Leaderboard

Tony is a brilliant guy… "What's wrong with the Air Force" is that we lose actual Leaders like him that we can't afford to lose because of a system that is so broken that actual Leaders are not allowed to lead. He was assured multiple Stars if he had stayed, but I think he will actually be able to more for the military and Vets on his chosen path.

The MAF can start by shitcanning the PHOENIX programs.

It's their country now, they can do what ever they want with it. If they don't like terrorists taking a city, then they'll go kick ass. If they tolerate it, now we know how much they care. If we even hint at bailing them out, then will always seek to have us bail them out. Time to stand like a man or cower like sheep. It's fucking pathetic that our military leaders are even putting intent on newspaper to bail them out. Out

Like I said… I've put a few thousand of their once fired stuff down range without a single misfire. Great customer service too. I haven't had any issues with the ammo, but I've e-mailed them with a few questions and they got back to me usually within a few hours. Their shipping isn't the fastest, but I'm usually buying 500-1000 rds at a time of whatever caliber just to keep it stocked up so it isn't an issue. I'll buy their new stuff if they have it (usually only a few cents per round extra), but to be honest haven't noticed a difference between the new and once fired rds. I've never used anything other than their target stuff, but they sell defense rounds, etc. I don't mean to turn this into a Freedom Munitions advertisement, but if they sell me a great product for a great price and support the Vets with a discount along the way I have no problem talking them up and helping my bros get in on the deal as well.

Yes you do need 4 years of financial experience. It's supposed to be 4 years, full time experience. As of 1 Feb, I will have owned my RIA business for exactly four years. With the tests passed, and the four years of experience, I plan to apply. I'm not sure if I pass the full time test since I'm also on active duty. However, I do put a crap load of time into the job. If I'm denied, I can at least walk into any financial firm and say "If you hire me, you'll have a CFA in four years". There is no expiration on the tests. They are good for life. CFP is definitely more known to the average person. 9 times out of 10 when I told people I was studying for the CFA, they had to ask what that was. But within the financial industry it is well known. It is considered the doctorate level of investing. Nearly all hedge funds are either headed by CFAs or have several CFAs working for them. I chose CFA over CFP because it was more challenging, and it suited my interests more. No offense to the bottom 33% of society, but I didn't want to be building budgets for people with zero financial skills and call it a career for the rest of my life.

This! ing this!

Yep...this time will be different. This time we'll be able to trust them.

And, really, they're all 1s...: the ones you would brag about, and the ones you wouldn't....

Hello, If you want to take advantage of VSP, we are here for you. Check out the wonderful and wild job opportunities in the WVANG. If you are a 11MXX and need someplace warm. A place where the beer flows like wine. Where beautiful women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano. I'm talking about a little place called Martinsburg. We are sending C-5s to the boneyard and opening our great big hangers to a bunch of C-17s. All you have to do is call DSN 242-5043, or 304-616-5043. Ask for Drew or Pete. We are conveniently located within a 1.5 hour drive of IAD, DCA, and BWI if for some reason you wanted to be close to those airports. Paradise is a phone call away. Mr. Bum

Yawn. Nobody forced you to marry another .mil person. Single and mil-civ folks everywhere roll their eyes at shit like this.

I do not envy Gen Welsh one bit right now. He has all my respect having to deal with the shit sammich he's been given. They could offer to put 4 stars on my shoulders tomorrow with all the pay, benefits, and hot groupies that come along with it and there is no f*cking way I would want to do what he's doing right now. Not only that, I'd probably make headlines for banging two or three of the groupies. CCs trying to lead out there have a tough job on their hands. This shit sammich isn't smelling any better the longer it sits on the counter....

HeloDude speaks the truth! This is only the beginning. I'm not saying stay in or get out. I'm saying if you decide to stay in, don't be surprised when your "retirement" gets f*cked with. Although I know the numbers are overinflated when they talk about "military pensions and benefits consuming more than 70% of the budget," there will be increasing pushes to change our retirement and pension system because of the rising costs of health care, drawdowns, modernization decisions, etc. Why don't we look at ways to not tie DoD's hands when things like healthcare cost increases consume more of our budget. My suggestion, since everyone loves to talk about different pots of money, is to just take the military retirement and benefits "budget" out of the DoD budget all together and make it its own entity in something similar to Department of Veteran Affairs all together that way you can monitor and control its growth without impact on the "active duty" budget. That way we aren't having to make decisions on modernization and operations on the backs of retirees and veterans. Defense cuts would simply mean cutting capability/changing strategy and not pensions and benefits.

I know this question has been answered a few times in previous posts, but I'm sure it's different in every unit (fighter/heavy). Any idea on how much a traditional guardsman should expect to make in this unit on average each year (O-3/O-4 type)? Also, could you expand on the typical lifestyle too? One 8-10 day trip per month? Two shorter trips? And on a different note, can someone with experience explain the similarities and differences between AD tricare prime and the health insurance offered in the guard (tricare ready reserve)? I'm in a position where that little benefit has proven very beneficial lately and would like to know what I might be giving up in making the switch. Thanks.

Are you really that surprised? Working age retirees (more specifically to those who still continue to work in their 40's and 50's) will be able to get insurance from their employers under the Obamacare mandate, if they work for a business with more than 50 employees (though I'm looking forward to seeing how many businesses will opt out for the cheaper fine). And for those without employee mandated insurance, they'll be able to get on the exchanges. Congress already showed their cards in that they're no longer afraid/committed to not f'ing with military retirement--the horse is out of the barn. I doubt it will get better before it gets worse. Plan accordingly.

Probably... I was really looking forward to my VSP check and the voluntary recall to Active Duty bonus. Hopefully, this is true. If we leave Afghanistan and get our flying hours back, it could be a few good years in the Air Force. Not holding my breath, and maybe not willing to be stuck in the one-way employment contract to wait and see. Props to HU&W for reminding me to turn my brain on and read the NDAA

I'm civ-civ. And if when I was AD I asked to be at the same base as my wife and then complained about our schedules once I was there, I would punch myself in the jejunum.

You mad bro?

just what kids need these days- more slack.

Why the fuck is everyone so interested trying to convince Chang--some low/mid level staff geek--of anything?

I'll bite, although I feel as though my response would fall on deaf ears. I have thought about this question for many years (I'm not just about to pin on Capt) and have come to quite a few answers to that questions. My answers are three fold, with a summary at the end. The short of it, we just aren't even. 1. Integrity First- This catch phrase is used to encompass the expectations of subordinates, but not accountable to self or superior. I have seen blatant betrayals from senior leaders when the "deal changes", during any feedback session, or through the horrible personnel management. 2. Service Before Self- The comment in itself reeks of cold war propaganda. Many people subscribe to the God, Family, Country mentality but the Air Force would have you believe that you would put all personal desires second to the Air Force needs. The "needs of the Air Force" have been met personally by my by missing the majority of my own birthdays, christmas and 4th of July celebrations. I have also put the service first by moving to undesirable locations on a timeline chosen for me by the Air Force. In return I am rewarded by the likes of TAMI 21 and multiple RIFs. It is of absolutely no surprise to me that this concept of a one way street with no expectation of the service to show gratitude for my dedication to it's cause. 3. Excellence in All We Do- I can't believe that this even exists as a core value any more. We have punted the majority of the leadership challenges that have come our way in recent years. The least of which is not defined by the current state of large scale acquisition programs. The fraud, waste and abuse run rampant among spineless senior leaders more focused on the nest promotion than holding peers and superiors accountable for their actions. I believe excellence exists in the warriors that I have flown with in combat. I believe whole-heartedly that it exists in most squadrons. I do not believe that it exists above that level. The last, and most important, is the informal "affirmative action" implemented amongst company and field grade officers. The Air Force has gone to great lengths to ensure that we are all wingmen, warriors and leaders. We have reverted to baseline stratifications, masters degrees, PT tests and PME completion as a measure of success instead of number of combat deployments, hours spent in the vault or countless early morning, late nights and endless TDYs. I want to be very clear. We are not equal. A pilot should not be measured against a personnel, maintenance or finance officer. We aren't the same people. We, as aviators, assume an inordinate amount more risk when we execute combat airdrops, prepare for air-air refueling, or execute a combat mission. We aren't even. When reviewing commissioning sources over various years you will find that pilots are required to be the top 50% or better (10% at times) of their peers. Further, at SUPT, T-38 candidates must be in the top 50% of their class. We aren't even, we aren't even close. So, when 10 years into my career a commander stratifies pilots amongst pilots it should be assumed that those numbers are easily the top percentages of the Air Force. Through the personnel management programs we have attempted to even the playing field by placing emphasis on PME and AAD. Yes, I expect that a Personnel 2LT after having completed 4 months of training in his primary AFSC should have the time and energy to commit to those. Conversely, after 12 months of SUPT followed by 6 months of MWS specific training, followed by 6 months of MQT a pilot is given the opportunity to be the WORST pilot in the squadron. From there he is expected to work 12 hour days, spend weekends preparing for upgrades and countless days and weeks on the road. We aren't even. So, you ask why, that's why. We aren't even. We aren't even close. In a completely humble and non assuming context I contend that we just aren't the same people. We are cut from a different cloth and the Air Force has attempted to make us the same guy. So, after 12 years of military service I will cut my losses and take my chances in other ventures. I am willing to wager my military retirement that my statements above are of more substance than mere narcissism. I'm disappointed in the Air Force, in it's leadership and the way in which it downplays it's most valuable resources. We just aren't even.

I've heard that a 737 TO/L performance is similar to a Herk (roughly the same weights/speeds/distances). If that is the case then it should have no trouble getting out of a 3700' rwy empty. 73's go into Key West everyday with a 4800' rwy loaded.

Let me add a different perspective than what has been offered. And you are not going to like this. Instead of "I'd get paperwork saying the dog was something else," "Make the paperwork look good," "If it isn't documented they can't say anything," why don't you make an effort to remain within the AFI's intent. The intent of the AFI is to keep people's dogs from harming people. There was a purpose behind generating that AFI, and as hard as it is for you to believe, it was built on precedence, much like the notes, warnings, and cautions in a tech order. The intent is bigger than your dog. There is more than one person in the USAF who would like to wear their hair differently than the AFI allows. There is a purpose behind that AFI, it is bigger than the individual. More often than not, if you are "lawyering" an AFI, you are going down the wrong road. If your dog is pushing the boundaries of the AFI, that's probably your problem, not your neighbors who are "the kind of people who drink the Kool-Aid and would actually give a shit about what kind of dog you have because of the Regs are alot more likely to live on-base," and certainly not the USAF's problem.

Are you mil-mil? If not, then why not GTFO of the thread and move into the squadron bar NSFW topic. I am no pro when it comes to join spouse shit but if you are considering pilot to pilot and have questions drop me a PM for real world examples.