Originally Posted by
TBoneF15
His CC likely has no choice in the matter. The days of "saving" good dudes from bad deals are over. There are WAY too many non-flying bad deals around and someone has to go. They just doubled the number of ALO billets. UAVs have grown exponentially. There are a ton of these jobs out there. Add on the 179 and 365 day TDYs to places that smell very bad and it's the rare dude that makes it through unscathed.
You're maybe a bit out of the game. The promotion rate for major hovers around 95-98% and has for many years. The only way you don't get promoted to major is if you are either a total maroon, or have been caught naked in the hot tub with the colonel's 16 yr old daughter.
The reality in the AF these days is that dudes with UAV stink on them will be MORE promotable, MORE likely to get good "career" type jobs later on. UAVs are the latest fad at the 5 sided wind tunnel. It will be looked at as a positive that dudes have UAV experience...in the eyes of the AF in general, not necessarily within the C-5 community. I know many dudes who have volunteered for them specifically because they would be good for their career.
It's a much different AF now than it was even five years ago.
You are indeed correct. Disregard what I had said. Haven't been around for a while. Retired in 04. Capt/Major promotions were just beginning to be almost "automatic". UAVs are good for the career, at least at the present. Just spoke with my old exec, who was an O-3 (he's now a wing cc) and he said basically the same things you said above.
UAV's are good for the career if you want to stay in.