Originally Posted by
KC10 FATboy
You get to log IP PIC time straight out of UPT while everyone else is doing the SIC gig while trying to avoid the dreaded "other" time. After FAIP life, when you finally get to your MWS, you don't spend two or three years playing gear Biotch. Thus, after your commitment, you have around 1500 more hours of PIC and IP time than the average USAF bubba.
Again, caveat that statement with that it doesn't apply to guys going to fighters, who will be logging PIC turbine their entire career after their initial Form 8.
Any "problems" with FAIPs in the fighter pipeline occurs only during the initial operational assignment -- where your year-group peers will have lots of MWS hours and be flight leads/instructors, while you will still be a wingman. It's an ego hit more than anything. If you can tolerate being "behind" your year group peers, then this is a non-issue.
After your 2nd and 3rd flying tours -- approaching your Major's board -- fighter FAIPs will be basically on equal footing with their fighter non-FAIP peers. The straight-to-MWS guys will have mostly all gone to an ALFA tour and gotten their AETC IP hours while you're on your second ops tour catching up as an IP/SEFE.
When it comes time to go to the airline interview after the 10-year hitch is up, all fighter dudes will all generally be equal -- somewhere right around (probably above, but it depends on your MWS) those 1,000 and 1,500 hour turbine PIC mins to apply.