IFS down the tubes?

[zippy]

Lots of hate for IFS on here. IFS was my first taste of aviation, and I felt it did a decent job of preparing me for flight school. Things like learning how to flare and the basics of the landing pattern came quick to me in primary because I already had a good idea of how to do them from IFS.

I don't have a problem with IFS being used to provide an introduction to aviation- I have problems with civilians who have no background as a military pilot taking it upon themselves to decide who gets to be a military aviator. That's my Job and I'm a hell of a lot more qualified then they are to make that determination then they are and I'm a hell of a lot more professional then they are when I do it.

 

[PhrogLoop]

According to today's message from SECNAV,

3. WE WILL ALSO IMMEDIATELY:
C. CANCEL MARCH INTRODUCTORY FLIGHT SCREENING FOR FUTURE PILOTS/NFOS;

http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2013/03/02/department-of-the-navy-response-to-sequestration/

 

[Aquonox]

I was put on IFS hold for a few weeks but was just put back on the flight schedule yesterday. I should finish IFS this week unless they put us on hold or cancel us again.

So I guess IFS has not been totally canceled for everyone yet? I know a few others on hold that were put back on the flight schedule yesterday. I guess we'll find out soon enough.

 

[jtmedli]

Not to be an asshole but you say this and in the deployment versus airshow thread someone lamented on summer job losses. It's not the Navy's job to create or protect civilian jobs and I don't think that should be part of the decision making process.

Especially when we're paying said civilians 3x as much as our enlisted or officers to do the same job. I'm more worried about our guys/gals who 'signed on the dotted line' than I am about those who made no commitment (or jumped ship after theirs was up) so they could make more money. Hows about we take care of our and shed the expensive help to do it?

 

[phrogpilot73]

Especially when we're paying said civilians 3x as much as our enlisted or officers to do the same job.

This is not always the case. A lot of people don't know/understand the GS Pay Scale. When I tell people that I am a GS-12, I always get the wide eyes, with the comments of "NICE". Then I explain that I make less then what I made on active duty as a Capt, and am more along the lines of 1stLt pay, I get the quizzical look. There was a woman who worked at EWTGLANT for 30 years until she retired. She retired as a GS-5. So, she was making about what a 20 year SSgt makes when she retired, but started life making about what a Cpl/Sgt makes. Not to mention, she'll only get 30% of her high 3, at the minimum retirement age.

Don't buy into the media hype. We're not overpaid and underworked. Most of us (at least the DoD civilians) could make a lot more in the military, or in the civilian sector, and chose to come here to continue our service to this country.

 

[JollyGood]

I was put on IFS hold for a few weeks but was just put back on the flight schedule yesterday. I should finish IFS this week unless they put us on hold or cancel us again.

So I guess IFS has not been totally canceled for everyone yet? I know a few others on hold that were put back on the flight schedule yesterday. I guess we'll find out soon enough.

From what I am hearing, all those who are back flying for IFS will be finishing before March 15th. I assume this is a move to get a few more bodies ready to class up for API since there are validators who have medical downs/waiver issues that will not be ready. As it stands, A Pool will be out of people heading off into API land in 2-3 weeks.

The discussion keeps on heading to doing IFS on the back end (for those needing it) so API/training could potentially start towards the end of March for all those hanging out in A Pool. That seems pretty counter-intuitive to the whole "money-saving" idea especially in the current climate though it was geared to Primary not API.

 

[scoolbubba]

A-Pool is empty?! Say it ain't so.

Do Navy studs still show up and get paid immediately after commissioning, or have they started 'furloughing' dudes immediately after commissioning until they check in to schools command like our greener brothers do with their nubs?

 

[JollyGood]

I came from the OCS side of the house so I was getting paid the big bucks to make the big league decisions like what beer to drink when I was home on leave or what vehicle was going to be my Ensign mobile. But, I know of several down here that I have talked to who were "furloughed" coming from ROTC.

 

[scoolbubba]

I figured that golden goose would be among the first to get cooked. It was a good deal for me, but wasteful for sure.

 

[phrogpilot73]

That seems pretty counter-intuitive to the whole "money-saving" idea especially in the current climate though it was geared to Primary not API.

Why spend the money on IFS on a dude that attrites out of API? Still geared to Primary, just cull the herd early.

 

[JollyGood]

Why spend the money on IFS on a dude that attrites out of API? Still geared to Primary, just cull the herd early.

My sentiments as well. If homeboy/girl cannot take the maneuvers in a Cessna, why waste whatever amount of money API costs?

 

[scoolbubba]

60 dudes sitting in a classroom is a lot cheaper than 60 dudes buzzing around in a cessna for 15 hours a pop.

I saw my IFS tab somehow, and it was in the neighborhood of 4000 dollars charged to the Navy for my 22 hours of instruction.

Call it 3000 for the lower hours you guys are getting. 180,000 bucks to send a class of 60 through. It doesn't take that much to keep the lights on at schools command and get some no load O-3s to blabber at you for 4 weeks in the hopes that a couple of you won't pass FRR and Aero. Cheap.

 

[dfred]

For those interested, about 10 of us classed up for API today without doing IFS, the plan is to catch it on the back end. This will be the trend going forward until the IFS budget issue is resolved.

 

[decode]

I've heard rumors that there is potential for people to start skipping IFS and going straight into API, anyone out there have gouge to confirm or deny this? And for those who have been to Primary and beyond do you think this could set people back?

As a 1390, I can verify this; I just got the call out of A-Pool today. I am not a validator, nor have I been to IFS. From what I understand, the Navy is giving the Feds some more time to figure out the budget issues. They still want to keep the program around, because it does help attrite some people who just can't adjust to the cockpit. It costs $100 per flight hour in a Cessna, but it's somewhere around $600 in a T-6.

 

[jtmedli]

As a 1390, I can verify this; I just got the call out of A-Pool today. I am not a validator, nor have I been to IFS. From what I understand, the Navy is giving the Feds some more time to figure out the budget issues. They still want to keep the program around, because it does help attrite some people who just can't adjust to the cockpit. It costs $100 per flight hour in a Cessna, but it's somewhere around $600 in a T-6.

An hour in a T-6 is more like $1000 by the time you pay for maintenance and buy tires. IFS is a decent program for getting rid of people who've never flown and find out they don't really want to. We still lost 4/13 in my primary class though.