My News from USAFA Parent's Weekend

Attended a short meeting with a parent’s group rep who attended USAFA parent’s association meeting hosted by Gen. Mitchell. Here is what was passed along:

#1: RPA slots. This is the #1 mission that needs to be filled. (No surprise there) Anyone looking to “5 & dive” should consider this career field (As per our rep. I cannot say if this is the General’s opinion.) DD stated that unfilled slots from class of 2016 would be passed down to classes of 2017 & 2018.

#2: A parent-driven sexual assault awareness program: Any parent interested in starting this would be supported by USAFA. Obviously there are privacy rules & other hurdles to cross, but the Academy is willing to assist within legal bounds.

#3: Cyber: This field is rapidly expanding & any cadet who has “the special set of skills” to excel here should definitely consider it.

My Thoughts:

As to #1: Everyone has their own opinion about the RPA program and the use of AF pilots to perform this assignment. To me, the lifestyle along with the lack of time to further your education (due to the very demanding work schedule from what I have gathered) make this career field a non-starter for most who are in the Academy. I just don’t see RPA pilots “moving up” (the General’s phrase) to an airframe pilot. Some more research into the pro’s & cons of this assignment would have to be made by those interested before making the request to be assigned here.

#2: I think one would have to live in the C Springs area for this to work. Don’t know if a social worker or another type (LE, health-care, etc.) of background would be necessary for this to work.

#3: Seems like an excellent career field, but don’t expect to be assigned outside the continental US; you are too valuable. I have met cadets who are going into this and they are insanely smart; I will be sleeping easier knowing they’re on this extremely important job.

PS: on a lighter note: Football team’s offense & special teams looked good. However, the defense let expected plays succeed. Sideline throws & screen passes repeatedly moved the chains when our team should’ve been getting off the field. Hopefully, this will be cleaned-up for the next game.

Just a few corrections. There were 95 RPA slots for the class of 2016. I would expect later classes to get a set number of slots depending on AF needs at the time. They don't just pass slots down to the next class.
Also, RPA is the future of the AF (like it or not). These systems are extremely capable and along with cyber, will help define the battlefields of the future. There will be career RPA pilots who will never move to a traditional aircraft and they will be successful officers and leaders.
Lastly, I flew RPAs as well as manned aircraft and must say it is not a video game (much harder), it is not like the movie (less drama), and it was one of my most rewarding assignments. We do things in the military because our country calls on us to them, not because we want a masters, personal success, or future wealth. Keep the right perspective and you can be happy in any AF career.
 
@iflylow Question for you out of curiousity. I presume you were in a manned airframe prior to RPA, how long was your RPA tour? Did you rotate back to manned on schedule or make the move permanent?

I agree that RPA provides combatant commanders an invaluable resource (from what I gather, I have been out for quite a while now). I truly hope that Big Blue can help turn around the perception of this group, I am sure there are quite a few smart zoomies operating these things.
 
My son received an RPA slot. It definitely was not his first choice, and it caused him a great deal of concern in the days leading up to the announcement. Since he got the news, he has gotten more and more fired up about the opportunity. His main goal is to be an excellent officer, although his childhood dream had always been to fly. One of his character traits I most admire is his willingness to take a mature, optimistic view of any situation, so I don't know how much of what he is telling me is due to that, to his desire to approach it with the mindset of an officer, and how much is his growing excitement at being on the world's cutting edge. Maybe it's a combination of all three. No matter what, this is where we are headed. There's no doubt about that.
 
We've been "heading" in certain directions with the military for as long as anyone can remember. Sometimes that direction stays on course. Sometime it changes abruptly and a new course is set.

There will always be a place for RPA's, and there will always be a place for manned aircraft. Don't ever thing differently. What role both play will be determined by money, world event, technology, safety, and yes, politics. I could give a number of examples, but that isn't necessary. Suffice it to say, both will be around. RPA's aren't a direction that will replace manned aircraft. They will augment, supplement, and even take on their own unique missions. But don't believe for a second that there will come an end to manned aircraft.
 
We've been "heading" in certain directions with the military for as long as anyone can remember. Sometimes that direction stays on course. Sometime it changes abruptly and a new course is set.

There will always be a place for RPA's, and there will always be a place for manned aircraft. Don't ever thing differently. What role both play will be determined by money, world event, technology, safety, and yes, politics. I could give a number of examples, but that isn't necessary. Suffice it to say, both will be around. RPA's aren't a direction that will replace manned aircraft. They will augment, supplement, and even take on their own unique missions. But don't believe for a second that there will come an end to manned aircraft.
For the foreseeable future, there will always be both. The future will have far less manned planes and many more unmanned. As you have probably read, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus predicts the last manned fighter platform of fighters is the F35 and others of course disagree. Maybe he will be wrong and 1 or 2 more platforms follow. But to me at least, it is obvious that the days are numbered for fighter slots as well as other platforms. It might be measured in decades but it's coming. I'm not saying 100% will be unmanned. But possibly 98%. There is a paradigm shift going on and the direction is blatantly obviously: much more unmanned planes which EVENTUALLY will mean less manned pilots.
 
I won't turn this into a major discussion. But did you read the articles recently where individuals were able to remotely access a Jeep. They even went on, with permission, to remotely access a number of police cars. Imagine if someone was to remotely take hostile control of a drone loaded with munitions?

That's why I said the roles will be determined by money, technology, world events, safety, and politics. Technology may get to a point where fighter jets themselves become obsolete. Not because a drone took it's place, but because the accuracy of defensive and offensive weapons become so good, that we don't have to send someone out there to deploy offensively from a fighter.

And again, I have seen these "Paradigm" shifts in the military for over 30 years. Some happen, some don't. That's the one constant about our military; it's NOT CONSTANT. And the minute you believe you know which way it's heading, it heads a different direction. Mainly because of politicians and politics. 98%??? No, I wouldn't go near that number. Not in our lifetime. I won't even use words like "FAR LESS". Based on current technology, a manned aircraft is the most reliable. Drones aren't being commissioned and used because they are better. They aren't. Not in any imaginable way. They are simply "CHEAPER". That's all. Not even human life is an issue. (Very Very few aircraft and lives have been lost in military engagements in the last 30 years). So, as long as it's a money and political thing, drones will have their place. But world events and our political leaders will dictate which way we go. And when new political leaders get in place, that can and will change again.
 
@iflylow Question for you out of curiousity. I presume you were in a manned airframe prior to RPA, how long was your RPA tour? Did you rotate back to manned on schedule or make the move permanent?

I agree that RPA provides combatant commanders an invaluable resource (from what I gather, I have been out for quite a while now). I truly hope that Big Blue can help turn around the perception of this group, I am sure there are quite a few smart zoomies operating these things.
I flew C-130s and then 2 years in Predators during the opening days of Afghanistan/Iraq. I was given a choice to stay in RPAs and head to the Pentagon or go back to manned aircraft. It was a family choice to return to manned aircraft (mostly based on location). In time, perceptions will change and RPAs will be less of a discussion topic.
 
My son received an RPA slot. It definitely was not his first choice, and it caused him a great deal of concern in the days leading up to the announcement. Since he got the news, he has gotten more and more fired up about the opportunity. His main goal is to be an excellent officer, although his childhood dream had always been to fly. One of his character traits I most admire is his willingness to take a mature, optimistic view of any situation, so I don't know how much of what he is telling me is due to that, to his desire to approach it with the mindset of an officer, and how much is his growing excitement at being on the world's cutting edge. Maybe it's a combination of all three. No matter what, this is where we are headed. There's no doubt about that.

Perspective is everything. No matter what assignment your DS gets he will need to lead people. His reputation as a leader will be determined by his perspective on serving. Sounds like he has a good start.
 
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