This question is directed toward current/former instructors that have taught/are teaching in the CCT pipeline. What is the most important thing you like to see in a candidate? Physical attributes aside. What are the thinks that make a candidate (or candidates) stand out from the rest? Thanks.
Patrick Covington

There are plenty of former and current combat controllers on the site who have given lots of advice regarding what is expected of CCT wannabes, so I'd keep searching the boards. Your question has been answered in many ways before. That being said, this video was distributed not too long ago and will be a good place to start.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuBMHsqQJSI&feature=related

Whoops. I just noticed I didn't mention one important detail. I was meaning to ask what attributes are looked upon as being "top of class" attributes. My goal is to graduate top of my class but I didnt know what the intructors look at when deciding who gets that title. Sorry for the confusion. (I was going to delete the post and re-write it but it seems I cant once someone has replied)
Patrick Covington

OR you can go into the pipeline not thinking about how you can be "noticed" for how great you would like to think you are and concentrate on giving each day 110%. Taking care of your team mates and helping them improve and being a leader when you can while keeping yourself and others motivated to due their best.

Doing the minimum has been stressed (especially on this website) as not being something one should strive to achieve. I dont want to just get through the pipeline. I want to go beyond the minimum (the minimum to me is giving 110% and being a team player). I say that because I have been told you MUST do that to get through the pipeline and any less will achieve nothing more than failure. So the only other way I see to go above and beyond is to graduate top of my class. That is my goal. I will accept criticism being as you are an operator but the question was to help me understand how to get to my goal.
Patrick Covington

I'm not an Operator, just someone with past pipeline experience and currently serving in the AF. I think if you use a little common sense your goal is pretty easy to achieve, smoke your PT tests & smoke your academics. Your question comes off is how can I suck up to the instructors more, so they will like me and think I am the best.

Why worry about awards or being recognized, just do your job and do it the best you can! At the end of the day did you give it your all? than what did those things really mean anyway.....

Im looking for personal satisfaction. Nothing more and nothing less. I do understand what you are trying to say. Im just having trouble explaining my way of thinking is all.
Patrick Covington

I would also like to pick where im stationed.
Patrick Covington

Go ugly early or pay for a ho.

Buy a lottery ticket as picking a winner has higher probability than being top-in-class (Honor) grad. If you win the lottery bribing with money also has better favorable results than knee pads or boot licking.

The Distinguished Graduate program policy is AETC managed and there is no requirement to somebody must be a Distinguished Graduate if nobody's performance meets the eligibility requirements.

Top Graduate must exceed the performance of all honor graduates. Being an honor graduate has eligibility requirements (generally better than) of must achieve satisfactory grade on core value ratings, courtesy, drill, reporting, dorm performance and weapons evaluations.

Specifically 90% or better grade on written tests and certainly exceeding minimums on all graded PAST assessments, generally figure whatever the equivalent of 90% being what is required to get awarded the “AETC Form 499, Distinguished Graduate Recognition Certificate”.

As you are probably unaware--there is "NO" will get pick of assignment policy connected being the Top Graduate.

I was unaware. I read in a forum here on the site that said if you are Top Graduate you got first pick when it comes to getting stationed. Granted it was on the pararescue forum but still. Thanks for the response that was what I was looking for.
Patrick Covington

Of the duty assignments available (what you want may not be available) and it is more what you'd call "guidelines" than actual rules. But you also must be a graduate of the required courses for it even to apply.

Parlay?
Patrick Covington

Asking me?

Parley is to have a conference with the enemy under a truce to discuss terms.

Parlay is to exploit an asset successfully.

Are you offering your sisters as virgin sacrifices (exploit assets without knowing my terms in hopes this is what I want) or are you trying to bore me to death with talk (discussing what I want or need )? Either way I’m in the power position (win-win for me) and you will probably upset your sisters with option 1.

Option 1- Jailtime (sister is 1 year old)
Option 2- I would be taken to Anchorage Alaska to meet with the "enemy". I would have some facetime with a former pj and spend the rest of my vacation in the beautifull state.
I simply made you think it was win-win. "These arent the droids your looking for."
Patrick Covington

1. I'm not a cloned mindless Imperial Storm Trooper and you are not a Jedi.

2. The Jedi mind control only works on the weak minded. --“Over one's mind and over one's body the individual is sovereign.” -- John Stuart Mill

3. In competition-“It is not sufficient that I succeed - all others must fail." -- Genghis Khan

4. In conflict - "A man's greatest work is to break his enemies, to drive them before him, to take from them all the things that have been theirs, to hear the weeping of those who cherished them." -- Genghis Khan

5. Facetime with …-Oh I get it... like humor... but different. You presume prisoners must be kept captive or given audience with the Pirate Captain. Prisoners have to be fed and clothed unless sold as forced laborers or become contributing members of the pirate crew. Involuntarily forced to walk the Plank is an often utilized option for a reason.

6. The learning lesson was never was about Parlay or Parley other than situation and circumstances started out as a Poker game, and transitioned to a Chess game. Elizabeth lost the Chess game because the rules and the playing board were not applicable to her because she was not a Pirate and she was unable to win because she lacked assets to gamble with to reestablish a poker game. Consequently option “1” being jail time was never an option as an invite to poker game was not given. The being invited to play chess requires a reputation of being a skilled player. Evidence of such ability has yet to be demonstrated. This is better described as having situational awareness and understanding the operational environment. Intro Tactics lesson to lesson number one from my book of tactics of survivability.

I submit myself to your teachings...

There are many easier jobs in the AF where the focus of being the "top grad" can be 100% and you will get the same exact "honor grad" ribbon as a CCT "top grad". Your chances are much greater in those jobs!!

But then I wouldnt be able to jump out of airplanes, scuba dive, be part of one of the most elite groups in the military, and "go above and beyond" as the AF commercial states. So that idea doesnt make sense. Besides whats fun about having the odds on my side?

Patrick Covington

I didnt know you got a ribbon. I thought you only got one in basic for being "honor graduate".
Patrick Covington

Hopefully NickP was being cynical or mocking. There is no technical School Honor Grad ribbon.

USAF BMT Honor Graduate Ribbon

Yukon I was.. waterbear have you watched Rescue Warriors? I know you are trying for CCT but there is someone in there during indoc that tries to break the 1.5 mile record. He was on a successful pace until his body collapsed about half a lap from the finish line. He ended up failing the run. He later goes on to explain that he is going to focus on passing and not breaking records even though he was a very capable person to do so. I was being very sarcastic in my last post. What I am trying to say is even something as small as focusing on a record instead of the end result can result in failure. Im not saying do not give your all. But if you focus on being the "top grad", then you're focusing on the wrong goal. CCT and PJ are very demanding. Last thing you need is a distraction like "top grad", Just saying.

Haha oh ok. I have changed my view (sorta). I now think "I dont want to just be a CCT, just the best CCT I can be." I still have the same strive but its a lot less... selfish? After reading my posts I see where I came off selfish and that is something a CCT is not. Im naturally competitive and thats something I guess I need to work on. A pararescue liason met with us during our last PAST and that was really humbling the things he said and what he told us. Anyways thank you for responding. It trully has helped.
Patrick Covington

Glad you finally see it that way