This is truly how you felt about your service?

 

Have you not read the RIF/VSP threads? That's a mild sentiment in the aggregate.

 

Most people over at Baseops felt that way.

 

That is really sad and I'm very glad that I could not describe my military service in such a manner. It certainly makes me feel bad for you guys that serving your country left such a sentiment.

 

You are correct, it's not absolute. I went through IFF (late 2000s) with a guy that originally tracked T-1s and went on to a Guard KC-135 squadron. A few years later he somehow got an F-16 unit to hire him. He was sent to Randolph and got a 20ish ride program in the T-38 and then sent to IFF. Unfortunately for him, he washed out of the B-course. Nice guy. Last I heard he was back in the tanker and flying for a major airline.

I would imagine this is extremely rare and most likely would only ever happen in the Guard. Although, I don't they'll ever try that again.

 

No one put a gun to my head to sign up. I don't blame anyone. It is what it is. I never saw the "good 'ol days" that I have heard growing up. Bending over... you betcha. Uncle's beaaaatch.... most definitely! I made life long friends, got to see the world, and the flying was a blast (when I finally got to fly after countless hours of doing "made up work" and infinite amount of bs ground training). I just couldn't sawllow the unbelievable bs and I wasn't alone. I finally caught up with that carrot and it turned out to be a orange turd, so I punched! Yes, the grass is greener on the other side, at least for me and my family!
My apologies for momentarily hijacking the thread.

 

USMC - I don't think you understand the magnitude of the situation. I ask you to read the following thread:

What's wrong with the Air Force? - General Discussion - Baseops Forums

I don't think it was a negative sentiment of their service, but more or less how they felt they were treated, how they saw the systems works and its inherent flaws. Most, if not all of these people walked with their feet when they were offered VSP and TERA this past year.

 

I know it is a small sample but I see this sentiment across the board - but especially more so in the USAF.

This sort of duality is just hard for me to understand:
I'm not saying they can't characterize their service or how they feel about their service - or how they feel they were treated in any words they may chose. I did say that I am glad that I don't feel the same way - and I did all of those *bad* things to along the way - the ground jobs, the computer training (yes - the Marines had computers too although they were DRMO'ed USAF has-beens ), and I even spent extra time learning all of the joys of being a rifleman along the way I'm not sure if I had different expectations of what the military would be like or if I just had a better experience than what I see commonly posted on the forums.

Again - I'm truly sorry that so many of the forum users seemed to have had such a terrible time during their service. I count myself as fortunate that I did not.

 

That's exactly what I did and have zero regrets, but if I were to do it over again I would have taken the C-21 to Ramstein that was in my drop. I think that's the best of all worlds. Fast upgrade time, you're out of AETC, and you get to see all of Europe for 3 years.

I'll tell you you're wrong now. Lol. I thought about the airlines every step of the way during UPT and graduated number 1 out of T-1's, but I kept my mouth shut about it aside from a few airline Reserve IP's that convinced me a FAIP tour would set me up best if I knew I wouldn't be making AD a career.

To the OP... bust your ass, keep your mouth shut, be a good dude, and let your performance give you the opportunity to decide what you want when they slap that drop sheet down on the desk. Don't worry about people that say it's too soon to be thinking about the airlines while in UPT. I heard the same thing 7 years ago when I was in UPT and asking similar questions on this site, but I'm glad I thought about the airlines back then so when I had enough of the AD bull**** I was prepared enough to put in for the VSP.

 

With that said the most fun I've had in an aircraft is the 3hrs I got in a Huey at Rucker during one of our T-6 static displays that we set up for a Rucker Graduation. Had I not known that I definitely wanted to go to the airlines I would have done everything possible to cross train to helo's.

Thankfully Delta/American pay should hopefully provide the opportunity to fly helicopters again.

Best of luck dude!