Er - don't even get me started on grading. I just kinda sorta figured it out today. Fams 1-4 don't count toward your NSS. All sims (excluding CPTs) count for your NSS if you checked into the squadron after 1 OCT 01. This is what blows me away. You have to meet MIF (minimum score) by the end of block. Therefore you would think if you MIF a bunch of stuff at the beginning of block (3 flights before you have to have MIF), you're doing pretty well. Not so. I had a great flight today. First flight in a new block - MIF'ed a bunch of stuff. Even got a few aboves, but I didn't MIF everything. Mathematically, even though the flight went well and my onwing was pleased, I got a seven below. Knowing that I have 49 events to get around a total of 110 above to be competative for jets (NSS of 55), I'm not feeling particulaly encouraged. I've decided that worrying about grades is not going to change them, so I'll do the best I can on each flight and just let the chips fall where they may.