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Word. Ned, I want to avoid a personal attack, that's usually bullshit and not relevant but I do want to ask and if you don't want to answer ignore me or give me the one-finger salute, but... 1. Are you commissioned yet? 2. Rated? 3. Older than 27? I'd like to know your background and compare it in relation to mine when I woke up from the Matrix. I still am proud to serve and do so everyday but I am realistic about the Air Force, warts and all. Every year I have been in it has gotten worse: Leadership detached or indifferent to the actual mission Inordinate attention paid to social actions & policy at the Wing to Squadron Level Poorly executed onerous efforts to save minuscule amounts of money when the real elephants in the room continue to smash the furniture and walls No aggressive vision to create a modern force in terms of aircraft, systems, HR policies, force composition, pay & benefits or administration Rampant corruption, cronyism and ineptitude at the highest echelons of leadership The AF is an F-4, as long as it has plenty of gas and both motors it can fly the speed of heat but once that fuel runs out or we loose thrust on a motor, all that drag we covered up with thrust comes out. One motor is sputtering and the low fuel light is on...

One of my best buddies had a great quote today: "Getting a 22 year old to join up to fly jets doesn't impress me. Getting a 32 year old to stay impresses me."

Reminds me of something a buddy heard from a GO once... https://www.af.mil/AboutUs/Biographies/Display/tabid/225/Article/104639/lieutenant-general-robert-r-allardice.aspx

Happily flying for a major. Worked 8 days this month and made more than I would have as a Major. No regrets...the grass is greener!

Saw this on social media.

Probably because they were also airline pilots. I know I'm a lot happier now since leaving AD. I have much more QUALITY time home with my kid now that I've left and that's with commuting to both jobs.

Through all the complaining, there are some very real issues with the AF. Some of it is just the kind of sport bitching you'll find in any career field. I'm AD and have been for my entire time. I personally don't have a whole lot of complaints, but there are a few. It seems like you're at least ahead of some guys, understanding that you're not going to show up day 1 and have it all figured out. There's some unavoidable naivety, but that comes with anything. There's some great guard bros here that can help you out with that side of things, but really just don't show up and act like a douche and you'll be off on the right foot Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Plus, every day people don't sign up costs them about $69....there is incentive to submit early so the fact people aren't means it's probably calculated. But hey, who wouldn't want to continue moving every 2 yrs and 8 mos. making your spouse change jobs and forcing your kids to make new friends builds character while you constantly compete to "not" be the guy who abandons them for 365 days. But let's not forget the awesome travel opportunities to desert locations where you can risk your life to enrich corrupt 3rd world politicians and warlords. But don't be down on that sad fact. Every day you stay is one day delayed for the Taliban...insert islamic faction here... to reclaim their territory. You are just setting yourself or kids up for a return trip to that area. "Tour Fallujah by MRAP" now or in 2030.

Just thought I'd throw this out, for those who, like me, are interested in the near- and long-term future of Big Blue: - AFPC has started posting bonus take rates for this fiscal year. There's plenty of time left in the FY, and the last update is as of two weeks ago, so it's pretty useless to read too much into the stats at this point. Nonetheless, as a pilot I feel compelled to pontificate, so here you go. Take rates as of 11 Jan 16: -- Bomber (11B): 25% -- C2ISR (11R): 41.5% -- Fighter (11F): 24.6% -- Mobility (11M): 32.9% -- Rescue (11H): 66.7% -- SOF (11S): 34.6% -- Unmanned (11U): 51.7% -- Total pilot take rate thus far: 33.5% -- There are stats for CSOs and ABMs, but there are only 33 of them total, and I'm too lazy/disinterested to track them. Observations: - 217 of the 251 takers thus far signed up early for the bonus last year. Takers this FY have only increased the take rate by 4.6% (from 28.9% to 33.6%). Last year, they started with 38% (283/745) having taken the bonus early. I would say Big Blue is well behind the power curve when it comes to convincing folks to stay in - If nothing else, it looks like there'll be no problem filling ACSC billets this year. Although some of the super-smart high-potential officers might be getting out and going to the civil sector, with a 33% take rate, there'll be more than enough bodies to ensure we have a core group of hyper-professionalized officers (folks who spend their lives in schools, fellowships, internships and staffs) to fill our future senior officer billets - The reason for low take rates thus far cannot be long processing times. The Rescue take rate is already at 66.7% - Fighter and Bomber bubbas have the lowest take rates so far. Rescue and Unmanned have the highest. Maybe ACC will one day be run by helo and Reaper drivers - The Mobility community has about as many eligibles as the Bomber, C2ISR, Fighter and Unmanned pilots combined . . . and the Mobility take rate is just 33%. Somehow, I don't think mother AMC is going to be able to give up a bunch of 11Ms to backfill 11B/11F/11S billets like they once did - This FY, there are 750 total eligible pilots. Next FY, it'll be 820. Increasing numbers of eligibles, combined with decreasing take rates, is a worrying proposition Fly safe, TT

Wow salty dog, you managed to include sarcasm, cynicism, and snarkiness all in one post. I believe you've met your objective for the day, sounding experienced and bitter. I am in awe of your prowess at belittling the new Captain.

Very little the USAF is doing these days is about keeping America "safe". I was drinking beers the other night with some civilian peers...they barely know about ISIS, think we are done with Iraq and forgot about Afghanistan. Call me to deploy and make sacrifices when we have some strategic objectives for the country and you need my help to solve it. Otherwise, I'll bow out if given the choice. You want a ppt monkey at the CAOC, GFY. Want me to train afghanis to fly...GFY. If you wAnt me to sacrifice my life/family happiness, it better be for more than tax-free and to keep doing the failed strategy we have been going on 15+ years. Otherwise it's just a paycheck, no guilt.

LOL

Internet articles about LO platforms are terrible.

Are you loath to make a decision? We value your indecisiveness. Here, here's another $10k/yr to help you feel good about undervaluing your life choices.

What an awful attitude! If anyone wants to leave they can go! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk