Course Administration

Syllabus Interpretation — This syllabus is directive in nature and will be followed as written. If no clear syllabus guidance exists, resolve the situation using the appropriate lines of communication. If the logical course of action appears to conflict with other directives this item should be identified and reviewed as applicable.

Syllabus Waiver — An approved syllabus waiver is required for any exception to the syllabus caused by special or unusual circumstances. Permanent or blanket waivers are not authorized but should be suggested as syllabus changes. 
Maintain a permanent record of all approved waivers in the student’s gradebook.

Syllabus Deviation — A syllabus deviation is any variation from syllabus requirements such as deviation from
course flow or failure to do all required tasks. Each student must accomplish all syllabus-directed training or receive
an approved waiver. If a student inadvertently misses required training, OG/CC may authorize the omitted training be
done later in the course as long as it does not degrade quality of training. Document all syllabus deviations, OG/CCdirected
corrective actions, and the accomplishment of the omitted training in the student’s gradebook.

Incomplete Training — Students who voluntarily withdraw from this course should discuss options and next steps with Wing Support Personnel.

Course Completion — Students must successfully complete all training directed by this syllabus in order to graduate from this course. Students may not make up training at the follow-on unit without an approved syllabus waiver.

Training Requirements and Restrictions
a. Non-current Student Pilots — Students are required to have flown a T-38 front-seat sortie within 30 days of
the IFF class start date and should be current in the aircraft. If students arrive out of currency by 45 days or less,
IFF squadron commanders may authorize one T-38 transition sortie prior to the first syllabus flight. If a student
is out of currency by greater than 45 days, one sortie must be flown. This additional sortie will follow an H-1
profile.

Regression Rules
a. After a student has demonstrated proficiency in mission items as required by the syllabus, proficiency must be maintained in those items. In the event that a student’s performance regresses during a later mission, those tasks must be brought back to standards. Additional ground instruction and/or simulator missions may be used in preparation for the next mission.

b. Double Regression – If, after required proficiency is achieved, a student regresses on the same task(s) on two consecutive sorties or simulator missions, grade the student SNP. For aircraft sorties, if a double regression item is not specific to that sortie’s mission and can be evaluated on the next sortie, then the sortie may be graded E-SNP. Otherwise, grade the student NE-SNP.

Student Non-progression (SNP)
a. Simulator Training

(1) Mark the gradesheet NE-SNP and re-accomplish as a sim “X” mission prior to another graded event.

(2) Simulator Progress Checks — After two failed simulators, fly a progress check in the simulator. Any subsequently failed simulator sorties require a progress check (simulator or flight).

b. Flying Training

(1) Mark the gradesheet NE-SNP and re-fly as an “X” sortie prior to another graded event. Exception – If the SNP is due to double regression (see 2-8b) or solely to a multiple-attempt demo-pro item (i.e. formation landing) and can be evaluated on the next sortie, then the sortie may be graded E-SNP and not require reflying. Additional ground instruction and/or simulator missions may be used in preparation for the next mission.

(2) Maximum Allowable SNP Sorties — If a student fails to demonstrate performance to standards within the allocated student non-progression (SNP) sorties for a phase/module of training (see chart below) or reaches a total of 4 SNP sorties, the student will be scheduled for a progress check. 

Progress Check

a. A progress check (PC) is a non-instructional sortie flown to document a student’s proficiency level and to recommend follow-on action. It is identified by adding the suffix “PC” to the normal syllabus sortie number and is not considered an “X” sortie.
b. A PC may be directed any time at the discretion of the flight commander. Commanders should consider directing a progress check when the student exhibits consistent substandard performance or demonstrates doubtful potential to complete IFF or FTU.
c. Recommended follow-on action upon completion of the PC may be, but is not limited to, continuation in the normal course of training, additional training followed by another PC, or elimination from the course. The progress check will include an assessment of the student’s basic flying skills and potential to complete both IFF and FTU. Progress checks will be flown by the most senior IP available.

Causes for Elimination

a. Academics — Students failing an academic examination will be counseled by the squadron commander.
Students failing a second examination will be considered for elimination.
b. Flying — Remove students from training after the fifth sortie graded SNP or student fails progress check.
Elimination procedures — Students failing to achieve the required training standards within the syllabus-allotted
sorties or training will be considered for elimination. Elimination procedures for students will be IAW AFI 11-
402. Eliminate foreign pilots IAW applicable memorandum of understanding or international agreements.
Refer to AFI 11-402, AETC Sup 1 for administration procedures on elimination.

This elimination process is straight from the real world rules, it does not apply as such for the 455th.

Mission Conduct

a. Mission Description — Review mission specifics (aircraft, crew, time, and prerequisites) and Special Instructions (SPINS) for each sortie.

b. Specific Mission Tasks — The tasks listed on each mission are a recommended sequence for major task accomplishment. Some of the subtasks are not in chronological sequence. The instructor may modify this sequence to accomplish the mission objectives.

c. Completed Tasks — After demonstration of proficiency on a given task, the student may perform the task on any subsequent mission if the instructor briefs the task, and task completion does not replace a required mission task. If a student has already demonstrated performance to standards on the tasks scheduled for a sortie, the instructor may brief and practice tasks for a subsequent sortie in the module or phase if the student has completed prerequisite ground training for the new tasks.

d. Effective and Non-effective Missions — A mission will be effective “E” if the mission does not need to be reflown. A mission will be non-effective “NE” if the mission must be reflown for any reason.

e. Incomplete Missions — A mission will be incomplete “INC” if the student is unable to complete all mission tasks. If the unaccomplished tasks can be added to a subsequent mission without affecting subsequent mission training, the mission may be considered effective-incomplete “E-INC.” If the mission must be reflown, mark the gradesheet non-effective.

f. Video Tape Recorder (VTR) — Pilots will record all missions on VTR if available. The flying squadron will establish procedures to review VTR tapes and document performance.

g. Alternate Mission — Profiles must be specifically briefed and are limited to specific tasks and (or) mission profiles that have been flown on a previous syllabus training sortie.

h. Flight Leadership — Students will not brief syllabus missions. This restriction does not prohibit a student from briefing specific portions of the mission (e.g., low-level, range). The syllabus does not require the student to fly the lead position for a specified period. If the flight lead IP allows the student to lead a portion of the sortie, the student does not become a  designated flight lead. Students will not be graded on flight lead tasks.

i. Cockpit/Crew Resource Management (CRM) — CRM skills will be integrated into flight briefings and debriefings IAW AFI 11-290, Cockpit/Crew Resource Management Training Program and its AETC Supplement. Gradesheets will contain the following CRM grading items:

(1) Situational Awareness
(2) Communication
(3) Risk Management/Decision Making
(4) Task Management
(5) Mission Planning/Briefing/Debriefing
(6) Wingman Consideration/Flight Integrity (will be graded on formation or tactical employment sorties)

j. Sequence of Training — Ground and flying training should progress according to the course map. If flying training varies due to uncontrollable factors, academic and WST schedules will be adjusted to maintain the relationship between the flying training and the associated ground training. In no case will flying training occur prior to the related ground training. Document deviations IAW paragraph 2-3 of this syllabus.

k. Sequence of Tasks — Events/tasks listed in individual mission outlines and academic lesson outlines need not be performed in the specific order listed, but all events/tasks will be completed.

l. Events Per Day — Students will not accomplish more than two events per day (aircraft/simulator). The flight commander will determine if an incomplete sortie will count against the student’s two events.

m. Instructor Responsibilities — The flight lead instructor is responsible for the conduct of the mission (brief, lead, debrief) and for prior coordination with the “instructor of record.” The instructor of record is the instructor in the aircraft with the student and retains overall responsibility for the student’s training. The instructor of record ensures all mission tasks are thoroughly briefed and writes the gradesheet. If the mission is flown solo, the Flight Lead will be the IP of record. Instructor Weapons Systems Officers (IW) may act as the instructor of record and fly with student pilots IAWX.

n. Flying Safety — Flying/ground safety awareness should be developed through capable supervision, thorough instruction, and strict air and ground discipline. Safety will be vigorously emphasized during flight briefings, debriefings, and safety briefings/meetings.

o. Emergency Procedures (EP) Training — The EP of the day will be briefed on each sortie.

p. Briefing Requirements — Flight mission briefings will normally occur a minimum of 1½ hour prior to takeoff. WST mission briefings will normally occur 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time (15 minutes for SEP missions). Adjustments may be made by the instructor within the constraints of good training.

q. Additional sorties provide opportunities for needed student training. Performance below CTS during add sorties will not count against the student. Double regression rules do not apply to add sorties. For example, if a student regresses on OB-2 and then regresses on a subsequent add sortie, the student does not fail the add sortie. However, if the student regresses on the same item on OB-3, then double regression rules apply because the student regressed on OB-2 and OB-3. Furthermore, if a student regresses on an item during an additional sortie and then regresses on the following syllabus sortie, double regression rules do not apply (assuming the student did not regress on the sortie prior to the add ride.) Individual items on the gradesheet will be graded and the overall grade will be "No Grade." Items graded below CTS (to include items graded dangerous) will not change the overall grade.

Over-G — An over-G will normally result in a NE-SNP. Other factors may be considered (i.e., EGI error, excessive wing rock, etc.) to assign the grade NE-OTH or Effective.