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all us mid level captains have seen the bullshit...we dropped when there was only one fighter per class, we had RPAs in our -38 drops, we were in the squadrons with the TAMI 21 guys and heard how they got screwed out of their fighters, we saw the masters swing back to required for major and how our friends had to claw to get it before their board, we saw it swing back to not being required, we had friday morale shirts taken away, we had pencil tab patches made illegal, we had black boots taken away for swade, we saw dumbass ABUs come into "style" along with 1980s parachute PT pants, we saw the air force e-9s embarrass our peers in the died chow hall for wrong sock color (and be rewarded for it by the O-6), we saw 21 year old A1Cs drinking at DJ but aircrew were forbidden from even one beer, we saw our flying hours get cut back, we saw congress not do their job to the detriment of our survival in combat with zero shits given, we saw congress debate to take away dual spouse BAH, we became our own finance officer, we became our own professional CBT clicker, we saw below average yes men pilots do the minimum flying-wise and excel at queep only to get rewarded with good deal assignments and promotions (CHANG), we saw absurd increases in ROE for political purposes with no eye on victory. We saw the airlines start to hire... we didn't see our families, we didn't see clear cut victory in the war, we didn't see respect for our skills as pilots, we don't see a end in sight in deployments or war. The air force has been f***ing us since 2008. How the f*** are they surprised we don't want to stick around for the next 8 years to get run into the dirt. Most of my peers are getting TFO in a few years and i have zero fu**s or sympathy for big blue. They earned this.

Spaceman, First of all, we're pilots so there's no shame in asking us anything. Just like yourself, we pride ourselves in knowing everything, even if we don't know shit! More importantly, I think the answers you've been given already have been awesome and spot on. mcbush, and nsplayr nailed it on the loan vs. invest questions. Rate vs what's the better return, vs what's better peace of mind for you? And I wholeheartedly agree with MtF on the decision to convert. I did this a few years ago for my wife, the second we PCSd and she had her 401K sitting there. We chose to pay a very small tax on it now (even better for you given your situation) and then that thing grows tax free for 30 years. No brainer in my opinion to convert. I would add a few extra things to think about. I'm no CPA, but I think student loan interest is tax-deductible up to a point ($2500 maybe). I'm too lazy to look it up, but 5 seconds of googling will tell you how much interest you can deduct and what the max income threshold is. With your levels of $$, you'll almost surely be able to deduct it all. $30K at 5-ish% interest is $1500 a year or so in interest, and if you can deduct that full amount, then you're really only paying maybe overall 4% or so instead of the 5%. So that would factor into my "what's the better return" question. Even in today's market and with that deduction, I'd personally still opt for paying off the debt first, then invest (with a small caveat, explained below). Also, this goes without saying, but pay off the higher interest loan first if you can. Once it's at 0 balance, then pay off the lower one. Even if it's within one account, you can still call and ask if you can apply the payment towards 1 vs the other. I suppose all they can do is say no? I also agree with MtF about not losing out on your 2016 Roth contributions if you can't pay the student loan off in full first, which you can't at $3K a month. But you have until April 17th of 2017 to make contributions toward 2016 IRAs. Basically you've got until the filing deadline. So I personally would pay off my student loans (higher interest first, if at all possible) aggressively until the point where you need cash flow going to your Roth. With 3 to 3.5K left over each month, I'd pay down student loans until around Jan of next year, then start maxing out the 3-3.5K into my 2016 Roth, to ensure it gets to the fully funded $11K by the April filing deadline, then immediately going back to fully paying down student loans until it's gone, then you'd still have until mid April 2018 to contribute to your 2017 Roth, if for any reason you guys got into a cash flow crunch. My opinion only. And nice work doing this as an O-2. Keep this up and you'll be set sooner than later.

1. Not designed for high aspect BFM,,,and while not meant to be a replacement for the A-10 it is faster. 2. I actually agree with two cockpits, as noted not just a replacement for the A-10 and FMS considerations come to mind that make two cockpits a necessity. 3. Sort of...again not meant for air to air but other sensors (GMTI and a few other toys), will greatly add to SA for CAS. 4. Design work in progress to ad air refueling. 5. True, but then neither does the AT-6 you prefer...pods are a solution for both but strongly prefer an internal gun. 6. Not true...threat warning piece an easy add and being worked, ECM is the bigger show-stopper in my opinion, but that too is being looked at.

I'm glad you said so. Just skip UPT then and join us in the CAF, brah! Didn't you hear there's a fighter pilot shortage? Would you mind PMing me your name and contact info so I can get your orders hooked up for Weapons School? Thanks, brosaurus-rex.

No you don't.

you have to build a regulation flickerball field in your backyard.

I found scoobs and he actually makes a valid point between 3:00-3:20..