Posted on 11/10/2017 7:34:11 AM PST by SkyPilot
Really? I didn’t know that I thought the Army was prohibited from operating fixed wing once the Army Air Corp became the Air Force in 49. Thanks for the info.
From the hours I spent in the O'Clubs at Hahn and Spangdahlem ABs in the late 70s, the most obvious solution was: "keep them Captain and keep them in the cockpit." There should be exceptions to the military's "up or out", and this is one of them.
If I could have stayed in my last job in Germany (Battalion S-4, Supply Officer), I might have stayed in, too. I was living in a small town on the Mosel River, had many friends in town, two weeks in Crete every year as a member of the advance party, etc. Life on AF bases was far nicer than Army bases, too.
If it's a Naval Aviator, it would be a gold Cross pen in the pocket! The plastic spoon would still be in the "box lunch."
“If you can qualify to fly, why is a college degree necessary?”
Exactly! When I joined the Air Force back in 1964, I would drool at the thought of being a fighter pilot. But, being a mere enlisted guy, that door wasn’t open for me.
About thirty years ago I still had the itch to fly, so I started flight lessons. I soloed in five hours, and flew a lot after that goal was reached. I proved to myself I had the aptitude, and the ability...even without a degree in “business administration”, or some other ridiculous requirement for flying.
The Air Force could reopen the Warrant Officer program, do some testing, training, and promotions, and at least put these guys flying transports, and non-combat missions. I’d bet that some of the transport pilots probably longed to fly fighters, but at the time it was a harder gig to get.
I think Tech Sgt, or above, should be eligible for this program. It would free-up the college-commissioned boys and girls to fly the fighters.
Very little additional funds, comparatively speaking.
Looked OK in the preview. Sorry
My son wanted to be a AF pilot, by 16 years old he already had 20 hours flying. He met with the recruitment guy, told him he used an inhaler, and was immediately dq’ed. Meeting over.
Later I told him “you should’ve told him you’re gay, you’d probably have a full ride at the Academy by now.”
Draft? F..k that. No freedom in that one, The choice for 18 year olds should be military service or burger flipping. No scholarships or welfare.
Just what the Left wants, to discourage patriots from serving.
Will they take a 62 year old with a Single Engine Land and 200 hours in a Cessna 150/172?
Lol. Sure. As long as your Bi-Annual and medical are good!
I don’t know about “most,” but there’s a solid chunk who are. And they don’t have to care about staff nerd time like LTs and CPTs.
The biggest reason for the pilot shortage, in the secretary’s view, “is that we are too small for all the missions that we’re being asked to carry out on behalf of the nation — and as a result, we’re burning out our people.”
The current secretary of the AF is about as clueless as the last one. Op tempo is only part of the problem and not the main part. The main part is most are fed up with the social justice warriors, political correctness and social engineering BS. Most of the pilots I know would go just about anywhere any time if they didn’t have to come home to all the crap and got evaluated for what they cam to do instead of everything else.
Our aviators are also working their butts off to keep a bunch of broke dick worn out old airplanes running and accomplishing missions in spite of that.
If they would let pilots be men and do what they came for and what they love and provide them with some leaders who are dedicated to their people instead of what it takes to become one of just another perfumed prince they wouldn’t be short of pilots and would still have some of the best with buckets of combat experience.
Yup.
That you need to ask the question answers it.
I was a Student Pilot in 1967. Still in High School. I wanted to be either a military flyer or commercial. However, during my flight physical I was found to be slightly color blind.
ff
Thank you! And may God bless you and yours.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.