Originally Posted by
Sliceback
Guys have been busting their asses, under high stress, for a year plus. It all comes down to assignment drop. One night, a couple of seconds on stage, and your future career could be decided right then and there. That's why it's a big deal.
Guys can be in UPT, and gone, in about a week. There's no option of just paying more money, either you learn on their timeline, that has a couple of minor ways to get additional help, or you'rer gone.
Guys would go into the 'pass or be gone' flight '89' flight) with somewhere between 0-4 hrs of sleep. They knew EVERYTHING depended upon their performance that day. Hard to sleep with that pressure.
Watching them step to the jet was sometimes like a death march, no one knew if they'd be back. Often times they'd didn't.
Shoot, guys would barely sleep before checkrides sometimes. Failing one was also stepping on the treadmill that could wash you out of UPT in a matter of days.