HuggyU2

Your credibility,... And your CC's attention, next time you need something from them that will require them to go out on a limb for you.

FLY6584

Agreed. I'm waiting to see if the Air Force waive's UPT ADSC's and I am subsequently approved for the VSP before I do anything. Apparently we should know by 1 April if they are going to waive UPT ADSC's or not.

jkhill0

Speaking from the perspective of a 19 year, Lt Col and MAF pilot (C-17)...if you have an "honorable" SQ/CC and your intent is to eventually get out anyway, just ask...be honest...IF you doubt the integrity of your CC, i.e., if you think he will hose you for showing your cards, then you are taking a big chance.

Also think in terms of your CC's personality...IS HE MORE THE "administrator" type of leader or a "charismatic"...the administrators tend to be more interested in following the rules...just saying.


It's a big step in prepping yourself for the airlines, so think it through.


Also, think through whether you really need the type. If you already have a SWA job then just take the leave and knock this out. However, if you are using this opportunity to gain a discriminator for job application to SWA or another air carrier, then way heavily whether or not it is really worth the investment of your money or use of the post 9/11 GI bill...I have plenty of buddies that were hired without the type in the first place. The other air carriers don't care as long as you have an ATP, especially if you have almost exclusively military time and even more so if you have a lot of heavy jet time.


Just my .02.

Albief15

(unable to get a PRESS TO TEST image to display)

I was never of this switch, but man…not sure I want to use it here. Hate to burn leave, but what about the bro pulling SOF, TOP 3, or similar so you can get your type? I highly recommend taking advantage of PTDY when you separate, leave, or come back from a deployment, but this has the potential to both irritate peers and burn your boss...

DCA A321 FO

Bulllll****.

FLY6584

That is something I have thought a lot about. My wife is using my 9/11 GI Bill to go back to school and when she's done using it I will have about 8-9 months left of it which really isn't much for our son to use. Sure it'll offset some costs for him that first year of college, but considering a 737-type costs about 8-9 months of the GI Bill I'd say we are doing a pretty good job of maximizing the use of the GI Bill especially considering who knows what will happen to benefits as the government tries to take more and more back.

I also feel more comfortable with a structured 2 week course with 25hrs in the sim prior to a checkride which I feel is more like what we are used to in the military compared to a mom and pop operation that gives you 2-3hrs in a light twin and then a check. I know in the end an ATP is an ATP, but if I can get out of paying anything out of pocket, go through a course that is more like what I am used to, take the checkride in the type of aircraft that I am more used to flying, and walk away with a 737-type that I need for Southwest anyways then I think it's the right call for me, but know it may not be the right call for everyone.

I also have family down in Miami that I can stay with during my training at CPT which saves me a ton in lodging costs.

thrust

How would asking for permissive TDY to go to an aviation-related course hurt his "credibility"? Especially given that FLY has made it abundantly clear that he wants out of AD ASAP via VSP, Palace Chase, etc already.

Do all of those females who get permissive TDY to go to Women in Aviation conferences lose "credibility" with their commanders?

It's in the AFI for a reason. Only an awful commander would hold it against someone for asking the question.

CaseTractor

For every awesome commander there are about 2-3 mediocre to terrible ones out there. You have to be able to read people very well. The fact that you are concerned to ask means this guy is a company man. I'd say if you have your boxes checked (PME, Masters, Top 1/3 ranking) give it a shot, you can afford to go down a rung or two if this guy plays ball that way.

It's unfortunate to even have this conversation. The answer should go like this...

"You want to make yourself a more rounded flyer and can bring back awesome knowledge and experience that will enhance our (not my) squadron... go for it!"

Sadly, we've put non flying personal development goals above real proficiency in aircraft.

LivingInMEM

I was a Sqdn CC. When people asked me for PTDY (and they did for numerous reasons), I read the table that they referenced and I made a determination. 100% of my determination rested on if the reference was applicable in my mind and could I sell it to my bosses if called on it; Sqdn CCs do have bosses. There was no harm/no foul unless the member tried to BS me on it and present a very questionable argument; the kind that, if I were to go to my bosses with it if required, would make me look like an idiot. Be honest with yourself and your CC, find the most applicable reference, mention that your friend's CC approved his case, and ask. And, if he says no, move on after saying "thanks for considering it anyway, I figured I'd ask." Most Sqdn CCs really do like to help their people when they can, but some are more willing to make an independent call to do so than others.

PS, there is a cost to PTDY. In this case, it's 10-days of lost work for 10 days of wages; that's a third of a month's productivity and paycheck. Case, your argument above wouldn't fly with me, we all know type ratings courses don't really do much to help military aviators other than get them civilian careers (which should not be denied); don't BS the CC with how much it'll help the squadron upon your return. Do you think you'll come back and teach classes of what you learned? All military aviators transition out of the military eventually and the USAF should and does assist with that transition, be honest and use that to your advantage. Transition assistance is a moral obligation from a military to its members who have served honorably for the duration of their obligation. My approach would focus on the professional rating side of it and I would admit that it certainly rounds out your overall professional development, it will assist in your transition which is an approved USAF goal (aren't TAP classes about 2 weeks long now?), and it will improve your performance for the remainder of your time in the military because it will result in the removal of at least that stressful part of transition from hanging over your head.

LivingInMEM

Thrust, Women in Aviation, really? That's about the easiest sell out there for PTDY, if anyone actually gets PTDY to go to those. Military leadership and civilian leadership (all of them in recent history) has made it abundantly clear that the services will do ALL that they can to attract qualified women and minorities into the military. I don't care what you, or I, or anyone else thinks of that except for the fact that sending women military pilots to represent the service to other young women who are interested in aviation and who may become future military aviators themselves is clearly in compliance with that directive. The bosses give the marching orders, plain and simple.

The same goes to sending military SOF members and sponsorship to various triathlons, extreme sports venues, etc. Are you not aware that many competitive SOF members get PTDY or even TDY and entrance fees paid for various competitions? The impact to a young aggressive athlete of meeting and competing with an actual SEAL, and talking to him before/after the event, can be immeasurable; the recruiting value of potentially influencing those targeted audiences carries a lot of weight.