ok IFS'ers.... fess up... I know it's one of ya...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,336716,00.html
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,336716,00.html
is IFS only in those 3 locations now? I heard that was going to happen. when did it start?
is IFS only in those 3 locations now? I heard that was going to happen. when did it start?
so, is the Navy now sending all their selectees to those places? sounds like a lot of travel $$$. what was the prob with the way it was when I went through? (accredited flight schools anywhere pretty much)
There's no (extra) travel money involved, all SNAs are at one of those places eventually. Most Academy mids do IFS their senior year in Annapolis, Marines do it after graduating TBS in Quantico (Manassas actually), and everyone else does it when they get to Pensacola (spread out over the schools listed above).
Now the govt is moving them to Pcola and if they drop after/during IFS the govt has the expense of moving them somewhere else...
The intent is still there. One hour in a 152 is drastically cheaper fuel and maintainance-wise than one hour in a T-34.Interesting that the Navy is having everyone else do it in Pcola. From what I understood, one of the major reasons for IFS was to save the Navy dough by weeding out the selectees who got in a plane for a few hours and decided it wasn't for them. Now the govt is moving them to Pcola and if they drop after/during IFS the govt has the expense of moving them somewhere else...
Of course there was another way. Back when we had T-34Bs at the NRDs every aviation applicant had to go flying. That was our chance to evaluated their aviation adaptability. It was not as good a screening tool as taking a guy through solo like IFS. But, they did acro and flew with a real naval aviator. When I was an applicant my A-7 driver recruiter took me through the engine out profiles, bombing run ins on a damn, road recce, and lots of acro. They were used as a recruiting/motivational tool as well. Lots of OCS selectees got to fly to airshows with their recruiters or to far a way campuses to help with testing and presentations. It kept the aviator recruiters happy and reasonably current. All for a lot less money then IFS. When the T-34Cs go away maybe we can hope for a few getting chopped to CRUITCOM. May not be affordable for every NRD, but maybe on a regional basis or for the very large NRDs. Photo circa 1984, working the airshow circuit.The intent is still there. One hour in a 152 is drastically cheaper fuel and maintainance-wise than one hour in a T-34.
Marine Corps does something similar in this day and age... The flying OSO. Good deal that mostly gets snatched up by helo guys. King Air & Bell 206 at their disposal to woo prospective PLC/OCC candidates. My buddie's doing it now and loves it.Of course there was another way. Back when we had T-34Bs at the NRDs every aviation applicant had to go flying. That was our chance to evaluated their aviation adaptability...
Marine Corps does something similar in this day and age... The flying OSO. Good deal that mostly gets snatched up by helo guys. King Air & Bell 206 at their disposal to woo prospective PLC/OCC candidates. My buddie's doing it now and loves it.