Astronaut =/= rated aviator. She could have just been a specialist and then transferred to aviation, somehow. Or she could just drive across the country while pooping in her pants a lot.
Yeah that was the only explanation I could think of. Pretty cool I guess, wonder what the details are with her story if this is the case.
Real astronaut. There are three of them, don't know exactly what they are accomplishing by learning to fly the T6. They are all at VT3.
Ahhh so they aren't actually SNAs, just actual current astronauts doing the primary syllabus or something?
My understanding is that they are doing the Contact syllabus only? Not sure if that includes PA's or not.
It may be for aeronautical adaptivity training for mission specialists...an introduction if you will in to the world of military aviation, which might be quite a shock to folks who have spent a good chunk of time in a lab. I'd imagine the pilots have a different syllabus, especially since they're already rated aviators.
None of them are prior military, and they all snivel on Friday's to fly a T-38 at Bay Minette (or somewhere, not really sure). The aeronautical adaptation thing sounds like a smart assumption.
Question: When it comes time for pipeline selection, are you competing against only the SNAs in your squadron or in all primary squadrons (both whiting and corpus) who are finishing that week? Also, I have not been able to find a pub that shows how much academics count towards PAS or NSS. I have heard 10%, but have yet to see it in writing. Anybody know where to find the info? Thanks
1. Everyone who finishes that week. 2. Don't worry about it. Seriously. You should be getting a 90+ on all of the exams anyway. They aren't hard and you won't see a question or answer in which you haven't seen before.
Late to the conversation, but they indeed were mission specialists- they came from science/lab backgrounds.
Check the Master Curriculum Guide. The formula should be in there. If you look at the very first post in this thread, you'll see the formula as of 2007. Notice no mention of academics. The 10% number was thrown around back then, too. Some time long long ago academics wase included in the NSS calculation, but then it was taken out. You probably won't find anyone who can say when, but it was before your CO's were in flight school. Since few actually take the time to read an understand the instruction, everyone (including instructors) just keep repeating the 10%. Of course, I haven't seen a MCG in 5 years, so maybe it is back in there.
Guys/Gals, look at your JPPT (http://www.cnatra.navy.mil/pubs/folder2/1542.166A.pdf) and see the formula used for calculating your PAS (Phase Aggregate Score). The key factors here are (A) your overall ratio (B) squadron average overall ratio. Math says that if your score is higher than the squadron average, you are above a 50 NSS (assuming you have no unsat or marginal flights, as this plays a very small role - see formula). If you argue with math, you will lose. If you have unsat and marginals, you lose. To determine your overall ratio, go into TIMS or your ATJ and look at the gradesheets for the the end of block flights (or most recent, up to date flights) and divide the total score (yours) by the total MIF you've carried. You will get a number that matches your stage score if you've done it correctly - 1.1x. This has to be done for each stage (Contact, BI, Form, RI, Nav), and you should have a numerator and denominator for total score and MIF you've carried throughout all blocks. There you have a number representing your "overall ratio". This is, of course, pointless unless you are within 10 flights or so and are wanting to see where you stand based on recent completers telling you what their overall ratios were and what kind of NSS they ended up with. Did you get the Academic Achievement Award? Doesn't mean shit. Academics are not factored into your NSS. (http://www.cnatra.navy.mil/pubs/folder2/1500.4g_ch3.pdf) <--- see pg VII-14 & 15 NFOs have academics factored in, pilots do not. Currently a 1.18 overall ratio in VT-2 gets a 46 NSS...this week...this varies by squadron. Hard to say where the cutoff for 50 is, but fuck that's high.
