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Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:04:08 PM EST
[#1]
why are Apache pilots mostly sergeants iirc?
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:05:01 PM EST
[#2]
There are a lot of Zoomie pilots because they get tons of pilot training slots - my class graduated about 900 and there were roughly 600 pilot training slots available.

USAF pilot training takes a year to get your wings.  If you went immediately to training you'd be halfway to being a 1 Lt.

Fighter pilots go to IFF (Intro to Fighter Fundamentals) which is 6 or 8 weeks long before they go to training on their fighters.  Fighter training is a long, long time - I think some courses are almost a year long.

Heavy guys don't need IFF so they go right to their training which is 3-6 months.

Once initial training is done they head to their bases where they really learn to fly the aircraft.

So...  Just to be the worst pilot in the unit takes damn near two years if you go through fast and scheduling works in your favor...

The USAF pilot training commitment is 10 years after you get your wings.

2 years as a 2 Lt
2 years as a 1 Lt
6-8 years as a Capt
5-6 years as a Maj

So...  About the time a pilot gets good at their job of flying airplanes the USAF ships them off to staff.  There aren't many Lt Cols that fly, even fewer Cols and anyone wearing a star is really there for their own enjoyment not to show how good they are...
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:06:20 PM EST
[#3]
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Quoted:
Because they're trusted with expensive and powerful shit thousands of feet off the ground?
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Fuck no.

It's because it's their flying club... er Air Force...

You can't be a commander without being a zipper suited sun god.

It's pretty fucking stupid considering the shithouse leaders a large majority of aircrew are, but like I said, it's their Air Force.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:06:21 PM EST
[#4]
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Quoted:
wasn't that as a non duty observer?
(JS was my childhood hero)
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Quoted:
This USAF brigadier general flew a B52 mission over 'nam.

http://historynet.com/wp-content/uploads/image/2009/Vietnam/Aug%202009/jimmy-stewart-vietnam.jpg
wasn't that as a non duty observer?
(JS was my childhood hero)
Yeah, but I bet the pilot gave Jimmy F'ing Stewart some stick time on the way back. Wouldn't you?
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:07:13 PM EST
[#5]
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Quoted:
Better question is to ask how many are USAF Academy grads? The Zoomy Union is a close knit union.
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only dumbasses that know nothing say this. They think its somekind of skull and bones cladestine cult that controls the AF

actually nobody gives a fuck, and most people don't know if your a academy/ocs/rotc unless they ask/or you tell them.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:08:14 PM EST
[#6]
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Quoted:
why are Apache pilots mostly sergeants iirc?
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Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:09:06 PM EST
[#7]
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Quoted:


Fuck no.

It's because it's their flying club... er Air Force...

You can't be a commander without being a zipper suited sun god.

It's pretty fucking stupid considering the shithouse leaders a large majority of aircrew are, but like I said, it's their Air Force.
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how ignorant.  

let me guess disgruntled e?
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:09:52 PM EST
[#8]
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Quoted:
Would you give a Marine Lance Corporal an aircraft?
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 As long as they're no Sharpies, crayons or fat chicks? Sure, why not?
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:10:56 PM EST
[#9]
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Quoted:
Would you give a Marine Lance Corporal an aircraft?
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yes I would. He would kill without remorse. Old geezers get to have all the fun.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:12:27 PM EST
[#10]
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Quoted:
Same reasons military doctors tend to start as O-3's.  Time in the training pipeline.
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Wrong.

They'll throw captain/major at a doctor as an incentive for them to enter the military.

And the commissioning training is like two or three weeks.

My brother just came in, being an emergency medicine doctor they gave him major.

And I didn't even mention the huge bonuses they give doctors too.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:13:25 PM EST
[#11]
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I had a "Turn-up and Taxi" license for A-4 Skyhawks as a Lance Corporal.

As for the high ranking officers, we had lots of Butter Bars that were pilots.
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where you the guy that got caught going for a joyride in the 80's? If so, you sir are a legend.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:14:28 PM EST
[#12]
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Quoted:
Would you give a Marine Lance Corporal an aircraft?
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No, he is just charged with making sure it gets off the ground and flys. You basically trust him with your life.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:15:17 PM EST
[#13]
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Quoted:


Fuck no.

It's because it's their flying club... er Air Force...

You can't be a commander without being a zipper suited sun god.

It's pretty fucking stupid considering the shithouse leaders a large majority of aircrew are, but like I said, it's their Air Force.
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So...should flying squadrons be commanded by non pilots?
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:16:14 PM EST
[#14]
Quoted:
I see a lot of majors and even colonels. What's the reason for this? What's the highest rank the Usaaf or usaf sends into combat?
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most are not 0-4 or higher, most of the flying is done by 0-3s, a few 0-2s (not many as training takes forever)

Base commanders fly combat missions which is usually a 1 star, sometimes a 2 star. They generally get milk runs, but they can get into decent missions if the winds are right.

For the 15e its a little more forgiving because you can put a experienced guy in the trunk and the hud monkey just has to fly and tank, the rest is done in the back.

I've seen 4 stars fly a mission and the f15e will take other service members (usually army generals) on missions the in the back seat and they sometimes get the chance to drop a bomb or a SoF.

Some of the best pilots Ive flown with are generals that know their limits due to  a lean schedual.  

I've flown with some that should have gone to jail for the shit they did. Fucking abysmal retards.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:16:25 PM EST
[#15]
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In at 18, keep them in the cockpit with no more bullshit staff duty and war college and eliminate the bullshit collateral duties and GMT. Just fly and fight. But we need "well rounded people".
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Pfft hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha...

OMFG...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

Imagine how many totally useless fucks would be out of a job tomorrow if they did that. We might even get actual leaders out of the officer corps instead of the fucking morons who can test well but suck ass at everything else.

But we all know that shit is as likely to happen as Jesus Christ taking the stage at the super bowl and hammering out Cotton Eye Joe on a piano synth.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:16:46 PM EST
[#16]
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Quoted:
Would you give a Marine Lance Corporal an aircraft?
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Depends....

What's the mission.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:17:34 PM EST
[#17]
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Quoted:
Would you give a Marine Lance Corporal an aircraft?
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Honest answer?  I've known a few that could handle that kind of responsibility.  My CO, XO, and AMO trusted their lives to my skill and judgement to make me a CDI when I was a Lance Coolie.  I still had to scrub shitters.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:18:35 PM EST
[#18]
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Quoted:

Depends....

What's the mission.
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Banging fat chicks.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:18:51 PM EST
[#19]
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Quoted:
Would you give a Marine Lance Corporal an aircraft?
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An Army Corporal works.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_H._Holmes

"Holmes enlisted in the Army as a mechanic in 1919, became a pilot with the rank of Corporal in 1921"
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:19:26 PM EST
[#20]
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Quoted:


Most are O3 and below. Active anyway. Guard and reserve are much higher. Usually.
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my buddies who were F16 pilots generally said that the O3s flew a lot, as they were the flight leads and IPs necessary for training the younger lieutenants.. The O4s still flew a lot, but the flight hours went down from there.
it makes sense, as by that time they are seasoned pilots who have mastered the job.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:19:27 PM EST
[#21]
My shop is near a major AF base, our service drive is full of majors and colonels all the time.  I swear 90% of that base must be O-4 or higher.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:19:44 PM EST
[#22]
Quoted:
I see a lot of majors and even colonels. What's the reason for this? What's the highest rank the Usaaf or usaf sends into combat?
View Quote


flying be hard yo.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:20:49 PM EST
[#23]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
My shop is near a major AF base, our service drive is full of majors and colonels all the time.  I swear 90% of that base must be O-4 or higher.
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Guard base I'm guessing.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:21:05 PM EST
[#24]
You need to be an officer to fly because you're sure as shit not going to trust Seaman Dumbass with an extremely expensive, relatively fragile, operationally/strategically vital piece of equipment. Figure on a couple of years in flight training after you get commissioned and by the time you actually go out to a real assignment you're going to be an O2 or O3.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:21:44 PM EST
[#25]
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Quoted:
where you the guy that got caught going for a joyride in the 80's? If so, you sir are a legend.
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Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Quoted:

I had a "Turn-up and Taxi" license for A-4 Skyhawks as a Lance Corporal.

As for the high ranking officers, we had lots of Butter Bars that were pilots.
where you the guy that got caught going for a joyride in the 80's? If so, you sir are a legend.
No that was not me I got out in 1976.  They did however make me sign a document promising not to take off in the aircraft before they would give me my license.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:22:31 PM EST
[#26]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:


Pfft hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha...

OMFG...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

Imagine how many totally useless fucks would be out of a job tomorrow if they did that. We might even get actual leaders out of the officer corps instead of the fucking morons who can test well but suck ass at everything else.

But we all know that shit is as likely to happen as Jesus Christ taking the stage at the super bowl and hammering out Cotton Eye Joe on a piano synth.
View Quote
you sound like one of those guys that actually has done nothing with their life, but knows how to be the greatest leader of all time but if you can get guys and on the internet and 400lb denpendapotamous to believe you you would have it made.

amirite
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:24:02 PM EST
[#27]
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Quoted:


how ignorant.  

let me guess disgruntled e?
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Not at all, calling the reality what it is.

The vast, vast, vast, vast, VAST, majority of officers, and pilots especially, are pants on head fucking clueless when it comes to actually leading, but God damn are they great at pinning on another rank. The current crop are so fucking clueless it almost hurts to see them fuck things up.

An MXS commander leads more people on day 1 and beyond than any pilot, yet he doesn't get to be a base commander, because, I'm told, that only pilots have the big picture. That's not true, of course, but it's the line.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:24:30 PM EST
[#28]
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Quoted:


Guard base I'm guessing.
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No, it's the headquarters for air mobility command.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:25:27 PM EST
[#29]
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Quoted:


only dumbasses that know nothing say this. They think its somekind of skull and bones cladestine cult that controls the AF

actually nobody gives a fuck, and most people don't know if your a academy/ocs/rotc unless they ask/or you tell them.
View Quote


It easy to tell, the academy grads have their fake ass unearned jump wings on their patch.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:26:09 PM EST
[#30]
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Quoted:


No, it's the headquarters for air mobility command.
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Key word being "headquarters" I suppose. That makes sense.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:27:54 PM EST
[#31]
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Quoted:


It easy to tell, the academy grads have their fake ass unearned jump wings on their patch.
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Naval Academy grads and non Academy rib each other good naturely but man, the AF has serious hate for Academy guys. Jeez.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:30:22 PM EST
[#32]
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Quoted:
You need to be an officer to fly because you're sure as shit not going to trust Seaman Dumbass with an extremely expensive, relatively fragile, operationally/strategically vital piece of equipment. Figure on a couple of years in flight training after you get commissioned and by the time you actually go out to a real assignment you're going to be an O2 or O3.
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Yet you can trust Seaman Dumbass to repair that same extremely expensive, relatively fragile, operationally/strategically vital piece of equipment.  So much so, that you willingly bet your life and the security of the nation on it.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:31:01 PM EST
[#33]
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Quoted:
If you were a fighter pilot would you settle for E-2 pay?
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Nope. As with the private market, certain skills demand more money. Even what an O3 or O4 pilot makes is a bargain for the taxpayer if you think about the salary that that kind of job would command in the private aviation market.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:31:12 PM EST
[#34]
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Quoted:


you sound like one of those guys that actually has done nothing with their life, but knows how to be the greatest leader of all time but if you can get guys and on the internet and 400lb denpendapotamous to believe you you would have it made.

amirite
View Quote
Wrong again there Zoomie, but your laughable ad hominem was predictable as fuck considering what I'm reading from you. This is your cue to cry like a little bitch that the big bad MSgt hurt your widdle feels.

You're not used to getting told reality, I get that. Your entire lot has that problem.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:31:33 PM EST
[#35]
But an E-6 can run an M109 with a crew of 6.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:31:48 PM EST
[#36]
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:32:35 PM EST
[#37]
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Quoted:
I've flown with pilots that were full bird Colonels but the vast majority were 1LT's, Captains, and Warrant Officer 1-3's.

Of course my only experience has been Army Blackhawks.
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Also related to Blackhawks...the highest ranking pilot with regular hours that I remember in my units was a Major.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:34:38 PM EST
[#38]
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Quoted:
Wrong.

They'll throw captain/major at a doctor as an incentive for them to enter the military.

And the commissioning training is like two or three weeks.

My brother just came in, being an emergency medicine doctor they gave him major.

And I didn't even mention the huge bonuses they give doctors too.
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Same reasons military doctors tend to start as O-3's.  Time in the training pipeline.
Wrong.

They'll throw captain/major at a doctor as an incentive for them to enter the military.

And the commissioning training is like two or three weeks.

My brother just came in, being an emergency medicine doctor they gave him major.

And I didn't even mention the huge bonuses they give doctors too.
Direct commission vs ROTC.  Mrs 18B30 is a direct commission O-4 like your brother.  BOLC is 4 weeks at FT. Sam.  Bonus is 25K per year for reservist/NG with some specialties getting a higher bonus.  Thank you brother for his willingness to lose 60K per year,  most MD's would never make that sacrifice.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:39:32 PM EST
[#39]
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Quoted:


Naval Academy grads and non Academy rib each other good naturely but man, the AF has serious hate for Academy guys. Jeez.
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Not really.  I have only encountered a few maintenance officers who were zoomies.  Most are prior E or ROTC.  Among pilots, it doesn't really matter, they are all overgrown frat bros, regardless of commissioning source.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:44:41 PM EST
[#40]
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Quoted:
Yet you can trust Seaman Dumbass to repair that same extremely expensive, relatively fragile, operationally/strategically vital piece of equipment.  So much so, that you willingly bet your life and the security of the nation on it.
View Quote View All Quotes
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Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
You need to be an officer to fly because you're sure as shit not going to trust Seaman Dumbass with an extremely expensive, relatively fragile, operationally/strategically vital piece of equipment. Figure on a couple of years in flight training after you get commissioned and by the time you actually go out to a real assignment you're going to be an O2 or O3.
Yet you can trust Seaman Dumbass to repair that same extremely expensive, relatively fragile, operationally/strategically vital piece of equipment.  So much so, that you willingly bet your life and the security of the nation on it.
Point taken. My Uncle was once Seaman Dumbass wrenching on Skyhawk engines actually
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:46:29 PM EST
[#41]
My Uncle Jack was a Flight Officer in WWII
They created the rank because Congress had maxed out commissioned officers and yet they needed and were training more pilots.   This became Warrant Officer later.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:46:32 PM EST
[#42]
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Quoted:


Direct commission vs ROTC.  Mrs 18B30 is a direct commission O-4 like your brother.  BOLC is 4 weeks at FT. Sam.  Bonus is 25K per year for reservist/NG with some specialties getting a higher bonus.  Thank you brother for his willingness to lose 60K per year,  most MD's would never make that sacrifice.
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He is a reservist.

He still works at a large metro hospital. I'm really happy that he finally did it. His reservation was that he wanted to deploy on his terms, which I totally understand, but with the high incidence of volunteers, he can pretty much choose when and where he wants to go, if at all.

I should have gone that route instead of into L.E., but being that my old job helped me land my current one doing inspections and investigations with the FAA, I can't complain too much.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:47:37 PM EST
[#43]
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:53:26 PM EST
[#44]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:


Wrong again there Zoomie, but your laughable ad hominem was predictable as fuck considering what I'm reading from you. This is your cue to cry like a little bitch that the big bad MSgt hurt your widdle feels.

You're not used to getting told reality, I get that. Your entire lot has that problem.
View Quote
Whoa. We got a badass here.

Or a pilot stole his wife. Not sure which yet.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:59:02 PM EST
[#45]
I would say 75% of active pilots are O-1 to O-3. The only O-6+ I have ever seen fly are Wing Kings.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 7:59:29 PM EST
[#46]
My son is starting his 3rd year at the US Naval Academy. He is doing a semester exchange at the US Air Force Academy this fall semester, actually starting this Sunday. He plans on commissioning Marine Corps and going Marine Corp Aviation (most likely helicopters). It's been pretty interesting reading what some of you have wrote. I was prior service Army (82nd Airborne Infantry, Sergeant), so other than the planes and helicopters I jumped from and rode in have no experience with how the pilot community works. I know after graduation (and after TBS for newly commissioned Marine officers), that they go to flight school which is a minimum of 18 months.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 8:08:23 PM EST
[#47]
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Quoted:


So...should flying squadrons be commanded by non pilots?
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No, they definitely should be commanded by flyers.  That's the last tier that should have that distinction though.  Command at the O-6 to O-10 level should go to the best qualified leaders, period.  It makes no difference where a 3 star spent the first six-ten years of his career.  Nobody O-6 and above should ever fly, or wear a flight suit.  The days of senior officers charging into battle leading 500 plane formations were over in 1945.  
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 8:08:53 PM EST
[#48]
In this thread, we trot out the standard officer vs enlisted bullshit.  Never understood it.
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 8:09:43 PM EST
[#49]
Link Posted: 7/31/2017 8:10:41 PM EST
[#50]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
What? Rank of pilots in the Navy is O-1 to O-10.

CWO fly in other services,
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WO too Vietnam saw some SP5 flying as well IIRC
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