Curious about how fighter pilots are assigned to jobs/locations

Renegado

10-Year Member
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Jan 15, 2013
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Any insight on how fighter pilots are assigned? For instance, Pilot A fills out the (wish) list with S. Korea as #1. Pilot B has zero interest in S. Korea and puts IP/UPT as #1.
Pilot A is assigned to IP slot and Pilot B to S. Korea.
I’m just curious how it all works…do all fighters eventually fulfill an IP slot?
 
Any insight on how fighter pilots are assigned? For instance, Pilot A fills out the (wish) list with S. Korea as #1. Pilot B has zero interest in S. Korea and puts IP/UPT as #1.
Pilot A is assigned to IP slot and Pilot B to S. Korea.
I’m just curious how it all works…do all fighters eventually fulfill an IP slot?
Navy, Marine or Air Force?
 
well of course the type of aircraft flown has alot to do with it since its easier to get a desired base with more common aircraft, the needs of the service are the primary consideration. Kunsan is a one year (unaccompanied) tour so pilots rotate fast and the chances of going there are better.
 
well of course the type of aircraft flown has alot to do with it since its easier to get a desired base with more common aircraft, the needs of the service are the primary consideration. Kunsan is a one year (unaccompanied) tour so pilots rotate fast and the chances of going there are better.
Thanks for the reply. DS asked for the Kunsan slot but was given IP slot.
I just curious how fighter pilots are chosen for IP slots or if the majority all do an instructor role at some point.
 
What are IP/UPT (checked the acronym list and didn’t see them)?
 
I can speak to this since your DS is obviously a viper guy like me.

Preferences on myVector are basically a joke. The commanders will rank people on base, then the OG commanders talk and fight for dudes and their assignments. Also, needs of the Air Force and the Fighter Porch (assignment team) take priority.

Since your son is being sent to UPT, I am guessing he is not a Viper IP and is a flight lead. UPT is wanting more experienced 11F pilots to teach, but the Viper Porch will not give up a qualified Viper IP without a special circumstance. UPT does not require pilots to be IPs in their MDS. Because of this, experienced flight leads are the most in danger of going back to UPT. It's not a good system, and this is why 11F retention is so low.
 
I can speak to this since your DS is obviously a viper guy like me.

Preferences on myVector are basically a joke. The commanders will rank people on base, then the OG commanders talk and fight for dudes and their assignments. Also, needs of the Air Force and the Fighter Porch (assignment team) take priority.

Since your son is being sent to UPT, I am guessing he is not a Viper IP and is a flight lead. UPT is wanting more experienced 11F pilots to teach, but the Viper Porch will not give up a qualified Viper IP without a special circumstance. UPT does not require pilots to be IPs in their MDS. Because of this, experienced flight leads are the most in danger of going back to UPT. It's not a good system, and this is why 11F retention is so low.
Thank you for your insight. You have it right. Sounds like you have been in his shoes. Any insight into what happens after 3 years as UPT Instructor?
 
It is called first assignment instructor pilot. FAIP. Dos Gringos wrote the mournful ballad "I'm a FAIP" about the experience but be warned the song (can be found on youtube) has some swearing.
 
If you become a FAIP after graduating UPT does that help you attain the aircraft that is your first choice after your years are up? Also if you were T1 through UPT but wanted T38 originally would they give you F16 if that was your first choice and send you back through T38 first in a class or you have to get something heavy after your FAIP time?
 
A question on OP’s original question. Was the DS just graduating the B-course? I was assuming he was not based on wanting Kunsan vs. being an IP. However, the talk of FAIPS has gotten me confused. I have not heard of B-course grads being sent to instruct UPT.

But, to answer one question, I’m pretty sure that all Viper pilots will instruct at some time. My oldest son’s progression was B-course, 2.5 years at Homestead with two deployments, 1 year at Kunsan, and then 4 years at Holloman as an IP/EP.

Stealth_81
 
If you become a FAIP after graduating UPT does that help you attain the aircraft that is your first choice after your years are up? Also if you were T1 through UPT but wanted T38 originally would they give you F16 if that was your first choice and send you back through T38 first in a class or you have to get something heavy after your FAIP time?
Unlikely someone who tracked heavy (T1) in UPT would track fighters after FAIP unless FAIP was in T-38s. I'm not an expert but know some people who are.
 
A question on OP’s original question. Was the DS just graduating the B-course? I was assuming he was not based on wanting Kunsan vs. being an IP. However, the talk of FAIPS has gotten me confused. I have not heard of B-course grads being sent to instruct UPT.

But, to answer one question, I’m pretty sure that all Viper pilots will instruct at some time. My oldest son’s progression was B-course, 2.5 years at Homestead with two deployments, 1 year at Kunsan, and then 4 years at Holloman as an IP/EP.

Stealth_81
Thank you, Stealth. He graduated B course back in early 2020 and is close to completing 3 years at his first assignment. He is a lead - whatever that entails. He was hoping to get Kunsan done before coming back. I think he was hoping to stay in the F16 a bit longer….
 
It is called first assignment instructor pilot. FAIP. Dos Gringos wrote the mournful ballad "I'm a FAIP" about the experience but be warned the song (can be found on youtube) has some swearing.
It’s not his first assignment. He graduated UPT, then graduated from B course back in early 2020.
 
It’s not his first assignment. He graduated UPT, then graduated from B course back in early 2020.
I was responding to someone else. But anyway... Anecdotal, but big brother did fighters first tour, T38 IP next, then back to fighters. Pretty normal. Commanded an ops group. Pretty common and certainly didn't hurt his career.
 
Needs of the Service are always the dominant factor.

When we graduated from UPT, we were given a form to complete that reflected our assignment preferences. I expressed a desire for my choice of aircraft OVER my choice of location. Guess what – I got my first choice of area and my second-to-last choice of aircraft. Go figure. I wondered why they bothered to ask about our preferences.
 
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