<p>GroogWaugh is doing financial management.</p>
<p>and there’s a chance i could start at Wright-Patt at AFIT. waiting for the guy above me on the list to get a different scholarship. although not sure if i even would want it at this point</p>
<p>Congrats to everyone on their assignment selection.</p>
<p>OK those of you heading to UPT, let me pass some advice (which I bet you’ve already heard a million times, but it can’t hurt to hear it again).</p>
<p>1 - Take the lessons you learned during your 4 years at C Springs about discipline and hard work (which I hope you DID learn, but it sounds to me like you all did) and take them with you to UPT. Study hard, work harder, and ALWAYS be prepared, EVERY DAY THERE, and will do fine. Now is not the time to think: well, I busted hump for 4 years, a can take it easy now that I don’t have to live with someone watching over me and telling me what to do nearly 24/7. Take UPT lightly, and you will FAIL, garaunteed.</p>
<p>2 - Keep a good attitude, from the moment you drive the first time through the base gate. Show the instructors from Day One that you WANT to be there and learn from them. UPT should be your FIRST priority, period. We all know that family emergencies happen, and life does tend to go on. The Instructors do understand this. Asking to leave early Friday so you can meet friends to jet-ski that weekend? Not so much. And the instructors DO observe who is there Friday Afternoon studying the books, trying to learn more and do better. Not saying to do “face time” for the sake of face time; just saying to apply yourself to learning to be the best flyer ERVERYDAY, everything else comes in second. </p>
<p>PS, make sure your girlfriend / boyfriend / wife / husband understands this as well. You will be busy chasing your dream, you’ll need their support and understanding as to why you are so busy and can’t give them as much attention as they would like sometimes. I still thank goodness that Pima understood this and was as supportive, always.</p>
<p>3 - Stay positive, ALWAYS. EVERYONE will have a bad day or two (or three, or bad week). It happens. To all. What you do afterwards is what will make it or break it to the instructors about you. Get upset about a bad ride? Sure, and it’s perfectly OK to become upset THAT day! But walk into de-brief, admit to the IP, “Well, THAT didn’t go so good”, but add the caveat afterwards, “What do I need to work on tonight in order to get better tomorrow?” Then shrug it off and go back to my point number 2, work your butt off to actually get better tomorrow. </p>
<p>Sulking over a bad day or two, or bad week? That’s what Friday Night and Sunday are for. Use those few hours to blow off steam. You WILL need to do this. Just don’;t do anything “stupid” while you’re blowing that steam off. And notice I didn’t mention “Saturday”? That’s because you may want ot spend a few hours at the squadron studying with friends, particularly during the academics portion. Take your significant other out for dinner that night. I mean, you got a steady pay check courtesy of Uncle Sam, spend some of it on your significant other showign them you appreciate thier understanding on how busy you are.</p>
<p>4 - Show up day one knowing the Bold Face and the Ops limits for the T-6 COLD (i.e. perfectly, without hesitation). The IPs EXPECT this. Showing up not knowing this means to them: a) we’re going to struggle to teach you, and b) you aren’t taking this seriously because you’re didn’t take our warning and put the effort in before you got there. No need to memorize it now. but 6 weeks prior to report date, print it out and start to study it until it becomes second nature. </p>
<p>And I’m not sure if the instructors at C Springs do this to you now, but it won’t be “tell me the bold face for engine fire on the ground” as part of your mission pre-brief. Instead, they will select someone, tell them to stand up, and give them a scenario.
Good example: Instructor: “You’ve just started engine, and you see XXX temp on the gage. A little high, but in limits. You get ATIS, and it is information Charlie. Make the call for taxi.” You: “Stud 1, taxi 26L, Information Charlie.” Instructor: “Crew chief pulls the chocks, you pull forward, salute and start taxing for 26L. Asyou make your first turn, the Master Caution light and warning tone comes on. What are you going to do?” You: “Maintain aircraft control, analyze situation, take appropriate action. I’ll stop taxi and check my gauges. What do I see?” Instructor: “Quick glance at the controls, and you see the engine temp is XXX (hint: it will be out of limits too high.) and the Engine Fire Warning light is on.” You: State the bold face for Engine Fire On The Ground, then “What do I see now?”… Yada, Yada, Yada, keep talking about the situation until the instructor thinks you’ve reached a logical conclusion… </p>
<p>See? It’s more than just MEMORIZING the Bold Face.</p>
<p>5 - Keep a good attitude. Saying it twice, because it is so important. You’re going to get to fly for the AF, something most Americans could only wish they could do. How can you NOT be pumped about that?</p>
<p>Again, congrats, and best of luck to ALL the cadets here as they start their careers. For those of you going on to something other than flying? My advice still applies (except fo remembering the T-6 Bold Face! 
) Show up Day One ready to work hard and learn how to do your job better than everyone else. That’s why we taxpayers paid fo ryour college.</p>
<p>How I envy you all!</p>
<p>Bullet</p>
<p>Spouse speaking again! One thing Bullet stated from this side of the fence (I was with him from college) is so dead on. Your SO really needs to understand that this is make or break time for you. It stinks as an SO to sit around by yourself when you guys are having study groups all day over the weekend.</p>
<p>If she/he does not realize the importance…ditch them, because they will never get on board with the program that “this is your career”, but your livelihood as a couple. This is how it is going to be even after you hit your first op assignment. Bullet in our 1st 3-4 yrs of AD spent what felt like one day every weekend at the squadron studying for a check ride or an upgrade. Not fun for a spouse to be by themselves and in a new place. SHe also might be happy if you decide to hang at the squadron playing 4,5,6 while she waits at home by herself. I was always one that felt it was important for him to stay. We actually came to an agreement. He would stay until 6-7 and I would go to the club with the other wives. They would meet us there. It was the best decision ever, because I got my own life/fun, and he got to be one of the guys. The only issue that we ever had is that game can become expensive if you lose!</p>
<p>I also agree with Bullet, you will have crappy days…go home and regroup. Don’t dwell on it.</p>
<p>Lastly, I am so jealous of all of you, I would love to turn back time to do it all over again. This time, I wouldn’t concern myself with the small issues, but hindsight is 20 20 now isn’t it? Trust me if you thought your AFA days went by fast, just wait before you blink you will be a Captain, and for fliers submitting apps for WIC or TPS.</p>
<p>Wow, talk about some good advice!</p>
<p>As always great advice and words of wisdom from both Bullet and Pima. Our son (Laughlin UPT class 10-02) compared pilot training to “trying to take a drink from a fire hose.” Good luck to you all!</p>
<p>Boy, let me echo what Bullet said!!!</p>
<p>He’s DEAD ON ACCURATE HERE!!!</p>
<p>UPT will beat you down, up, sideways, and then find another way to inflict more pain!</p>
<p>Yes, really.</p>
<p>It can also be THE MOST FUN YOU HAVE HAD IN YOUR LIFE SO FAR!!! But for that to be the case you have GOT GOT GOT to want it as bad as Bullet describes. If you don’t…start planning a backup role in the AF because you will NOT keep up.</p>
<p>As a young student an OUTSTANDING IP named Captain Scott Tinsley asked me: “LT…what do you want to fly?” ME? “Sir, I want to fly the F-15!” (this was 1983)…HIM: “Ah, my jet for the past 4 years…okay, I"ll help you get there, if you’re willing to WORK.”</p>
<p>What advice did he give me before our first flight? “Steve, make EVERY SINGLE MISTAKE THERE IS IN THE BOOK.” “ONCE.” And learn from each one of them so that you can “see them coming, know boldface as applicable, can react and THINK under pressure, and can analyze the situation and come up with a logical solution.”</p>
<p>And be able to do that in about 3 seconds.</p>
<p>And you know what?</p>
<p>He was correct!
(And a GREAT IP/Pilot too!)</p>
<p>Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83</p>
<p>just an update. i am no longer headed to ENJJPT right away. i have elected to take a grad school slot to AFIT (Air Force Institute of Technology) at Wright-Patt, OH for an OR masters degree. i’ll delay ENJJPT 18 months for the degree</p>
<p>Good deal.</p>
<p>Should probably update mine too. </p>
<p>Getting the Ph.D at RAND in Santa Monica, CA for three years then heading to Laughlin. Likely enter pilot training as a Captain with people from the class of 2013!</p>
<p>What’s the process for going to grad school after graduation from an SA?</p>
<p>applications. you have to have a certain GPA your junior year to receive the information. then you pick which scholarships you’re interested in and apply.</p>
<p>this year 87 cadets are heading to grad school. 17 AAP (61s and 62s going to AFIT), 15 GSP (Graduate Studies program - AFIT then to return to teach at USAFA in the future), 43 endowed (national) scholarships, and 12 med school slots.</p>
<p>eagle can you explain more about the 62s and AFIT?</p>
<p>sorry. 61s and 62s are the job codes for analysts, scientists, and engineer career fields. Cadets with one of these jobs can work with their academic department to apply for AAP (Acquisition Accession Program).</p>
<p>and actually, i just found the slides that 2 degrees get briefed. so here’s the one about AAP:</p>
<p>–An AF sponsored program designed to provide the Air Force with officers in the 61/62 career fields with Advanced Academic Degrees (AAD) so they can fill billets requiring these degrees
–CUM GPA required >3.00; CUM MPA/PEA- Good Standing
–Process
-Departments notified and they in-turn send out requests for volunteers (Nov/Dec)
-Cadets complete on-line application for AFIT (Dec/Jan)
-AFIT/RR will review applications meet academic requirements and sends names of suitable applicants to AFPC for selection
-AFPC notifies selectees in April
-Selectees will attend AFIT-in-Residence or CI program</p>
<p>Thanks Eagle. I knew the 61 & 62 part since that is what my S is hopefully going to get in the next day or so.</p>
<p>I just hadn’t heard about the AFIT stuff. How competative is it to get a spot for AFIT?</p>
<p>I mean I see the >3.00 but that probably is not where the “real” line is drawn. I imagine it would be quite a bit higher.</p>
<p>AFIT is a HUGE thing and has been forever. I would say that out of 20 yrs in the military, Bullet and I knew 2 or 3 that went to AFIT out of every flier he ever worked with (probably tallying them up it would be 300+ fliers).</p>
<p>Out of the 3 we knew. 2 are generals, 1 left because he decided he had enough with DADT, but before he left he was a BPZ for O4 (back when there was BPZ). </p>
<p>I am sure Eagle can give you the gpa, but I would say instead of looking at the gpa, think more towards class rank, i.e. top of the top of the graduating class.</p>
<p>Being deferred to UPT because of getting an AFIT or fellowship slot, automatically will put you in a different category when promotion time comes around. The AF as a 2nd lt., said you are a future leader. At the same time understand just because you are book smart it doesn’t mean it will translate into the Top Gun, and when you go to your operational squadron to get ahead you need to be not only that AFIT or fellowship grad, but also able to the handle the stick well. The flying world doesn’t give a crap if you can explain some out the door physics theory, they want to know when you drop that GBU you get a shack! They care more about completing the mission than what you learned at AFIT. AFterall a GBU that misses it target is an expensive waste of money and now the commander has to explain to the higher ups why they had collateral damage that killed innocent people. (CAREER KILLER)</p>
<p>Thanks Pima, kind of what I was thinking. Of course, 61s & 62s won’t be flying anything so that part isn’t really the issue.</p>
<p>I was just surprised that there are 17 going. That seemed like a pretty high number for just the 61s & 62s. From what I have seen, USAFA should only graduate about 50 total 61s & 62s for 2011. Guess just have to wait and see how things go.</p>
<p>I think it is important to recognize that cadets attending the AFA have also changed. Decades ago you went to the AFA over another SA because all you wanted to do was FLY. Now many cadets are opting to not fly, and want a different route. Mainly they want to be successful both routes. They are proactive in filling squares at an earlier point than what was common historically. </p>
<p>I think the cadets have a broader picture than the previous generations. If in the 80’s you said you were going AFIT over UPT people had a different response than today. Today they see it as a good career move, back than they thought you were crazy because that delay would mean you could lose the chance of FWIC. There truly was a 2 track system and if you were a flier you wanted ENJJPT, FWIC, Test, the academic side was seen as a waste. Now you need both the academic and the flying side.</p>
<p>there isn’t a hardcore cutoff. it really depends on who applies. they typically look at OPA and class rank as the decision factors for GSP and AAP. obviously the higher the better.</p>
<p>compared to other schools (JFK, Oxford, etc) it’s obviously easier. The fact that you are only competing against other cadets instead of against other cadets to have the chance to compete against other schools makes it less competitive. now it’s definitely not a “give-me” by any means, but you don’t need a 3.8 to get a slot.</p>
<p>and bullet, thanks for the info. my AOC (A-10 and ex-Thunderbird pilot) was really weary with me taking a grad school slot at first because of the delayed timeline. He shared that showing up as almost a Captain to your first flying squadron with (basically) no flying experience makes it harder to upgrade in time to reach certain milestones. but i also talked to some recent grads ('07 and '08) before i made my decision, one who went straight to ENJJPT, and another who went to grad school then ENJJPT. i’m excited for the opportunity, although 18 more months of school don’t sound too good when i have 2 weeks left of undergraduate education… lol. at least i’ll be close to home!</p>
<p>It was pima, but I know Bullet and hornet will tell you that was the smart choice.</p>
<p>Yes, you will show up later, and he has a pt. It will be difficult to get into WIC based on your rank, however, you have the AF saying this is our future leader ( otherwise you would not be going to AFIT). If you can handle the stick you will be fine. Mark Graper and Frank Rossi who did AFIT may never have gotten their rank if they followed that advice from the A-10/ex thunderbird.</p>
<p>You need to remember that your AF career will not only be based on academics, but your flying skills will be a part of the equation. Be smart, fly on the weekends on your own dime while you are at AFIT so when you show up at UPT you are confident. The problem that you and hornet will face is that you will be the Class Commander, which means you have additional duties besides graduating from UPT. You will be the liaison between the UPT/FTU and the students. You actually have an additional job whereas the others are just students.</p>
<p>Butter bars crap slides off Railroad tracks crap sticks between the bars! My bad, I didn’t know or understand is not an excuse as a Capt even at UPT with all O1’s. Your instructor will expect more out of you and won’t accept MY BAD, if they are a FAIP (1st Assignment Instructor Pilot) they are your peer and that just won’t fly as an excuse! Their opinion will be Goody on you for AFIT, but you are not 22, you are 25, and have had 3-4 yrs of the military, you know the program, you can’t play the OOPS I just was commissioned 3 mos ago, I didn’t realize that when you said study group on Sunday at 2 it wasn’t optional. They expect more from you.</p>
<p>For newbies RR tracks is O3 (captain). Butter is O1 (2nd LT)</p>