WT Forums

Well, I have received new dates letting me out of my instructor commitment about a month early. That means I will go out to DM for A10 RTU in late August. I was initially told October to this is great news!! I have to first do a 6 week course in the T38 called introduction to fighter fundamentals. We just do some BFM (mostly defensive for the A10 follow on guys) and a couple low levels and some surface attack stuff. It is the basics and I have seen it before. I also have 1200 hours in the T38 already so that program should not be too bad as long as I can remember to be a student again and keep my damn mouth shut long enough to learn the right things.

Then out to DM where I will never have to fly with anyone in my plane!!!!<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Luke, I wouldn't walk in with the "it's all basic, I've seen it before because I have 1200 hours in the T-38" attitude. Just my $.02.

Coach

Congratulations! I agree though, IFF was the worst seven weeks of my life and I did well. IFF was harder than RTU...

"Warthog 30 has left the building..."

That's awesome news, Luke. I haven't met a FAIP yet who isn't counting the days.

And speaking of training dates, etc... Warthog30, when are you going to come up and kick my arse?<img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle> Not that I haven't gotten enough of an arse-kicking lately...

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Luke, I wouldn't walk in with the "it's all basic, I've seen it before because I have 1200 hours in the T-38" attitude. Just my $.02.

Coach<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

I know....and I am not. We do have IFF here at Sheppard and I have flown with them quite a few times. I have seen and flown all of the profiles. However, I am NOT very good at it since that is not the type of stuff I normally fly and have not had the right academics. I am going into that course with the attitude that I have a LOT to learn about how to REALLY fly any airplane especially the T38. I have to remember that I will be a student again. The hours I do have in the jet WILL be an advantage. Most people that go through IFF that have graduated from Sheppard have about 135-140 hours in the T38. Basic stuff requires more brain power with not too much experience - if you have 1200 hours though, I can without thinking about it snap into a max G hard turn or break turn. I can without thinking too hard maintain energy because I have 4 years of knowing how to 'listen' to the jet. That basic stuff is near second nature now and that allows me to pay more attention and concentrate more on the new stuff. Having 4 years of being used to tactical formations is a big advantage over having 2 months of it. The extra SA allowed by that will help me learn the right lessons (probably the hard way) quicker.

We also talk regularly with the instructors over there about the students we send over there. We hear about strengths, weaknesses, and what sort of flying and attitude they are looking for. This can be a big help too.

I do think IFF will be hard. It will be hard adjusting to not being the instructor and it is a new type of flying. I also am going into it with the attitude that it will most definitely NOT be the worst 7 weeks of my flying career. IFF is a program where they are NOT looking for you to master surface attack or BFM. They are looking for a good learning curve, adaptability to the fighter world, and a great hardworking attitude. The instructors for IFF are kick ass dudes. They have an awesome best shots video getting gun tracks on vipers, eagles, hornets, and tomcats. I am sure I will get my ass handed to me on every sortie. But that is what makes it cool. I also know that more will be expected of me. I intend to live up to any experience I already have.

I am looking forward to some new challenges and a new type of flying and IFF should be great. I fully expect to be humbled quite a bit but I also am planning on having a blast. I am even more excited for RTU...

Hey Luke,
Congrats on the new dates. I'm one of your former -38 students, the first one to go to the PA ANG. Hope all's well. You'll love the 'Hog.
-Fork
P.S.----Andreychik wasn't a Marine, just thinks he was (and still is, for that matter)....ha ha.

Hey!!!! How's it going?? Did you go overseas yet?? Those F@!1!ers did the same thing with follow on training stuff to Chris as they did to you. I became their MTO when he was about half way done in 38s. I told him from the first day I got there to call back home every day to get dates and it still did not help him (or he said something stupid to piss off the SMsgt who works that crap in your unit).

The class after you guys was the one we had the crash in. It was only I flight left flying that day and I was up on sarcap. The student who survived the crash sat in your old seat at my desk...the one who didn't sat at the next desk over.

Hope you are having a blast!!!!

Hey Luke,
Yup, just got back from Afghanistan. Not much going on over there, at least not in the day time when I was flying. It was a cool experience though. It's also nice that, in the guard, we share the 90 day trip with 2 other units so it's only a month over there.
That stuff about the crash is pretty wild. I was at BD when that happened....sad stuff.
Did you get your follow on base yet? I hear Spang is pretty popular with the active duty bro's. I'm actually writing you from Vance. I got married in the fall and my wife just started UPT at Vance. I'm out here to get her settled, then I cruise back next week. She'll be flying 'hogs from PA also.
That's about it dude. Keep me posted on stuff. Let me know if you need anything.
-Fork

Nope, no follow on yet. They just made RTU a PCS. No more 179 days worth of TDY money and we do not find out follow on stuff until we are there. And.....the last two classes have been allowed to just pick assignments in order of rank so the faips go first but the faips have not been allowed to pick overseas (spang or eielson). Oh well, I will figure it out once I get there...

Congrats on the marriage...you guys should have come down this weekend for assignment night...the drops down here are better than up there so everyone is in a better mood...

I'll email you...

In the past 6 months, we (at Spang) got in two FAIPs fresh from the B course. As far as I know, there is no restriction on FAIPs going overseas, and I am sure they would not keep Korea from you if you wanted it too.

I am pretty sure the FAIP restriction thing is new. I flew T3 out there and saw some former students. It was the last 2 classes (I think they are close to graduating now). They gave out the assignment possibilities then had the class go sit in a room and figure out who goes where by rank order. They told the faips no germany or alaska first. Korea is ALWAYs OK. However, for one of the classes at least, that whole volunteer to Korea and then get whatever location you want after did not happen. They got 2 Korea slots with specified Pope follow ons. I was also told by AFPC that no matter if I am a FAIP or not they will try to fit in a short tour for EVERYONE before the commitment is up. That means Korea, ALO, is predator a short tour?? So either my first or my second tour will be Korea since I would rather spend my short tour time flying at least...

As a FAIP you will not go to an ALO or Predator assignment before you have done at least 2 Ops Assignments. Both of those are ALFA tours also. You have to get experience in a major weapons system. You will be up for your major's board about the time that you are leaving your first operational assignment. Unless you ask for it, you won't be sent out of the A10 to do something else.

I will ask the people here if they know anything about new FAIP restrictions at Spang. We have received several lately and it does make our Squadron Manning a bit skewed, but I haven't heard about it.

Hey, Poke,
I'll be there around 1 May or so. See you then...<img src=icon_smile_evil.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_evil.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

"Warthog 30 has left the building..."