Leaderboard

A few things I've learned/observed in my 30+ years of adulthood and 25+ years since being commisioned: 1. Military aviation requires near absolute precision and professionlism in planning, briefing, execution, and debriefing. I have never met a single officer (I know and have worked for many who are now or became GO's) who could maintain that high level in all facets of their careers and at all times. People need balance. Flyers need a forum where they can let loose. It used to be the Auger Inn at Randolph AFB (not sure if it still is). Mather AFB had their famous JOC night. Reese AFB had the Smokin' Hole. Eielson had the "Club". Many squadrons had their own bars, like Moody's at Red Flag. These were/are places where aviators could go, be irreverent, be bawdy, be undisciplined, and be on a somewhat level field with leadership. How many here have seen their Wing CC with sleeves rolled up having a beer or playing crud or smoking a stogie? When you do, at that moment he is one of you. How often does that happen now? Probably not much. Base Ops offers a welcome alternative to places that are mostly long gone. The squadron bar has replaced the squadron bars and O'Clubs and the NSFW forums have replaced the doofer books. 2. When a dude walks into a bar looking for a fight, he will most likely find it while lookling like a jackass. He will look it even more when he gets indignant when he gets his ass kicked. 3. When someone thinks they are in the midst of assholes, they probably should take a step back and think about who the common denominator is. 4. Differing opinons are usually heard when offered in a credible well thought out manner. It is possible to be right in one's opinion, but completely wrong headed in expressing it (being an ass about it). That usually tunes people out. Joseph McCarthy was right about Communists in government and Hollywood, but was such an ass that he was marginalized and eventually not heard. The louder one yells while trying to force their views on others, the deeper the fingers go into the ears of those who are subjected to the rant. At some point it morphs from peers hearing a guy expressing an opinion to peers seeing that guy being a jackass. Then the focus is no longer on the opinion, but on the jackass It is good to know when that point is reached. 5. A small dose of humility goes a long way. One does not compromise their integrity by allowing that they may be wrong about something or that they made a mistake. I've seen commanders fess up in a debrief and they won lots of respect points by doing so. I've seen a Red Flag deployed forces commander sit himself down for not maintaining his altitude block. Good on him. I've also seen or heard of commanders who tried to ignore obvious mistakes to save face. They came across as jackasses. If a person communicates to others in a condesending fashion, they can expect likewise, regardless if their point if valid. Example of humility - my spelling sucks, so I'm sure there is a mistake somewhere in this post. I believe we grow intellectually stale if we only expose ourselves to things with which we agree and believe differing views are welcome here when offered in a credible fashion. . One needs to have thick skin and be willing and able to defend one's differeing view. One garners respect when one does that when challenged instead of reacting with a tantrum. Again, the issue then morphs from a differing viewpoint to a jackass having a tantrum. Enjoy the forums guys (and Mustache Sally). Keep posting and I'll keep reading. Regards, RF

NOW this thread has run its course and will be closed. At this point we're nothing except giving PYB/CCP more of the attention he craves. Until he returns in another form (new user name), we're going to shut this down.

Better question: why are we holding on so dearly to V-neck T-shirts under blues?

So can we come up with a religion that mandates a handle bar mustache?

I would have agreed once upon a time. These days I'm starting to suspect they actually believe the shit they say. Her personal history certainly supports the possibility.

This is spot on. I've long thought promotion to O-4 & O-5 should be done by DTs vice a whole-of-the-AF board. Then, inputs and stratification will become much more detailed. At the same time, the DT could have the RIF during the same board if there's a need. It mystified me these last few years why we are generating PRFs for whole-of-the-AF promotion boards then generating RRFs for AFSC-specific DTs to judge who gets to stay... that should all be one board and one recommendation form staffing cycle.

I've decided to leave USAA completely. I've been with them through thick and thin over the last 16+ years, including college. Their customer service is so much worse than when I started with them. Their insurance, mortgages, and banking aren't as competitive either. Good copy on using Geico...I'm going that route for car insurance. But how about on-line banking, investments, home-owners insurance, and 529s? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

You don't, but you should. That way performance comparisons are easier and don't require some super secret code. The expectations and responsibilities of maintenance, intel, and even mobility vs fighter (one could argue) career fields are so different that we wind up with absurd discriminators like Christmas parties, volunteer hours, and AAD that mean nothing.

Imagine just flying VFR reading a map to from point A to point B. That is LATN. As a new guy learning this skill, I was once given a dead cow in a wash as a turn point. Your map reading skills get very good.

Yes, great movie. I have been trying for years to figure out how to make Margaritas using the paper shredder.

Oh SNAPs... Do you agree with everything posted here? No? Awesome! Do you read everything posted here? No? Awesome! Does everything posted here represent you? No? Awesome! Free speech is not always tasteful or informed. But we sure dont need anymore thought policing than we've already got. I think some of you behave like teenage dickheads. I also think there are plenty of good dudes out there who genuinely try to help folks or at the least interact and learn from someone outside their own community. Sometimes it gets ugly, and has to be cleaned up. Some would argue that the site is negatively focused because of the recent buffoonery the USAF experienced re: force management. And there aren't as many kids trolling in to ask questions - largely thanks to folks policing the site. But the worry about "spouses and airmen" reading what is written here means there is something to hide. Which I'm not sure there is - if there is, maybe it shouldn't be posted. I know I've grown up, and regret some of the dumb shit I've said here, but that doesn't mean I think there should be more controls over who sees what on an open forum. USAFPilot I get what you're saying and see where you're going with this but the juice ain't worth your visions squeeze. The goal here should be MORE anonymous participation, including senior leadership, not more regulation and firewalls so you can control who reads it and you can "put yourself out there." Because people won't. Plain and simple. Chuck

Unreal. I wonder how well that excuse would go over if I used it to explain why I accidentally torched a motor. I guess it's also unrealistic to expect zero sexual harassment/assault complaints. What the hell is going on in the Air Force?

Deny. Deny. Distract. Counter accuse. Blame the victim. Claim that "it would be unrealistic to expect perfection." https://www.airforcetimes.com/article/20141016/BENEFITS06/310160063/Air-Force-Unrealistic-expect-perfection-force-management-programs

Sounds like he picked that battle..