Air Force Pilot Shortage!

Man, I'd love to do this...but I think having had LASIK it automatically disqualifies me...plus I don't have a degree...and turn 30 in 3 weeks.
 
Champcar said:
I'm assuming you still need 20/20 uncorrected vision. Us dorks with glasses need not apply.
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No, hasn't been that way for years. I know the Navy changed their standards in 1992 to 20/30 correctable as NAMI had me at 20/25 both eyes during my first flight physical in 1993 and gave me glasses to fly with...I certainly didn't need it at the time, I think I missed one letter on each line and they just said 20/25, next!!! I believe the USAF is 20/70 correctable to 20/20 within a certain diopter range. The Navy is 20/40 correctable to 20/20 within a certain diopter range. Once winged in the Navy, I think your eyes can go as bad as 20/200 correctable to 20/20 within that diopter range. I know the Navy gives waivers for PRK and LASIK now as well (LASIK was at least, not sure if it still is).
 
Why not Go Army; there is a 100% you'll get that 50% helo slot!

No degree, I think 31 by WOCS?..
 
TheFlyingTurkey said:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-fighter-pilot-wanted-20130722,0,2152468.story

Air Force aims to land more top guns amid pilot shortage

The Pentagon is so short of Air Force fighter pilots that it's boosting its salary package to make the job more enticing.


600


y W.J. Hennigan
July 22, 2013, 5:00 a.m.


Help wanted: At least 130 veteran military aviators for nine-year commitment to fly fighter jets.
Salary: $34,500 to $97,400. Plus good benefits and a $225,000 signing bonus — guaranteed.
Contact: U.S. Air Force by Sept. 30.
That's the offer from the Pentagon, which is so short of Air Force fighter pilots that it's boosting its salary package to make the job more enticing.
It may be hard to imagine that life as a high-flying fighter jock has lost its swagger, but the Air Force revealed it has a shortage of 200 fighter pilots this year. And if something isn't done, the Air Force, which has about 3,000 fighter pilots, fears it may face a shortfall of 700 by 2021.
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Imagine if the regionals had incentives like this? In a perfect world..
 
bunk22 said:
After going through Regional training here, I can see why :)

You could go to work and look like this:



or look this cool...
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flyingbum said:
Pay?
QOL?
Bases?
Bennies?
Hard days off?
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The real question is, how much time will you waste daily doing your "collateral duties" that have less than zero to do with flying or even mission oriented stuff, but are more like a triple redundant version of first-grade elementary school busywork, for no other real reason other than "just because", as well as idiotic computer-based training over every moronic subject imaginable. Which shouldn't be surprising, as everyone is overall treated like a child by Big Blue anyway rather than an adult. And the true mission of yours becomes, after spending 14-16 hours a day at work so you can appear busy, the true mission becomes living to work, as opposed to working to live.......ALL in the name of fufilling the second of three USAF Core Values: "Service before Self."

Oh, and with all of the above, you'll do some flying.....when you have time.
 
MikeD said:
The real question is, how much time will you waste daily doing your "collateral duties" that have less than zero to do with flying or even mission oriented stuff, but are more like a triple redundant version of first-grade elementary school busywork, for no other real reason other than "just because", as well as idiotic computer-based training over every moronic subject imaginable. Which shouldn't be surprising, as everyone is overall treated like a child by Big Blue anyway rather than an adult. And the true mission of yours becomes, after spending 14-16 hours a day at work so you can appear busy, the true mission becomes living to work, as opposed to working to live.......ALL in the name of fufilling the second of three USAF Core Values: "Service before Self."

Oh, and with all of the above, you'll do some flying.....when you have time.
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Happy to be here, proud to serve. Learn it. Live it. Know it.
 
MikeD said:
The real question is, how much time will you waste daily doing your "collateral duties" that have less than zero to do with flying or even mission oriented stuff, but are more like a triple redundant version of first-grade elementary school busywork, for no other real reason other than "just because", as well as idiotic computer-based training over every moronic subject imaginable. Which shouldn't be surprising, as everyone is overall treated like a child by Big Blue anyway rather than an adult. And the true mission of yours becomes, after spending 14-16 hours a day at work so you can appear busy, the true mission becomes living to work, as opposed to working to live.......ALL in the name of fufilling the second of three USAF Core Values: "Service before Self."

Oh, and with all of the above, you'll do some flying.....when you have time.
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I did forget the sarcasm tag, but dang. That doesn't sound like fun.
 
hook_dupin said:
Its $25K extra per year for years after the pilot goes beyond his pilot training service committment (roughly nine years).
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Just for clarity here, the initial service commitment after pilot training is 10 years, meaning approximately 11 or 12 years of overall service at the end of that commitment. The current bonus is 9 more years after that.
 
bunk22 said:
I thought the USAF moved to some computer generated color vision test??
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In my last physical in February, I had to do both color vision tests, so if they're changing over to the computer system they are backing it up with the printed plates as of yet.
 
At one point in my life, I dreamed of being a fighter pilot... Now, after talking to so many on a regular basis from guard to active duty that tell me to stay civilian because I'll make more money and have a better QOL. I think I'll stay doing what I'm doing. It's gotta be a lot of fun flying some of the equipment, but damn I hate hearing about the after-effects. "Viper-neck", "Raptor cough", etc...
 
MikeD said:
The real question is, how much time will you waste daily doing your "collateral duties" that have less than zero to do with flying or even mission oriented stuff, but are more like a triple redundant version of first-grade elementary school busywork, for no other real reason other than "just because", as well as idiotic computer-based training over every moronic subject imaginable. Which shouldn't be surprising, as everyone is overall treated like a child by Big Blue anyway rather than an adult. And the true mission of yours becomes, after spending 14-16 hours a day at work so you can appear busy, the true mission becomes living to work, as opposed to working to live.......ALL in the name of fufilling the second of three USAF Core Values: "Service before Self."

Oh, and with all of the above, you'll do some flying.....when you have time.
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I thought the only additional duty blue suiters had involved woods, irons, and a putter. :) I once heard the Priorities of Work when establishing a new base was 1) runway, 2) golf course, 3) BX, and 4) Class 6. 'Em priorites are all messed up. How do you expect to get anything done unless #4 is first?
 
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