IFT washout. How can I motivate this guy?

[JimNtexas]

Instructors do not do the marginal student a favor by letting them slide by. This fellow probably will not be happy as a pilot even if he squeaks through UPT.

Document in the training record every one of these incidents of him being unprepared and/or failing to attain the learning objective of the flight.

Then when you talk to the Air Force chain of command you can say "I've documented X times when he was unprepared for the flight, Y times of him not flying to PTS standards, therefore I can't recommend him for the PPL checkride or UPT."

Consult another experienced instructor that you trust just as a sanity check, then do the right thing.

 

[bssthound]

I gotta agree with the majority. One thing, though; it ain't up to you to motivate this sack. He's gotta motivate himself. If the prospect of flying for the Air Force doesn't motivate him then he shouldn't be stealing someone else's slot. There are plenty of people, as evidenced by this board, who'd love to have the slot. He sounds way too unorganized and disconnected to do anything at UPT but waste the time of a lot of people. Do him a favor and let him sink or swim, the he11 with anymore special attention. He obviously doesn't appreciate your effort, spend your time with people who want to fly airplanes.

 

[Purple Promisee]

Plenty of valid replies as to why you should call this guy’s boss today and recommend that the AF drop kick him. It seems like, in his mind, he’s already out there gunning MiGs and you’re just a piston-pushing lackey along his path to greater glory. Kudos to you for handling this d/h with the utmost professionalism that you have shown. But, to answer your question, “how to motivate…” here’s my suggestion:

1) Draft a letter to his military supervisor factually identifying the things you’ve written about.
2) Have a sit-down with him and a third party (another IP, FBO manager, etc.)
3) Have him read the letter at the sit-down, then present him with a plan to finish him up (sts). –Have your plan include his need to show up on time, prepared, motivated, etc.
4) Don’t get into a discussion of the details of the letter. If he wants to discuss them just say that those are the facts as you’ve observed them and that if he doesn’t shape up and follow your plan you’ll FedEx (paid promotional plug) the letter to his boss.

If this gets the kid’s attention and he shapes up, great. If he fails to pull his head out and take you & IFT seriously, send the letter, along with the plan and documentation that he failed to follow it. His boss will get the clear picture that this guy possesses neither the airmanship nor officership that the AF requires.
Good luck, PP’e

 

[TankerDriver]

Trying to do IFT and normal college course loads at the same time was proably a mistake. But now that he is in the line of fire, he only has one choice--Yoda said it best in Jedi "there is no try, do or do not."

As much as I'd like to sympathize with the guy, I don't. I took 16-18 credits a semester and had to have availability at least 4 hours a day, Mon-Fri, for flying when I was at ERAU. Quite overwhelming at times, but you gotta do what you gotta do and I didn't have a choice when I flew. As long as it was in that 4 hour block that I registered for, it was game.

It just doesn't seem like the guy is interested in being a pilot. I had a private pilot student at Riddle that had some Navy OCS deal where he had a pilot slot lined up after graduating and he had a similar attitude as this guy. He was a great stick also. One of the best I had actually, but he was cocky and would cop an attitude with me when I would correct him about something. He was never wrong and he had this thing in his head that because he was going to be a Navy pilot, he was better than his CFI. Well, I wound up having to pull him in a conference with my supervisor and basically told him he didn't know jack squat and that the 40 hours he had under his belt was just enough to kill himself. He changed his tone after that and wound up getting his PPL just fine. I'm not quite sure where he is now. Little does he know his former CFI is in the AF now.

 

[SIG600]

If this gets the kid’s attention and he shapes up, great. If he fails to pull his head out and take you & IFT seriously, send the letter, along with the plan and documentation that he failed to follow it. His boss will get the clear picture that this guy possesses neither the airmanship nor officership that the AF requires.
Good luck, PP’e

If nothing else I think he should at least let the kids ROTC unit know whats going on. They'll want to know about this if he happens to straighten up for the duration of IFT then fcuks off again in UPT. Like everyone else has said though, there are thousands out there that would jump at the chance that this kid is screwing away.

 

[AA717driver]

I am of the mind that someone may have put the idea in his head that he can coast through this. I'd try one last time--tell him that to get to UPT, he HAS to go through YOU. At this point in time, YOU are not going to sign him off for his solo, let alone a private.

I had to have my a$$ kicked by my instrument instructor because I thought I could just coast, too. He was a center controller and a WSO who had spent a couple of nights on the ground in Cambodia courtesy of the NVAF so he was only too willing to kick my slacker a$$!

Not all of us were born with the big picture squarely in view.TC

 

[Flyerjosh]

The military is big on counseling- both positive and negative. Write up a statement that says clearly what his shortcomings are and the expectations that you have for him and his training. If you have positive remarks, include them as well. (Such as if he is a decent pilot). Spell out your limits and expectations clearly, and explain that if he fails to meet certain basic expectations, he will be recommended by you for dismissal from training.

Have him sign it, and give a copy for him and keep one for yourself. If he doesn't meet these expectations, then forward the whole thing and whatever supporting documentation you have to his program commander.

 

[TheGreatChecko]

Remember, he might be AF, but chances are he will be someones co-pilot/captain some day. Would you be comfortable walking into a cockpit and seeing this kid in there with the attitude he is demonstrating?

Eventually, someone will "adjust" his attutude. That person should be you.
Personally, I'd write that letter, it covers your rear and puts on paper what will and will not happen. I'd imagine that you will see a change in the student soon after he reads and signs it.

 

[fishalaska]

Your question is one of the best I have read in a long time. As a CFI/CFII and military F-15 IP I am proud to call you one of the "fellas". Bounce this guy. He is a disgrace to the opportunity he was given and you as the person with the pen have the right and duty not to sign him off until he is ready not only with the flight controls but also the regulations. You have given him his shot at the title and now someone else deserves the chance.

 

[Uppercrust]

I don't get it?? Your not his boss nor are you his mentor. If he ain't up to solo then don't sign him off. That simple. Let the military deal with him.