Leaderboard

For you U-2 guys that didn't know, Sooch did his first shot in the Virgin Galactic space ship last week. At 170,000', it was still a low altitude test and he doesn't get astronaut wings yet... but it's great to see him finally get into the saddle after 5 years of training. I guess this makes him the highest flyer within our community. Sooch was an '85 commission; came to the U-2 in late '89; U-2 Solo #544; then did the TPS thing and Palmdale U-2 Flight Test, before coming back as the 1 RS commander. Somewhere in the 90's, I recall him making it into a later round for Space Shuttle selection. The guy has mad pilot skills, and is brilliant. The AF in its infinite wisdom couldn't find a reason to promote him to O-6. Seems to me that it has worked out better for Sooch, and the AF lost another quality leader before they needed to. Congratulations to Sooch!! https://www.space.com/41295-virgin-galactic-reaches-mesosphere-epic-test.html

Don't just say that, share how you fixed it for anyone who may have the same issue in the future!

Details irrelevant. RUN.

Manchester

https://cademartin.com/overwar/ Pretty impressive stories and backgrounds of the dudes with brass balls flying the F-105 in Vietnam. 🇺🇸

Just a reminder that the 176 FS UPT application deadline is coming up on August 13.

I've learned to not predict the future - after Hillary coming back from the dead after her first loss to Obama; Obama's re-election after a completely lackluster, especially regarding economic growth which was nil to barely registering, yet he did win. So, I don't predict an auto-Trump win in 2020. But, once was enough since it kept Hillary out and exposed some of the shenanigans going on with some of the tools of power. As to the out-of-control spending, I agree. But don't remember expressions of concern during the Obama years. So, it just now matters to you? So, ginormous spending is bad, but a robust economy is good, especially when it comes to votes. I look forward to Hillary III/Fauxcahantas Warren/Kamala "Free everything for everybody and abolish ICE" Harris being the 2020 liberal standard bearer. With Maxine as the VP. Dream ticket...

Meanwhile in the real world, Q3 borrowing is now predicted to be $329B, up 74% from last year. Q4 looks worse. So much winning (winning a larger debt that is).

Shack.........hippie

I have a feeling 12B "Professional Pay" will be on an hourly basis and tied to what BQZip's mom is making.

Quibbling

For me the deployment is the crux of the issue... I’ve missed so much of my kids lives... When I was gone 6 months without kids doing a meaningful mission it was OK. When I was gone 3 months doing a meaningful mission and missed my kids first steps it was sad, but that is service. When I was gone 2 months on a mission that was not required in a place where I could have brought my family and missed my kid talk... it was not worth it. The length is a factor, but not THE (only) factor. If the world explodes I’ll take my 4 year unaccompanied tour and go fight for America again. But if I even smell another wasted, mismanaged deployment, much less 6 monther or 365 cooking in the kitchen... I gone. Not worth it.

The deployment isn’t really the crux of the issue. The issue is who’s in charge of your future and who gets to make the yes / no decision. And that has been trending towards big blue for a little while now. They Don’t have to make people want to stay if they don’t have a choice.

And who is in charge of those bolded? Which was/is my point. CSAF orders them to get on board or they're gone. Yet they don't. So who's ultimately to blame? I say he is. All the things you listed, while helping, are small ball. And completely undone in importance when things like this stealth ADSC effort are rolled out. Trust in the institution is the biggest thing lacking. Sneaky involuntary servitude doesn't help regain it.

Of course it's not stressful when you're at an "advanced age" and the test consists of shuffleboard and maneuvering through a few cones with your hoveround.

I'm surprised that nobody has copypasta'd the post the DO of the CAF unit involved made on the day after the accident.

I must be getting old and senile because I'm totally fucking lost.

Yup, only 1-2 fighters for the T-1 bros...

And this military demographic has the stones to demonize civilian welfare recipients.....