure if someone posted this one earlier and I missed it but thought it was worthy of more discussion. Can we please stop having CC's who touch another officer's wife inappropriately at an official Air Force function? Is that too much to ask for? Do your F'ing job and just bang your own wife/significant other!!!
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11 hours ago, SuperFreaky said:
Would you guys be willing to give out some gouge on the quickest way to the major airlines after finishing up guard seasoning orders. ~700 TT. Fighters. Thanks!
Please include variables like what’s the best regional airlines to fly for is and how long do guys expect to fly for them until being hired at a major.
No first hand experience but I have a buddy who just got picked up by Jet Blue and I know many pilots in the Guard and Reserves who fly for regionals and majors. Buddy at Jet Blue was a C-17 pilot with probably 2 to 3k hours but hadn't flown in the last 3-4 years of his AD time (he retired as an O-6 with 20+ years). He got hired by Air Wisconsin pretty easily and freely admitted to them that he was just going to stay with them until he got enough recent flying hours to get hired by a Major. I think he flew for them for six months before moving on to Jet Blue. So, basically the regionals are so desperate that they will hire guys as short term seat fillers. Plus, you can start with a regional and then go on mil leave when you get orders with your unit and you wouldn't have to feel bad about that since the regional needs you more than you need them. In your case, I'm not sure you have enough total hours to get a look from the Majors yet. But, I'd imagine you'd fill up your log book pretty quick with a regional. I have nothing to add on the other comments that tell you to fly more with your fighter unit. I'm a mobility bubba so flying part time with your unit and full time with a regional or Major is ops normal in that world.
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On 10/1/2019 at 1:40 AM, Harambe said:
Could a 11M ever become an ALO?
Sorry about the delayed comment but I just viewed this post. The answer to your question is yes but likely only in the ANG. I was a 12M (C-130H Nav) and got hired to be an ALO in an ANG TACP unit. In AD, I haven't heard of any 1XM's becoming ALO's. The ANG is open to it because they need to be. My hiring interview went like this (edited out the stuff that didn't matter): Do you like working with the Army? Yes, I love to camp out under the stars and I have my air assault and army airborne badges. Response: you're hired. After four years of ALO experience, it's the toughest job you'll ever love as the saying goes. Totally recommend and we need great officers in the TACP community! PM me for me deets.
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On 5/31/2019 at 1:31 PM, fect said:
The legacy syllabus and the new syllabus are currently overlapping; I think the first class on the new syllabus drops in August.
I'm honestly 100% about how drops and graduation will work with the new syllabus. EWOs track in the middle of T-6s, and the other three tracks split off before T-1s. However, each of the four tracks drop at about the same time, so I think drop nights will stay the same. Not sure about graduation, as WSOs have top off for a while after drop night, while Navs, SOs, and EWOs will all graduate shortly after. F-15Es have several more T-1 and T-6 flights after drop night, and Bone/Buff WSOs have a few more T-1 flights and some academics before graduation. My guess is they'll graduate the whole class at once, then have the WSOs top off with their wings already pinned on.
I'm a ROTC Det CC (CSO career field) with a senior (AS400) who is a CSO select so looking to push him info on the current details of CSO training experience at P'cola (other than hit Seville Quarter and the beach at the optimal times). If anyone has the current skinny on this, please post. Note that I went through P'cola in 1996 so the sharing of my experience is quite dated (yet, still love telling stories of my T-34 sorties with Marine Corps Pilots and my escape from the helo dunker).
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What? Can't hear you.
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The Air Guard, MAFFS, and Herk communities (and world) lost three great heroes on Jan 23, 2020. Captain Ian McBeth (Lt Col, MT ANG), First Officer Paul Hudson ((Lt Col (Ret) Marine Corps)), and Flight Engineer Rick DeMorgan, Jr. (18 year USAF FE vet) perished while fighting the fires in Australia.
Personally, I was a Navigator in the Montana ANG with Ian for three years and I can't think of any pilot who I'd rather go into combat with.
Please, do not speculate on this thread as to the cause of the crash. I just want this thread to be a memorial for those who knew any of these three aviators. We will find out about the details of the crash in due time.
https://www.coulsonaviationusa.com/newsmedia
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On 12/31/2019 at 8:27 AM, Ghost of James Post said:
Warning to anyone considering VLPAD - be prepared for the AF to screw it up. I did a VLPAD tour July 2016-Sept 2019. Accessing to active duty was easy enough, but the AF has no idea how to offboard Reservists back to the Reserves. First, you'll have to find your own unit after you're done w/ VLPAD. This wasn't a huge deal for me, as a I had an informal "drug deal" with my prior unit …but still, it would be nice to have return rights. Your career will be managed by AFPC during that time, and they have zero idea how to manage Reservists. For example, they screwed up my separation orders, and I didn't get actual separation orders until 2 days before my final out. Then, instead of flowing me to the IRR, while I awaited the 1288 to be processed for my new unit, AFPC completely discharged me from the military....which took 6 weeks to un. I could go on with examples of this. Another thing to consider is promotions - I met a ROPMA mandatory board a year late, and I didn't pin on major until I was a 7 year captain.
My $.02 - if you can get an AGR gig, take that. If your unit has an endless stream of man days, take those over VLPAD. VLPAD is a giant cluster
Concur on all. Do not expect to get promoted early while on a VLPAD tour as the AD doesn't have any "vacancy promotion" process and you'll likely be placed in a position that is at your current rank anyway. Get a "drug deal" for getting rehired with your prior unit if at all possible! I'm six months out from the end of my VLPAD tour and so far so good on rejoining one of my prior ANG units. So far, my AD ISR (in-service recruiter) has been great and the 1288 is in process. Results vary with the ISRs though so I've heard others have been less than helpful. Absolutely do not do a VLPAD tour if you aren't willing to suffer through some of the admin struggles/irritations/etc. It should be a very smooth process but it can definitely be a challenge if you don't get good support along the way. For me, my big wins were to get a command tour (ROTC Det CC) and 3x365 points toward an AD retirement (still about 4 years away but I'm seeing some light at the end of the tunnel) so I'll take the good along with the ugly.
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On 12/30/2019 at 10:21 PM, Kenny Powers said:
What I imagine is happening, though it's just a guess, is that the VLPAD program as a whole is being reviewed, because other AFSCs that were included might have met their goals or other AFSCs may need to be added. So they stopped the whole damn thing until they can figure it out. Meanwhile, you have guard dudes willing to go, literally a win/win, and the AF is ing it up.
Again, other options out there and obviously the air force cant get their shit together, so they'll miss out on recruiting the talent.
Yes, the entire program is under review. As a current VLPAD/ROTC Det CC, we were told that there are a combination of things going on that caused the pause in the program. First, the AFRC is not meeting total end strength numbers so they wanted a pause of all the VLPAD accessions to take a look at this and ensure they can continue to meet mission reqs. Second, the AD is already at their authorized end strength number for FY20 (as of Oct) so taking on new VLPADs only makes sense for basically the most critical fill positions. As of today (Jan 1st), I think ROTC was able to get at least one new VLPAD tour approved since the pause went into effect so I believe it is a very case by case approval process. If you have applied for the program but are waiting to hear on it, IMO, I wouldn't hold your breath/make any firm plans/etc....unless you know your position is a very critical fill and the POC has advised you they are sending up a waiver to the HAF (no guesses by me on what is critical and what isn't in the eyes of the AF). As far as ROTC goes, the ROTC Leadership is telling us the VLPAD program is in a sunset mode so the openings will be few and far between going forward. They plan to get down to about 10% of the total postions filled by VLPADs. The AD has a new process of filling the ROTC positions and after the first round this year it seemed to provide a lot more qualified candidates and fills than in years past. I'll try to repost anything I hear out of ROTC on this going forward.
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On 12/23/2019 at 12:46 PM, wpi41 said:
Just to be clear, the VLPAD program puts you on Title X orders right?
Yes
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On 12/4/2019 at 4:17 PM, Stitch said:
When my son was doing the ROTC thing he was the ONLY one who wanted a rated slot. All the other cadets thought he was nuts.
What happens when the Dets are left to be run by mostly non-rated bubbas. As a rated bubba, my cadets come in not necessarily wanting to be rated but then I convert them! Moohahaha!
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On 11/27/2019 at 11:55 AM, pawnman said:
Holy thread resurrection...but I UTFSF to find something applicable.
I've got an assignment as an ROTC instructor at Indiana University. Curious if other folks have done similar gigs. My biggest questions are about how to do the admin stuff when I'm not stationed at a base. I figure I'll have to make the 3-hour drive to Wright-Patt once a year for a flight physical. Just curious if anyone knows how stuff like finance inprocessing works, who is the servicing TMO office for the move, where do my flight records go while I'm not stationed at a base...
Once I have university approval for the assignment, I'll contact the Det/CC directly. Just hoping some folks here have done the GSU thing before and have some insight.
Pawnman, I'm a rated bubba ROTC Det CC so been here done this with the flight records, physicals, etc. Hasn't been too bad actually as long as the HARM office is ok and mine is at Wright Patt so you should be good to go. I even got a two year bonus while in the seat here and doing exactly the same thing I would have done anyway. If I remember correctly, your Det has a good set up of simulators so you'll be a great asset there. PM me for more deets.
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On 8/12/2019 at 1:17 AM, Yeeyee said:
Speaking of C130 units, which are the more competitive?
FWIW (coming from a long time C-130 Nav familiar with all the units in question), the CSprings Reserve unit is historically one of the hardest to get into and most hires (that I know of) are of peeps with Herk time already. The CA ANG (Channel Islands) might be the next toughest but I'd be guessing as to which one of the three ANG units (CA, WY, and NV) with the MAFFs mission is the toughest to get into at the present time. If Reno would be a good location for you to commute to, I'd shoot for that unit first. Be advised that you don't get to fly MAFFS right away. It will take you several years and many flying hours before they'll give you the shot to join the MAFFS bubbas. So, better have a long term outlook on this or you'll be disappointed. Good news is that it appears they are hiring soon...https://www.152aw.ang.af.mil/MEMBERS/Current-Job-Openings/ Good luck!
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On 5/1/2019 at 9:18 AM, Tank said:
You are rolling to AD for a single, specific assignment that last 3 years and 1 day.
You’re still on the AFRC/ANG promotion cycle and when done with your VLPAD assignment, you go back to AFRC/ANG (but not your original unit unless they hire you back).
As a former ANG member who is currently on a VLPAD tour, you are only in the AFRC promotion cycle and you only go back into the AFRC (IRR specifically) when the tour ends unless you proactively search for a job in the AFRC or ANG and get hired by a unit before the tour ends. I'm in my last year so working the rejoin to an ANG unit so PM me if you have questions on that process. I've done AD to ANG to AFRC to ANG to ANG to AD so I'm getting a bit experienced on this process (for good or bad!).
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On 8/6/2019 at 8:01 PM, Bobsan said:
Anyone done or heard of an unsponsored reservist doing a VLPAD tour straight out of UPT? Or for a Guard guy not completing fighter pipeline or whose unit went to RPAs?
If so, how would assignments work to an initial airframe?
I'd be skeptical this would be an option. As KP stated, the real need in the VLPAD program is for IPs or experienced MPs to fill the holes that the just completed their ADSC bubbas are vacating in droves. From my (albeit limited) recent peek into some of the AD units, there are plenty of new faces in the units but not enough flying time and IPs to go around. My 1.5 cents.
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On 8/4/2019 at 10:57 PM, SPAWNmaster said:
Copy all, sounds quick. My service commitment situation is similar to what you had asked about further upstream in this thread. What ended up being the answer re UPT flying commitment release, ADSC etc?
FWIW (I'm long past any ADSC commitment to my rated career field), but, when you go on a VLPAD tour from the ANG you separate from the ANG and you have no rehire rights to that unit or any commitment to that unit when the VLPAD tour ends. When the TAG signs that MFR, they are basically saying goodbye and godspeed. When the tour ends, if you do nothing in terms of trying to join a new unit, IMA position, rejoin your ol' ANG unit, etc, you just fall into the inactive ready reserve (IRR) system (to the best of my knowledge from where I sit on a VLPAD tour with one year left on the clock). So, I would think that any existing ADSC would likely just sit there untapped (if you favor beer as your preferred cold beverage). I have no knowledge that anyone has actually gone this route if that's your goal in trying to jump onto an AD tour and then skip out on the remaining ADSC. Someone might chime in if they have executed this go around?
FWIW (part deuce), I've been on a VLPAD tour for two years and it's got plusses and minuses (like every job) but all and all it's 365 points per year. I'll be around all day for PMs with specific questions. Cheers!
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Anyone know if water survival training (initial qual) is all consolidated now to Fairchild AFB?
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On 3/7/2019 at 5:52 PM, NodakMaryland said:
I was told that if you received a pilot slot (specifically unsponsored, like my case) from AFRES and didn't use it, you'd be "disqualified per regulations" from receiving another pilot slot. For me, I'm an AFROTC junior & AFRES unsponsored select and would like to apply for one or two local guard units...
NodakMaryland, Being a Guard guy and currently on a ROTC tour, your main issue with getting a pilot slot with a Guard unit will be that you haven't completed your degree yet. Most units I know want the degree in hand plus a bunch of civilian flying hours and a PPL (especially if you aren't already an enlisted dude in that wing). Now, if a unit is desperate enough, maybe they'd take a look at you. If you are in Maryland, I seriously doubt the Maryland ANG A-10 or C-130 units or any of the Andrews AFB units would be that desperate. If I were you, I'd keep the AFRES slot in hand, finish ROTC, finish UPT, find a AFRES unit, attempt to transfer to the ANG later. I just learned that there are only 2 ROTC cadets nationwide in this FY who will commission and go straight into the Guard (point being: it is a hard route to take).
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On 3/5/2019 at 8:12 AM, Tank said:
How long after applying for the VLPAD are you notified of an approved or disapproved or is that on a case by case basis?
Case by case I assume. In my case, for a ROTC Det CC position, it took about 9 months from app submittal to orders starting (notification that I was approved was about 2 months prior to the orders starting). I would assume some other tours such as just going back to being a line flyer in a squadron would be much shorter.
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Sweet irony: the attempted refresh of the "What's right with the Air Force?" thread to get it back on track and out of the DTS, GTC, and Email ditch shows a real sweet re-enlistment of a Vermont Guardsman. Go Guard!!
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15 hours ago, MT near said:
What about a non flying vlpad tour? Anyone have luck getting the bonus doing that?
Yes, I did. I'm currently on an AFROTC Det CC tour so 100% non-flying. I got in under the FY18 expanded bonus program and got 2 years of the bonus to the end of my VLPAD tour (ends July 2020). Several others in AFROTC got it as well. The consecutive VLPAD tour option seems to be in flux depending on which way the wind is blowing. I've heard some have pulled it off. Currently, I'm hearing that there is policy at HAF that consecutive VLPAD tours are a no go. I may try for one anyway. I figure if the position is critical enough and they have no schlitz on AD to fill it then they might be willing to break with the policy if it still exists at that time.
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Not true on the must have one ANG OPR to get promoted. I shared my story of my O-4 promo earlier. A few more details on that...at first, the FSS button pusher at the wing said that my last OPR from AD was not sufficient as it didn't say "ready for increased responsibilities" in the last line. Fortunately, a well placed call to the Guard Bureau A-1 office overruled the FSS limfac and told them to go ahead and submit my package. A couple or six short months later, boom, I was an O-4. Long story short, that you can't get promoted in the Guard without a Guard OPR is erroneous and likely a localism that has prevailed a certain places. Hopefully, your squadron leadership would be willing to check in with Guard Bureau and get the truth. Good Luck!
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On 1/11/2019 at 11:13 PM, Mox said:
2nd option: Completing 20 years AD, then going Guard/Reserves?
It is possible (but requires a waiver process and the unit likely has to be desperate for a warm body from the few cases I've seen). I have a friend who got passed over to O-5 on AD but still was able to retire at 20 years. The Reserves convinced him to come back to duty with them. He just made the Reserve O-6 board. The financial details of this are that your AD retirement check gets chopped the amount you are making for any reserve duty (I'm simplifying this but it's basically what happens)...so, you don't make your AD retirement plus any reserve duty pay. You are doing this for love of country for the most part (although in my friend's case, his final retirement check once he finally retires again will be a bit larger).
C-17s just stood up at the Pittsburgh Reserve unit so they might be hiring and same with the Charlotte ANG (no inside info though).
Upcoming Boards
in Air National Guard / Air Force Reserves
Posted
In real world Air Force speak, Recce is Reconnaissance. The post you commented on meant recognition so when they show you a picture of an aircraft at the interview you should be able to state what aircraft it is. And based on his comment, there aren't a lot of of units who would do that to you in an interview. So, you may not want to waste too many brain bytes on it but it still will be a good thing to work on as you proceed into your budding AF career.