Air Force Pilot Shortage
07-28-2013, 01:09 PM
#31
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2012
Position: Babysitter
Posts: 975
too frustrated to comment.......once again another boxed checked....hey look, I'm pc now........bs.....we're pc'ing ourselves to death in the military....it's sad we're afraid of our own shadow......
07-28-2013, 11:33 PM
#32
On Reserve
Joined APC: Jun 2013
Position: AV-8B
Posts: 17
On a slightly different note, I'd like to add another perspective on my observations of the massive political problems that is plaguing the military at the O4 level and above. I'm currently on my second deployment to AFG and the things I have seen over the past 5 months make me want to throw up because I look around and all I see are politicians, not military leaders and most definitely not the Marine Corps I read about.
I was pulled away on a IA from my fleet tour to be a FAC on a police advisor team in 2012. Having completed my first deployment as a pilot in 2011, I could see the writing on the wall in terms of bend over and take it in the A$$ ROE and our "leaders" bounding our hands while throwing us into the fray. Needles to say, when I was pulled for this IA, I knew those idiotic rules would only be stricter and place us in an increasingly dangerous situation. Some of you may have read through the various SOPs that apply to OEF but as I read through them, I see nothing but pages and pages of everything we CANNOT do. At this point, it almost makes no sense to even have a TACAIR presence because the approving authority is so far away and disconnected from the fight that someone will die before any request is most likely refused. What is even worse is when I see messages like "Ensure ANSF success" as a mission statement knowing that if **** hits the fan, you actually cannot to jack squat for them or yourself. The same idiots shoving these absurd incapacitating rules down our throats are the ones generating these loony mission statements and yet, I see no one speaking against it. All I see are Majors willing to bend over for a juicy FITREP at the expense of common sense and doing what is right. To add to that, the indecisiveness I see in our "leaders" clearly illustrates to me the peril we will face if we don't correct the path we are on. This doesn't even mention the waste and abuse that is rampant here on our end alone. Ideas such as ISR platforms for the Afghans and are actually happening here and someone, somewhere is going to get a great FITREP out of it.
Of course, this just barely scratches the surface. A part of me always dies inside when I hear my team lead give us "talking points" for reporters who come here for vacation because God forbid anyone hear the truth. Every aspect of our military is so politically driven at this point that it will lead us to failure. It is just a matter of time. Needless to say, once my commitment is up and I don't see flying orders, I'm GTFO.
I was pulled away on a IA from my fleet tour to be a FAC on a police advisor team in 2012. Having completed my first deployment as a pilot in 2011, I could see the writing on the wall in terms of bend over and take it in the A$$ ROE and our "leaders" bounding our hands while throwing us into the fray. Needles to say, when I was pulled for this IA, I knew those idiotic rules would only be stricter and place us in an increasingly dangerous situation. Some of you may have read through the various SOPs that apply to OEF but as I read through them, I see nothing but pages and pages of everything we CANNOT do. At this point, it almost makes no sense to even have a TACAIR presence because the approving authority is so far away and disconnected from the fight that someone will die before any request is most likely refused. What is even worse is when I see messages like "Ensure ANSF success" as a mission statement knowing that if **** hits the fan, you actually cannot to jack squat for them or yourself. The same idiots shoving these absurd incapacitating rules down our throats are the ones generating these loony mission statements and yet, I see no one speaking against it. All I see are Majors willing to bend over for a juicy FITREP at the expense of common sense and doing what is right. To add to that, the indecisiveness I see in our "leaders" clearly illustrates to me the peril we will face if we don't correct the path we are on. This doesn't even mention the waste and abuse that is rampant here on our end alone. Ideas such as ISR platforms for the Afghans and are actually happening here and someone, somewhere is going to get a great FITREP out of it.
Of course, this just barely scratches the surface. A part of me always dies inside when I hear my team lead give us "talking points" for reporters who come here for vacation because God forbid anyone hear the truth. Every aspect of our military is so politically driven at this point that it will lead us to failure. It is just a matter of time. Needless to say, once my commitment is up and I don't see flying orders, I'm GTFO.
07-29-2013, 08:24 AM
#33
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2009
Posts: 5,193
Originally Posted by Par18
On a slightly different note, I'd like to add another perspective on my observations of the massive political problems that is plaguing the military at the O4 level and above. I'm currently on my second deployment to AFG and the things I have seen over the past 5 months make me want to throw up because I look around and all I see are politicians, not military leaders and most definitely not the Marine Corps I read about.
I was pulled away on a IA from my fleet tour to be a FAC on a police advisor team in 2012. Having completed my first deployment as a pilot in 2011, I could see the writing on the wall in terms of bend over and take it in the A$$ ROE and our "leaders" bounding our hands while throwing us into the fray. Needles to say, when I was pulled for this IA, I knew those idiotic rules would only be stricter and place us in an increasingly dangerous situation. Some of you may have read through the various SOPs that apply to OEF but as I read through them, I see nothing but pages and pages of everything we CANNOT do. At this point, it almost makes no sense to even have a TACAIR presence because the approving authority is so far away and disconnected from the fight that someone will die before any request is most likely refused. What is even worse is when I see messages like "Ensure ANSF success" as a mission statement knowing that if **** hits the fan, you actually cannot to jack squat for them or yourself. The same idiots shoving these absurd incapacitating rules down our throats are the ones generating these loony mission statements and yet, I see no one speaking against it. All I see are Majors willing to bend over for a juicy FITREP at the expense of common sense and doing what is right. To add to that, the indecisiveness I see in our "leaders" clearly illustrates to me the peril we will face if we don't correct the path we are on. This doesn't even mention the waste and abuse that is rampant here on our end alone. Ideas such as ISR platforms for the Afghans and are actually happening here and someone, somewhere is going to get a great FITREP out of it.
Of course, this just barely scratches the surface. A part of me always dies inside when I hear my team lead give us "talking points" for reporters who come here for vacation because God forbid anyone hear the truth. Every aspect of our military is so politically driven at this point that it will lead us to failure. It is just a matter of time. Needless to say, once my commitment is up and I don't see flying orders, I'm GTFO.
I was pulled away on a IA from my fleet tour to be a FAC on a police advisor team in 2012. Having completed my first deployment as a pilot in 2011, I could see the writing on the wall in terms of bend over and take it in the A$$ ROE and our "leaders" bounding our hands while throwing us into the fray. Needles to say, when I was pulled for this IA, I knew those idiotic rules would only be stricter and place us in an increasingly dangerous situation. Some of you may have read through the various SOPs that apply to OEF but as I read through them, I see nothing but pages and pages of everything we CANNOT do. At this point, it almost makes no sense to even have a TACAIR presence because the approving authority is so far away and disconnected from the fight that someone will die before any request is most likely refused. What is even worse is when I see messages like "Ensure ANSF success" as a mission statement knowing that if **** hits the fan, you actually cannot to jack squat for them or yourself. The same idiots shoving these absurd incapacitating rules down our throats are the ones generating these loony mission statements and yet, I see no one speaking against it. All I see are Majors willing to bend over for a juicy FITREP at the expense of common sense and doing what is right. To add to that, the indecisiveness I see in our "leaders" clearly illustrates to me the peril we will face if we don't correct the path we are on. This doesn't even mention the waste and abuse that is rampant here on our end alone. Ideas such as ISR platforms for the Afghans and are actually happening here and someone, somewhere is going to get a great FITREP out of it.
Of course, this just barely scratches the surface. A part of me always dies inside when I hear my team lead give us "talking points" for reporters who come here for vacation because God forbid anyone hear the truth. Every aspect of our military is so politically driven at this point that it will lead us to failure. It is just a matter of time. Needless to say, once my commitment is up and I don't see flying orders, I'm GTFO.
One of the things that will always haunt me are the guys that died on TICs I serviced, while waiting for clearance to drop (which was denied 100% of the time). Two tours of that, followed up by an IA which just gave even more clarity on how f'd the whole situation is.
The only solace I got was on our RTB from my IA, and the "group therapy" we were forced to endure. Some poor clinical psychologist who'd been in the military for about 3 weeks sat down with about 10 of us in a room, and then proceeded to just watch in shock for several hours as every single person went around the room sharing their stories of just how f'd up everything was on their end and how the only satisfaction they carried away from that tour was not getting hurt, and (hopefully) bringing back all your troops. Beyond that, everyone agreed that when the history books are written everything will have been for not.
07-29-2013, 09:56 AM
#34
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: 767A (Ret)
Posts: 6,248
Originally Posted by Grumble
One of the things that will always haunt me are the guys that died on TICs I serviced, while waiting for clearance to drop (which was denied 100% of the time).
07-29-2013, 12:16 PM
#35
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2009
Posts: 5,193
Originally Posted by tomgoodman
A friend who flew the A-1 in Vietnam stayed with TIC, making dry passes when he ran out of ammo, even after he had been ordered to RTB. The AF was preparing to reprimand him, but then the Army weighed in on the matter and he got a Silver Star.
07-29-2013, 02:55 PM
#36
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2011
Posts: 122
Originally Posted by JohnnyG
This is the stupidest article I've ever read. Thank god we've found the men and women we've found up to this point willing to put up with the miserable job of having your flight training paid for and flying the best hardware in the world.
Like the Blue Angels? What a $&%* job. Thank god 8 Officers were bullied into it.
These pilot shortage articles have got to stop. They are a slap in the face to every person who applied and didn't get the job even though they were competitive and GOOD but just not competitive enough. Sometimes it's easier, sometimes it's harder, but there will never be a shortage of fighter pilots.
Like the Blue Angels? What a $&%* job. Thank god 8 Officers were bullied into it.
These pilot shortage articles have got to stop. They are a slap in the face to every person who applied and didn't get the job even though they were competitive and GOOD but just not competitive enough. Sometimes it's easier, sometimes it's harder, but there will never be a shortage of fighter pilots.
That being said when it's all said and done, I will always miss her - unless I can get to the guard...
07-29-2013, 02:58 PM
#37
Super Moderator
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,558
Originally Posted by Grumble
These days the first guys that see your weapon system video after going kinetic are the lawyers. I wish I was kidding.
Originally Posted by Billy Pilgrim
Being an active duty fighter pilot right now is like having a ridiculously hot, but bat sh*t crazy girlfriend. The flying is absolutely incredible, but at some point it starts to cross your mind to find a little bit more stable of a situation.
That being said when it's all said and done, I will always miss her - unless I can get to the guard...
That being said when it's all said and done, I will always miss her - unless I can get to the guard...
07-29-2013, 03:03 PM
#38
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2011
Posts: 122
Originally Posted by Grumble
Bullseye.
One of the things that will always haunt me are the guys that died on TICs I serviced, while waiting for clearance to drop (which was denied 100% of the time). Two tours of that, followed up by an IA which just gave even more clarity on how f'd the whole situation is.
The only solace I got was on our RTB from my IA, and the "group therapy" we were forced to endure. Some poor clinical psychologist who'd been in the military for about 3 weeks sat down with about 10 of us in a room, and then proceeded to just watch in shock for several hours as every single person went around the room sharing their stories of just how f'd up everything was on their end and how the only satisfaction they carried away from that tour was not getting hurt, and (hopefully) bringing back all your troops. Beyond that, everyone agreed that when the history books are written everything will have been for not.
One of the things that will always haunt me are the guys that died on TICs I serviced, while waiting for clearance to drop (which was denied 100% of the time). Two tours of that, followed up by an IA which just gave even more clarity on how f'd the whole situation is.
The only solace I got was on our RTB from my IA, and the "group therapy" we were forced to endure. Some poor clinical psychologist who'd been in the military for about 3 weeks sat down with about 10 of us in a room, and then proceeded to just watch in shock for several hours as every single person went around the room sharing their stories of just how f'd up everything was on their end and how the only satisfaction they carried away from that tour was not getting hurt, and (hopefully) bringing back all your troops. Beyond that, everyone agreed that when the history books are written everything will have been for not.
The fix was to try and get the Army organic (Apaches etc...) involved and solve these "issues" at the lowest level possible. Put this wasn't always an option.
Yes we should try and protect the Afghani populace, but it seems we're often doing so at the expense of our fellow Americans on the ground.
07-29-2013, 03:56 PM
#39
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2009
Position: Lowest Pay I Could Find
Posts: 1,044
Originally Posted by tomgoodman
A friend who flew the A-1 in Vietnam stayed with TIC, making dry passes when he ran out of ammo, even after he had been ordered to RTB. The AF was preparing to reprimand him, but then the Army weighed in on the matter and he got a Silver Star.
07-29-2013, 04:18 PM
#40
trip trading freak
Joined APC: Oct 2010
Position: MD-11
Posts: 673
Originally Posted by Billy Pilgrim
Being an active duty fighter pilot right now is like having a ridiculously hot, but bat sh*t crazy girlfriend. The flying is absolutely incredible, but at some point it starts to cross your mind to find a little bit more stable of a situation.
That being said when it's all said and done, I will always miss her - unless I can get to the guard...
That being said when it's all said and done, I will always miss her - unless I can get to the guard...
1. Why? and
2. No matter what, there is a dude out there somewhere that is tired of F'n her.
Drunken Vikings have never been known for being the sharpest knife in the drawer, but if left alone to plunder, are exceptional at our jobs.
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