I've never understood what the heck it is you guys do that takes you so long to get through pilot training and to a RAG, much less your operational unit. I graduated the FTU and went to my first fighter squadron as still an O-1.
US Air Force Faces 500 Fighter Pilot Shortfall
- Thread starter PhilosopherPilot
- Start date
I've never understood what the heck it is you guys do that takes you so long to get through pilot training and to a RAG, much less your operational unit. I graduated the FTU and went to my first fighter squadron as still an O-1.
NovemberEcho
Dergs favorite member
Any of y'all becoming an officer, always remember an E4 outranks an O1 =)
amprecon
Well-Known Member
The U.S. Army has already planned on doing it.
http://www.duffelblog.com/2015/10/army-accepts-20000-refugees-retention/
http://www.duffelblog.com/2015/10/army-accepts-20000-refugees-retention/
RDoug
Well-Known Member
Actually, in the Air Force, that was E5 and above "outranking" on O1. You had to be at least an O4 before you could get an E9 would do more than just pretend to listen to you. And when you're in the cockpit, that E2 in the control tower outranked even an O6 in line for O7, as I demonstrated to the RAF Lakenheath wing commander one day to the shock of the SOF . . . or at least that was how it was back in the day when ATC fell under the separate Air Force Communications Command, before ATC was placed directly under the individual wing commanders.
JPilot9
Well-Known Member
This has had a fantastic impact on USAF operations. Now it can take multiple O-6s to get an E-9 to get an E-4 (who has never deployed) to open a service counter for an O-4 who just returned from his 5th deployment . . .
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Lawman
Well-Known Member
But without ridiculously restrictive "office hours" how are those support shop troops going to be able to spend hours checking Facebook and looking up the price of car parts they can't afford online?
NovemberEcho
Dergs favorite member
lets not forget all that clutch training they get on Wednesday afternoons to learn new and creative ways to lose your paperwork
C-182 flyer
Well-Known Member
Yes, pretty rare. Yes, locations are bad but Virginia Beach is ok.
@C-182 flyer and whoever else cares;
I will retire from the Air Force this fall. 20 years, 1 month, 16 days of active duty time split across Air & Missile Defense, Airborne Early Warning, and TACP/JTAC.
First of all, the Air Force has taken care of me and my family more than, and better than any private sector or other government agency will under have. I thank the DoD and Congress for that.
I put about 2,600 hours on the E-3 in roughly 5.5 yrs. I was grounded after having been diagnosed with cancer. I went on to lead non-flying units both in garrison and in combat. In retrospect, I've had 'work weeks' as short as 30 hours on duty and as long as 160 hrs on duty. For the military guys, I'm sure that's pretty average over a career and the take home pay doesn't suck, at all.
As I look back, I feel that, as a service, the Air Force has changed more dramatically in the last 20 years than we did since 1947. The future of the Air Force isn't Fly, Fight, & Win as aviators view it. The Air Force future will be something unrecognizable to guys like Tooey, Spaatz, and Arnold.
That is why the aviators are leaving. It isn't about aviating, it's about the other missions we have as the lead service. Those missions are our budgetary and mission future, but the sure aren't about flying.
And that's why we can't keep pilots, navigators, or other rated aircrew around.
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I will retire from the Air Force this fall. 20 years, 1 month, 16 days of active duty time split across Air & Missile Defense, Airborne Early Warning, and TACP/JTAC.
First of all, the Air Force has taken care of me and my family more than, and better than any private sector or other government agency will under have. I thank the DoD and Congress for that.
I put about 2,600 hours on the E-3 in roughly 5.5 yrs. I was grounded after having been diagnosed with cancer. I went on to lead non-flying units both in garrison and in combat. In retrospect, I've had 'work weeks' as short as 30 hours on duty and as long as 160 hrs on duty. For the military guys, I'm sure that's pretty average over a career and the take home pay doesn't suck, at all.
As I look back, I feel that, as a service, the Air Force has changed more dramatically in the last 20 years than we did since 1947. The future of the Air Force isn't Fly, Fight, & Win as aviators view it. The Air Force future will be something unrecognizable to guys like Tooey, Spaatz, and Arnold.
That is why the aviators are leaving. It isn't about aviating, it's about the other missions we have as the lead service. Those missions are our budgetary and mission future, but the sure aren't about flying.
And that's why we can't keep pilots, navigators, or other rated aircrew around.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Agreed. And congratulations for the completion of a full career. Well earned.
RDoug
Well-Known Member
Enjoy your well-earned retirement, I sincerely thank you for having served us all.
Soku39
Well-Known Member
True that. Thought I would add the caveat unless we were to ever get into a "real" war. which hopefully my generation will not have to face, and with the current state of globalization I doubt we ever will. Two OG/CCs ago my boss said, "now we are merely chucking rocks on the cars below from an overpass, and we have been for a long time." and that about sums up how seriously we've had to take air combat.
Congratulations to you on your retirement.
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Pilotsjs89
Well-Known Member
There is nothing more frustrating than reading headlines like this. I have wanted to be an Air Force pilot since I was 12. I am very nearsighted and my vision is outside of not only the standard uncorrected limits but also the waiverable uncorrected limits. I'm 26 now and work outside of aviation but still fly single engine planes on occasion for pleasure.
If the Air Force eliminated the uncorrected vision requirement like the FAA and mandated 10-15 year commitments there would be no shortage at all. I'd jump at the opportunity in a heartbeat even with a long term commitment and the potential for many tours of duty overseas.
I'm sure people who have put in their time have a different perspective, but there are a lot of people out there who would give a lot to get a shot at UPT who are otherwise highly qualified physically and mentally but have poor uncorrected vision.
Would anyone out in AZ who's in/has been in the AF as a pilot or as a controller be willing to talk to me about the process before I talk to a recruiter? Would be appreciated especially if you had to get vision issues waivered - if you can help please PM. Thank you
If the Air Force eliminated the uncorrected vision requirement like the FAA and mandated 10-15 year commitments there would be no shortage at all. I'd jump at the opportunity in a heartbeat even with a long term commitment and the potential for many tours of duty overseas.
I'm sure people who have put in their time have a different perspective, but there are a lot of people out there who would give a lot to get a shot at UPT who are otherwise highly qualified physically and mentally but have poor uncorrected vision.
Would anyone out in AZ who's in/has been in the AF as a pilot or as a controller be willing to talk to me about the process before I talk to a recruiter? Would be appreciated especially if you had to get vision issues waivered - if you can help please PM. Thank you
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Soku39
Well-Known Member
Again, we're not talking about a shortage of Lieutenants and junior Captains to actually go fly planes, we're talking about a lack of guys willing to stay in to Major and Lieutenant Colonel to fill staff billets or billets above the squadron level, where even if it is a flying billet you fly very little. Let's not get that twisted. That said the Air Force, and even Guard and Reserve units are getting fearful because so much of their talent is running off to the less BS filled airlines or leaving their somewhat abusive technician gigs to go do other things. Your timing is pretty good if you need waivers, I would try and go the guard route as a waiver has historically been easier pushed though Guard Bureau than pushing a waiver through AFRC. In your situation I would not advise screwing around with active duty under any circumstances if all you want to do is be a pilot, no idea about ATC, but why not just apply to the FAA if you want to be a controller? I've never heard of any FAA guys having to go control planes in Afghanistan etc so that's always a big plus.
My advice would be to attempt find and work with a flying unit, guard or reserve who can work with a eye/flight doc to get the waiver guideline for whatever the deal is with your eyes. You can also try the baseops.net aviation medicine forum as there are a few flight surgeons that float around. With the waiver guideline in hand work with an ophthalmologist in private practice (prior Air Force or any military a plus, as they know how the game works) and see if your condition would have a chance of being overcome. I was able to get the waiver guidelines in hand for extreme astigmatisms (mine is like -3.5 diopters or something) and was able to figure out that it was not degenerative, and thus I was able to waived under the guidelines. Just because my civilian doc said it would work is of course no guarantee that the military docs that sign off would be in agreement, and unfortunately you must have a UPT slot or some slot requiring an FC1 in hand to get to that point and figure it out. That point is of course after signing on the dotted line. If you get the thumbs down most units will just let you go no questions asked, some units may make you finish out an enlistment doing something else. The whole needing a waiver will of course be a detriment to getting hired in the first place, but units are looking for motivated guys that will be around for awhile and if they like you enough, well you're hired. There is never a guarantee of a UPT slot, but just like everything else in life, the worst they can say is no.
Do not talk to recruiters ever.
Thanks for not being one of those guys that tries to get the ball rolling at age 28 or 29.
I can't send you a PM, so you send me one if you want to chat further.
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If you just go to basic Open General, the USAF will place you in the best job for you once in basic. They're there for you, so you will be there for them.
NovemberEcho
Dergs favorite member
You could always get corrective eye surgery. I got PRK courtesy of the AF and it was the best thing I've ever done.
