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Holy buckets, what corner of the AF did you grow up in? Maybe this is part of the problem... dudes cant get honest feedback because this kinda thinking has led to everyone thinking they're a shit-hot rocket ace and not knowing the majority of the squadron thinks they're functionally retarded when it comes to doing the J-O-B. Perhaps, if we provided a little more honest feedback in a manner in which it STUCK (Not some BS desk drawer feedback session), we would help weed the garden a bit. Maybe we wouldn't HAVE to promote 90% of dudes to Major - are you kidding me! 90%!? Hell 10% of the Captains I know don't deserve to be captains. We called them "double Lieutenants" when they got promoted in mass in 2009/10. And 90% of them will make Major? WHY? Because they all think they're gonna be CoS of the USAF, because they can't get honest feedback and their paperwork says "My #1/200 glasslicking booger-eaters; IDE ASAP, Astronaut Corps a must--this guy is NOT a dipshit" But no.... we can't. We have to "keep them in" despite the guys gettin' it done wanting them out. Can't have anyone get their feelings hurt. Kinda like... Ugh. How is the view from that high horse? Gotta be better than down here. I never understood the obsession that we have with stuff like this. Is it envy? Is someone having fun, enjoying their job, their "culture" as you say soooo foreign and evil that it must be outlawed? If (fighter) pilots were singing songs about railing dudes would it be somehow less taboo? I wonder if the Army has the kinda stigma amongst the non-operators that we have in the AF? Do all of their support-non-kill dudes think all the Rangers and SF and paratroopers are all out of touch, require a cultural change because killing people is morally questionable, and glorifying it through culture somehow promotes that culture and causes them to be murderers and rapists, etc? I don't sing, but I watch porn and read playboy - I am just unprofessional if I talk about it in the bar? Maybe I just like naked women... Dudes go out and deal death to our enemies everyday, putting their asses on the line, and people sit back in their office and preach on the morality of their culture, their traditions. BALLSY, no points for SA though. I'm sorry we are all delicate flowers who can't take feedback. Maybe that's something else we need to start in the flying community - have our own promotion boards so dudes can tell it like it is on performance reports while the rest of the force gives each other the virtual ass-pat until we get our asses handed to us by some other country in a no-shit shooting war... Chuck

This speaks volumes about you... Not sure where the senior leaders got the idea that dirty songs and call signs aren't really tradition, but I've recently spent some time with the likes of MOH recipient, Col. Bud Day, Col. Bob Pardo and several other Vietnam Vets including Col Ken Cordier who was a POW for over 7 tears. If you think "I used to work in Chicago" or Piano in a Whorehouse" are bad, I've witnessed these guys sing songs that make those look like nursery rhymes. When I asked them where they leaned them, they said the senoir squadron guys who saw time in Korea. You can call it what you want, but I know you will never squash call signs, 69, etc...we won't let it! CMH, Cap-10

I bought an FN FNX-45 a few days ago and I was able to go shooting with it on the 4th... 'Merica! Anyway, here are my initial impressions: The FNX series of pistols are an upgrade to FN's FNP series. The FNX-45, specifically, arrived to the party a little less than a year ago and differs from the FNP-45 with respect to barrel feed geometry and case support in the chamber. The magazines are also slightly different as the FNP-45 mags had feeding problems with certain types of ammo. Other than that, the FNP-45 and FNX-45 are functionally and externally the same. The FNX and FNS series of pistols are made in the USA. The handgun is a DA/SA semi-automatic with a magazine capacity of 14/15+1. It weighs 33.2oz unloaded. The pistol has ambidextrous magazine releases, slidelock levers, and manual safeties. The pistol is very large, and is comparable in size to my USP9, M9, and SIG 220/226. I'll provide some comparison pics later. I thought the grip would be too large and uncomfortable to manage with my medium-ish size hands, but that turned out to be untrue. The grip is checkered on the sides, has horizontal serrations on the frontstrap. The backstrap is replaceable and comes with flat and arched checkered pieces. I found the arched piece to be more comfortable to use. FN apparently makes 2 more backstraps for the FNX-45 that are the same profile as the flat and arched checkered pieces, but are horizontally serrated like the front strap. My pistol only came with the checkered pieces. Overall, the grip is comfortable and the trigger is easily reach even in DA mode. The pistol's ambidextrous controls are effective and symmetrical on both sides. The manual safety, in particular, has three positions. The up position puts the pistol on SAFE, the middle position is FIRE, and the down position is the spring loaded decocker. The FNX-45 can safely be carried condition 1 with the hammer cocked and safety on, like a 1911. It can also can be carried with the hammer down and safety off for a DA first trigger press, or it can be carried with the hammer down and safety on. I do have a gripe with the manual safety in that the right side safety interferes with my index finger when I decock the pistol. This forces me to remove my right index finger from the gun to decock the pistol easily. The DA trigger press stacks like any handgun with a coiled mainspring, but it is smooth and comparatively light to other modern DA/SA semi-autos. The reset to SA is very positive both audibly and tactilely. The SA press is very light with a minor amount of takeup and relatively crisp break. In general, I like the stock sights on the pistol. They are of the white 3-dot variety, which I normally dislike. What makes them different from your average 3-dot sights are that the front sight white dot is much larger than the rear sight dots drawing your eyes to focus on the front sight. When not using night sights, I typically like all black sights, a white dot front sight and black rear sight, or gold/brass bead front with black rear sight. The stock sights, however, work ok and I will probably leave them alone. The pistol is easily field stripped much like any other modern pistol, and the recoil spring is captive. The internal parts are easily accessible for cleaning, and look well made. The slide is also easily detailed stripped, allowing you to clean the firing pin channel and extractor. The frame, however, is difficult to detail strip since it pretty much requires you to break the manual safety to get to the internals. I normally like to be able to detail strip my handguns so I can perform any "armorer" level maintenance that may be required on the pistol. The design feature on the FNX pretty much makes the end user unable to detail strip the frame. Given the fact that the FNX-45 looks well made and the internals are strong, this will likely be a non-issue at least for a long time. That being said, it would have been nice to be able to completely take apart the frame. Like I mentioned earlier, the magazine capacity is 14+1 with flush fit magazines and 15+1 with the club foot looking magazines shown in my pictures. My pistol came with 3 - 15 round magazines. I've read that the FNP-45's magazines are able to be used in the FNX-45 but not the other way around. Unfortunately, magazines are expensive at $50 a pop as listed on the FNH USA website. I put 200 rounds of Blazer aluminum cased 230gr FMJ and 50 rounds of Winchester Ranger-T 230gr hollowpoints (RA45T) yesterday without any issues. While this isn't statistically significant, it is a good starting point. The FNX-45 is the softest shooting .45 ACP handgun that I own (5" 1911s, SIG P220, S&W 1917 reproduction, and S&W 325 Thunder Ranch). From what I've read the barrel and slide travel together almost twice as far before unlocking compared to other modern pistols. This feature is what is supposed to reduce the felt recoil. Overall, the pistol seems solidly built, and it's very shootable despite its caliber and size. I don't own any holsters for it yet, so I can't speak to how it carries OWB or IWB. I will provide an update once I shoot it more and have had the opportunity to carry it. The FNX-45 currently has little aftermarket support. There are holsters and sights available for the FNP-45, which should be compatible with the FNX-45. Other than that, there isn't much else. While sights and holsters are what I really care about, the lack of other aftermarket products will probably turn off prospective purchasers. I hope this changes, because I really like this gun and would like to see it succeed in the market. Likes: Sights DA/SA trigger Magazine capacity Comes with 3 magazines Shootability Dislikes: Unable to detail strip frame Lack of aftermarket support Magazine prices

I would have said just the opposite. Most guys I talk with want to know why Forrest Gump gets the number 1 or 2 strat, while the sharp dude with all the boxes checked gets a P. I absolutely love the idea of not promoting everyone, I think we should do more of it, but we should also consider an approach that evaluates performance and potential more thoroughly than a 60s glance and a "oh this cc wants this guy to go to joint staff, cool." And, if we're really being honest with ourselves here, who is really better for our organization, a guy who "doesn't give a shit," calls a spade a spade, and still excels at his primary job, or a guy whose concern for his own career is so acute that he turns into a dickless automaton? I never understood why we preach service before self, but spend so much time worrying about ourselves. Why the duality here? One thing is clear to me however, we (cgos and young fgos) have a very different opinion on what is happening in our Air Force than you guys do. And, maybe we don't have the "bigger picture," but that doesn't summarily invalidate the picture that we do have, nor does it automatically validate yours. I honestly hope that we can find some common ground, sooner rather than later, but I see our window of opportunity closing rapidly. Will the Air Force survive? Absolutely, but maybe not in the capacity that is truly best for our nation. Will anyone care? Maybe a select few of the anointed ones will, but they won't dare bite the hand that feeds, and most of us disposables will be long gone.

I started the ######ing thing and have had a pistol in my mouth since page 3.

True. https://girls.gunaxin...toberfest/29374

Far as I know he just had to pay some transfer fees/taxes. Me I'd have a hard time not flipping it and putting a down payment on a house.

I'll go ahead and nominate the above as the greatest picture to ever grace this forum... nay, the internet in its entirety.

Holy testicles batman. Let's cut the bullshit then. We have some fundamental disagreements, no big deal. But good lord, sack the ###### up and put your money where your mouth is. You want us out? Deal. I will be much obliged to you if you would sign my waiver personally. You make it happen on your end, and you'll have my separation papers tomorrow. But don't sit here and vilify the people who put up the ######ing numbers that got you promoted in the first place and then string them along. As for the sexual assault witchhunt, if you think it starts with pictures and songs, I do feel sorry for you. This is a leadership issue. 1. Leaders need to step up and foster an environment in which this shit is handled appropriately. And, I can promise you that such is not the case, despite your boisterous but effectually flacid efforts. 2. Leaders need to stop deviant sexual behavior themselves if they want subordinates to follow, something about setting the example. 3. Leaders need to devote themselves to understanding the nature of this problem. Have you read the annual SAPR report and internalized key statistics from 2006-2012? Because I sure as shit did. Have you given any critical thought to how you, as a leader, can address these problems starting with the most statistically vulnerable times and situations? Because I sure as shit have. Have you discovered that the vast majority of sexual assaults occur in the Army, perpetrated by a senior male NCO against a junior enlisted female (most often between the hours of 6pm Friday and 6am Monday. Contrast this with deployed statistics which show little regard to days the week)? Have you read the Gallup poll (2010 i think but i forget off the top my head) of victims asking them which action they felt would be most effective at mitigating sexual assault? Overwhelmingly, they responded that a change in culture would be most effective. Oh wait, no they didn't, leadership enforcing standards, protecting victims, and prosecuting perpetrators was what they thought would be most effective. And by prosecuting, I mean following the law, as it was intended. You don't have the right to strip someone of their rights simply due to an accusation of sexual assault, nor does congress get to throw it's political muscle into the discussion to make itself feel better. But, that's a whole different issue So, How about for now ill just go learn up myself with that fantastic new CBT that you all feel is a suitable substitute for substantive leadership and try as hard as I can to resist the urge to sexually assault the next woman I see (that's sarcasm by the way, no need to actually send the FBI pre crime unit after me please). In the meantime, myself and several others on here are eagerly awaiting your separation approval letter via PM. Let's just leave it at that shall we?

GC apparently isn't coming back to this discussion, so pointless to respond to him personally, but gotta make some observations about what he's saying: - He says essentially that Big Blue must be reactive (can't predict the future, so at best can only react to the recent past--i.e., current manning & prior years' ACP take rates) - Large numbers of retiring Baby Boomers from the workforce in this and for the next many years has been foreseeable for, I don't know, about the last 65 years or so . . . and BTW, they're going to vacate jobs across the economy, not just the commercial airline industry - Funny thing is that 11Fs eligible for the bonus this year ('01/'02ish year groups) are in fact "healthy" according to the "red line" requirements vs. "blue line" inventory. Big Blue is pretty well screwed for later year groups, but that would imply that they're figuring this FY's bonus on predictions of future 11F manning . . . weird - It's also funny that when the mid-90s (read "pilot bathtub") year groups, which were undermanned from the outset, came up for bonus eligibility they were offered none of the same special ACP options we're seeing now. Again, A1's logic is at best horribly inconsistent - GC cited record ACP take rates (historical data) to validate his points, but ignores the most relevant data points--ACP take rates in the late-90s. If he's playing "hear no evil/see no evil" with hard data, and as I assume works in A1M or somewhere in that vicinity, then one must assume that our senior leaders are equally as clueless or intentionally ignorant as GC appears to be . . . which is scary - Mr. Market can and does react to supply/demand imbalances way faster than Big Blue, which should be a concern for everyone. A low FY13 ARP take rate due to Big Blue's dithering (but explained away by the program's late release, not market forces, pilot frustration with Big Blue, etc.) will likely be followed by a roughly-equivalent program in FY14 which could prove disastrous. - If it is true that C-17 dudes (for instance) at the unit level are getting crushed, yet all the metrics that GC and those of his ilk indicate that they have enviably low TDY rates, and no effort is made to reconcile those opposing realities, then Air Force policy will remain unchanged, 11Ms will grow more bitter and getting out will all the more viable -- What happens when in FY14: --- The ARP remains unchanged from FY13, leaving little additional incentive for 11Ms/11Ss/11Hs/11Rs to stay in . . . and again doesn't even publish it until halfway or more through the FY, by which time too much damage has already been done --- The commercial airline industry quickly ramps up its hiring (no more furloughees, improving economy, etc.), incentivizing folks to depart Big Blue . . . while all manner of other commercial and government entities are competing for the same bodies--the Air Force bureaucracy works at its standard pace . . . Nero (Big Blue) fiddles while Rome (the pilot community) burns --- Continuation of sequestration-driven cuts further erode QOL in the Air Force . . . I've seen no indication that members of Congress are going to start cooperating together in the near future --- Promotion boards get pushed even later or promo rates get reduced to fix the "glut" of FGOs . . . since Big Blue doesn't dictate different promo rates based off of AFSC, prized 11Fs/others from short-manned pilot communities get schwacked at the same rate as personnelists/mx officers/etc.--which further convinces those "on the fence" that the future in Big Blue ain't as bright as it once seemed I'll give you a hint, from one who experienced going through SUPT, and then was in an 11M flying squadron in the late 90s: - In the flight room there's at least as much discussion about who's hiring/how to write app's (if not more so) than there is about flying . . . which not only encourages/enables lower current year ACP take rates, but plants the seed for future retention problems by raising a bunch of youngsters who are all too aware of the future ahead of them on the outside - Problem is, those coming eligible for the bonus in the next few years have a heckuva lot more flying experience than the early-90s year group dudes did when they were making the decision whether/not to punch . . . thus making them that much more valuable - Ever read "Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell? Big Blue's taking a huge risk that it'll be able to stem the tide of 11Xs departing before the exodus takes on a "mind of its own", with 11M squadrons turning into giant airline lead-in programs I hope Big Blue isn't counting on another 9/11, another increase in airline pilot retirement age (anyone want a 69 yr old pilot on your next United flight?), or some other anomaly to slow/stop the bleeding. I don't want any of my above "doom and gloom" predictions to come true . . . but GC's comments, lack of inspiration or a viable plan from senior leaders, everything I know and have seen about large bureaucracies and well-known facts about the economy/Boomer retirements/sequestration are major causes for concern. Yet again, I hope that someone on this board who is in fact a senior leader (or has valid insight from one) will either A) explain why my logic is wrong, or B) if I'm right tell me what if anything Big Blue plans to do about it.

Trolls, 99.69% of BODN members will not be politically correct here or act like we do at work, where everything we do or say has to be measured against the potential response of some shoeclerk MEO bitch that gets her feelings hurt twice a day and thrice on her period. We say "so to speak" as a jab at said shoeclerk MEO bitch that we all hate; we like to say 69 (or 6 to 9) because it reminds us of how awesome it is to 69 a chick; we sing songs about killing our enemies because we are proud make our country safer and killing those haji mother f'ers is usually the most efficient way to accomplish that; we tell stories about our drunken escapades because there are (many) times we get drunk and live to tell about it the next day; we talk about whores because at some point in our career we have seen our bros hooking up with said whores and then seen the look on their faces after their visit to the flight doc where their dick received the rotor rooter treatment; we sing songs about certain individuals such as Mr. O'Leary, Ms. Adeline Schmitt, the S & M man, our hooker moms, pimp fathers, whore sisters, bros, sons, etc. because we choose to. It's a personal choice. You, nor the CSAF, nor anyone else can force us to think a certain way. The one thing you and everyone else at the Puzzle can do is lead by example. Stop by telling us how we are demented, rapist, immoral individuals, and threatening us with "you will be weeded out." We are not the bad guys, and we are all on the same team, remember? The good 'ole US of A. Most of us will choose not to have our testicles surgically removed somewhere between O-4 and O-5. We will keep our warrior ethos whether you like it or not and we will talk about the aformentioned things whether you like it or not (and these two things are not necessarily related). I hope there are enough of us left in the officer corps that can and will make this Air Force a warrior minded, mission focused entity. If we can't, we will at least try. If we cannot because the machine is too big (sts), then we will move on to a civilian life where we can succeed in the private sector doing something else (hopefully related to flying). As a previous poster eluded to, morality at the personal level can never be instituted wholesale. It is a personal decision and that's where it starts and ends. I have learned this as an O-3 Flt/CC in dealing with my subordinates, hopefully you too will learn this someday. I don't know or care who you are, who you work for, or why you have decided to troll on BODN. If someone at the Puzzle put you up to this to get a pulse on the the lower officer echelons, I suggest you actually listen to the heartbeat and stop trying to insert a heart pacemaker. Until the next time, here's to Meg...

^ Fucking. This. Chuck, once again, you nailed it. I hope you stick around long enough and find yourself in a position to cause some change. That was one of the best suggestions I've heard with regard to the eval system. The AF needs you.

I laughed at that number... when I was 16.

Gents, Happy 4th; thank you for your service. Stay sharp, fly safe, and next time you get an altimeter setting from Approach, remember this:

Back to a topic a little more lighter... Yoga vs Alcohol

It's a horrible idea. Horrible. 12 hour days are standard. Add travel time, etc and your pup won't be able to go out for 13-ish hour stretches every day. Which is a foul. After UPT, you're going to be deployed/TDY all the time. Sometimes with little/no notice. That's just life in the AF. What are you going to do with the dog then? You can't just count on driving the dog over to your parents house while you're gone...you have no idea where you're going to live. And do not--do fucking not--be the asshole who asks his buddy's wife to take care of your dog for you while you're at work/TDY/deployed. Until you figure out your life, not just during UPT but after, forget about the dog.

Not sure why I chose this thread as my first post, but here it goes: The problem isn't sexual orientation. It's military bearing. If male SrA Sugarpants feels comfortable rolling into work sporting a finely trimmed goatee and nail polish, we have failed. The fact that this kid wasn't sent home by the first NCO in his chain is a foul. Frankly, I don't give a shit if this kid can simultaneously process a travel claim, un###### DTS, and play Freebird on the piccolo flute through his anus, he needs to uphold basic uniform standards. He's in the military for shit's sake. You represent much more than yourself when you wear the uniform. We all know this. If you want to roller skate through the Castro district armed with a battle Prius and a fannypack full of dicks, that's awesome... Just not in uniform. We need to maintain the image of the US military as a force to be respected and instill the confidence in the general public that we are ready to fight defend at all cost. I can't see where man nail polish fits into that image. I was going tie in the whole argument how really fat people in uniform is basically the same thing, but I've lost the desire to fight. AFA ladies, you can keep your mustaches. That shit is scary and commands respect.

This thread makes my eyes bleed.