You must be a good enough pilot to get fighter qualified, but not such a pr!ck that you become an F-16 driver.
LJS - I thought that "combat" and "tanker" were diametric. Although it is hazardous when having to take direction from the AWACS tanker controller.
All of the A-10 guys I know are the most down to earth fighter guys out there. Air to ground is where the action is, and nobody does it better, or is closer to the action than the hog drivers. Just ask the ground pounders what they prefer.