The other tankerdriver is right -- the Air Force is not a flying career. In fact, many of us are very frustrated that the Air Force doesn't seem to take flying seriously. With the exception of the initial Undergraduate Pilot Training, pretty much every upgrade afterwards is simply a "check the box" routine (at least in heavies). Virtually everyone goes to left seat upgrade around the 2 year point. They don't wash anyone out. You can have as little as 800hrs in your aircraft, little or no actual flying ability or comprehension of systems, be a total s--tbag, and you'll still find yourself in the left seat of a 300,000 lb jet. Same goes for instructor school where you'll find yourself a year or two after you become an AC. If you don't upgrade within the Air Force's timeframe, future promotion boards will begin to ask questions. So units pretty much send aircrew to upgrades at very close to the minimum requirements. Oh, and by the way, those minimums are being waved lower and lower. Why? Because the Air Force insists on taking experienced pilots out of the cockpit so they can do staff assignments/professional military education/etc. at the predetermined time so they can get good OPRs and keep getting promoted. The Air Force is so obsessed with the career progression of its officers that it is forgetting about the mission. An inexperienced crew force isn't the only thing detracting from the overall proficiency of the crew force. As TD alluded, not only are we young and inexperienced, but we also never get to fly. This is because we spend our time volunteering as tax reps, acting as telemarketers for the Combined Federal Campaign, taking Squadron Officer School by correspondence so we can be competitive to go in residence, coming up with new and imaginitave ways to spend excess taxpayer dollars (every squadron needs AT LEAST a dozen plasma TVs right?), and thats just scratching the surface. Does the Air Force need its pilots wasting their time like this? Of course not. But the Air Force thinks it can turn us all into great leaders with experiences like these and so insists on them. In my opinion, the Air Force could do away with half the pilot force, fly the rest 75 hours a month, and still have excess crews. Consider the fact that we move every 3 years to and from locations that aren't exactly garden spots, spend 200 plus days a year in the desert, subject our families to substandard healthcare, schools, and living standards, and deal with "support" organizations that convince their personnel that they have the most important jobs in the military, and its easy to see why some of us are looking at getting out. To anyone looking at the active duty Air Force as a flying career I'd say look at the Guard or Reserve first. However, if you'd like an inside look at politics, waste, and inefficiency, come right in.