Mentoring those with the "Spark"

[TomVal]

Initially I posted this under Paul Dye?s thread ?Igniting the Spark? but decided to start a separate thread. We in San Diego have been involved in a mentoring program working with the AFROTC cadets at San Diego State University that are slated to start pilot training. I will let the article below describe the program. This article is tentatively scheduled to be published in the December issue of the ?Dispatch?, a magazine of the Commemorative Air Force.

We are overwhelmed by the level of grassroots support our program has received. We are now 10 months into the program and the results have been encouraging. Hopefully other flying communities will consider supporting their neighboring Universities with similar programs.

For those of you whom may be interested in more information, I would be happy to talk with you and/or send you information about the program. Please PM me if so interested. It has been a very rewarding experience for all.

Regards,
Tom


AIR GROUP ONE JOINS the AIR FORCE!

Well, not exactly. Through the efforts of Col Martin Wojtysiak (aka ?Woj?), Commander, Detachment 75, Air Force ROTC, at San Diego State University (SDSU), and in combination with the generous members of CAF ? Air Group One, San Diego, a decision was made to mentor and assist the next generation of military aviators.

SDSU is an AFROTC magnet school. For those students interested in pursuing an Air Force career, that goal can be achieved by completing a four year program offered through SDSU. The AFROTC program is made available to students of 16 area colleges and universities.

The current enrollment of students in the program is approximately 150. Applications have been flooding in and as a result, the bar for acceptance into the AFROTC program has continued to rise.

Many future specialties and disciplines may be pursued by these future officers, but the most coveted position is to be selected as a ?Pilot Select Candidate.? Upon graduation from SDSU and the awarding of their Air Force Commission, these now newly minted 2/Lts will be slotted to attend fixed-wing pilot training or enter the Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) track. To be selected for either track infers that you have been thoroughly screened, prodded, and tested. Unlike those of us whom entered military flight training in the 60?s and early 70?s (some joke that ?if you could fog a mirror and read an eye chart you were hired!), it is a major accomplishment for today?s cadets to have survived the selection process and to be awarded a pilot or RPA slot.

Upon graduation, the first major hurdle the cadets must clear is ?IFS?, the USAF Initial Flight Screening Program. IFS is conducted through a civilian contractor, Doss Aviation, out of Pueblo, CO. The training aircraft utilized is the Diamond 20 (DA-20), a two seat, low wing, all composite aircraft.

IFS will be the cadet?s first introduction into formalized military flight training. By design, IFS is challenging and is programmed to take the student just beyond solo. This is where the rubber meets the road. The program is highly time compressed. Early in their senior year the students receive a study link to the program. The underlying message is that ?you best learn this stuff before you get here, cuz you might not have the time otherwise?fight?s on!? You either pass the program or wave your Air Force flight career goodbye. Col Wojtysiak stated that, in previous years, as many as 30% would fail!

 
In October of 2010, Woj approached Air Group One to discuss the potential causes of the high failure rate. He told us that most cadets entered IFS with little or no flight experience. Although IFS recommends that students acquire some flight training prior to arrival, the fact is, most of these students typically do not have the financial resources to allocate towards such training.

For example, the recently graduated Class of 2011 had five pilot select candidates. One cadet had previously soloed, the remaining four had ?zero? flight time. Col Wojtysiak wanted to do better for his San Diego cadets.

This is where AG-1 stepped in. We proposed to the Colonel that we seek a volunteer group of San Diego area based pilots and explore the possibility of assembling a training package at little to no cost to the cadets. Naturally, he was very much on board with this idea.

At the November 2010 AG-1 staff meeting, our program was reviewed and the staff agreed to support our efforts. The program was designed to be a community outreach of local area pilots willing to share their time, equipment, and expertise, with the upcoming generation of aviators. The support of AG-1 was overwhelming. Seven out of eleven of our primary instructor slots are quickly filled by AG-1 members.

During the development of the program we sought input from IFS. Their bullet points were:

? To assist student to overcome any airsickness tendencies
? To develop strong pitch & power fundamentals
? To develop task management skills
? To develop spot landing accuracy skills

These bullet points were incorporated into the core of our program.

After an AG-1 sponsored kick-off to the flight program last January, where all five candidates received introductory incentive flights, the cadets and volunteers got to work. Seven months later, we are in the process of completing training with the recently commissioned class of 2011. We will continue to work with them up until their IFS report dates next February. On deck is the Cadet Class of 2012, with four more Pilot Selects and one Alternate, who will start training with us later this year.

With the upcoming Class 2012, AG-1?s program will expand from 10 to 15 training sorties. The sorties are broken down into 9 Primary Training sorties, 3 Advanced Training sorties, 1 Aerobatic sortie, and 2 Landing Proficiency sorties.

For the 2011-2012 season, we now have 15 San Diego area based pilots volunteering their expertise to the program. In addition, new for this year, we have a group of volunteer pilots that will be working with the cadet underclassmen receiving incentive rides. The purpose of the incentive flight is motivational (hamburger flight, sightseeing, etc.) and non-instructional in nature. These cadets are in the competitive process towards earning a pilot slot. They will not know the results of the selection until nearing the end of their junior year.

As previously mentioned, the community outreach has been amazing. In addition to the commitment made by the volunteer pilots, a private pilot ground school and classroom facilities were donated for free, and ground school text books were sold at cost.

The synergy of the program has been mutually rewarding. In turn, the cadets have more than shown their appreciation. They are involved in our L-5 restoration project, participated as our representatives in the 4th of July Downtown DFC parade, assisted during our annual AG-1 air show, and have participated in several of our hangar events. This is an example of community outreach at its best, the joint give and take, the mutual support, and benefit enjoyed by all..

None of this could have been possible without the core participation of AG-1. The AG-1 participating pilots are:

Col Bob Simon
Col Kent Casady
Col Darrel Cook
Col Jack Draper
Col Joe Graham
Col Pete Hunt
Col Jim McGarvie
Col Howard Merritt

V/R
Col Bob Simon
Wing Leader
CAF ? Air Group One
San Diego

Article Contributors:

Tom Valenzia
USAF Col Martin ?woj? Wojtysiak
Col Jim McGarvie
Col John Telles

[Geico266]

Very cool Tom.

This along with the YE program would be a better mix. Get those kids involved in a long term program and follow up! Taking them on a carnival ride gives us as pilots warm fuzzies, but does little to "ignite the spark". Get them involved and excited about coming back and you have "set the hook".

[videobobk]

Tom,

This sounds great! As you may know, I am working with HS level kids in a building project. We have been looking into places where they can continue, and you may have an avenue here for them. Check you PMs. We need to talk.

Bob

[Geico266]

Originally Posted by videobobk

Tom,

This sounds great! As you may know, I am working with HS level kids in a building project. We have been looking into places where they can continue, and you may have an avenue here for them. Check you PMs. We need to talk.

Bob

Bob, could you expand on your experiences with a project / program that keeps the kids involved?

[videobobk]

Originally Posted by Geico266

Bob, could you expand on your experiences with a project / program that keeps the kids involved?

Larry,

Nothing I like better than expanding on it! First, to keep up-to-date on it, see mykitlog.com/bobkelly Beyond that, if you will let me know, I will put you on an e-mail newsletter list that is going to attempt to keep everyone interested in youth programs (beyond YE) in the loop. Just post your address here. There are REALLY big things happening, and it looks like quite a few programs are starting, some I can't mention at this point. As a group, you guys helped us get the Eagle's Nest Project going by providing tools. Others are taking it beyond my wildest dreams. I have the most positive letter anyone has ever seen--from the FAA! I really have to get some of the ducks in a row before I really let this all out. Anything can fall through, but I don't think it will. There are too many good people involved, several of them from this site. In the mean time, the project is doing quite well, probably nearing the 50% mark. The students are doing really well, and I am proud of every one of them. More to follow--soon.

Bob

[StickandRudder]

This is great! I can think of at least one 2nd Lt select who'd love to participate in such a program....me. I'll be heading to IFS then UPT in about a year, already have my slot. I've heard all the same...IFS is a bit of a haze. Last I heard, washout is down to about 10-15%, but 30% wouldn't surprise me. Even guys with PPLs go there and hook rides. UPT on the other hand is a course designed to simply teach people to fly, and they're not out to get you. Any chronic airsickness or personal motivation issues aside, if you put the effort in at UPT you should be fine. Despite IFS being what it is, it amazes me how many of my classmates here at the Academy choose not to pursue any sort of flight training prior to IFS. We have some basic airmanship programs here, but if you want to fly every day, becoming a glider instructor is your only option, and that only takes people so far...A, its a glider, B instructors don't get to fly. We do have a powered flight program here that I'm in right now. 10 rides, the goal being to get you to solo on the 10th ride. I've really enjoyed it so far, and the instruction is great, especially since I have experience, the IPs are basically giving me pointers on how to get ahead. Plus, I'm more than happy to get free hours! But again, this program can only do so much for people.

My philosophy was to go out and get my license, do some basic instrument (familiarization only, don't want to pick any habits that contradict what the USAF teaches), and then I started flying acro to spin my gyros, get any airsickness out of my system (yes, I puked my first acro ride ), and get a better FEEL for flying. The idea I have is not that I can lean on my experience and work less than everyone else at pilot training, but that I can use my advantage, work JUST AS HARD as all the other students and hopefully still beat them.

My acro instructor is a former USAF fighter jock and teaches me EPs, overheads, military patterns and how to think like a UPT student. He has a ride 5 program for people even if they have no prior time. Similar sort of deal I guess. Amazingly, few people end up flying with him. "I'll learn to fly when I get there..." In the end, it's on them to pursue training. They have to really want it. Based on what I've seen, too many folks are in love with the IDEA of being a pilot, and just think that pilot training is something they'll breeze through. But this is most definitely a step in the right direction! I was able to pay for all my training with scholarship money that I ended up not needing because I went to the Academy, but not everyone is that fortunate. Flight training is expensive. We train in a Zlin 242, but I'd love to ride in an RV. Keep up the great work! Thank you for doing this, you have no idea how much this will help these kids (or maybe you do)!

[TomVal]

Originally Posted by StickandRudder

...The idea I have is not that I can lean on my experience and work less than everyone else at pilot training, but that I can use my advantage, work JUST AS HARD as all the other students and hopefully still beat them.

My acro instructor is a former USAF fighter jock and teaches me EPs, overheads, military patterns and how to think like a UPT student. He has a ride 5 program for people even if they have no prior time. Similar sort of deal I guess. Amazingly, few people end up flying with him. "I'll learn to fly when I get there..." In the end, it's on them to pursue training. They have to really want it. Based on what I've seen, too many folks are in love with the IDEA of being a pilot, and just think that pilot training is something they'll breeze through. But this is most definitely a step in the right direction! I was able to pay for all my training with scholarship money that I ended up not needing because I went to the Academy, but not everyone is that fortunate. Flight training is expensive. We train in a Zlin 242, but I'd love to ride in an RV...

StickandRudder,

I enjoyed reading your post and thank you for your feedback. You are obviously very motivated and well on your way towards “ACEing” IFS. Your introduction into acro and military operating procedures will also give you an edge over your fellow classmates. You will discover that entering military flight training with a fist full of ratings and/or high time is not necessarily a guarantee to success. Military training is intense and fast paced, you can’t take time off to review a lesson or to train at your leisure. This is where even some highly experienced students may not make the grade.

In my UPT class, way back in the dark ages, our highest rated pilot held a commercial license, washed out pre-solo in the T-37. Our 15 hour total time classmate, USAF Academy graduate, Guy Gardner, became an astronaut.

In my son’s UPT class, one student brought his own Cessna 172 to class…he washed out in the T-38. Another student was previously an instructor with a commuter airline, and also washed out…and another student had a Guard F-16 slot waiting for her. All she had to do was graduate…she washed out during IFF (Intermediate Fighter Fundamentals).

It sounds like you have done your homework and are prepared for the competitive challenges ahead. We wish you the best and hope that you will report back to us with periodic progress updates. Just don’t forget, when you start flying that RV-4 Fastback, we’ll be looking for folks just like you to pick up that torch and pass it on to the next generation of aviators!

Just think, out there somewhere, there is a F-15 canopy rail waiting for your name and callsign!

Any RV'ers in the area willing to give StickandRudder a ride?

Regards,

[StickandRudder]

I've heard similar stories. I came to the realization some time ago that no amount of ratings is a substitute for hard work...main reason I chose not to pursue my commercial or instrument. At the same time, what I'm doing now (acro) can't hurt. And yes, one day when I have a plane of my own, I'd love to do that. I do want to get my CFI at some point and hopefully retire doing what my current acro instructor does now.

Any RV'ers in the area willing to give StickandRudder a ride?

Pretty please? I love RVs, although I've never ridden in one.

[RV7AJeremy]

Sounds like it will make my job easier

Trust me, hard work, a great attitude, and a heck of a lot of respect will go a long way with the IPs.

[Bob Axsom]

There is something special about that place, the military and the young men who are so focused and proud. I went to Point Loma High School and was in ROTC there. Maybe it's something in the air or water but I've never lived anywhere else that had that kind of spirit. Maybe it had something to do with the times, or the proximity of the Naval Training Center, the Marine Recruit Depot, North Island, Miramar, the fleet ships in San Diego Bay but it was electric. I'm not surprised at your success.

Bob Axsom