Casual at P'Cola

[the_suck]

Anybody know the deal with casual status at P'Cola if you're coming from Mother Blue?

I'm a WSO-select who commissions in June 06 with a P'Cola class start date of Dec 06. I got slated for almost 6 months of casual status at an AFB across the country. From what I understood, if you're going to P'Cola/Whiting for flight training your casual status is usually at P'Cola as well. Whether or not this is true, is there anyone to call at P'Cola that could say "hey, send this LT down here. we'll take him for his casual duty"?

Also, I take it the "class start date" means thats the day you report - you still have to complete IFT, wait for an API class, etc., etc.

So here's my question - if I want to get to P'Cola sooner than later to get my IFT and get API done where do I go next/who do I contact?

 

[Fezz CB]

im curious what "casual duty" is? or is that an air force thing? I'm assuming class start date = API class up date. The day you report is usually indicated on your orders (separate from "class start date"). Again, it could be different for af vs. navy.

From what my af buds have told me, IFT has transitioned to IFS.

If you need more info, PM me and I can get u in contact with my af buddies who are either finishing IFT or API.

 

[bigfish]

Casual duty is serving in the airforce.

 

[phrogdriver]

I thought he was talking about the dress code for civilian attire...:icon_smil

 

[snizo]

Well lookie there - one of them air force folks with his fancy made up words.

Seriously, though - doesn't seem like any Navy types would have any idea what you're asking if you call, so don't call any of them asking that. Try your detailer and see if (s)he can convince the AF guys (or the Navy) to take you early if thats what you want ... BUT, in doing so, understand that you might iritate some people because youre asking for special consideration. I doubt you would get any changes pushed through, though - they set you up on that date for a reason.

Casual duty = stash job? Can't say if you'd be sent anywhere. The Navy would send you to various jobs around the base while you wait, but I don't recally ever seeing this happen to AF folks.

 

[TheBubba]

Sticky,

You should have a "Report NLT " date on your orders... look at that date, and that'll tell you the absolute last day to reprt to NASC.

That being said, there may also be a "Report NET " date too... if there is, don't report before then.

As far as an actualy class start date... no way you can know that till you check in and go through all the checkin BS.

 

[DaRevrend]

Air Force places the term "casual status" on individuals at a temporary job while they await the start of their training. The Navy calls these stash jobs and for the most part it is the same thing as being on casual.

What SS wants to do is find a way to game the system for an earlier start date. The way AF orders for pilot training work is that you have a RNLT date, along with a no kidding you group starts on this day class start date. For AF people going the Navy route, however, this does not apply. The orders still reflect a class start date, but when you in process to Pcola they could give a rat's ass about that date. You show up, you get in processed and enter the pool. If you haven't done IFS (now official for AF too; 25 hour program structured after the Navy's program) then your job is to complete IFS. Once all the needed boxes to start API are checked, then it becomes a first come first serve for classing up to API. The sooner you get to Pcola as an AF stud, the sooner you will start, regardless of what your orders have as a class start date. Hopefully that makes sense.

If you are crazy enough to think that the AF cares about your wants, then you need to contact the Air Force Personell Center, specifically the rated officer procurement team side of the house. They control where you go to complete IFS (and wait the rest of the time out with some squadron while on casual status) and where/when you go to UPT. They are dillusional that somehow they are doing a great job controlling the flow of studs in the pipeline. They do not care that you want to get to Pcola faster, and will just tell you that there is a chance that once your are IFS complete your "class start date" and more importantly your RNLT date could be moved up from what was originally projected. Chances are that too will not happen as VT-3 is a giant cluster-f*ck at the time where studs are waiting 3+ months after API to begin ground school on the T-34. The only way this might change is if you know someone important, and are the type of person to call in favors, and they call AFPC and tell them that this better happen. Pcola could care less about our (the AF's) jacked up way of assigning UPT studs to that location and the MSgt there will start in-processing you to the program as soon as you show up.

The best way to get there sooner is to go to the base you were assigned to and complete IFS quickly, then pray your date gets moved up. As soon as you are given a date, take the full 60 days allowable (assuming your losing commander signs off on it) and report to Pcola early to start the process.

I know you think it sucks now, but you'll get over it, look at your relatively fat paycheck for what you do and enjoy the hell out of this down time before you start training. Good luck.

Rev

 

[HH-60H]

If you haven't done IFS (now official for AF too; 25 hour program structured after the Navy's program)

The Air Force has had an IFS type program far, far longer than they Navy has even dreamed about it. Our program is modelled after theirs.

 

[TheBubba]

Yes and no...

The AF's version (until recently) resulted in their student pilots (dunno about navs) getting a PPL. SNA's just ended up with 25 or so hours that could be put towards the PPL.

The changes in the AF program shortened it and made it more like the Navy's program.

That's the info I have from talking to a few AF officers and students.

 

[HH-60H]

The details aren't exactly the same, but the idea that the AF got a prescreening flight program from the Navy is ludicrous.

 

[TheBubba]

Not saying we did. Knowing the way I've seen stuff happen and what I've learned talking to AF members, I'm with you on us getting it from them. Navy's IFS is a watered down version of IFT. The AF's current version of IFT is more like our IFS than it is the previous iteration.

Not arguing that AF got IFT from a Navy idea, but stating that they recently changed their program to look more like ours.

Cheers, Bubba

 

[HH-60H]

Oh, I know you weren't saying that. Sorry if it sounded like that. I meant DaRev sounded like he was saying the AF got the idea from the Navy.

 

[DaRevrend]

Yeah...my bad if that was misinterpreted. The AF had a Initial Flight Screening program long before, but called it Initial Flight Training (IFT) and it resulted in 40+ hours and the PPL.

My comment was intended to reflect that recently the AF IFT program switched to IFS and the syllabus now very closely mirrors the Navy's IFS syllabus that was in place.

Rev

 

[zab1001]

In the meantime, "stickysweet" (worst. screen name. ever.), you may want to change the occupation on your profile, since you're a WSO "select".

 

[dnweinreb]

I'm amused that an AF student wizzo would be trying to buck for an earlier start date although I applaud the initiative. Mr. stickysweet will be more appreciative of his status in the line when he gets to pensacola and sees the cobweb covered skeletons outside the flight management office that used to be pre-API SNFOs