I start IFS in may 2012. Can anyone give me some information on what to expect at IFS. Is there anything I can start practicing or studying now? All I know is I'll be getting about 15 hours in a Cessna 172. Thanks!
Study the beer list at Hopjack's, McGuire's, Fish House, etc. Have them memorized before you show up for day 1 of IFS.
That's it. You know everything there is to know. Seriously once you get into it go to http://www.sportys.com/studybuddy and do the free test in flash card mode to study up. All the questions you will ever see on ANY of the tests, including the FAA written, are included in the question bank. Between that and doing the study packet they'll give you, you will be fine. Once you get past the ground phase just prepare for your flights and have fun. It's easy flying and it is mostly just fun. And you might get to fly in a Piper if you are lucky. Wait a second... you haven't even gone to OCS yet?! Kill the gator closest to the boat. One step at a time. Plus IFS isn't much to worry about. If you waste any time on it BEFORE OCS, just play flight simulator... between workouts and preparing your big 3.
What they said. IFS is waaaaaaaay down the list of shit that should be concerning you right now, killer. IFS is designed to be a screening program. There's not really any such thing as excelling at IFS - you either meet standards, or don't. The way I always saw it, IFS screens for three things: - attitude (are you willing to take the program serously?) - aptitude (are you capable of learning this stuff and retaining it while in the airplane?) - adaptability (do you barf uncontrollably or freak out/freeze up on the controls?) I had appointments with lots of dudes wearing their khakis who couldn't or wouldn't meet one or more of those wickets. Blowing off musters, gundecking their paperwork, failing FAA tests, not even remotely familiar with their syllabus material, etc. We'd rather find those guys immediately, than waste time and money classing them up. The problem children always seemed to have the attitude that IFS didn't really count...that it was just a County Fair airplane ride. I had one tell me that he was 'pacing himself'. As with the rest of the Program, take it seriously when it's time, work your ass off at what's in front of you.
Thanks for the info. I have three months before I leave fore OCS and I have the big three, sailors creed, ranks and insignias, etc., memorized. I'm just trying to study as much as I can before I leave, including aviation material. I can't believe some, what sounds like dip shits, blew off IFS. Also, I'm not a 21 year old "kid" and I realize the opportunity I have. If there's one thing I have down, it's BEER.
Memorize them more. You'll be amazed at what you'll forget at OCS. My advice: Focus on OCS and working out and having fun before you leave for Newport. Think of it as a free 'vacation'....because that's more or less what it is. Edit: Screw memorizing crap. You'll have plenty of time for that at OCS. Just drink, party and workout and have fun.
Yeah, don't sweat IFS...any 12 year-old can make it through...worry about OCS first, and definitely spend your free time enjoying the fall....
If you study ahead for IFS your head will explode by the time you make it to API. You have plenty of studying to do in your immediate future, don't add to the workload. If anything, decreasing your workload will actually make you more successful and keep you from losing your shit.
Definitely tackle the gator closest to the boat. That being said, when IFS comes around, don't assume it'll be easy. Some people aren't used to the suddenly intense (albeit short-lived) workload that IFS makes you deal with. Depending on where you go for it, it could be more work than fun. It's still easier than anything else you'll do in flight school, so have some fun now before all the work starts. Growing a beard is good advice. You'll be shaving every day for the next ten years. I miss my jebus beard.
Thanks for all the info. I have another quick question. I searched and tried to piecemeal an answer together to no avail. When I start IFS, where should we live (w/ wife) to set ourselves up to make the least amount of moves?? Ie; Milton, in-between NASP and Whitting Field.
Search around. Most folks live in North Pensacola to split the difference, or sell their souls and live in Milton/Pace.
Me and my wife are going down there tomorrow to check out a few places before I go to OCS. I'll let you know what looks good.
Right on, I'd appreciate that. Do you live close to Pcola? I wish I could do that, but unfortunately I live in Boise Idaho.
I look at it like this. . .You'll spend a couple weeks doing IFS, and 6 weeks doing API. You'll be at Primary for about 6 months. My wife and I chose to live basically right outside the gate at Whiting, and it's saved a ton on fuel costs. We go to Pensacola about once or twice a month, so it's no big deal. North Pensacola, Ferry Pass, and Pace aren't bad options. If you want any kind of a social life, however, I would recommend steering clear of Milton. With a 17 month old kid, I'm lucky if I get to have a night out with the wife once every couple of months. Also, keep in mind, you're going to have some early morning briefs (0530) and some late night flights. A long drive may not always be the greatest idea at those times. Just my $.05
Yeah I'm about 6 hours north, but I grew up about an hour away. I'm focusing on the northeast part of Pensacola, right around UWF.
That's a late brief, my friend. OP (and SNAs everywhere): If you're going to be at Whiting, I'd suggest selling your soul and living somewhere in Milton or Pace, or at the very furthest, NE Pensacola near UWF. You're entering the "meat" of your training, and need to devote your energy to studying and getting ahead. Time spent on a 45+ minute commute (each way) because you want to live near Seville or the beach is time that you're not studying. When you wake up at 02-something to drive up for that 0500 brief, you'll be dragging ass all day and your performance will suffer. The IPs will have no sympathy for you, as it was your decision to live somewhere that didn't set you up for success. As you know, the Navy and Marine Corps aren't really hurting for pilots right now. You don't want to make it easy for them to figure out who should stay and who should go based on missed opportunities to excel...opportunities missed because you're dodging Panhandle drivers (and Panhandle Panhandlers!) instead of studying. Am I suggesting that you don't go down to the bars and blow off some steam on the weekends? Hell no. You've got to have some balance in your life, and you've got to get your mind off of school every once in a while. However, it should be the exception - not the norm. You're being paid good money to drink from the CNATRA firehose - not drink Irish Wakes. My $.02, which adjusted for inflation from when I was in flight school, is still surprisingly $.02. ($.02 when I enlisted, though, is now $.03...)
What KBay said. Your sked at API is very predictable and published in advance, and neither it nor IFS last very long. Primary, on the other hand, is 6-ish months, and features a lot of unpredictably early mornings and late nights. Getting a call at 0630 that you have a 0700 brief on a day you thought you had off is not unusual. And btw, you don't show up at brief time - you'll be expected to have all your preflight planning done (wx, notams, etc) before the brief. Adding a 45+ min commute just to enjoy your (minimal) recreation time more is just voluntarily exacerbating the pain. Or go with the MB plan and live the Cousin Eddy lifestyle in an RV.
I live in Pace. Schools are great for the kids, commute is awesome, wife is bored as hell. I know some single folks who live in downtown P-cola and suck it up to enjoy the nightlife. I also have married friends w/o kids who live in North Pcola (around 9 Mile) so they aren't far from nice restaurants and Cordova Mall. We enjoy Pace for the most part, but the most exciting thing going here is Wal-Mart and Ruby Tuesday's (although the Blackwater Bistro in Milton is awesome). I recommend talking with your wife and understanding her tolerance for boredom, it's at least 30-45 minutes to the beach, mall, and downtown from Pace.
