Virtual Armed Forces - North American time zones is recruiting for F18, F16 and F14 pilots

[Montrose]

Are you interested in learning to fly, fight and maximize your abilities in Modern DCS Jets? Would you like to fly fun and challenging cooperative missions as part of a team? Do you have a willingness to learn?

If your answers are "Yes," then give the Virtual Armed Forces a go! The Virtual Armed Forces (VAF) is looking to expand its ranks with enthusiastic and motivated virtual pilots and RIOs who enjoy cooperative missions.

The VAF has four squadrons primarily supporting four airframes:

1. 75th Fighter Squadron "Tigersharks" flying the A-10C Warthog

2. 111th Fighter Squadron "Ace in the Hole" flying the F-16C Viper

3. VFA-136 "Knighthawks" flying the F/A-18C Hornet

4. VF-142 "Ghostriders" flying the F-14A/B Tomcat

We have openings available for all of our squadrons. We don't expect Chuck Yeager; we're happy with Charlie Brown. We prefer good attitudes to good sticks, because with good attitude skills can be learned. We ask only that you bring a good attitude, a willingness use tactics and cooperate as a team, and the dedication to undertake our training syllabus. In return, we will provide our own individual attention to develop your skills. Additionally, we foster a fun, friendly, and supportive environment with no formal rank structure or command hierarchy.

Our membership includes a number of civil and former military aviators, and we're all here to have fun! The VAF also boasts custom individual skins created by one of the more prolific skinners in the DCS community.

Our comprehensive training program teaches you basic airmanship and 2-ship formation tactics. We focus on realistic training in our Student Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT) program. SUPT starts out with VFR flying, landing and take-off patterns, close formation flying and then moves on to IFR, Refueling and Weapons Training. Progression is at the student's pace and flight status is based on the ability to fly safe and to adhere to some basic operational standards.

We recruit in small groups to ensure that individual training needs are met and that new members have an opportunity to get to know the group. Of particular note, we are in the process of standing up the VF-142 Ghostriders. If you have ever wanted to learn the RIO position, or fly with a competent human RIO, VF-142 is for you! The RIO curriculum is being developed by a former US Naval Flight Officer, and includes A/A, A/G, and principles of situational awareness. Prospective RIOs can be confident that they are receiving excellent training, and pilots can be confident that the RIOs in VF-142 will transform their F-14 experience for the better! Finally, we wish to cross-train all F-14 aircrews on the pilot and RIO stations to the extent possible to maximize tactical flexibility.

We currently operate two severs one for training and one for missions. We fly most days from 3pm Pacific until 9PM Pacific. Weekends are throughout the day on our Dynamic Campaigns unless otherwise scheduled.

If you are still interested, please visit Please read the VAF rules and regulations and then apply by joining our Discord at https://discord.gg/Yh5ujEeaC7 

 

Edited November 10, 2021 by Montrose

[flycats2]

Would be helpful to indicate what day/nights & times cooperative missions are flown so as to not waste potential pilots' time in applying when their schedules are not compatible.

[Montrose]

1 hour ago, flycats2 said:

Would be helpful to indicate what day/nights & times cooperative missions are flown so as to not waste potential pilots' time in applying when their schedules are not compatible.

Good suggestion. We dont have set schedules and typically fly everyday which is why I put the time zones. I will add to the post. Thanks

[VAF [136] Striker]

Our New Promotional Video

 

 

[Home Fries]

On 9/2/2021 at 2:53 PM, flycats2 said:

Would be helpful to indicate what day/nights & times cooperative missions are flown so as to not waste potential pilots' time in applying when their schedules are not compatible.

As Montrose specified, we usually have people on quite a bit, especially on evenings and weekends.  We do training on a weeknight (depending on airframe) and we try to do a formal event on Saturdays at 8pm Eastern.  But we usually have people on our server all weekend regardless of formality.

Edited October 18, 2021 by Home Fries

[Ruger357]

F-18 driver Interested but discord link expired.

[Home Fries]

Thanks for your interest, Ruger.  I'll forward the info to the channel host.

[VAF [136] Striker]

I've updated the link on the other thread in the main recruiting section so it's persistent to our Discord server now. It's temporary permissions when you join our Discord channel so it can't be abused by trolls, but the permissions can be changed when anyone with admin privileges is on.

Edited November 10, 2021 by VAF [136] Striker

[Home Fries]

If you like the Tomcat and want to get in on the ground floor of something special, we're in the process of standing up the VF-142 Ghostriders.

We're looking to pair pilots with human RIOs, and we're encouraging cross-training on both stations for all who are interested.  This will allow people to switch between stations at will, or even field more F-14s for events where more aircraft are required.

Regardless of whether you fly as pilot, RIO, or both, you can be sure that you are receiving excellent training.  Pilots will have competent human RIOs, and the melding of two people into a cohesive aircrew is a glorious achievement that provides intense satisfaction and elevates your experience to the pinnacle of what DCS has to offer.

Finally, this is the Tomcat!  It's all about fun!  Whether it's wiping out a gorilla group of MiGs with multiple AIM-54s, requesting a flyby of the tower (and you know what "Negative, Ghostrider, the pattern is full" means), going into your break at 400kts (because Tomcat!), or just flying a challenging aircraft with such precision that makes it look easy to everybody else, the Tomcat aircrews know how to have a good time! *

 

(*) Oiled volleyball sold separately.

 

Edited December 22, 2021 by Home Fries

[hannibal]

im interested in a F18 / F14 squadron too..

do you guys require mods? i really do not want to deal with mods if i do not have to..

[Home Fries]

On 8/27/2023 at 9:31 AM, hannibal said:

im interested in a F18 / F14 squadron too..

do you guys require mods? i really do not want to deal with mods if i do not have to..

No mods required, Hannibal.  We allow client-side mods, but don't require them.  The lone exception is the A-4E for our Cold War server, and that's because it's stable enough and it was unanimously approved.

Please drop us a line on our Discord; we'd love to chat you up!

Edited December 3, 2023 by Home Fries
updated Discord hyperlink

[hannibal]

A4 and herc are enough for me. 

when do you guys usually fly?

i been flying about 8pm EST north america

[Home Fries]

That's usually about right, but we have people jumping in our dynamic servers all the time.  Most organized missions are either 7 or 8pm Eastern.

[Steel Jaw]

Have flown with a few of these folks on their servers and I will say they are top notch.

[Home Fries]

 We’re standing up our F-15E Strike Eagle squadron: the 428^th Fighter Squadron “Buccaneers.”  If you’re interested in learning and flying the F-15E, be sure to contact us on our Discord channel!

We're looking to pair pilots with human WSOs, and we're encouraging cross-training on both stations for all who are interested.  This will allow people to switch between stations at will, or even field more F-15Es for events where more aircraft are required.  We have two former real-life back-seaters developing the training curriculum for the F-15E WSO.

Regardless of whether you fly as pilot, WSO, or both, you can be sure that you are receiving excellent training.  Pilots will have competent human WSOs, and the melding of two people into a cohesive aircrew is a glorious achievement that provides intense satisfaction and elevates your experience to the pinnacle of what DCS has to offer.  And we’re feverishly working on Pilot and WSO syllabi for the Strike Eagle as well.  Remember: we don’t require experience, we require only a good attitude and a willingness to learn.

Finally, this is the F-15E Strike Eagle, the premiere tactical strike aircraft in the world!  We’re going to be doing all weather deep strikes at night with NAVFLIR and TFR, flying CAP with 8 AMRAAM, and busting bunkers like literally nobody else can do!  It's all about fun, and we can have fun in so many ways! 

 

Also, see us on the Air Combat Sim Podcast #42!

Edited December 3, 2023 by Home Fries
Discord updated to perma-link

[Home Fries]

Discord link updated.\

https://discord.gg/NRaZbcK9nJ

[WTFactual]

Hello, , I am new to DCS as well as my son and we are both interested in the F18 airframe,  I watched your video from 2021 and noticed there wasn't any more threads since then.  We both need training  and cant wait to start.  We both have knowledge of the basics being I have a BAS in aerospace with a pvt single engine land license and my son is retired Coast Guard as a loadmaster and flight engineer on the C130 and c127 aircraft . With this info are we candidates' for your group granted you still exist

Ken

 

[Dentedend10]

Hi,

Id also be interested in joining a F14 squadron. Seems like the Discord invite expired though. Is this still active?

[Home Fries]

12 hours ago, WTFactual said:

Hello, , I am new to DCS as well as my son and we are both interested in the F18 airframe,  I watched your video from 2021 and noticed there wasn't any more threads since then.  We both need training  and cant wait to start.  We both have knowledge of the basics being I have a BAS in aerospace with a pvt single engine land license and my son is retired Coast Guard as a loadmaster and flight engineer on the C130 and c127 aircraft . With this info are we candidates' for your group granted you still exist

Ken

 

 

4 hours ago, Dentedend10 said:

Hi,

Id also be interested in joining a F14 squadron. Seems like the Discord invite expired though. Is this still active?

We are recruiting, and the discord was just updated (we were unaware that the so-called permanent link had expired).  We'd love for both of you to stop by our channel and see if we're a fit for you.

Full disclosure: activity for our F-14 squadron is currently suspended while we build the F-15E squadron, but we will gladly reopen it for membership with interest like yours.  We have one F-14 driver who recently returned.  We're also happy to instruct in both pilot and RIO seats.

Edited December 5, 2023 by Home Fries

[WTFactual]

can you read this

 

[Mike Force Team]

I want to fly the strike eagle. I want to learn pilot and wso.

Mike Force Team