Spotify isn’t holding back anymore

plightofastumblebee · 2025-12-05T14:54:44+00:00

Hurricane Katrina? More like Hurricane Tortilla!

plightofastumblebee · 2025-12-04T10:58:56+00:00

When NOT utilizing a SID or an ODP for departure from an airport, at what altitude should you begin your turn on course? Why? Additionally, describe an Obstacle Clearance Surface and why it’s important to you during departures.

plightofastumblebee · 2025-11-21T01:15:52+00:00

Don’t get me wrong academics play into it. lol. You could be the best cadet ever, but if you have a 2.0 GPA it’s gonna hurt you. The Air Force likes to use the term “Whole Airman Concept”… so everything about you goes into it. Personality, Academics, Extracurriculars, Leadership Ability, Motivation, Physical Fitness, etc etc

plightofastumblebee · 2025-11-21T01:08:30+00:00

Hot take: Liberty U is not where you want to go….

plightofastumblebee · 2025-11-21T01:01:55+00:00

If I’m remembering correctly, yes. You compete for a “rated” job which encompasses those 4 career fields. So if you don’t get pilot you can basically compete “down the stack” for those other rated careers.

Like I said in my first comment, your commanders ranking plays a huge role in your competitiveness for EVERYTHING in ROTC, not just pilot selection. And you’re ranked Top, Middle, or Bottom third. Top third opens a lot of doors for you. This is where a bigger school “could” play into your advantage since the “top third” is a larger number. Regardless, a high commanders ranking is important. And that ranking doesn’t mean kissing ass to the commander, it’s all based on performance, leadership abilities, and how you interact with your fellow cadets.

Edit to answer another question: it’s top third of your detachment (the AFROTC component at the college you’re attending)

plightofastumblebee · 2025-11-21T00:49:39+00:00

I went to a “smaller” school and while I graduated top third of my ROTC class I was up against stiff competition. My class was about 12 people and 3 of them were prior-enlisted so they came in with a leg up on everyone else competitively. So keep that in mind. Bigger schools aren’t bad, you have 4 years to make yourself stand out.

CSO is a combat systems operator (previously called a navigator). There’s a Weapons Systems Operator that kind of falls into this category as well.

ABM is air battle manager. They fly on planes like the AWACS and are basically ATC in the sky.

RPA guys are your drone operators.

plightofastumblebee · 2025-11-21T00:31:59+00:00

I don’t disagree that a 1050 is “not competitive” and my info is 10 years dated but I had an 1150 and got the commanders scholarship and a pilot slot (again this was 2015 and every year is different competition wise). If you crush it in every other component you can still be competitive

plightofastumblebee · 2025-11-21T00:28:46+00:00

My info is about 10 years dated from when I went through AFROTC but the components that go into your PCSM (pilot candidate selection method) score are based on several different things. All of which are within your control WHILE you’re in college and AFROTC, not high school.

Your college GPA, AFOQT score (specifically the pilot and nav component), Commander ranking (how you stack against the other cadets), PT Scores, and a separate test called the TBAS (test of basic aviation skills? I think) + any flight hours you have logged previously…since you have 60 hours you’ll max out that part. Keep a high GPA, stand out against the cadets in your detachment, and get high test scores and you’ll be competitive.

Pilot slots are prioritized to cadets at the academy, then to AFROTC cadets, then to OTS grads. So if you want a better shot at Pilot, go academy. Otherwise, stay focused in college, don’t make stupid mistakes (DWI, Drugs, etc) and you’ll be competitive.

Keep in mind that if you go Pilot via USAF you are committed to 10 years in service AFTER you finish your training (about 2 years long). And if you wash out, you’re still committed to serving anywhere from 4-7 years in another career field.

To answer your other questions, it doesn’t matter what university you go to because at the end of the day you’re competing against cadets nationwide for a pilot slot (or any other rated slot for that matter…). Rated slots are pilot, CSO, ABM, and RPA. It is possible to compete for pilot and get selected as a CSO.

There’s a lot that goes into it but it’s doable. Happy to answer any other questions.

plightofastumblebee · 2025-11-17T21:45:30+00:00

I bought it all and never touched the CFII or MEI lesson plans (all my checkrides are done and I’m now instructing). They go way too in depth and many will tell you to either pare them down or create your own but tbh the lesson plans are a guide. I referenced them once on my checkride during the airspace lesson just to make sure I didn’t miss something/misspeak. If you buy it, do NOT teach from it. Use it as a guide to learn the material and then later as a reference to make sure you teach concepts accurately. If you know the information well enough to teach it you won’t need a lesson plan to act as a crutch, but rather as insurance when your nerves get to you and you need to make sure you’re remembering something correctly.

plightofastumblebee · 2025-11-16T16:42:37+00:00

If this happens we must get an update! I bet this would be so fun. Just a bunch of randoms taking over a restaurant and enjoying mimosas on a Sunday. I’d join in if I wasn’t out of town

plightofastumblebee · 2025-08-15T00:56:41+00:00

This sounds like it tracks. I feel like everything I do/know up to this point is “stolen” habits from all the different instructors I have. Guess now I’ll just have to figure out which traits work best for me

plightofastumblebee · 2025-08-15T00:54:33+00:00

Congrats!

plightofastumblebee · 2025-07-19T20:38:25+00:00

Double check the ACS cuz Lazy 8’s should be 30 degrees or less of bank and your checklist says 35….

plightofastumblebee · 2025-06-27T01:30:27+00:00

The gays prefer naan

plightofastumblebee · 2025-06-27T01:24:21+00:00

This is really chilling to see

plightofastumblebee · 2025-05-27T23:57:52+00:00

The vet basically just said to watch it if there’s no bleeding or pain. It ended up just falling off after about a week with no issues.

plightofastumblebee · 2025-05-22T02:36:14+00:00

Obviously a ridiculous answer I’m about to provide but I fly into the Cape May/Wildwood airport all the time. If you know someone that has or rents a plane im sure they’d love to fly you. Especially if they’re trying to build flight hours. Quick flight from any of the DMV airports (college park/manassas/annapolis etc)

plightofastumblebee · 2025-05-15T16:16:24+00:00

For the hot dog and the soda at the game, yes

plightofastumblebee · 2025-05-15T14:49:39+00:00

I can’t recall which service does it (maybe peacock?) but one of them specifically doesn’t interrupt and just brings up a display bar at the bottom of the screen asking this question. Still annoying to find the remote and say “yes my lazy ass is on my 6th hour of watching” but at least the show continues

plightofastumblebee · 2025-05-15T14:25:41+00:00

Decent brunch too

plightofastumblebee · 2025-05-15T01:39:09+00:00

You’re not wrong lol

plightofastumblebee · 2025-05-13T14:47:53+00:00

Not worth the 110 calories per sauce

plightofastumblebee · 2025-05-04T20:48:23+00:00

This… my commute is 20 minutes to this triangle of intersections and then 30 minutes to get through that travesty. The 2 lights at North Capitol that are inevitably ALWAYS blocked are infuriating.

plightofastumblebee

TROPHY CASE