Originally Posted by
Albief15
Here is some advice...
1. Get an F-16 license plate. As a student. Tell everyone you are going to get a viper.
2. Post daily on facebook. Put pictures of every single sortie, training event, etc with a detailed blow by blow of the day's events. Include an honest critique of your classmates performance and your thoughts about your particular instructor pilot.
3. Hang out alone...study all the time. Go on a low carb diet. And...do not associate with your classmates and your best to become a hermit. Tell everyone for you "...it's F-16 or NOTHING!"
4. Make a chart of all graded events. Put your name and all your classmates name on it. Track everyone's scores and plot them. If you don't know the scores, pester your classmates for the info. Let everyone know daily where YOU plot their relative performance to each other based on your data.
5. Whine about any performance you are graded less than "excellent". Be sure to let everyone know your last choice is a KC-135.
Okay..or don't. Here's what I know about the above folks...
1. KC-135 assignment. Not FAR'd. 1988
2. Dunno. Heard he took merciless ****. Not sure of the outcome.
3. Washed out pre solo in T-37s. 1988
4. Washed out pre solo T-38s. Became a WSO (apparently a good one) 1988
5. Did okay in pilot training. Not FAR'd but above average. Got KC-135 assignment. (Hint: Don't be a dick to the guys trying to help you learn to fly...)
Point to this: Your goal is A) be there NEXT Friday in class B) get wings and C) help your classmates as much as you can while complying with A&B. If you can do that odds are you'll be able to track select and pick a route good for your long term career. Lose focus....well....may not get any wings...
Albie, well said!
... But did you forget about the one who said, "I am looking for the best / quickest way to the airlines so I can get out as soon as my commitment is up"? ... Probably either washed out, or got the (insert what you think is the worst assignment out of UPT) and is now out of the USAF, and has been waiting for "the call" for a year ... or two ....
To the OP, my advice is to work your butt off, help your classmates, have fun, and figure out what jet you would like to fly and what mission you would like to do for 10-20 years. The airlines hire lots of military guys from lots of different backgrounds, so there is not a "best" aircraft to pick. For me, it was the single-seat, twin-engine, twin-tailed WGASF! ... 3200 hours and 22 years later, and now it's a 737.