|
lite_sleepr posted:I don't get how people make it so fast. Decorations help a lot Also vacancies. My dad's first job in the air force was fuel handler for Titan IIs which had a crazy high attrition rate in terms of dudes crosstraining out and also deaths. Dad became a command and control specialist within like a year and a half. A few years later, when he was either a staff sergeant or a tech sergeant, he ran into a buddy he'd been an A1C with who'd stayed with Titan IIs. His buddy was a chief.
|
#
?
Apr 15, 2021 05:32
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 18, 2024 15:19 |
|
|
Hotel Kpro posted:One of my old coworkers joined in 09, made master on last year's cycle. If he stays for a full 30 that'll be 19 years of being a SNCO Like every other non-noble, I wish the AF had warrants. Half the army warrants I've seen are former AF who didn't want to play the SNCO game, but gently caress joining the Army, that's an absurdly risky move for just a modest bump in pay
|
|
#
?
Apr 15, 2021 12:16
|
|
|
[E6 Retiree fistbump] Honestly didn't want the headache of anything higher. Was a Army platoon seargeant before flopping over and never desired the crap that came with riding herd on folks like that ever again. Then went super-niche and became an EA where there were even fewer people to deal with.
|
|
#
?
Apr 15, 2021 14:38
|
|
|
Jimmy Smuts posted:Fucckkkk. Bet he doesn't stay a day past 20. If he does then he's been pumping the kool aid straight into his veins, and hey maybe he'll make some good changes. The AF should definitely have warrants, in a handful of career fields. It would be an easier conversation to start if 90% of the people clamoring for it weren't dudes who squeaked out a 50 on the asvab and think they're suddenly going to have a path to being fighter pilots.
|
|
#
?
Apr 15, 2021 18:23
|
|
|
Also if most CCAF associates degrees weren't worthless handouts primarily constructed from obsolete tech school/CDCs and pencil whipped OJT.
|
|
#
?
Apr 15, 2021 18:28
|
|
|
Godholio posted:The AF should definitely have warrants, in a handful of career fields. It would be an easier conversation to start if 90% of the people clamoring for it weren't dudes who squeaked out a 50 on the asvab and think they're suddenly going to have a path to being fighter pilots. I'm surprised we haven't done it for at least RPAs. The Army has E-4s flying their MQ-1Cs I'm pretty sure, with warrants supervising. If we really had a shortage this would be a good way to rectify it.
|
|
#
?
Apr 15, 2021 18:29
|
|
|
the yellow dart posted:I'm surprised we haven't done it for at least RPAs. The Army has E-4s flying their MQ-1Cs I'm pretty sure, with warrants supervising. If we really had a shortage this would be a good way to rectify it. It really wouldn't, for a wide variety of reasons. The RPA shortage isn't as bad as other flying positions, for one. For another, army RPAs operating in congested airspace are generally a pain in the rear end because just like every other bit of army aviation they just ignore everything except themselves. Sure, let me just move this 3 ship train of C-17s so you can gently caress around on a jet route leading into a major airfield without coordinating with anyone. While I've had the occasional hassle trying to get a Pred or Reaper to get their poo poo together, it's a world of difference when it comes to general awareness of what is going on. Sure, an E-4 can punch the buttons well enough. But whatever the Army's training is, I'm not impressed with the end result so I really can't back that as any kind of evidence of a better system. While the AF isn't producing as many RPA pilots as it could or should be, that's not due to a lack of qualified applicants. It's because the pipeline isn't big enough. Broadening the pool doesn't fix that. RPAs might not have the same retention problem as manned platforms, so this part might not include them. But manned aircraft really see their pilot shortage hit after the 10 year mark. We lose a fuckton of highly experienced pilots because their commitment is up, and they're tired of the bullshit so they leave and in many cases make more money while spending more time with family. Warrants absolutely don't fix that problem...paying pilots 1/3 less to do 90% of the same work is not math that adds up to improved retention. Warrants will jump to airlines even faster than O-4s.
|
|
#
?
Apr 15, 2021 18:44
|
|
|
Godholio posted:It really wouldn't, for a wide variety of reasons. The RPA shortage isn't as bad as other flying positions, for one. For another, army RPAs operating in congested airspace are generally a pain in the rear end because just like every other bit of army aviation they just ignore everything except themselves. Sure, let me just move this 3 ship train of C-17s so you can gently caress around on a jet route leading into a major airfield without coordinating with anyone. While I've had the occasional hassle trying to get a Pred or Reaper to get their poo poo together, it's a world of difference when it comes to general awareness of what is going on. Sure, an E-4 can punch the buttons well enough. But whatever the Army's training is, I'm not impressed with the end result so I really can't back that as any kind of evidence of a better system. All of this. not to mention, a career track that allows flyers to never have to leave the cockpit might mean that *gasp* less general officers are coming from the rated AFSCs  and we certainly cant have that!
|
|
#
?
Apr 16, 2021 01:51
|
|
|
Knives Amilli posted:All of this. I love that career track if I'm the only one who gets to do it. Otherwise you get squadrons becoming increasingly clogged with majors and lieutenant colonels who magically make all the good deals vanish because hey, flying is all they do so they gotta take lines! Or maybe we get to vote as a squadron and unanimously elect someone to be non-leadership career track, and if they lose out on a few votes from people who say "hey that dude is a good flyer but otherwise pretty much just spouts maga poo poo all day and complains about all the things that would be different if they were in charge, which they will never be for incredibly obvious reasons" then they don't get to do it. The last time we had a big push towards that career track it was pretty fun to watch old crusty majors realize that yes, the air force absolutely 100% WOULD prefer the new dog that can learn new tricks. Too bad we never really fixed the dog pipeline
|
|
#
?
Apr 16, 2021 02:08
|
|
|
Jimmy Smuts posted:Fucckkkk. Bet he doesn't stay a day past 20. If he does then he's been pumping the kool aid straight into his veins, and hey maybe he'll make some good changes. His dad was a chief so he's been on the kool aid train for years. But from what I remember he was a good dude who always looked out for his troops. Also he got super salty if I started beating him in racquetball
|
|
#
?
Apr 16, 2021 02:24
|
|
|
I hate most conversations on bringing back warrants to the USAF, because they're usually just arguments for bringing back the specialist ranks. It's always "I want to just be a technical expert without having to worry about the NCO/management stuff while also making more money than NCO's." I can never get an answer from those people as to why they should be higher ranking and making more money for doing "less" work. Aviation warrants make sense at least. Also, being a guard CGO is probably the best rank. Not too much responsibility, but the pay is good, especially with OE pay. I actually enjoy most of my (limited) time in uniform now.
|
|
#
?
Apr 16, 2021 02:57
|
|
|
pkells posted:I hate most conversations on bringing back warrants to the USAF, because they're usually just arguments for bringing back the specialist ranks. It's always "I want to just be a technical expert without having to worry about the NCO/management stuff while also making more money than NCO's." I can never get an answer from those people as to why they should be higher ranking and making more money for doing "less" work. Aviation warrants make sense at least. Sounds like the secret then is to just go guard and never look at active duty
|
|
#
?
Apr 16, 2021 19:40
|
|
|
lite_sleepr posted:Sounds like the secret then is to just go guard and never look at active duty Only join the Guard if: 1. You need full tuition for a state school 2. youre desperate for a job and/or palace chasing off of AD and know of a unit that has a huge mission and has a lot of AGR or Technician slots 3. you use the Guard to get the civilian job you want (i.e. getting a T/S, being a flyer/intel/cyber/medical/firefighter/etc and pivoting to a civilian career) Otherwise its largely a waste of time and a excellent way to be halfway competent in your Air Force Job but be unreliable for long projects in your civilian job (due to Guard commitments). *Speaking as a 12 year NCO turned officer in the ANG
|
|
#
?
Apr 16, 2021 21:29
|
|
|
Godholio posted:Warrants will jump to airlines even faster than O-4s. Legit question: How IS RPA time considered by the airlines? I can absolutely see that it’s useful experience, just curious as to how it’s seen in the civilian world. I’ve never met an RPA pilot.
|
|
#
?
Apr 19, 2021 00:08
|
|
|
It doesn't, at all. I don't know the details of RPA pilot licensing, but it doesn't count for ASEL requirements as far as the FAA is concerned. RPA is a different type of certificate.
|
|
#
?
Apr 19, 2021 01:50
|
|
|
MrYenko posted:Legit question: How IS RPA time considered by the airlines? I can absolutely see that it’s useful experience, just curious as to how it’s seen in the civilian world. It’s irrelevant. No place for it on the applications other than your resume history.
|
|
#
?
Apr 19, 2021 04:22
|
|
|
Final'd out yesterday. On PTDY for house hunting, then right into terminal. Work already tried calling me today with questions about stuff. I let it go to voicemail 
|
|
#
?
Apr 20, 2021 13:57
|
|
|
Draken (contract red air) lost a pilot and a Mirage today at Nellis.
|
|
#
?
May 25, 2021 09:51
|
|
|
Godholio posted:Draken (contract red air) lost a pilot and a Mirage today at Nellis. Oof  They've been flying for a while too...
|
|
#
?
May 25, 2021 14:47
|
|
|
They've been ramping up their use of the F1s for the past year or two, in place of the A-4s. I don't know if it was an actual replacement, or if it was just because of the scenarios we run out here, but it's been mostly L-159s and F1s for the past few months. The F1s seemed to be more reliable from what I saw.
|
|
#
?
May 25, 2021 20:24
|
|
|
Anyone here super familiar with the NOVA region? New job has me working in Crystal City soon and I need opinions on areas to live. Also why does GIP not have an offtopic chat thread.
|
|
#
?
May 28, 2021 01:13
|
|
|
AFStealth posted:Anyone here super familiar with the NOVA region? New job has me working in Crystal City soon and I need opinions on areas to live. We do. It's the nonspecific parent chat.
|
|
#
?
May 28, 2021 01:16
|
|
|
McNally posted:We do. It's the nonspecific parent chat. Oh duh. I read parent chat and figured it was about having kids or something. Thanks!
|
|
#
?
May 28, 2021 01:55
|
|
|
AFStealth posted:Oh duh. I read parent chat and figured it was about having kids or something. Thanks! We called it dad chat for a while before it was pointed out we have several cool moms as well as dads (fur babies count goddamit)
|
|
#
?
May 28, 2021 02:03
|
|
|
AFStealth posted:Anyone here super familiar with the NOVA region? New job has me working in Crystal City soon and I need opinions on areas to live. Hit up the DC LAN thread and we'll get you into the DC Goon Slack for gouge. Crystal City's going to be sharing real estate with the new Amazon HQ2, which is skewing rents quite a bit along with the DC housing market just being naturally expensive. If you've got money to burn, Old Town Alexandria or the good parts of Arlington. If that's not so much the case, West Falls Church, Merrifield, West Springfield, Burke, Fairfax (specifically the parts around Fairfax City). Don't live anywhere that requires you to commute using VA Route 7 past Tysons Corner as it'll be under construction until July 2024. Same goes for I-66, which will be under construction until the heat death of the universe. While it's more reliable than it *was*, you also can't count on the Metro light rail as much as you might want to. Also, don't move to Annandale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-GrF87b82Q BIG HEADLINE fucked around with this message at 04:43 on May 28, 2021 |
|
#
?
May 28, 2021 04:31
|
|
|
LtCol J. Krusinski posted:(fur babies count goddamit) lol no they loving don't
|
|
#
?
Jun 16, 2021 00:01
|
|
|
Rekinom posted:lol no they loving don't Human babies bite less often. The amount of poo poo cleaning is about the same, though.
|
|
#
?
Jun 16, 2021 04:08
|
|
|
Apparently there's been some drama at the 552. https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/...tion-at-tinker/ Still have friends at tinker that can confirm. But of course someone recorded the OG so you can see for yourself. Hopefully some leadership gets canned for trying to put stupid exercises over safety.
|
|
#
?
Jul 29, 2021 00:14
|
|
|
AFStealth posted:Apparently there's been some drama at the 552. https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/...tion-at-tinker/ We are all getting mandatory OPSEC briefings thrown at us over this now. Just did mine today!
|
|
#
?
Jul 29, 2021 01:53
|
|
|
AFStealth posted:Apparently there's been some drama at the 552. https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/...tion-at-tinker/ There's some strong boomer energy in the AEWA over this, but a few people have common sense. We haven't had any TDY folks pass through yet, so I don't have much RUMINT from the ground. I don't think the OG is going to get canned unless this gets more attention. The WG/CC has already stood up for him and more or less said "Yeah he didn't handle that correctly, oh well."
|
|
#
?
Jul 29, 2021 02:12
|
|
|
Godholio posted:There's some strong boomer energy in the AEWA over this, but a few people have common sense. We haven't had any TDY folks pass through yet, so I don't have much RUMINT from the ground. I don't think the OG is going to get canned unless this gets more attention. The WG/CC has already stood up for him and more or less said "Yeah he didn't handle that correctly, oh well." Even if he didn't do something to get fired over, he basically now has 0 credibility. Probably same with the chief.
|
|
#
?
Jul 30, 2021 03:50
|
|
|
Naturally, he'll be the WG/CC in 3-4 years.
|
|
#
?
Jul 31, 2021 02:42
|
|
|
Speaking of lovely things at tinker. I have been trying to get ahold of finance there for about 2 months now sending emails and phone calls with no luck. They still haven't paid me my final paycheck (from May) and owe me like $2.5k. Somehow I did get a final LES and tried calling the number on it, but I get a machine that says the number is no longer used and redirects me to call AFPC. What a dumpster fire. Anyone know who I can talk to in order to get my final paycheck?
|
|
#
?
Aug 11, 2021 14:21
|
|
|
AFStealth posted:What a dumpster fire. Anyone know who I can talk to in order to get my final paycheck? Was Tinker your final duty station? At this point, I'd ask your old First Sergeant/Flight Chief/Superintendent to step in and give you a hand. The Shirt, in particular, is a good resource because they'll already have some kind of working relationship with the folks at the finance office. Finance has a harder time giving the runaround when someone is physically sitting face-to-face with them.
|
|
#
?
Aug 11, 2021 14:41
|
|
|
I, too, am being jerked around wrt my final pay check. Retirement was 1 Aug, and I was supposed to get it by Friday at the latest. Called, left 4 messages and finally got ahold of someone. Turns out, all (2) of those qualified to submit these final paycheck transactions had PCS'd and nobody else was trained or spun up with the appropriate access. Soooo now they have to find some kind of work around through FMA, which is an unrelated aspect of finance. Siggghhhh. I'm going to give it until tomorrow before I walk across the street and talk to their supt. I didn't want to dip into my 15k savings yet, but I am until my pension and VA money starts to roll in.
|
|
#
?
Aug 11, 2021 15:14
|
|
|
Seconding your old Shirt. Oddly enough Tinker had the only finance office that actually did something right during my entire time. And then they lost all my paperwork twice after I got out, but I did eventually get paid all the back BAH that had been hosed since literally Day 1.
|
|
#
?
Aug 11, 2021 16:45
|
|
|
Hands in ma pockets! 🙌
|
|
#
?
Aug 11, 2021 22:21
|
|
|
Godholio posted:Seconding your old Shirt. Oddly enough Tinker had the only finance office that actually did something right during my entire time. And then they lost all my paperwork twice after I got out, but I did eventually get paid all the back BAH that had been hosed since literally Day 1. Yeah not sure why I didn't do this before. An old friend of mine is now the acting shirt and is running this down for me. When I was outprocessing tinker, I literally had to sit at their front door til someone showed up at ~0840ish because they would never answer the phone or respond to any emails.
|
|
#
?
Aug 11, 2021 22:36
|
|
|
I've heard we don't have an actual phone line here, it's literally just to leave voicemail.
|
|
#
?
Aug 12, 2021 01:41
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 18, 2024 15:19 |
|
|
Godholio posted:I've heard we don't have an actual phone line here, it's literally just to leave voicemail. Yeeeeep. Back around 2011-ish, the Rammstein finance office legit would not interact with customers by phone or in person. Our only hope was to email them and foolishly hope they weren't lying when they claimed they would respond to all emails within 48 hours. Spoiler alert: it was a lie
|
|
#
?
Aug 12, 2021 02:48
|
|