I'll chime in since I was asked to. I'll caveat that I'm not the burning bush on these issues, and that I've been away a while from the training command. That said, I keep close ties to a number of folks still there. I haven't asked them to validate my potentially dated insights, but a few points. This will likely be long... I'll follow up if you have questions or comments.
- It's been a 52 week program for a long time. I recall many years ago my Navy buds getting winged (in over 2 years), and going to their follow on RAG... and then sitting there 9 months surfing San Diego waiting for their start date. Inefficient to say the least. In the AF, the class needs to meet their graduation dates because all of the follow-on training has been prog'd out well in advance. I can't imagine someone showing up to F-16 training and being unproductive and/or unused for months on end. I can't address why the Navy does it their way. Could they do it faster? Yes, I believe it is what Jim123 stated: it's a matter of will, but the Navy accepts the delays.
- Yes, in the AF you stay in the flight room most of the day until off of "formal release", however I believe many of the memories recalled here are a bit exaggerated. It's not 12 hour days for a year. In any case, yes... we keep our brand new, 22-year-old 2Lt students in the flight room until they show they have their shit together. You're there for a year... you're right out of college (most of you)... you're learning to fly turbine aircraft as well as learning life on active duty... and yes, I think it's a good idea if you are required to be in the squadron, reading your Dash-1/NATOPS, talking to IP's about techniques, talking to your classmates, etc...
- Yes, the USAF UPT timeline is important. We need to get the students out in 52 weeks. No, if a student is behind the timeline, they don't come in for the weekend. Generally, it's a much bigger picture than that. If the squadron is WAY behind, it may drive weekend flying. But they are not going to bring in control tower, maintenance, base ops, etc... to support a couple of students flying. Maybe it's changed... I'd be surprised.
- Yes, on our XC's we fly every day. It's not a vacation. It's UPT. If you don't want to fly 5 legs over the course of Friday, Saturday and Sunday, then go sell shoes at Sears. You'll get your good deal XC's in the CAF/Fleet/wherever you end up after you get winged. But a 2Lt student is there to learn. I've seen plenty of students push it up Friday night on an XC and pay the price on Saturday too. But you know what? That's a damn good lesson they learned on what NOT to do.
- Farva is correct on the tracking of specific weapons systems. As an example, after getting your wings, the guys/gals going to fighter/attack platforms go to Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals (IFF). It's an 8 week program in a squadron of former fighter/attack pilots that is dedicated to giving the the specific basic for going to the A-10, F-15, F-15E, F-16, F-22, F-35. Much of this program is learning the traditions and culture of a fighter squadron. I wouldn't call it "hazing" in this day and age, but it's a great education. Now, this program needs to morph a lot to meet the needs of the 5th Gen fighters... but that's another subject. However, these winged 2Lt's go through a demanding program for 8 weeks before heading to their RAG / RTU / FTU. Yes, some wash out. They have wings on their chest and will then go to a non-fighter aircraft in most cases.
- I remember going to UPT and being told "it is a solid year, and you need to be focused on that". I do know that still applies. So if you are a young man/woman who aspires to go, then be mentally ready. And if you're married, it better be a team decision. Two guys in my UPT class had 3 kids, and their wives both had a 4th while there. Another was 27 years old (the old guy in our class!) and had been married for what we thought was an eternity. He was my tablemate and managed to be a good dad and good officer/pilot all at the same time. He later got the Air Force Cross for saving a Navy pilot that was shot down:
Maj. Gen. Paul T. Johnson is Director, Operational Capability Requirements, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. In this position,
www.af.mil
- I get that the Navy doesn't care for our stand up EP's to start the day. Fine, don't participate. But it's what we do and they are effective. Patronizing questions? No. Learn the nuances of the emergencies and now to find the answer in your checklist quickly, compose yourself, and you'll do fine. Study, work hard, and practice. I've always thought it to be ironic that Navy/Marine types... proud of their discipline and military bearing... get so worked up about having to show discipline and bearing while also showing off their prowess at handling an academic situation involving an aircraft emergency, under stress, in front of their peers. Sorry that bugs. No... actually I don't give a shit if it bugs you.
- Yes, the schedule comes ahead of QOL... sort of. "QOL" is defined how? During my 4 years in college, the thing that motivated me to go to class was the thought of going to UPT. I could not WAIT to get the hell out of college and go to that 52 week course. And even when UPT was tough, the days were long, and I had a bad sortie, I was there... my lifelong dream. QOL? I'd GLADLY go back to a year in UPT than suffer through 4 years of bullshit in the liberal world of academia, learning something in Linguistiscs 316 that I mentally dumped 6.9 milliseconds after finishing the final exam. I didn't go to UPT to have QOL. I went there to learn to fly military aircraft. And a year later 2Lt Huggy had silver wings upon his chest.
There was no greater "QOL" than the day I got those wings.