Just track selected a few weeks ago and ended up receiving a Tone. I was a bit disappointed at first because I really wanted 38's and knew I had a pretty good shot at them being in the top 5, but we only received 2 and our number one and number two guy got them. I'm definitely cool with it though. Honestly I think it is a much safer route to avoiding UAV's and ultimately maximizing your time in the cockpit.
Anyways all through Phase II my IP's always told me I had FAIP written all over me and thought I would make a great FAIP. Prior to starting UPT I never really even considered wanting to FAIP, but now I'm actually considering making it my number one choice.
I'm just looking for some advice on whether it's a wise decision or not. You see I'm thinking FAIPing sounds like a pretty safe way to avoid UAV's and hopefully guarantee yourself a MWS follow on with possibly 2 back to back ops tours or one ops tour followed by a schoolhouse tour ultimately maximizing your time in the cockpit and also maximizing your time in the left seat.
Honestly I'm about 99% sure I only want to do 10 years active duty right now and then I would like to go into the guard/reserves and pick up an airline gig. No I'm not planning my exit so early in my career, but I've seen what active duty is all about and I have absolutely no desire to do anything, but fly. I was definitely that guy on the first day of Phase I looking at the guard/reserve guys in my class thinking why in the hell did I not take that route. Haha. No really it's all good though. I'm just so happy that I have been given a chance to fly as a military aviator and wouldn't trade it for the world.
I know it's tough to plan your career in the military because we really have very little say on where we go, but I'm thinking I'd like to FAIP for the first 3 years then go fly 135's/KC-10's for the next 4 years then possibly teach at Altus or back to a UPT base for the last 4 years then try to get picked up by the 135 reserve unit that is in my hometown.
What do you all think? Once again I know I will have very little say in what I would like to do, but considering FAIPing is not usually at the top of everyone's list and there are a ton of tankers I figure I would have pretty good shot at making most of that happen.
I definitely would like to get out in the fight as soon as possible, but I also have other reasons for wanting to FAIP like my wife is still working on her Masters and getting her career started and I don't really want to rush her considering she has a really good job prospect opening up in the same town as my UPT base and that would definitely make it easier to get her career started if she took that opportunity to get into the field and gain experience.
Honestly I also had an absolute blast in Phase II. Yeah sure there were some parts that I didn't like, but overall I definitely enjoyed myself and I think I could definitely enjoy it for 3 more years and I think I would make a pretty decent IP.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I still haven't decided whether I would like to FAIP T-6's or T-1's. I've heard you get more time in Tones and it's obviously better time being twin engine jet time, but I'm thinking teaching Phase II would be a lot more fun and rewarding getting to see students go from barely being able to taxi an aircraft to flying within 10ft of another aircraft solo in about 4 months.
Thanks!