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It's also important for people to realize there's a large spectrum of opportunities that exist between being a commuter and living in domicile. You don't have to commit to one or the other for your entire career. We have "in-domicile" people that walk 10 minutes to work, ride the train for an hour and a half, drive a couple hundred miles, or sit in bumper to bumper traffic for hours. Some commuters two-hop across country or take a 45 min flight each way. There are people who commute to live on the farm, lakehouse or in the mountains part of the year and sit-reserve in domicile out of a home, condo, apartment, RV part of the year. Some regularly change domiciles just for something different. I can sometimes modify trips to start or end at my commute airport. Families are a the biggest consideration and I've got two years until the kids are in college. I've been a commuter for 10 years and I would do it again without hesitation to live where we wanted. However, I intend intend on keeping our home while living in-domicile part-time elsewhere in the future.

I'll counter and say that commuting is a manageable hassle that allows you to live wherever makes the family happy, rather than forcing a square peg into a round hole. For most of us, we are only going to spend about 50% of our nights sleeping in our own bed. Our spouses and kids sleep in those beds, in that house, in that town, basically 100% of the time. For my family, who followed me all over the world for 20 years in my AF career, it was time to let them decide where it would make them happy to live. All this with the full knowledge of what time is lost commuting...and that was an acceptable tradeoff for my family. Personally, I look at the ability to commute as a gift rather than a hassle.

I can't do a decent job explaining it but i'll try. First let me say I have an inclination toward cynicism. Be it innate or just bitterness over organizational failures I've seen in the AF. My bullshit detector for insincere platitudes and pep-talks is always on high gain. I also know that the SWA culture is often derided as a "cultish" by outsiders. It kinda is, but I'm buying it. It all goes back to Herb. He knew most everyone's names, he hugged and even kissed all his employees, dudes included. Yeah I know, sounds gay. He drank, smoked, and threw wild parties. He was serious about cutting through the B.S. and making airplanes fly. His philosophy was "Take care of the employees first, and the customers will come." Herb is gone and SWA is a big airline now with big airline problems. Many aspects of the old SWA culture has dwindled, but a lot of it still exists. I won't go into everything, but there's books written on it and it's Fortune magazine's 11th most admired company in the world, behind #10 FedEx, and I can see why. Here's just a few things. When I walk in the pilot lounge to check in for my trip, I get a hug from the ladies in the base coordinator office. If the Chief or Asst. is walking thru, he'll stop, handshake, crack a joke and visit. I often get hats, pins, cards, and other things in the mail for no good reason. All the company communications emphasize real positives. FAs often bring snacks, we often buy ops agents and gate agents coffee, new Captain upgrades typically serve hot dog lunches in the lounge one day. SWA throws big parties several times a year. The header of every paycheck says "Deposits made possible by your Southwest Customers." Maybe all this exists at other airlines too, I don't know. I just know I like where I'm at and I'm over 10 years in. I could just show up and get a paycheck for flying airplanes, and there are many pilots who do, but it's a heck of a lot more fun if there's an over-arching atmosphere of fun and positivity. And it doesn't feel fake when the company has the numbers to prove it's success. I know that all sounds touchy-feely and it probably doesn't count for much when most people just want to get paid big bucks as quick as possible for working as little as possible. But once you've experienced it, it counts for something.

Was sort of hedging my bets approaching my last look for IDE in-res in case I was not selected as the window between non-select notification and IPZ board is somewhat tight. But your point is well-received -- I hope Fingers' intent will come to fruition regarding the IDE selection process because it directly impacted me favorably as a non-shiny penny, slightly above average O-3 turned pretty good O-4 who kept working hard rather than the legacy system where your career track was pre-ordained simply based on whether you were a school select on your O-4 board or not.

Reducing illegal immigration by 33% would be a pretty massive improvement.

Goddamn all this talk reminds me with shivers what AD goes through...a mystical journey with ever-changing rules shrouded in secrecy where success is mostly a question of luck and timing. Mercy on your souls for staying with AD. I know not everyone has a choice to exit early. Best of...luck to those who remain. It’s literally the sharpest tool in your bag.

This video is accurate. The AF is not using the Konan device, however, the device being used is similar. It uses a rotating Landolt C like you see in the video rather than letters as it makes the test more efficient. You have ample opportunity to practice to ensure you understand the test before actually starting.

Right! - Does anyone in Ivory tower even listen to the commoners/step foot outside of their tower? - I'll give them credit for nixing the one big bonus per career. - I could work as little as 9 days/month at DAL (13 days/month counting Guard duty) and I would still be taking a 15-30k paycut to take the bonus. This even accounts for the tax benefit of mil pay vs civ pay. - Most of our Perm AGRs are filled by dudes still under a UPT contract, thus not eligible. - We utilize temp AGR and ADOS to bring guys back on orders...here's hoping they'll waive the Perm AGR requirement. - We don't need a 1:1 pay exchange. But if you want us to come back to computer systems that barely run, epic battles with DTS, a system that seems to always be fighting you and fly the same as a part timer...it's going to have to be much better than 35k to sign on for 2-years (I understand 35k is the federal limit...by why not 1 year). - Unless they waive the Perm AGR thing, this bonus will likely do very little to help my squadron. - I would have jumped at a 35k/1-year bonus. - My 2018 DAL W2 was 22k more than what I'd make if I took the bonus right now...and I only worked at DAL 9 months that year...

Shack. Don’t do correspondence IDE at and it will fix the glitch....

I got picked up to fly A-10s with the 303rd Fighter Squadron at Whiteman AFB last year. I spoke with the hiring manager and they have far fewer applicants this year than they had last year so if you’re looking to get in an A-10, the odds are better than they were for me so send in your applications! Applications are due April 15th and the board is in June. There won’t be any official meet and greets but feel free to try to visit during the April or May UTA. 303fshiring@gmail.com https://bogidope.com/job-listings/303rd-fighter-squadron-0

You can start posting with the 2020 UFT Board Thread

Source? Nevermind, it's 42%. So less than half. Looks like the wall is a solid part of solving the problem. https://www.politifact.com/california/statements/2018/aug/24/kevin-mccarthy/mostly-true-visa-overstays-account-half-all-people/

I agree with you. I just want to offer a better argument for living in base than "commuting sucks." My point isn't that commuting is always wrong (I commute), but rather that it's not just as simple as adding a flight or two to the schedule. It's just about having far more options. For example, if you want to sleep in your own bed every night, that's an option with enough seniority. You can fly turns, you can become a check pilot and do sim checks, you can do union work, or you can even work in management. Opportunities for premium flying, sitting reserve in your living room, not caring about the weather, all things that commuting impacts. I fly with guys who coach their kids' sports, and they couldn't do that reliably at AA if they couldn't bid all turns, and that's not feasible as a commuter. Some people will still choose commuting, that's fine, I just want people and their families to have the full picture of what commuting costs. It's not much different than assignment choices in UPT. There's so much you don't know when making the decision, so imagine how confusing it is for the spouses. I've helped some realize they'd rather move to a domicile, and others feel more confident in their decision to commute.

I feel fortunate my senior rater (Air Force 2-Star) did not use correspondence as a discriminator for in-res nominations. I had almost none of it done when I got selected for in-res. At least some folks are following the guidance, which actually makes sense. Using correspondence as a discriminator means they actually want you to do IDE twice....which is as dumb as it sounds.

You can blame fingers for not holding them accountable.

So far so good. Michelle wouldn't feel safe without one so they built one before moving in.

Unknown, but regardless, doesn't it make sense to wear ear/cranium protection? One concussion, one ruptured ear drum, etc. may be all it takes to DQ you from flying. This is like when I finally decided in college to stop doing big jumps, etc. on snowboards after watching a few guys get pretty jacked up...wasn't worth more than my dreams of flying.

https://townhall.com/columnists/wayneallynroot/2019/01/20/harry-reid-exposes-greatest-liberal-scam-of-alltime-n2539256 Harry Reid Exposes Greatest Liberal Scam of All-Time Wayne Allyn Root 5-6 minutes What's in the news day and night? The wall. It's all anyone talks about or thinks about or debates. Have you heard? The U.S. government is partially shut down over the wall. But it's all a massive liberal scam. A Ponzi scheme. Pure fraud. Bernie Madoff couldn't come up with a better scam. Because the same liberal politicians and donors who scream about the "racism" and "immorality" and "ineffectiveness" of a wall all live behind walls. President Trump needs to buy TV infomercial time and run a 30-minute TV show in a Ross Perot fashion -- featuring aerial views of the mansions and estates of liberals, protected by walls, gates, and armed guards. You know, the exact same protections they don't want you and me or our children to have. Exhibit A is Harry Reid, the Democratic former Senate Majority Leader from my home state of Nevada. Please ignore the advertising slogan "What happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas." It's not true. Las Vegas is the crossroads of America. What happens here is happening everywhere. And I've uncovered the biggest liberal scam in America -- going on right here in Las Vegas. It revolves around my home community in Henderson. I live in the exclusive Anthem Country Club. There are about 1,500 beautiful homes behind the gates of Anthem. Together, these homes are worth around $1 billion -- in just one country club in one Las Vegas suburb. What's the amazing appeal of Anthem Country Club? It's got a big beautiful wall around it. And thick iron gates in front are protected by armed guards. The result? There is virtually no crime inside walled, gated, armed Anthem. Life is good behind the gates of Anthem. In the rest of Las Vegas ... not so much. In the rest of Vegas ... lots of crime, gang bangers, drugs, car-jackings, and home invasion robberies. Proving walls and gates and lots of armed guards are a good thing if you want your family to be safe. But wait. My Anthem community recently added yet another feature to keep our residents safe. Every vehicle entering our gates must show a government-issued photo ID or they will be denied entry. Guess who's my neighbor, just steps away from my home? Former Sen. Harry Reid. The one and only. He could have chosen anywhere in Nevada or America to retire. But he didn't. He chose the protection of fortress Anthem for his family. There are many lessons we can learn from studying Anthem Country Club. Lesson No. 1: If you want your family and children to be safe, BUILD A WALL -- preferably a wall that is also surrounded by armed guards. The Vatican understands this lesson. Every celebrity in Hollywood understands. All the wealthy politicians in Washington, D.C., understand. All the big-shot media executives understand. Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and George Soros all understand. Barbara Streisand, George Clooney, Sean Penn, and Madonna all understand. They are protected by big walls, sturdy gates, and armed guards. Lesson No. 2: Liberal Democrats are hypocrites. All the liberal bigmouths who denigrate the wall live behind walls and gates. None is a better example than Reid, former chief water carrier and bottle washer of President Barack Obama. Reid spent his entire Senate career fighting viciously against a wall. Reid argued walls were terrible and unnecessary things. So, why did Harry choose Anthem? Because he loves his family. That's why we all want a wall at America's southern border. To protect our country and our children from bad people, drugs, disease, and violent crime. Welcome to the neighborhood, Harry. Can I bring a cake by? Lesson No. 3: Liberals lie about everything. Liberals don't just use walls to separate themselves from the very poor and illegal alien voters they count on to elect them. They use limos and private jets and send their children to lily-white private schools where they'll never be around gangbangers or illegal aliens or Muslim refugees or disease. Lesson No. 4: Guns must not be as bad as liberals claim. Because liberals may argue against gun ownership, but at the same time, they have armed guards protect them. Lesson No. 5: The argument against voter identification is a total scam. How do all those gardeners, maids and pool cleaners drive through the gates of Anthem every day? The answer: They all already have a government-issued photo ID. So I guess it's a lie when liberal politicians claim that poor people and minorities don't have a photo ID or that it's too difficult for them to get or that it's "racist" to ask them for it. Voter ID is an issue because liberals want election fraud. They can't win without it. They want illegals to be able to vote by the millions for Democrats. Folks, we're being scammed. But not just any scam. This is the greatest scam of all time. Anthem, my beautiful, safe community, is the proof. What happens here in the suburbs of Vegas, is happening everywhere. My advice? BUILD THE WALL.

I'd add to that that if you're flexible with your ROUTE to a destination, that helps as well. I'm with one of the AA Wholly-owned regionals, so have full AA Non-Rev bennies... My wife and I have hopped all over, and we've taken the kids many places as well. We were batting 1000 until an ice storm trying to get back from a London-Paris trip. Stayed an extra day in Paris (poor us), and struggled to get the four of us home once stateside, but I don't mind the process when you factor on what you're getting. Business class both ways, and between the eight legs for the entire trip, we would have spent $40K... Yes, that's a correct value. I'm heading to London again in a couple weeks just to watch a soccer match... It's awesome.

When it shows on your duty history and you have a TR from the school...it isn’t masked.

I failed my first depth perception test on the machine. The follow up test was much easier. I remember the guy remarking that it was not uncommon to fail that portion of the test. That was over 12 years ago so maybe they changed it?

For those going to URT I had some back and forth with AETC today because training affects my current day job. The date I got was 3 Jan 2020. Yes. You read that correctly. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app