jonlbs

Was more referring to the E-side of things, don't got much experience yet on the other side of things. So stuff like ALS, NCOA, Course 15, and other random PME. Sounds like we could use some more of the courses you mentioned. Stuff on how to be a good person while throwing in some good leadership reminders to keep it fresh.

The problem with MX is the same exact problem that is going on elsewhere in the AF. Only thing different is the job of MX blows (ask me how I know...) so people don't have a good time to justify the endless bullshit. But the real problem is what the AF values. And it promotes based on these values. It DOES NOT value mission. It values bullet writing, bullshit leadership courses, ass kissing tours, etc. Oh you took NCOPME bullshit 101, you are on track for the next level. Writing award packages filled with pure bullshit will get you promoted, not busting ass on the line. This promotes pieces of shit just like it does everywhere else in the AF and they are going to continue running it into the ground. Only way you make SNCO is buying into the bullshit they spew. Maybe it is only in my corner of the world but it is as clear as mud here. Man I seem a little salty, but it is tough watching something with such pride and heritage turn into a f***ing dumpster fire.

Firebirds... U call - we kill

Timing can be everything. You are young and just need to keep beating down the doors. Don't enlist unless it is something you truly want to do, like be a mechanic. Don't enlist for the sake of improving your odds. But if you do enlist do a real man's job 2A6X1, MFE.

Don’t sell yourself short on the pilot opportunity. Depth Perception is not as simple as some test at the eye doctor. It isn’t a black and white, you have it or you don’t case. There are levels to how well your eyes are working together to form binocular depth and you may be at the level good enough for pilot which your civilian optometrist probably doesn’t know the standard for. And that doesn’t even start down the rabbit hole of waivers. Where there is a will there is a waiver. If you search waiver guide on here you may be able to find a more recent link but this is what I got: https://www.wpafb.af.mil/Portals/60/documents/711/usafsam/USAF-Waiver-Guide-190417.pdf

Went from a standalone ANG to ARC with AD-owned jets. It isn't even close...

Some data from Texas. A huge chunk of the state pretty much never even went into social distancing if you ask me. I never stopped heading into work, the highways and everything were bustling everyday. Grocery stores ran like normal. Gas stations full of people. Customers certainly were dying to come to our business, frustrated with the quarantine. People were on the trail running every morning (definitely within 6 ft) etc etc. If I somehow avoided the news completely (and man I tried) I would've have never known anything had changed. Anyways from my little slice of the world, like @SocialD said, this shit show won't last the end of the month in Texas. Not here to argue the validity of these choices by any means, just spread some perspective from the good ole lone star state.

SBA just sent out an update email this morning with a little more info but still muddy. It's $1000 per employee so only $1000 for the self employed. But I still haven't heard anything solid and honestly am not counting on it to come to fruition for me either. Texas has made unemployment available for us contractors but it is so over tasked that it is nearly impossible to get a claim through (phone since online isn't equipped for contractors). Would love to get some help with the reduced hours but by the time I'm able to get my claim approved everything will be back to normal. On the bright side, $1200 dropped into the account today 🤑

Recruiters trying to thin out the herd of applicants. Never heard it from anyone but a recruiter. They probably get like 50 calls a day "hey I wanna be a pilot" so this is the quick way to weed a ton of quick to quitters out.

The latter, I think there is a general discord between the public’s perception of this bullshit flu and the media/Corp/govt/whatever organization you can think of. The general public being on the side of “this isn’t a big deal.” So when the public get ahold of an event that actually isn’t cancelled they will jump on it like wildfire. If every organization in the world didn’t overreact to the extreme already, life would still be normal and no one would’ve noticed or cared. I haven’t met a single person who is worried about catching it, but as a maintainer we take hydraulic fluid baths so take that how you may. edit: people will riot if they cancel Airventure

Odds are good, but I'd take what you can get. Lots of wisdom on here about finding the best times in the least likely of places. Also it can be all about timing so start churning out apps everywhere. Beggars can't be choosers at this point. Also for a second I thought I saw your first hobby listed was pornography...

Nail on the head. I should’ve prefaced it with my 5 years guard (baby years) I never saw any problems and before going reserve everything seemed so efficient and managed properly. The moment I started working with AD all I could think was WTF is going on?! Been a few years since but I’d hope the guard is still holding strong.

No one in mx ever wants to say it but besides crew chiefs all the specialist sections are probably over staffed which leaves, like you said, half the shop doing nothing and getting paid for it. I’m sure its a million times worse in other support functions. But common sense leadership doesn’t seem to exist anymore so we have these completely useless tracking systems that only see fudged work numbers and not the real picture and we make decisions based on bullshit numbers. I only have first hand experience of this type of management in the MX field but I would bet a lot of money this is how decisions are made across the AF as a whole. Over analysis with bullshit data. So in summary, ya a shit ton of the AF is overpaid and the remaining people are underpaid.

If you didnt catch the number before i deleted it message me.

https://www.403wg.afrc.af.mil/Contact/ 228-377-5236 - Reserve Recruiting whew that took me a good 4 seconds.

What would I do? Go for the ETP. Medically this is how I would attack it (I'd consult an optometrist or someone who knows shit about color vision and flying first though). Do your best to reason that operationally with binocular vision you have full functionality and can pass the test. It is a binocular world and they have their reasons for testing it monocular but if it works with two eyes in the test it is going to work with two eyes in the plane (maybe?). To me that is the best argument (only argument?) you have, that it really isn't a crazy risk to let you fly. After that, all that's left is literally selling yourself as the best damn candidate that has ever graced the USAF. You have to convince them why taking BigCat is worth all this extra risk (which hopefully you outlined as over exaggerated risk). You do a good job with both those things and you got a fighting chance if you ask me. In the end, can't hurt since they have already said no. I may be grasping at straws cause it truly may be a big risk to put you in the cockpit and if that's the case then it may be for your own good. Either way that's for them to decide. Still gonna send it.

Yes 100% worth going. Circuit of the Americas has lots of good viewpoints and honestly hearing the sound and seeing the acceleration in person is worth the price of admission. Its like watching an air show on youtube vs seeing it in person where you can feel the compression of the jet engines in your chest. I never cared for the racing part of it but man i like loud n fast shit.

Get one of your two friends at the unit to call the wings training office and schedule with them directly. Its literally as easy as one call and you can go test during the next offering. Doesnt take more than 2 weeks to study for the AFOQT. Once that is done call the ROTC unit and schedule the TBAS, they will take you or at least every detachment ive known does. Shit, tell me what base and I’ll call them up and do it for you 😎

Reminded me of this.

DQ’ed for for depth perception while going enlisted. Rushed thru the test, didnt explain anything, went and took test again passed no problem. Second time, read thru my notes on eye surgery and DQ’ed because post-op haze was mentioned. Even though it had fully cleared and gone away. They honestly don’t care at all if you pass/fail just wanna get you out of their stack of papers. If DQ is easier than taking the time to help you figure it out that is without a doubt what they will do. Each DQ came with about 3-6 months of fun paperwork and fighting.

I somehow find this assumption wrong on all levels having been thru meps 3 times. Especially since I have been DQ’ed twice at MEPS for things I’ve never had. While I have no experience with DoDmerb from what I hear from ROTC friends I would recommend 100000 times over going that route. Not even close to be honest. MEPS will DQ anyone so fast, they dont wanna deal with extra shit ever. I almost think they DQ people on purpose to see if they have the drive to fight it lol Edit: i was DQ’ed while going enlisted and DQ’ed during commissioning exam. It is not fun.

http://militaryhonors.sid-hill.us/history/rescue.htm Rescue From the Heart of a Typhoon Crewmen of a downed bomber are saved from a raging sea in a daring feat by nuclear subs fighting 40-foot waves. by Capt. Charles Barton, USN (Ret.) POPULAR MECHANICS January 1977

Letters of Rec need work. An E-4 should not be used for a letter of rec, nor a personal friend from college. Any contacts with old professors? Current boss? I'd recommend getting your pilot license as well(at least start flying). Helps improve your packet and you find out if you really wanna do this. Also will put you in contact with tons of people as you start hanging around the airport and networking. Could even get your flight instructor to write you a letter of rec.

What are your chances? Pretty Good On paper everything seems certainly good to go. Things I think you should focus on (aka things in your control now): COVER LETTER AND RESUME! (custom for each unit you apply to). Seem to get underplayed but when a lot of people go through your package to make a decision these can make or break you if they are crappy. Interview prep. Get ready to answer the questions about your GPA. You get C's in college yet UPT is 10 times more intense and rigorous, why should we believe you are going to make it through the UPT courseload? May not ask that exactly but be ready for something like that. I had a 3.075 GPA and never got asked about it so...Obviously prep for all the standard questions as well. Being yourself. It seems easier said than done but in a strange squadron bar surrounded by 30+ people you never met, half of whom are competing against you and the other half are basically interrogating you, it can be difficult to show your true colors. It's a fine line between trying to show yourself off and being arrogant. And another fine line between being a humble good listener vs being a reclusive quiet weirdo. In my opinion it takes practice and going to interviews will help even if it doesn't work out at that unit. Most importantly, don't get frustrated if you dont get picked. I can't explain how much it is about timing, throw your apps out to every unit possible! One year we had 5 people apply for 3 slots and the next year we had 40 super qualified people apply for 2 slots. From talking to other units that seems to be the norm. Sometimes you are going up against Albert Einstein meets Bob Hoover, and the next year its Sloth from the Goonies. Best of luck and these are just my opinions from my experience so hopefully they can help!

Even if you say you aren't seeing glare/halos they are going to do a slit lamp exam, they basically put a dye in your eye and use a special light and mirror to take a look at any scarring on the cornea from the PRK. Not sure if it is standard for all cases but for my waiver they requested that I used a machine to take a side view to get a more precise picture of the scarring. Hard to say if you will or won't get DQ'ed but best place to start would be reading over your post-op notes and seeing if they marked any corneal haze/opacity/sub-epithelial changes and the location of these "scars" and if they have been resolved. Under Anterior Segment Exam in your notes you want to see Cornea: Clear. You could get a optometrist to do the slit lamp for you if you are that worried but they aren't going to know the AF limits and you are still going to have to find out at your IFS/FC1 anyways. (wouldn't recommend wasting your money but if $60 for an eye exam helps you sleep at night I guess go for it) Feel free to message me if you want any more info or got any questions.