AFROTC ABM Scholarship Flight Suit

Einheit

5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2013
Messages
18
Alright i'm brand new to the forum so take it easy on me.

I am an AS100 AF cadet. I was awarded the ABM Type 2 scholarship two weeks ago and have taken my oath and all that good stuff.

One of the juniors who who received a pilot slot started was issued his FDU the other day. I was wondering, since ABM cadets are authorized to wear the flight suit, would i get mine too since I have not passed a flight physical or taken my AFOQT yet? I only won't to know out of curiousity; I probably won't even wear the thing because I don't think I deserve to.

tl;dr- Can an AS100 ABM Scholarship cadet wear a flight suit?
 
Not positive, but from what I know, I believe you are authorized.
 
Well the AFI says you can't wear one until you're an AS400. I got a pilot slot and we're not allowed to wear them until next year.
 
+1 Reaper


Only 400's can wear the flight suit. The fact is flight suits are very expensive and although you know you will go ABM, you still have to go to SFT, and you need to maintain the min cgpa, plus than pass the flight physical and a TS clearnce. You have a lot more hurdles to clear, thus why they will wait until you are 400s.
 
Thanks PIMA that's what I was thinking but I wanted to check.

Although, the cadet I was talking about at our det is a 300 and we do have ample flight suits in the uniform cage. But I agree, I couldn't imagine locking in a rated slot is as easy as getting a scholarship.

Thanks guys!
 
There is definitively a huge push for more ABMs even for those officers currently on active duty. Good Luck!
 
I have known several ABM people over the course of Bullet's career, I can def. see why they offer this scholarship. I worked with two of them on our thesis for our Masters. They deploy a lot.


Going back to the flight suit issue the det may have many in their inventory, but unlike ABUs and blues, you can't just go to the BX military clothing and buy a flight suit. If it rips, you take the old flight suit back to them, and trade it in. You don't get to keep it. The same is true for ADAF.

Once ADAF it takes quite sometime to get up to 5 flight suits. DS is at UPT now. He has 2 flight suits, 1 from AFROTC, and 1 given to him prior to IFS.
 
I am also an AS100 and I just received the CSO scholarship. While the AFI says you cannot wear a flight suit until your 400 year, our det issues them to 300s as soon as they get their slot. Our commander thought about it and decided to issue one to me too. From what I have heard, it varies a lot from det to det and is usually just at the commander's discretion.

Also, congrats on the scholarship.
 
I am also an AS100 and I just received the CSO scholarship. While the AFI says you cannot wear a flight suit until your 400 year, our det issues them to 300s as soon as they get their slot. Our commander thought about it and decided to issue one to me too. From what I have heard, it varies a lot from det to det and is usually just at the commander's discretion.

Also, congrats on the scholarship.

Thanks for the insight. I think I will go talk to the Commandant this week to see what he has to say.

Congratulations to you too!
 
JMPO,

This is just a spouse of a guy that flew fighters for 20 yrs. The flight suit is always an issue. Running joke in the ADAF is you make a Million plus flight pay. Pilots get 6 figure bonuses...2X in their 20 yr career...hence the MN remark, obviously it isn't a million, but it is big bucks.

I am not saying or inferring that you shouldn't wear the flight suit with pride, but I can understand both sides of the fence in this issue.

Other 100's while still learning how to polish their shoes to get an EQ, you get to wear boots that don't require polishing, and what others call PJs.

300/400's who fought for that rated slot and came up the ranks polishing their shoes for an EQ, and got an ABM, because for their yr group, that wasn't an option may feel gipped for lack of better terms.

Flipside:

The AF is trying to recruit more CSO and ABM officers, thus by giving them this perk, it might spread the word.

Their job is to do what is best for the AF, and they may see this as motivation.

Personally, Nobody flame me, because it is my opinion.

I think that they shouldn't do this at all for many reasons until they are at least a 300.

1. The cadet that is a 100 still has yet to be qualified medically from WPAFB (flight physical---3 day medical physical, not the 45 min. DoDMERB). This is waste. Flight suits are expensive.
~~~ Bust the physical, and the scholarship is revoked. They are not dis-enrolled, but the scholarship is gone.
~~~~ As I stated before our DS is ADAF (2012) grad and he now has 2 flight suits. Handing out that 1 flight suit cost money.

2. Our DS entered as a 100, he was 5'9 and at that time weighed 142 lbs. He graduated weighing 157 and 5'10. His body changed...shoulders broadened. 38 R suit to 40 R. They would have had to give him a new flight suit.

3. 100's can still walk, no harm, no foul. They do not re-use flight suits. They will require them to hand it back, but that is money down the drain.

4. I think that as an old poster here many cadets question about SFT and scholarships when it comes to selection. Look at that thread and the fear now. Having a 200 wear a flight suit, instead of ABU's just creates distress visually. They are looking at the cadet and know they are safe. It goes back to the ADAF world. Fliers are the golden children.

5. That 400 yr is the most special yr. They have cleared every hurdle, including the TS clearance (which I didn't address). They fought for it for 3 long yrs. They are the motivation to the 100's that this will be you one day too.

6. The current flight suit is not like it was yrs ago. They pill...in case you don't know what that is...it is when you get little bumps on the material. 4 yrs of washing it, you are looking at a flight suit that is worn, and by the time they are ADAF they will have to hand it for wear and tear. Thus again more money coming out of the ADAF funds.


The AF does not frock. To me this is frocking.

Just my 0.018643 cents opinion, now throw it in the circular filing cabinet.

OBTW,

Einheit, if you have a mentor at your det. talk to them 1st. I would not go to the CoC, and ask for a flight suit. I am pretty sure they have made their decision regarding this issue already since another poster that is a 100 has a flight suit.
 
Pima ..

your "0.018643 cents opinion"... you under value yourself beacause
if your opinion is only worth .018643 cents.... what does that make mine worth???
 
Your opinion is worth 0.18643 cents compared to my 0.018643 because you have a bone in this fight. I don't!

I am just saying the AFA does not hand out flight suits to C4C aka AS100s,

Ask why?
 
I was an IBMer for 38+ years. Back in the pre-cubicle days everyone was issued your standard 1960's gray metal desk. Once you had been promoted to a certain level you were issued wood-grain furniture to replace it AND you got a door on your office door opening. A few levels higher than that, you got the matching credenza. You had to earn those status symbols. :eek: Sound familiar? :shake:
 
:worship::worship::worship:

Preaching to the choir kinnem.

The fact is I get they want the flight suit.

I am just not on board when O1's at UPT. UNT. ABM are told that due to sequestration they can only get 1 flight suit instead of 2, while AFROTC cadets that can bounce get a flight suit.

I would also think any AFA cadet would have an issue because they can't get one as freshman or sophomore.

Than again, I have to say ABM is not an easy life, so let them have the flight suit. They deserve that gift. It is a special dedicated person to go ABM. My hats off to them.

I truly hope they get that life.
 
Last edited:
:worship::worship::worship:

Preaching to the choir kinnem.

The fact is I get they want the flight suit.

I am just not on board when O1's at UPT. UNT. ABM are told that due to sequestration they can only get 1 flight suit instead of 2, while AFROTC cadets that can bounce get a flight suit.

I would also think any AFA cadet would have an issue because they can't get one as freshman or sophomore.

Than again, I have to say ABM is not an easy life, so let them have the flight suit. They deserve that gift. It is a special dedicated person to go ABM. My hats off to them.

I truly hope they get that life.

I agree PIMA. I didn't really aim that comment at you but to OP. SHould have made that clear.
 
This is just my opinion on the matter. Not trying to step on toes or create any harsh feelings.

Our det commander is very strict on the rule of wearing flight suits. Only AS400's with rated slots are permitted to wear them, regardless if you are on a CSO,ABM, etc scholarship as a 100,200, or 300. I feel that waiting until your 400 year to wear it gives you a deeper sense of appreciation and pride. You know you have earned it through 3 hard years of shoe shining, shirt ironing, test taking, and all of that other great stuff. Plus, I would venture to say that 1 or 2 AS100 cadets at most have gotten the ABM or CSO scholarship for your det. As one of the biggest dets in the nation, we only have 1. Do you really want to separate yourself from your class by being the only one in a flight suit? May cause a little animosity between your classmates and you during the most important time for young cadets. This time is all about building cohesion and brotherhood between you and your fellow cadets.
 
nakeddingo,

I agree with all of your points.

At our DS's det, which is classified as large, cadets don't discuss scholarship. This would be a glaring issue because that flight suit says...I am on scholarship.


Off topic, but your moniker makes me think of the line The dingo killed my baby! Or it was something like that.
 
I am also an AS100 and I just received the CSO scholarship. While the AFI says you cannot wear a flight suit until your 400 year, our det issues them to 300s as soon as they get their slot. Our commander thought about it and decided to issue one to me too. From what I have heard, it varies a lot from det to det and is usually just at the commander's discretion.

Also, congrats on the scholarship.

It's not supposed to be at commander's discretion - the regs say 400s only.

Either way though, I think you should just wait, even if given permission -primarily for what dingo said: it's about your class.
 
There would be serious comraderie issues with a 100 wearing a flight suit. Yea, it's ABM and not Pilot, but that flight suit is the physical goal i am working towards right now. The day that I raise that 40 inch zipper will be the day I can look in the mirror and say "You f&^%$n did it". The vast majority of rated hopefuls feel the same way.

You would be painting a target on your back wearing a flight suit as a 100. Our 300s wear flight suits, so it would be a while before someone realized there was a reg prohibiting it. So I imagine a 100 could theoretically get away with it in your case. I didn't even know it was for 400s up until now.

Don't. Just....don't. Lol
 
Back
Top