Hey, the Hog unit at Barksdale AFB is going operation (currently a training unit) in 2010. They just hired 2 guys off the street and they will be hiring many more over the next 2 years. Send me a PM and I will give you some details and my email address. To answer your question above, yes, full time positions available in the Reserves and you be on Active duties orders for probably close to 3 years anyway.

There is something extremely gay about being a weapons instructor on a plane wth no weapons:D I tell this to my friend in my sq everyday who wears a patch, and who also feels the need to jazz up everything we do in my unit with cosmic tactics, even if it worked well before, guess she has to justify the patch.

I just don't know how the AF ever survived without everyone going to Nellis and being fighter pilot wannabes and calling each other by their cool callsigns.

Oh yeah, we had CADS in the C-130 and everyone else had a unique and specialized school.

I guess everyone has to feel special, next stop, Personnel weapons school, kinda makes that patch even the more special.

On the WIC patch, I have to agree. It's a one way ticket to a desk at the CAOC anyway.

On Tankers in combat, most tanker toads have more combat time than their pointy nose classmates from UPT. All without defensive systems or a heavily armed wingman covering their six. Unarmed and unafraid...

I love tanker guys - but are you seriously comparing tanker "combat" time with their pointy nose classmates? If you really want to talk "combat" time in the last 4 years - let's talk helo guys.

USMCFLYR

Magnum--true statement. My a$$ still in one piece is a testament to those folks keeping the bad guys head's down.

USMC--582 hrs combat (not counting combat support) in 4 years as a tanker guy. That said, I heard a lot of radio chatter about helos taking fire. Those guys have gonads that clank.

Apparently my previous reply was deleted during the APC down time. Sure, most Hercs have no weapons, that's why it's called a Weapons and Tactics Officers. You sound like you're resentful of your patch wearer. Instead of giving her grief, why don't you help her out? Chances are she has a lot to offer your squadron - even you, if you'd take the time to listen. It sounds like you're too busy scoffing the patch and the WIC to realize that she may know something you don't. Your loss. Keep letting your ego stand in the way of your development as a pilot and you're going to miss out on a whole lot of learnin'.

USMC--582 hrs combat (not counting combat support) in 4 years as a tanker guy. That said, I heard a lot of radio chatter about helos taking fire. Those guys have gonads that clank.[/quote]

Like I said FFLS - I'm not about to get into a contest with you over "combat" time. I'll concede that you have more time in theater than I do - and probably just as many more hours than I do. All I can compare 582 hours too is that it is about the same as the number of miles I was behind enemy lines:D
But seriously - that is like the guys now days walking around with their 100 combat missions patches who haven't even seen a shot fired in anger. Granted they may once in awhile get to employ, but like many saw on the PBS show 'Carrier' - when you are just out there holding for a few hours in circles not doing much of anything when the helos guys are taking some serious ground fire on a daily basis it just doesn't carry the same weight; would you really stand next to helo guys at the bar and spout off about your combat hours? I know I wouldn't. I'd tip my hat and make sure they didn't buy a drink all night long.

By the way.....I have even more hours than 582 in theater but they don't count for this discussion since they were spent on the ground setting up airbases/FOB/FARPs and running convoys (Well...at least my command. You know they don't let XO's have much fun):o

Again, my hat's off to anyone wearing desert boots in a far away land--past or present, any service, any job. And no, I won't go toe to toe with any helo warriors. Pride does require me to occasionally sing the praises of my former community of tanker toads.

"Like I said FFLS - I'm not about to get into a contest with you over "combat" time. I'll concede that you have more time in theater than I do - and probably just as many more hours than I do."

Alas, I am also a masochist and can't help but to point out your previous posts said nothing of a "contest of combat time". Maybe a future thread--duelling resumes. As you did concede to me on one point, good conduct requires that I also make a concession to you. I am nowhere near command material.

[quote=130drvr;383095]There is something extremely gay about being a weapons instructor on a plane wth no weapons:D I tell this to my friend in my sq everyday who wears a patch, and who also feels the need to jazz up everything we do in my unit with cosmic tactics, even if it worked well before, guess she has to justify the patch.
quote]

When I first saw it I really thought the 135 WIC was a bit much. But rather than throw darts I actually asked them "why?" And got an answer that made a lot of sense to me--the one liner being something like "so we don't have another tanker plan like Allied Force." The fighter guys I've run into old enough to have experienced that as well as the considerably better version (so I was told) during OIF agreed.

As for the 130 world, the few WIC guys I've run into have always been good dudes, very smart, good instructors. And brutally hard workers. They are the primary reason I heisman'ed our WIC--too much time gone with too little flying.

In our world, I like it. The ones I know are all great dudes. I'm always willing to learn a new and better way of doing stuff from someone who spent an enormous amount of time and brainpower learning it. And when I have a question....I really like getting an answer from someone who, well, same thing. Unlike you, I haven't got it all figured out.