I heard that they are going to fill UPT slots with RPA pilots now... Can anyone confirm? I thought all RPA pilots are going through URT now.

I heard that they are going to fill UPT slots with RPA pilots now... Can anyone confirm? I thought all RPA pilots are going through URT now.

Are you asking about AD or ANG/AFRC?

Word is some ANG selectees will get to attend UPT. Some URT packages are being resubmitted as UPT packages.

Edited December 3, 201410 yr by herkbum

If an RPA pilot goes to UPT instead... What can you expect as far as training pipeline and any othe general knowledge? Thanks

Are you asking about AD or ANG/AFRC?

ANG

If an RPA pilot goes to UPT instead... What can you expect as far as training pipeline and any othe general knowledge? Thanks

It's UPT. The timeline will be the UPT timeline.

The slots I know about, ours, are expected to be T-38 slots. Just like our only previous RPA UPT stud. Everyone else selected after has been URT. Post UPT, follow on will be to FTU, then MQT(at home station if facilities are complete). Expect CMR 16-18 months from beginning of UPT.

Our current selectees were hired with URT expectations. Word came down that they were to be changed to UPT.

Edited December 3, 201410 yr by herkbum

Thanks for the information.... Would UAV fundamentals or SERE be required as well?

Thanks for the information.... Would UAV fundamentals or SERE be required as well?

Don't remember if Fundamentals is required, but I did forget about IFS prior to UPT. I have seen traffic on SERE being available to RPA, but we have not sent anyone, nor have I heard of any other unit sending anyone. If we could confirm, we would happily send folks.

SERE should be required due to launch and recovery in country. RPA to UPT? Not so much.

RPA to UPT? Not so much.

Whatever happens at IFS/URT/FTU isn't the right level of training/exposure to aviation for most of the people I saw. [assuming the people going into the programs are roughly the same, which could be totally wrong]

Edited December 3, 201410 yr by SurelySerious

SERE should be required due to launch and recovery in country. RPA to UPT? Not so much.

So, everybody who deploys anywhere should go to SERE, right?

RPA to UPT? Not so much.

Are you saying RPA shouldn't go to UPT?

Are you saying RPA shouldn't go to UPT?

Guard RPA should consider it, assuming the funds are available. If their mission changes back to manned, what do you do with a squadron full of 18Xers? It's an unlikely contingency, but worth considering.

Guard RPA should consider it, assuming the funds are available. If their mission changes back to manned, what do you do with a squadron full of 18Xers? It's an unlikely contingency, but worth considering.

My feeling exactly

My feeling exactly

That was the sentiment from the March guard OG back in 2012. Only take UPT pilots in case the guard changes back to a manned mission.

If UPT still UAV fundamentals. Had a T-38 and a T-1 guy in my fundamentals class. It's only a month though, and IMO worth it as you get your feet wet with UAVs prior to FTU.