If anybody would like to know a little about Vance, let me know. Both Navy and Marine students have been coming here for a few years now, with about 5 Navy students and 2 Marines out of a class that normally starts with 30. Navy students also come here for advanced training in the T-1 en route to wings and E-6 Mercury (TACAMO) units at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma City.
Air Force training is split into three phases. The first two phases constitute what we would consider primary ground, primary, and intermediate (if you're not going jets; if you go jets, you will leave Phase II early to go to a strike intermediate squadron). First phase is academic and about 6 weeks; second phase is BOTH academics and flying, often doing both on the same days.
Vance is an OK deal if: 1) you have significant prior flight time, 2) you like the Air Force, 3) you really really really want to fly a jet in training (yes, the Tweet is a real jet), 4) if you don't like having any time to yourself to use the bathroom, PT, or take a shower.
Yes, the attrition rate at Vance is higher. Of 5 Navy guys that started my class, and with one that rolled in, we lost 3 Navy guys-two DORs, one academic/airwork. No, the program will not graduate you faster. In fact, folks I went to API with graduated intermediate anywhere from 2 weeks ahead to about 4 weeks behind. No, there's no advantage or disadvantage as far as pipeline selection out of Vance. You will be at a disadvantage in this program if you do not have prior flight time (all AF guys have at least 50 hours, average in my class was about 80 hours, with the most going to a guy with 400). While the disparity in prior flight time does eventually get made up, the program is geared towards students who have more than half a clue about flying, not towards those who have never landed a plane before. Basically, students with 0 hours will have to work harder initially.
Enid, OK is small and relatively unimpressive compared to Pensacola or Corpus Christi. Most of the time students are too busy to care, since the standard is a 12 hour day on the flightline, either sitting and waiting, flying, sims, or academics. Enid doesn't lack in the basic creature comforts, but certainly doesn't have a beach, many trees, or hills. It is hot in the summer, and cold (and very windy) in the winter. They do issue ski masks, thick Air Force long underwear, and the heavy green flight jackets, as well as line gloves, so that you can do your preflight inspection in the winter....it gets cold with that oklahoma wind!
IN SUM, if you get orders here, great! The Air Force is very different, and it will be a good opportunity to observe another service at work. Like all good Boy Scouts, try to be prepared by seeking information, gouge, and folks who know how to survive here. This is like flight school if the nukes designed it. If you do not have significant prior flight time, however, I would not go out of your way to come to Vance. I had two senior aviators advise me to come here that believed that the AF has something particularly special. I disagree (my opinion) Stick with the Navy program; it's served naval aviators (who mostly have 0 time when they start) very well for many years.
JT
Air Force training is split into three phases. The first two phases constitute what we would consider primary ground, primary, and intermediate (if you're not going jets; if you go jets, you will leave Phase II early to go to a strike intermediate squadron). First phase is academic and about 6 weeks; second phase is BOTH academics and flying, often doing both on the same days.
Vance is an OK deal if: 1) you have significant prior flight time, 2) you like the Air Force, 3) you really really really want to fly a jet in training (yes, the Tweet is a real jet), 4) if you don't like having any time to yourself to use the bathroom, PT, or take a shower.
Yes, the attrition rate at Vance is higher. Of 5 Navy guys that started my class, and with one that rolled in, we lost 3 Navy guys-two DORs, one academic/airwork. No, the program will not graduate you faster. In fact, folks I went to API with graduated intermediate anywhere from 2 weeks ahead to about 4 weeks behind. No, there's no advantage or disadvantage as far as pipeline selection out of Vance. You will be at a disadvantage in this program if you do not have prior flight time (all AF guys have at least 50 hours, average in my class was about 80 hours, with the most going to a guy with 400). While the disparity in prior flight time does eventually get made up, the program is geared towards students who have more than half a clue about flying, not towards those who have never landed a plane before. Basically, students with 0 hours will have to work harder initially.
Enid, OK is small and relatively unimpressive compared to Pensacola or Corpus Christi. Most of the time students are too busy to care, since the standard is a 12 hour day on the flightline, either sitting and waiting, flying, sims, or academics. Enid doesn't lack in the basic creature comforts, but certainly doesn't have a beach, many trees, or hills. It is hot in the summer, and cold (and very windy) in the winter. They do issue ski masks, thick Air Force long underwear, and the heavy green flight jackets, as well as line gloves, so that you can do your preflight inspection in the winter....it gets cold with that oklahoma wind!
IN SUM, if you get orders here, great! The Air Force is very different, and it will be a good opportunity to observe another service at work. Like all good Boy Scouts, try to be prepared by seeking information, gouge, and folks who know how to survive here. This is like flight school if the nukes designed it. If you do not have significant prior flight time, however, I would not go out of your way to come to Vance. I had two senior aviators advise me to come here that believed that the AF has something particularly special. I disagree (my opinion) Stick with the Navy program; it's served naval aviators (who mostly have 0 time when they start) very well for many years.
JT
