Very true! However, when many of us decided to serve our country, we were "selected" or given a choice in which manner we wanted to serve. To not take advantage of this option to me would have been silly. I don't think that Billy is saying he doesn't want to serve his country but that he wants to do it in the way he was given specialized training to do. I personally don't think that it is an outrageous expectation. How many Air Force nurses(also air force officers) do you see being assigned something not in their career field? Doctors for that matter? They're officers too?

BP

The 10 yr commitment is perfect to decide if you want to leave or not. The air force isn''t saying that they will guarantee a cockpit til retirement. IMHO, being non vol'd to a non flying assignment prior to your first 10 point, is not a smart use of an asset. You have definitely completed your training obligation and have become an expert in your career field. To me, if one decides to stay after that, all bets are off. The Air Force needs leaders and exposure in other areas is crucial to accomplishing this.

The new variable to a flyer is the UAV. It is in aviation but most flyers don't consider it flying. Unfortunately, being the wave of the future, it is a tough one to avoid.

The only way to try keep this from happening is to take control of your future in aviation. I was lucky and discovered the guard and reserves very early in my career. While you can't control base closures and units converting to UAV/s , you can control if you stay or transfer to another flying operation. Years ago, once you were an 0-4 you couldn't move. Not the case today. 0-4s have no problem moving and I know many 0-5 that have had that option also. But you decide. Do I move the family for a part time job so I can stay flying? Whatever the choice, at least it is your choice. The problem for most is, that they have a very stable, well paying career, a family and the fear of not being able to provide for them. Big Cojones are easy to have when it's just a simple single killin machine LT but, with a wife, 2.3 kids and a dog make things have a different look. That said, if you know what you want, preplanning takes the sting right out of it! Both with sinc home and financially.

So with all that said, my humble recommendation is to serve your country, do your 10 yrs then get out and serve your country with the guard and reserves where you will at least have some input as to where your future is going. If you want to become a general, well then you have to play the reindeer games to make it happen.
Pakaage