Leaderboard

Believe it or not, I have an Atta-Boy for AFPC with a big personal victory. I dropped RPAs by choice out of UPT 9 years ago and re-categorized as an RPA dude in 2016. I've loved the mission and people I've worked with, but life/career/family priorities changed big time for me in 2018 (O-6+, progression, and box checking quit being the goal). In light of that, I've been pushing hard for 1.5 years to get back in the cockpit by any means possible to learn a new mission, breath some fresh air, have an adventure, and challenge myself as an aviator (while keeping family, health, and personal priorities higher than they'd been). I hit a lot of road blocks (and sacrificed what my military career had been if I'm honest), and I was in full on cards out Palace Chase job hunting mode. After being told no for a year, AFPC and my SQ/OG leadership made me an offer to return to fly on AD with the other UPT Direct dudes who were 3 years out of UPT. I've kept it close hold because it's been word of mouth only for 6 months...but they sent me to SERE, I'm flying in a T-1 refresher course right now, and I have orders for PIQ in the -135. I'm super stoked for the new opportunity and moving to Fairchild. Thanks to the bros here on Baseops that helped me navigate through Palace Chase options, cross-training, and AFPC stuff. School is out of the picture and making O-5 isn't likely (not sure promoting is the best option for me at this point anyway)....but I'll be taking a 3 year bonus along with the initial qual ADSC. And being a free agent taking it assignment by assignment is awesome so far. I have no idea what I'll be looking to do in 3-4 years, but I'm pumped to be flying again and there are ALOT of varied options I'm excited thinking about.

Pyro headed west yesterday morning after a long battle with cancer.

47 years ago today. B-52 Linebacker II raid on Hanoi. Good stuff. If anybody is interested (especially bomber guys), I highly recommend the book "The 11 Days of Christmas" about the LB2 operation.

Pump the brakes there, turbo. Refer to page 1 of this thread where further explanation/context of the situation was requested. As yet, none has been given. Kinda difficult to successfully armchair quarterback a situation via the Internet when you weren’t there, even if you used to be a NCO. But hey, I’m just a dumbshit Guard guy and business owner. If that’s how you wish to lead, press. Good luck.

Rest in peace, brother. Nickel on the grass.

FWIW, if I'm honest with myself, I would go about that in a much more kind manner. My post was sort of me flippantly regressing to the 22 year old NCO I was and how we did things in 1993. It was more an insight into how we would have handled a fellow enlisted member than it was a statement about how an officer in 2019 would or should deal with that scenario. I was raised by E-5s and E-6s that had gang tattoos from their youth in the seventies. I'm not arguing that proves efficacy, just providing some perspective about one piece of the leadership culture where I grew up. The "scared straight" gambit was often effective. I most certainly can't offer up any insight into today's USAF, I left a long time ago. Nor can I claim any experience as an officer. I'm just a former shoe clerk who now works as an airline pilot. I will say this though, you cannot allow that type of insubordination to go unchecked. You can get creative with how you choose to respond, but the E-9 in question should leave the encounter with absolutely no question in his mind that telling an officer to do something is not a tactic he'd ever employ again. Sometimes it's fun to vomit up a little bit of foolishness on the screen, thank you and Marco for keeping me honest. You are both absolutely correct.

Prior NCO here as well. I've been amazed at the some of the things I've heard junior enlisted say. I mean like stuff I wouldn't have even said to a MSgt when I was SSgt. The only time I've ever done a spot correction was one day sitting OPS SUP and a particularly arrogant SSgt airfield kid (they augment our ARMS folks at the ops desk in the ANG) mouthed off to one of our SMSgt NCOICs. No need to even put him at attention and start yelling...just a stern, look at me and listen to what I'm telling you, "you better unfuck your attitude and what you say to your superiors" or we're going to go behind closed doors and have a talk with you and your SQ/CC and talk about whether you still deserve to be an NCO. Note: I didn't curse. Kid figured it out and I haven't had a problem since. If you have to lock someone at attention and start the yelling act, you've already lost that person. At least in my base, I've never really had problems with SNCOs...of course, a vast majority of our SNCOs are salt of the earth types that I have great respect for. My E-9 from my enlisted days in the early 2000s, is still an E-9 on my base and has over 38 years of service. I'd run through a brick wall for that guy. That said, he'd never ask that of me and was an amazing follower/mentor when I was a young Capt PROJO. He served as my NCOIC and let me run the show with gentle nudges here and there...talk about a truly humbling learning experience.

Yes, quite a few U-2 pilots have gone to TPS since at least the 1980's. In more recent years, one goal has been to get a TPS graduate that could eventually move up to run U-2 Flight Test at Palmdale. At least three U-2 pilots that are TPS grads are currently flying for NASA. Another (Mike Masucci) was one of the three people to fly in to space in Feb on the Virgin Galactic rocket. https://spacenews.com/virgin-galactic-expects-rapid-conclusion-of-spaceshiptwo-test-flights-after-downtime/ Mike also taught for 3 years at TPS and was heavily involved in designing the U-2 glass cockpit. He retired from the AF as the squadron commander of the U-2 FTU. For those the remember Mark Graziano, he was a TPS student when he was killed in a T-38 mishap at Edwards. Can't believe that's been 10 years. I don't believe we have had anyone there for about 2-3 years.

Sorry, the spammer was from Mumbai and has been deleted and banned. I also changed his password and blocked his email and IP address. Since this thread is 11+ years old, I should note that many years ago I not only found my buddy (he lives up in Fargo, ND) and was able to not only connect him with the guy that was with his father when he died, but also with his long-lost brother. That said, this thread is now officially closed (and locked.

They’d find the military is not even close to 70%. More like 40%. 10 year AF pilot, left seat C-17 vs 10 year major airline guy, left seat MD-11.

As a LT I was barely making over minimum wage, all while married, spending 1.5 yrs away from home, and doing shit that was hazardous to my life expectancy. The manager at the restaurant I worked at in high school was making more than me. And that’s as an officer. Not complaining, but pointing out how ludicrous this article is. Then again, if they specifically were talking about the non-support group that spends 25 hrs week actually working, but work is defined as fucking it away whole sale with little effort attached, they’d be on to something.

I will beat the dead horse to death about how great it is to be within a 30-45 min car drive from my base. It just leaves you with so many more options. Bid a line, bid Reserve, grab OG, grab premium, etc. Or of course you can sit back on LCR for 73 hrs month and never work. I have worked 3 days on short call this month so far.

https://www.businessinsider.com/nyu-professor-scott-galloway-walmart-acquire-fedex-shopify-2019-12?utm_content=bufferf3711&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer-bi interesting nuggets throughout.

A nice collection of old iron, at use in their post-military careers.

This thread reminded me to take out the garbage in my office yesterday. So thanks for that.

Amazing. Truly idiotic. As for the nursing room, I would like to see a commander state "unable... need MILCON dollars to create it", and give them the Johnny Cash middle finger (see above). I remember when the squadron building at Laughlin was opened up and new. Except for a few VIP spots, all perimeter parking stalls next to the building were for handicapped... and empty. I did enjoy using the handicapped parking spot at Beale for a number of years. It got a lot of laughs. The cops finally realized my handicapped sticker for my hip replacement expired about 2 years earlier and finally ticketed me. For those of you that are appalled by my actions: no, I didn't park in handicapped parking anywhere else. Only at the squadron. Please, continue to be appalled, however. Next up: condoms in the women's restroom in the squadron. Discuss.

Any E worth a damn wouldn't ask (especially not tell). Any O worth a damn wouldn't be above doing the task AND would offer (but would not be told by an E).

It’s a good thing AFPC is so good at this talent management thing that they won’t consider anyone else’s ideas.

I don’t know man, but I turned the corner at the local shoe store and saw a nice pair just hanging out, baby wasn’t attached or nothing. Lol Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app

I'd take those latter stories with a grain of salt. I haven't heard of anyone getting brought into an interview only to not get offered a job because they flew for a specific regional. However, I do know plenty of folks that never got invited to an interview. The most likely cause is that within the regional community, there's 10,000 dudes with the same exact resumé; it's difficult to make yourself stick out amongst that crowd. Yet, you'll hear guys say, "I haven't gotten a call from UAL because I work for XYZ." Nah, bro; you haven't gotten called because you're a copilot with 1,800 hours, no PIC time, and each airline still has 12,000 applications on file. Probably the most important factor for you is going to a company that won't force you to commute. Also, not all bonuses come with strings attached. For a long while, bonuses at SkyWest didn't require you to sign any contracts. Don't know if that's still the case. PM if you need help with the process.

Just like the AF, decline the bonus and keep your options open ...

Got RIPs for UPT at Randolph AFB. RNLT Aug 20 no class date on the RIP. Did some digging through Randolph personnel found out the Randolph is straight line UPT for 2020. Not UPT Next but they are loading the classes with “lots of candidates who already have PPL or flying experience.” I am currently a WSO with my Commercial license. Wright pat RIP is Jan 29.

tl;dr summary, you'll probably get to stay and you'll probably get to fly a more normal amount, and you'll probably look back on it as being worth it You're young. Have patience. I wasn't at that OG/CC call, but the previous WOM I'd heard was that brand new B-Course grads are *not* being sent off to do other things. The temporary crew force redux is hitting the middle tier of experience (broadly speaking), spread out across year groups. The whole point of drawing down manning is to ensure that those who stay can fly, gain experience, and upgrade on a more normal timeline (and not get bottlenecked as has happened a lot recently) given reduced sortie availability... While those that go elsewhere use their experience to add value elsewhere in the CAF, and learn things that will add value to the B-1 when they return. The circumstances suck, but the community has weathered worse and bounced back to bigger and better things... e.g. the early 1990s trying to figure out if it still had a mission after the Cold War, and the early 2000s when the fleet and the crew force was permanently reduced by 1/3rd. You can look at this as "I missed the 18 fat years, and arrived just in time for the lean ones," or you can look at it as an opportunity to be on the ground floor of creating something great. I spent 8 years on the Octobomber, arriving a few years after the "Nukes Across America" incident when it was nuclear exercise after nuclear exercise occasionally punctuated by Guam. People that were short term thinkers looked for the first opportunity they could get to punch to something else (ALFA tours, green door assignments, rando non-flying staff gigs, etc.), and missed going to combat. Those of us who stuck around and tried to make our corner of the AF better eventually led the way when we went back to CENTCOM. Likewise, I suspect the B-1's finest hour is still ahead of us.

20 bucks says lodging comes back with "then put them on your bed and YOU take the air mattress."

It rips me apart to post this, Matmacwc flew west peacefully Christmas morning after a long fight with cancer. He bravely fought it to the end. He was truly a good man and a great fighter pilot. If your inclined to pray please pass a few on to his family. Nickle on the grass my friend. 🍺

I was an NCO and here's my perspective. If he told you take out he trash, lock his worthless ass up at attention and read him his rights under article 31. Tell him you're investigating him for insubordination. If he waives his rights and answers your questions, then you can have a respectful conversation with some give and take. He'll walk away from knowing a whole lot more about his place in the world related to who you are and what you do and what his responsibilities are. If he's dumb enough to clam up, then sweat him with an actual investigation into article 91. Get his leadership involved. Ruin his entire month. C****s like that gotta be put in their place early and made an example of if you want good order and discipline in your unit.