Heard a guy at Vance SIE after his drop night got a UAV. Guess he should have realized 9 months ago......
I'll hold my temper here...
THIS is the type person I try to "weed out" during the ALO interview process. Why?
Because I want to find the BEST OFFICER CANDIDATE I can...not the best "wannabe XXXXX" type. Think about it...this person STOLE someone else's slot. Why do I say that? Because they weren't willing to SERVE. There may be some maintenance officer in Afghanistan now sitting in her hooch...wondering why she couldn't get her UPT slot...and this "officer" took one and bailed because an assignment came that he/she didn't like?!
Mike, Bullet, etc...can relate to this statement: YOU SERVE, period. I don't know the trials/tribulations they took to get where they ultimately got but take mine for example. I was assigned to an F-4 out of UPT (my #3 choice) and I was ecstatic!!! Then some weather issues, late graduation dates, med issues, etc...etc...I missed fighter lead-in, then F-4 RTU...so I was put back into the pool and got the LAST, DEAD LAST thing on my list: the KC-135.
I said: "Well, I got my wings." And I flew the venerable Stratobladder. And LOVED IT!!! That assignment "A" led to assignment "B" which begat "C" which begat the exchange whereby I ended up in the F-15 (my FIRST choice in UPT!!!) as the "OLD MAN BLUE 4" rookie! And I loved it!!!
And now, 26 years after graduation, I'm back in the KC world, training pilots and loving it. ALL because I took advantage of what was handed me and did the best I can.
A wise man once said: "Fighter pilot is an attitude, not an AFSC..." and it's dead on accurate! I've been blessed to fly several jets in the AF and EACH ONE was an outstanding experience and mission! In the end it's not what you're flying/doing, it's how well you do what you've been tasked with.
Folks that bail like petulant little children...
Okay...rant stopping...anger building...
Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83