Need Gouge on Vance, AFB

[Purdue]

Well, I just finished IFS at an AFB yesterday... (finished in 20 days, with a 4 hour drive there and back each day). I have learned to despise Eglin.

Today, I checked back in with API Flight Management. I class up for API in um... Tomorrow. And he prety much told me, "Sorry, but I'm sending you to Vance."

I can take another shaft, somebody has to. But I'm wondering if anyone who is at Vance now, or has been there recently could tell me something about it. I've heard the stories about 12 hour days and forced study times like we're in kindergarten. I'm looking for info on, good places to live up there? Things to avoid, any key information to make the trip not as ugly as it could be. And if you want, throw in some stories to either debunk or corroborate all the horror people have told me Vance will be in regards to classes and the rest.

 

[Red2]

http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13550

 

[T37Driver]

Eglin Rocked man. What the hell are you talking about? Flying with Col. Miles was the best 2 weeks I've ever had and how could you not love the Eagle Drivers having to wait around on you as you make your lazy approach to runway 19. Stop sweating about Vance, you'll be just fine.

 

[NavyLonghorn]

Atleast youll have nice A/C in the air! Ask your ip to show you the chocolate titties on your dollar ride.

 

[Purdue]

Eglin Rocked man. What the hell are you talking about? Flying with Col. Miles was the best 2 weeks I've ever had and how could you not love the Eagle Drivers having to wait around on you as you make your lazy approach to runway 19. Stop sweating about Vance, you'll be just fine.

Because I didn't have Miles. I had somebody else... who has some kind of beef with Navy people. He had me flying until 7 at night, then arriving early the next morning. I don' mind either early mornings, or late nighs... but not boh. Especially when I have a 2-hour drive each direction (4 hours in a car, 3 hours in a plane, and a few hours of groundschool a day make for long days). He wrote a nasty letter to IFS and tried to get me washed out of the program, saying I couldn't fly and several other untruths at about my 7th hour in IFS. He refused to fly with me, and I had no idea why. I requested a new instructor who gave me a checkride and made a statement saying I kept all altitudes within +/-50ft, landed correctly and within standards, maintained all headings within standards, and otherwise was ABOVE expectations for only 7 hours of flight training. Miles may be fine, but I warn anyone who gets who I had as an instructor.

 

[NavyLonghorn]

Ive heard many the IFS horror story, seems like they actually forceably attrite (rather then DOR) more then primary or advanced!

 

[Purdue]

Probably not a good idea to call out people by name in a venue like this (Im sure we all have things wed like to vent about.) That being said, Ive heard many the IFS horror story, seems like they actually forceably attrite (rather then DOR) more then primary or advanced!

Point taken NavyVance, I edited my post... please do the same in your quote.

And yes, IFS is difficult... and even more so with a poor instructor, which they have a few of at Eglin. I've heard Miles is tough but fair. I witnessed atleast two poor instructors at Eglin. I know 1 Ensign was washed out after her 3rd flight because she got airsick in the back of a C-172 and the instructor pushed her... Washing out because of airsickness is one thing, but on flight 3? While in the back of a 172? come on... and I have a friend who is still out there and having a very difficult time with an instructor other than Miles.

The worst part of it, was the drive. Flying everyday was nice, it was easier to remember past lessons. I missed not having ANY time off or weekends... but the Drive and the traffic was what killed me. Waking up at leaving the house at 3am to make a 5am wheels up? Dropping atleast $10 a day in gas just shuttling myself there and back....

 

[zab1001]

story about IFS and lousy instructor

I hope you sat down with whoever coordinates and schedules you folks for IFS, told your story, and submitted a written record of your experience. If you haven't, do so immediately. Do what you can to stop it from happening to someone else.

 

[NavyLonghorn]

Hell of a way to have to start your Navy career.

 

[zab1001]

Tell that story to any IP working in the schoolhouse and there's a 99% chance they'll back you.

 

[luckechance]

My flying partner over at Eglin had trouble with our instructor and talked to the IFS program manager (an O-4) back at P-cola and that cleared things up for him. my 2 cents

 

[Ex Rigger]

I'm sorry to hear about Eglin. I'm finishing up at Mobile on Monday and the program there has been outstanding and all 4 of the instructors they have out there are outstanding. They push you but they are not looking to get you kicked out. I have had a great time and have really learned alot. The planes are all about 9 mos old which was kinda nice. I will admit that the drive is definitely not fun. It costs me a full tank (~$50) every two days. I've dropped probably over $500 in gas alone getting out there.

 

[othromas]

Do they let you check out the van anymore? My flying partner and I would get it every chance we got, even if it did take us another 20-30 minutes to get out to Eglin. I can't even imagine how much money we saved by doing that.

 

[luckechance]

As of November the Van was gone..... They had changed it to having a duty driver drive over and back twice a day, and of course the times didn't line up with anything so nobody used it and it disappeared. I love the Navy's logic!

 

[Brett327]

I've heard the stories about 12 hour days

The humanity!

Brett