Done well, this could be more of a career builder than some would give it credit for . . . especially if you end up back in the same community post-flight school.
Done well, you’re showing all the squadron JOs (i.e. potentially some of your future RAG instructors) that you aren’t a stick in the mud. But you’re also showing the front office you’re someone who’s mature enough to know the limits of what’s OK for a unit function, and not some frat party-obsessed alcoholic douche who’s trying to relive undergrad.
There are three kinds of capital you can draw from to build your rep in the FITREP 500. Your skill in the cockpit, your skill at your ground job, and your ability to be someone who makes the squadron a more fun place to be.
The last will never overrule the first two if you suck at them. You can’t drink or socialize your way out of being competent at your job. But if you don’t, it’s absolutely a tiebreaker. And this goes for the private sector, too. People want to work with people who are good at what they do, but assuming that, they’d also much rather work with people who are fun to work with.
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