Sim, for the Air Force having Whirly Birds it reminds me - you know, going that way (or C-130) is a way of possible ending up with AF Spec Ops (flying an Osprey, Gunship, Combat Talon or Combat Spear). While an F-15C is a nice ride (the Raptor even more so) these are the guys actually doing the business right now, for real. Of course if you go fast jet on a Viper you can also expect to drop some iron, but nothing is as close and personal as an AC-130.

For me, one of the possible most fascinating jobs in the USAF would be 6th Squadron 1st Special Operations Wing. I visited them a year ago: http://www.milavia.net/specials/afsoc-hurlburt-field/

They are flying a ton of foreign gear and training other nation's Air Forces on it - both in CONUS and on deployment to the host nation. They are seeing a lot of deployment, so it's rough on that end, but you're unlikely to get shot at, and likely to meet a lot of interesting people and fly a lot of interesting stuff.

The guys at Hurlburt are currently collecting bigger yearly budgets while the Raptor got cut, and with the reshaping of the US Force structure towards Asymmetric Warfare, I expect this to stay true for a while yet.

Just some information which not that many people are aware of. If you don't make a fast jet, these are IMHO the next most exciting jobs, much better than flying a Tanker or a standard C-130 on endless cargo trips.

My feeling is go for the most demanding slot. As Fastcargo said - go carnivore, you can eat grass anytime. And as RSCol said, find the slots that are getting deployed and doing the interesting work.

LOOK AT THIS AS AN ADVENTURE AND GET THE FULL MEASURE OF IT.

Think of it as going to an amusement park. Ride all the rides, go on the scariest rides, stay out of kiddie land, stay until closing. Don't worry about time deployed - thats just a different park to ride the different rides.

I went for everything I could when I was in. My only regrets are the things that might have been. I always regret not having passed my Delta tryout. That was the only time I missed a ride.

25 years later that is what I regret. That is what you will regret when you are retired.

Ride every ride Sim. Go for the hard stuff.

I'm actually wondering how much current F-15C or Raptor Squadrons are being deployed. All the Iron Haulers obviously have a full schedule, but are the Fighter Jocks getting their fill? And where, doing what? I can see them using Raptors to ferry JDAMs onto target, but that would be like delivering Pizza with a Ferrari.

I gotta say that while I was initially a combat jet freak, the more I fly with Helo Squadrons I appreciate that these guys are often on the real business end. Peacekeeping and Asymmetric Warfare just do not demand much Air Superiority work. But the C-130 guys and Helo guys have their workload cut out, and if you look at where General Schwartz came from you have a fair guess where the budget is going to go.

Taco... I hooked my Mid-phase. It was a horrid flight full of stupid mistakes throughout my flight. First I got a "Spruce Goose" as an airplane. It is well known for its wonderful performance, hence the nick name. As I took off, I somehow managed to push in UHF button on audio panel silencing UHF in my helmet. Anyhow, my screw ups continued and snowballed. As this check was to see if I was prepared for area solo, I sure as hell didn't demonstrate that. Next is "88" ride with another flight's commander to see if it was a bad day or something else.


Also every person in our flight who took check ride today hooked. Bloody Monday. Statistically speaking, 50% of folks fail first check-ride...
This makes my first failure in UPT....
Big lesson learned...

Sim, like the others say, I'd go for the most exciting slots.
I've read a lot of books on Close Air Support flying in the Vietnam war.. and man, some of that stuff wouldn't even make good movies, it's too incredible. That's the sort of flying I'd go for without hesitation, if I had the chance. Spec-ops/down and dirty work.

Don't worry about it Sim. It's your first, it probably (statistically) won't be your last. The real tragedy would be to not learn from it. In addition, because it isn't a Form 8 check, after you graduate, no one will know or care.

A piece of advice...anyone can do anything at anytime to bust a check. Murphy's Law always reigns supreme on checkrides. I would say of all the checkrides I've taken, there is always SOMETHING that I've never seen before (different runway, odd clearance, pins still out of the seat by the previous crew, etc) The trick is what pilots call compartmentalization. If something happens during a check, clear it out of your head, and press with the checkride. If you dwell on it, I guarantee it will snowball! Hell, the SEFE may not have even seen it.

Finally, I was right where you are...the ride I busted during all of UPT was my midphase. Felt like crap, but got over it. Trust me, if I can, you can. You learn from it, and press on.

Ironically, my last military checkride I ever plan to have I have tommorrow...

FC

It sounds like you learned from the mistakes you made today.
You've been doing so well that I chalk this up to a bad day.
You will do much better next time.


Wheels

What sort of checkride is that?

Better luck on the next flight Sim. If you never fail in training you wouldn't learn stuff from mistakes, it must be part of the process.

The last one before I retire! Did it today...received a couple of 'Commendables'...pretty standard for me. Not the dull pencil, but not the sharpest stick either.

Hope your 88 ride went well today Sim.

FC