Wonder if they have to get into that full astronaut rig every time they go flying (training and post-mx and whatnot), or just for mission hops.
Did he have to execute those orders?
Pretty sure there's a former Cobra dude flying U-2s and I'd love to hear his story of how he ended up there. I'd imagine he probably had some VT or VMR stank on his resume.
but I don't see the AF trying to poach Navy or Marine guys for fighters or RPA (which also have significant manning problems).
As far as the VMU community goes, we're losing about 50% of our Lts to the ANG. A couple of them went active duty AF, but the ANG is giving these guys as much AD time as they want, and 45 day LRE deployments if they want them.
Wonder if they have to get into that full astronaut rig every time they go flying (training and post-mx and whatnot), or just for mission hops.
Only for the last 50+ years.U2 guys still deployed a ton?
I was in the squadron Monday, and there are a few IST applications from Navy folks being looked at. Without boring you with the details, it appears the AF Personnel Center finally was able to open up the opportunities for IST's to the U-2 to start up again. It was a long, painful process... but at least it is "back on" again. That said, I personally expect the selection criteria to be much more stringent for IST applications than it was before.
I was in the squadron Monday, and there are a few IST applications from Navy folks being looked at. Without boring you with the details, it appears the AF Personnel Center finally was able to open up the opportunities for IST's to the U-2 to start up again. It was a long, painful process... but at least it is "back on" again. That said, I personally expect the selection criteria to be much more stringent for IST applications than it was before.