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If you knew what you do now, what would you tell your pre-flight school school self?

fc2spyguy

fc2spyguy

loving my warm and comfy 214 blanket
pilot
Contributor
Uncle Fester said:
Never ask for anything, unless you really really need it. It's almost impossible to stand out in a good way as a cone; best case is if Stucon and the OPSO have no idea who you are. Head down, mouth shut, eyes/ears open, nose in the books. And when an instructor asks what you want to select, the right answer is you'll be happy with anything and then ask them about whatever platform they fly.
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Completely disagree with this. If there's something you want to fly, tell them. That doesn't mean that you won't be happy in anything that has the star and bar on the side. There's nothing wrong with wanting to fly jets over another platform. Unless you want to fly E-2s, then people may question your sanity wanting that specific platform . . . :D
 
Uncle Fester

Uncle Fester

Robot Pimp
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
fc2spyguy said:
Completely disagree with this. If there's something you want to fly, tell them. That doesn't mean that you won't be happy in anything that has the star and bar on the side. There's nothing wrong with wanting to fly jets over another platform. Unless you want to fly E-2s, then people may question your sanity wanting that specific platform . . . :D
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Yeah, but... I don't disagree that there's nothing wrong with having a preference or making it known. But there's a thin, eye-of-the-beholder line between that and, say, some cone telling his helo-guy IP that he (the student) is just too awesome and high-speed to fly helos, as has happened. Then see above re: STUCON and Ops knowing who you are. It's not like the IP's going to learn your preferences and then put in a word for you. "ENS Timmy is awesome, make sure he gets jets!" If anything it'll be the opposite. "ENS Timmy's a fucking idiot. If I see him in my squadron when I get back to the Fleet I'm going to come back and haunt you motherfuckers."

Besides, I think a student gets more out of having an IP talk about his/her community than monologing about what airplane the student has on his computer wallpaper. "I'm leaning toward tailhook, sir, but flying anything's good in the long run. You said you're P-8s, what's that like?" Then the IP spends his time jawing about why his community rocks (or is full of tools, whatever) rather than playing NATOPS trivia and the kid might learn something. Technique only, though.

Choosing VAW does make you pretty popular with your IGRAD class, though. Jumping on a grenade usually does. :D
 
Rugby_Guy

Rugby_Guy

Livin on a Prayer
pilot
Uncle Fester said:
Words
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This was the technique I used and it was awesome. Got to hear a lot of really funny and interesting stories, and relate to the IP on a personal level.

Of course, sometimes it was like talking to a brick, but others it was awesome and really filled in the time from Corpus to College Station or Chennault on Instrument hops.
 
nittany03

nittany03

Recovering NFO. Herder of Programmers.
pilot
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
Mr. Blonde said:
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Well . . . just not TOO long. :D
 
sevenhelmet

sevenhelmet

Low calorie attack from the Heartland
pilot
Rugby_Guy said:
This was the technique I used and it was awesome. Got to hear a lot of really funny and interesting stories, and relate to the IP on a personal level.

Of course, sometimes it was like talking to a brick, but others it was awesome and really filled in the time from Corpus to College Station or Chennault on Instrument hops.
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I played the "I'll be happy with what I get" game all through primary. The IPs knew what I wanted anyway. They're savvy like that. When they ask, it's because you're either brand new, or they want to see your reaction.
 
Python

Python

Well-Known Member
pilot
Contributor
sevenhelmet said:
I played the "I'll be happy with what I get" game all through primary. The IPs knew what I wanted anyway. They're savvy like that. When they ask, it's because you're either brand new, or they want to see your reaction.
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Ditto. I said that and remained humble. It wasn't true, but it was at least respectful to say it and I did learn some stuff.
 
HuggyU2

HuggyU2

Well-Known Member
None
Spend every penny I had on high-performance flight instruction, including jets. Then apply to the ANG unit of my choice.

Well... that's what I'd have told myself 1 year after I got my wings.

Today... I'd not have changed a thing.

Show up ready to work hard... work hard... execute...

... have a great career.

'Merica.
 
BarrettRC8

BarrettRC8

VMFA
pilot
Uncle Fester said:
And when an instructor asks what you want to select, the right answer is you'll be happy with anything and then ask them about whatever platform they fly.
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Disagree. If someone wants to fly jets or helicopters, why should they lie? Be honest, don't be a dicks about it and let your performance determine the IPs opinion of you. That being said, still fill in empty space with appropriate questions about their experiences in the fleet, but don't be shy of answering someone appropriately if they ask you what you'd like to fly.
 
P

Pags

N/A
pilot
BarrettRC8 said:
Disagree. If someone wants to fly jets or helicopters, why should they lie? Be honest, don't be a dicks about it and let your performance determine the IPs opinion of you. That being said, still fill in empty space with appropriate questions about their experiences in the fleet, but don't be shy of answering someone appropriately if they ask you what you'd like to fly.
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The bottom line here is be a good guy. Show that you're interested in learning as much as possible about the different communities but be honest about your goals and interests.

"I'd be happy to fly anything with 'navy' on the side of it but community X appeals the most to me" and "I'm the hottest C172 to ever come out of riddle and I obviously deserve a spot in community X" both say you're interested in community X but the first emphasizes service and that you're a good guy while the latter says it's all about me and I'm a huge dick.

I was never an IP but my impression from flight school was that the IPs generally wanted to see good guys succeed. I sainstances
instances of the squadron going out of their way to help guys that had a good attitude. From my personal experience in the VTs I feel that my on-wing and squadron leadership were disappointed to see that I didn't get a jet slot.
 
Uncle Fester

Uncle Fester

Robot Pimp
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
BarrettRC8 said:
Disagree. If someone wants to fly jets or helicopters, why should they lie? Be honest, don't be a dicks about it and let your performance determine the IPs opinion of you. That being said, still fill in empty space with appropriate questions about their experiences in the fleet, but don't be shy of answering someone appropriately if they ask you what you'd like to fly.
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Ugh, for fucks sake...I never said "lie about what you want". I said cones should steer the conversation toward learning more about another community. Not publicly masturbating their fantasies about whatever airplane they're currently into. Your job as a student is to learn, whether book learning or picking an instructor's brain. Period.
 
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