AF Pilot Questions

[imatworkallday]

Ok here is a question that you are probably not used to getting. Are there any negative aspects/ downsides that outweigh the commissioned side of the Air Force. I have done the enlisted side, but how much different is the 'Dark Side' from the Enlisted side? Also, is there a differences between flying officers and non flying officers (other than the flying ). I guess what I am asking is what are the downsides of getting the commission? You more often hear good but not so much the bad. Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[ian]

i only have 15 months as an O...but so far so good

 

[///AMG]

I'm Navy and wasn't prior Enlisted so I can't make a meaningful comparison for you, but I will say that I have yet to meet any prior E folks on the O side who want to go back. Could be coincidence, or it could be that this is something that they really wanted to do and they are legitimately happy. I suppose one downside depending on your outlook could be the greater service obligation incurred by most of the aviation communities (mine is 8 years after winging date, with flight school being roughly 2 years for an effective total of 10 years).

 

[aloft]

Non-pilot officers--aka "shoe clerks"--are treated like second-class citizens in the Air Force and get little respect from their pilot brethren.

 

[Hacker15e]

Non-pilot officers--aka "shoe clerks"--are treated like second-class citizens in the Air Force and get little respect from their pilot brethren.

Not exactly.

"Shoe clerk" is more of an attitude/mentality more than a profession.

For example, the 1Lt aide to the 3-star General who waltzed into my squadron -- located in a combat zone and actively flying combat missions in support of coalition soldiers -- and on his own accord pulled this sign off the wall:

...because he felt it was offensive.

That dude was a shoe clerk.

And, I think the reality is that the "support warriors" outnumber the real warriors pretty significantly. So, nobody is being made second class unless they're hanging out in a flying squadron and trying to enforce shoe-clerk rules (see above). The reality of things is that pilots are the ones who are rapidly being made second class due to the massive "everyone is a warrior" entitlement mentality cancer that has taken hold in the USAF. Now, since "everyone is part of the fight", those who are actually physically PROSECUTING the fight can't get any real support from those people whose job it is to perform that support.

That's why we're doing our own travel orders, our own finance vouchers, organizing our own logistics for our deployment, fixing our own computer problems, etc.

So, aloft, right idea but wrong execution.

 

[///AMG]

The reality of things is that pilots are the ones who are rapidly being made second class due to the massive "everyone is a warrior" entitlement mentality cancer that has taken hold in the USAF. Now, since "everyone is part of the fight", those who are actually physically PROSECUTING the fight can't get any real support from those people whose job it is to perform that support.

+1

 

[germb747]

Not exactly.

"Shoe clerk" is more of an attitude/mentality more than a profession.

For example, the 1Lt aide to the 3-star General who waltzed into my squadron -- located in a combat zone and actively flying combat missions in support of coalition soldiers -- and on his own accord pulled this sign off the wall:

...because he felt it was offensive.

That dude was a shoe clerk.

And, I think the reality is that the "support warriors" outnumber the real warriors pretty significantly. So, nobody is being made second class unless they're hanging out in a flying squadron and trying to enforce shoe-clerk rules (see above). The reality of things is that pilots are the ones who are rapidly being made second class due to the massive "everyone is a warrior" entitlement mentality cancer that has taken hold in the USAF. Now, since "everyone is part of the fight", those who are actually physically PROSECUTING the fight can't get any real support from those people whose job it is to perform that support.

That's why we're doing our own travel orders, our own finance vouchers, organizing our own logistics for our deployment, fixing our own computer problems, etc.

So, aloft, right idea but wrong execution.

+2

 

[bunk22]

Ran into an old friend two years ago. We were commissioned together. He is a supply officer and as I sat across from him, I noticed quite a bit of ribbons, 5 COM's and 4 NAM's amongst other things. Life is good as a SUP-O. Most were from a staff tour he said, not supply related.