I understand the politics of having to ride a desk, but personally I would think my career was ruined if I had to ride pine.

Seems to have been the case in my career as well.

If you equate a successful career in the Air Force by your rank at retirement, then I agree flying for a career has a glass ceiling at LTC.

That being said, I woudn't trade my career to be Chief of Staff, much less a Colonel or General. I consider myself the luckiest guy on active duty right now...over 25 years and never out of the cockpit!

To make it worse, the gates months have been lowered I believe to 96 months. That means, senior Capts are now going to staff tours which is around the 8 year point !!!

Jethro, wow that is awesome. Career flyers like you are certainly a thing of the past.

-Fatty

Would any of you gentlemen know the next Captain for the Air Force One crew? I haven't seen or heard any recent news on the selection process.

I just spoke to my flesh peddler at Randolph...it has been 96 months for quite some time. 96 months is what's required BY LAW to keep you in the cockpit. 120 months is what AFPC (your MWS functional) tries to keep you in until releasing for staff, however you are releasable after 96. I think the staff jobs "open" for this cycle is around 500, but only 50 are being filled. Many, many dudes are being sent to a 4th straight flying assignment because of needs of the Air Force. Pretty much the only folks being released for staff are IDE grads. I have a few friends filling their staff tours prior to school at COCOM or MAJCOM levels, but it's rare.

Yes, that was him. Great guy! I've worked with him on and off for the last 6 years doing AF-1 advance work.

Rumor has it that he wasn't confirmed because of political retribution against Bush and also that the AF General's club protested behind the scenes that he didn't go the "traditional" route to become a BG.

the AF General's club protested behind the scenes that he didn't go the "traditional" route to become a BG.

What is the traditional route for BG?

I want to be you!

RB

Col Tillman is a great guy. Back in my C-21 days, we got picked off to go pick up him and his family and fly them back to Andrews. After we got back he came up and personally thanked us and then offered to give my copilot and I a tour of AF1/SAM 28000.

As most of us would think, we thought that we'd get passed off to a PA person, but Col Tillman took 3 hours out of his day to give us a personal tour. :)

It is a sad day when someone like him gets passed over for doing his job as a pilot. :mad: