hindsight2020

I remember reading your posts when you were in the middle of the ANG application process. I'd say I agree, you def made it to the right seat of a major in less time than had you gone military. I'd say all things considered, things worked out as they should have for ya.

Active duty is certainly not all that it's cracked up to be. Things have also degraded dramatically in the AFRC and ANG from the time when you were applying, though I can't say it wouldn't have been worth your time, airline aspirations notwithstanding. Water under the bridge really.

galaxy flyer

Depends on timing which one never has control over. I know a DL pilot graduated USAFA in 2007; UPT in ‘08; Travis and Columbus, released to Palace Chase in 2014; picked up by DL early in this hiring boom. Pretty fast.

GF

tomgoodman

How true! Some UPT grads got to fly a desk, because AF requirements had recently changed. Some did get an airplane at first, but the next assignment was on the ground (or even underground). But leaving for the airlines was risky too, e.g. many pilots suddenly had to “pull their papers” when hiring stopped in the ‘73 oil crisis. By the time hiring resumed, they were too old.

rickair7777

Yes, but that's WW-III. Same as WW-II, the military would become vastly larger, built on a core of volunteer professionals. In the "big one", the reserves were about 90%, the original active duty cadre was about 10%, or less (my grandfather was one of those, he had about ten years in when the war started).

But that hasn't been the case since the end of vietnam and the draft. Possible in theory, but not the reality any of us grew up with, and not likely in our lifetimes. The trend is towards more tech, and better educated and trained, but fewer soldiers.

Yes, the military does. Generally you have about 18 months to shape up or ship out. They have a grace period because of deployments, pregnancy, injury, etc.

More like 5%. Some of them walk a fine line, there's always that small group. Also keep in mind that some folks with permanent serious injuries are retained on active duty if possible. That's only fair.

And I'm what you might call a high-end ground combat type, with most of the cool tee-shirts. I could knock out an iron-man on any give day, so I'm not very tolerant when it comes to fitness slackers. But I've come to see the big picture, and most of the military is NOT about what I do, most of them sit at a desk (including me lately). They just need to be able to deploy and sit at a desk in a tent with no A/C, and put up a basic defense in extremis. Perhaps 10% of the military conduct premeditated offensive combat ops, most are support types. Don't confuse REMFs with operators.

Your assessment of the military lacks fundamental comprehension of it's structure and function.

John Carr

No offense man, but are you REALLY that OAF in your mid/late 40’s?

You seem to be pretty braggadocio lately. Mid life crisis much?

rickair7777

OAF? Don't know what that is.

I'm putting things in perspective for the civilian dude who thinks he knows what military fitness standards should be. The facts about my perspective were relevant to that, didn't want anybody to think I'm soft on basic standards.

John Carr

Operator as $&”$

If you’re a “cold war kid” like me, your body isn’t anywhere it needs to be. Destroyed knees, beat back, ruined shoulders. Despite what cool T-shirt’s you may have.

rickair7777

I'm blessed with good genes, and a good work ethic. I never slacked off. Most of the injuries healed nicely. I'm one of very few left standing from my era. Is what it is. Bill Mcraven used to go on real ops as an O7, we should aspire to that.

John Carr

Well then count them.

It’s more as you said, a blessing than anything else.

Especially in the gene category, not everybody gets that.

#braggadoccio

Who’s more OAF? McRaven or the Jordanian?

rickair7777

I worked pretty GD hard to get over the injuries, many folks would have taken the retirement and the rating but I'm still going. That wasn't a blessing bestowed from on high.

#tool