<p>One other thing trying to get this back on track with assignments straight out. When you go to UPT and get your airframe assignment remember that you will have another assignment night at the FTU.</p>
<p>Too many times people don’t think about the place they want from an operational standpoint. They think about it from that place is better than the other bases I can chose from. You need to think about the big picture and see it from an operational standpoint. So many F-15E fliers always wanted AK, however, the 90th actually became a place that they should not have gone to at a certain point. You don’t want to go to that dream base if they are converting. The reason why is that you will pcs again while the others who went to SJAFB have established themselves. For example they get crappy old Seymour, but go to the Chiefs, while you get beautiful AK. While you enjoy flying over Denali they are flying over Afghanistan. 2 yrs later you now are sent to crappy old Seymour, and because you are an IP, they put you in the Lancers (FTU), for the next 3 yrs. 5 yrs in operationally and you have yet to have a combat sortie. The guy who got crappy old Seymour did 2 rotations in the sandbox, has an air combat medal, led 4 ships in combat because he too is an IP. Now for him at 3 yrs operationally he has more operational experience and looks better on paper for WIC than you do, all because you took Elmendorf at the wrong time.</p>
<p>This too will play a part of being hit with a remote. Everytime you go to the sandbox that lowers you from being hot for a remote. They will always try not to give concurrent overseas. That means from AK you were safe for getting hit, however, now you have 3 yrs where you were not deployed overseas while they did deploy, your ahead of them now for being hit. It is possible that AFPC will now hit you with a remote. Now you will have 6 yrs in and still no combat time. Worst yet, you are married and have a 2 yo at home that you must say goodby to for a yr.</p>
<p>I know it sounds so far a way, but with every decision you make remember you need to think what might happen as a follow on. I knew people who purposedly took Lakenheath after Elmendorf. The reason why was they were trying to escape the remote for as long as they could. By taking concurrent overseas they knew they had 9-10 yrs without a remote (3 in AK, 3 in UK and 3-4 stateside) because the rule is they would not force a remote from overseas bases. They then hoped that they would make school and that would prolong it, however, for those that didn’t they also accepted that they would do the remote after 4 yrs and have a follow on to the same base, in essence they homesteaded for 9 yrs at SJAFB. I know of 2 families that did this, their children arrived as 5 yr olds and never moved again. The Dads did 2 remotes and they stayed there for a total of 14 yrs. In his entire career they were stationed at 2 bases, that was it, 1x in UK and the rest at SJAFB. CRAZY, but it is true!<br>
Remember I am not saying 3 yrs in AD, but 3 yrs operationally flying, thus AFIT is not the player here.</p>
<p>One thing is others will also tell you being a FAIP will kill your career, that isn’t true either. I know many O6’s that were FAIPs and as an O6 that typically means you were a squadron commander somewhere in your career.</p>