Calling all current/recent Air Force UPT students or graduates--Any tips for success during flight training?

2d Lt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 23:35:04 -0500

Headed to UPT soon; trying to acquire intel. Everyone I have talked to agrees that "stand up" is terrible. A friend, new USAF pilot and generally real sharp guy (holds a graduate degree in engineering) even struggled. Is it really that hard? Is reading/understanding the assigned material not enough? Any advice on specific study habits and succeeding academically during UPT is much appreciated.

Response by Liz Hodges Flores made Feb 11 at 2016 12:07 AM

Liz Hodges Flores — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 00:07:07 -0500

THAT IS TRUE !!!!
WE ALL ANGELS LEARNING TO FLY UPON CREATION AMONG THE HEAVENLY STARS !!!!

Response by Col Kyle Taylor made Feb 11 at 2016 7:49 PM

Col Kyle Taylor — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 19:49:46 -0500

I say this not as a new pilot but a veteran pilot of 26 years and current Contract IP. Stay ahead of the game and ask questions. I would guarantee that no one wants to wash anyone out, especially when they are trying if you start a bad attitude and slack off when you need to prepare, you will find the exit door. Where are you headed?

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 12 at 2016 1:57 AM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 01:57:40 -0500

The problem is that pilot training is not designed for the engineer. They do not want you to over think what you are doing. They basically tell you what and how to do it. Engineers like my self are trained to problem solve outside of the book. At UPT they don't want you to do this. They want you to analyse the problem and apply a known solution that they have already figured out.

Most of UPT is a rote memory exercise. It is another AETC game to play.

Things that make UPT hard is coloring inside the lines. For me, I am an engineer. I am not a very good rote memorisor. I am good at knowing the why something is done. But at UPT the game is just spitting out the cookbook verbatim.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2016 9:15 AM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 09:15:57 -0500

Stand-up is designed to be terrible. The point isn't so much to test your knowledge, although that is a part of it. The point is to test your recall under pressure.

I went through nav training with the Navy at Pensacola. It wasn't nearly as bad as I'm led to believe pilot training is.