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Trinity Kid, I saw from your other post to the forums that you're a 17 year old High School Senior. I'll keep that in mind as I do my best to answer what I think you're asking. Here goes. 1. This forum is mostly comprised of current, former, and aspiring military aviators (and a few other disciplines). We actually do some of the stuff you, and lots of other people, fantasize about doing while you're playing those video games. Some of it is real, but much of it is fantasy. There are some pretty big differences, mostly in the stakes associated with winning or losing for us, our coworkers, and a whole bunch of innocent people we try to defend. Note: we're normal people who play videogames too; for many of us, mostly as a way to blow off some stress while deployed. 2. You're looking at a very narrow element of our occupation if you think we just fly and have lots of free time. If you're the kind of person that only wants to think about flying while you're flying, you're not going to be very good at it. We know that, so we spend lots of our time on the ground studying (just like high school, but with explosions). We also spend much of our time on the ground performing administrative duties, everything from leading/training our young folks to recordkeeping to scheduling. The admin work takes tons of time, but it helps us develop as military officers. We also have time off work to spend with our families and our hobbies. We go to church, our kids little league games, shopping with our wives, work parties, and a few people even play video games. The way you choose to balance and prioritize those three areas, combined with your aptitude, determine how good of an aviator, an officer, and a husband/father you are. 3. There are ways to do something like what you're talking about if that's your goal. Combat pilots can do an Air Liaison Officer tour with the Army to learn to coordinate airstrikes from the ground perspective. It's usually a few years out of the cockpit, and you're not an infantryman kicking down doors, but it's kind of what you're talking about. Also, some aviation disciplines (rescue helicopters, special forces, rpa's, and close air support) integrate very closely with ground parties. You won't be the guy kicking down doors, but you'll watch or help them do it. Final advice. I tried to keep the sarcasm out, but it was tough. Remember you're talking to a group of professionals here that really do these things. We love to help where we can, but the way you phrased your questions didn't come across well. One of the first rules we teach our young aviators is to think before you speak. Our jobs are not video games, and don't work the same way. If you want to be an Army Ranger, pursue it with all your heart. If you want to be an AF pilot, pursue it with all your heart (and start that path by rocking college). Pick one.

Maybe we can get Stephen Breyer to weigh in on how foreign uniform regulations effect the interpretation of the AFI.

Arguments over socks? The rest of your problems must be solved at this point...

I like to think of C-17 pilots as dudes in tuxedo t-shirts. They are here to be formal but they like to party. I like to party so I like my C-17s to party.

We should send the F-35! Oh, wait....nevermind!

As a student in AETC, sure. As an instructor in AETC, not really.

Shoe thread bump: A coworker and I got in an argument today. I say that black, or white socks are authorized with a flight suit, due to: 8.8. Socks. Socks should be made of cotton or wool. White, black, desert tan/sand, or sage green socks may be worn with either the FDU or DFDU. For wear and description see applicable paragraphs 6.4.1.1, 6.4.1.2 and 6.4.1.3 He argues sage green only (assuming green bag), due to: 6.4.1.1. Socks (black). Socks will be plain without design, clean, and serviceable. Black socks will be worn with low quarters, dress boots and black jungle/combat boots. Plain white socks may be worn under the black socks as long as the white socks are not visible. 6.4.1.2. Socks (sage green). Sage green socks will be worn with the sage green or tan boots. Plain white socks may be worn under the sage green socks as long as the white socks are not visible. 6.4.1.3. Socks (white). White socks are worn with athletic shoes and may have small logos. Thoughts...preferably with precedence and/or proof?