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Classic scene that’s obviously farsical, but the part that I’ve come to understand more as I’ve gotten older is the line of “someday this war’s gonna end” and being dismayed by that. I haven’t gone overseas in a few years and I can’t believe that I miss it. Looking back on it, I really enjoyed my 3 Afghanistan trips and really felt like we accomplished some good things in the tactical sense. It’s all a ball wash in the grand scheme, but being there to help out some young Rangers or even just walking to mid rats at Dragon with the Bros was truly a great time. Queue up Dos Gringos “Back in the LPA” while I fill out these TPS reports.

Why don't you describe it for us?

I could write a few pages on my feelings (disdain) toward our continued involvement in that place, but I'll keep it short and sweet. My two trips were over a decade apart. First one kinda felt like I was doing something, but even then, there was no clearly defined strategic objectives, just some nebulous bullshit. At least I was helping the Americans on the ground. The second time (late last year/early this year), was a complete waste of my time, money and hours on the jets. Zero strategic goals, zero tactical goals, zero sense of accomplishment, zero feeling of what we were doing meant anything. Two good things came out of that trip...we brought everyone home safely and it strengthened my resolve to get out. Who is going to be the first to pen a book called The Eagle went over the Mountain? Maybe they'll update to the Graveyard of Empires.

Either you’re incredibly wrong, or I could potentially see a POV that people have grossly misread and misapplied CRT in the education system (e.g. what they’re doing isn’t implementing CRT, but that doesn’t mean they’re not implementing horrific policies). Either way, what’s happening in public education is a disaster and people need to stand up and stop this bullshit.

Logically I know you’re right. But emotionally, after 10 deployments there, I want to stay and smash every enemy forever. I felt similarly watching the first departure from Balad after 5 trips there. Alcohol with bros will be how many of us cope having spent years of our life doing something that sporadically felt necessary but mostly filled me with anger at endless tactical success but no victory. All while my kids grew up and I stupidly went back. In the end I chose how to spend my time and have no one to blame for my decisions but me. However I will never forgive or respect senior leaders who could not win. Why should any of us believe any of them about the “big shift” and GPC when they’ve lost this one? probably time to wear my veteran hat and move into a camper near the base pharmacy… 🥃 🇺🇸⚔️

Lab made

You’re absolutely correct there. Of course, I couldn’t find a single example of a school district in the United States espousing CRT, but there seem to be plenty that still want to teach creationism, like in Arkansas: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/apr/08/house-advances-bill-to-let-schools-teach/ The radical conservative agenda has no place in our public schools!

I never considered the govt of Afghanistan our "allies". AMF's.

Not to worry, when something big blows up in the US during the next administration, it won't be this administration's fault that the instigators came in this year. That's tomorrow's problem. The short-sightedness of the radically liberal agenda as this administration is letting it play out is painful to behold.

now now careful now, no anti-imperialist coming-out party until you get that DD214 in hand buddy. tsk tsk 😄 You know the scene from SuperBad about the dick drawings lunch box? Let's just say my wife has become quite the effective sockpuppet account for my foreign policy musings 😄. It's no Greyzone level content just yet; I got myself about 2,007.5 points (not that I'm counting or anything...🙄) to go before I can tell you what I really think. Cheers!🍺

I'd certainly argue that the 1619 Project is a form of CRT. As for defining it: CRT is, at its core, the idea that race is the overriding factor in all of American society. That race dictates where people live, the incomes that people have, the opportunities they can take advantage of, the laws that are passed and enforced. It's the idea that race is the single most important factor in a person's life. The Biden Administration has proposed giving more funding to schools that teach the 1619 project and Ibram X Kendi's work. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/04/19/2021-08068/proposed-priorities-american-history-and-civics-education

“CRT has no place in our public schools” “The radical conservative agenda has no place in our public schools” Both statements can be simultaneously true you know.

After Bin Laden and the rest of AQ was killed, it became a humanitarian mission to keep Afghans from killing each other. In their war against themselves, only they can decide whether their civilization wins or loses.

Having deployed there a few times my only emotion is elation. It was long past due to GTFO and stop spending our national treasure in that place.

The other problem is the wife loses the payout if she remarries. So if you are basing the calculations on you dying young, also consider that your young wife would likely remarry and lose the benefit. We just decided to go with an 800k term life policy for $45/month from AAFMA. Will be self-insured by the end of that policy Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app

Someone posted in the BogiDope Facebook group they got picked up as a CSO so I’m assuming they’ve notified the people they selected

Good questions, I’ll have to chew on them. But crushing my freedom to maybe help an obese person have a slight edge isn’t moral or fair. Forcing me to comply with restrictions for the benefit of another who placed themselves at risk is antithetical to freedom and opposite my values.

I went to MH a few years before I retired, knowing 2 things - it was my last assignment and I was going to retire, so I knew I had little to lose if I said the wrong thing to the wrong people... (I think you all knows these “words” and they are serious enough that you/we should put them at a priority above flying, but I know full well the internal dilemma) ... I had been encouraged after talking with (and taking) another pilot at another base who went through a divorce and who smartly gave someone else his guns (temporarily of course!) and went to mental health... and I don’t think he ever got dnif-ed. so after they ask the big question about 20 times in a mostly straight forward manner, then you are just going to talk about your life and daily routine. I had a game plan, but please don’t feel like you have too, just remember if you are dancing around the big question, they are really there to help ascertain where on the “scale” you are... and yes they’ll error to the side of safety as they should...they tried to push some meds that I knew were a no-go for the FAA (they are easy to figure out, most likely you’ll have to show 6 months of use with them, with limited side effects and reduction of symptoms for FAA approval)... so if FAA is your plan you can get those months out of the way while you are on AD, NOTE: there is little guarantee that you’ll make it through the FAA waiver, but I would rather know that on AD/early then wait to fly for the airlines for 10 years and then take that gamble at 50. I’m really glad I went, at least it is documented if something goes south later, I felt it was pretty low threat and I was never dnif-ed (even though it was non-flying, it was a flying billet and the FSO didn’t know the difference). If nothing else, I realized that life really does suck some times and feeling that way can be a normal response or it can be a imbalance and it is not that “you” are bad, there is just somethings you need to balance in your life, and sometimes it can be chemical and there is help there if it is needed. It definitely does get better. so risky yes, but much less than you think... just talking with someone about something I had bottled up for a decade plus was pretty liberating and worth the risk... throw a spouse and kids in the equation and it becomes a no brainer, they need you even if you can’t make the airline pay check. I eventually chose to not do the airlines (this being a minor part of the decision)... glad I did, gave me time to get “me” in order... looking back I can’t believe I waited so long, and can’t believe I put flying above my life and my family for sooooo long, but that’s unfortunately part of what you are going through. I do remember many nights struggling/worrying about the what-ifs. You can get better, there are people who want to help you get better, and there is way more to life then Mach 1.5 or a airline gig, WAY more! You just have to realize that first.

Agreed, it doesn't belong. But I doubt Crenshaw or Cotton could accurately describe what CRT actually is. And it isn't in our military, or K-12 curriculum anywhere. This is a culture war Boogeyman with as much factual basis behind it as razor blades in Halloween candy, or the "War on Christmas." Media personalities everywhere are giving airtime to politicians trying to build capital based on CRT fear.

I do enjoy it when people compare military healthcare (as a part of compensation for military service) to taxpayer funded healthcare to those just because they have a pulse. So are you legitimately wanting to have a discussion about military/retiree healthcare or is your post due to my back and forth with Prozac regarding taxpayer funded welfare? If it’s the former, we can probably have that conversation on a different thread. The only reason I mentioned taxpayer funded healthcare is because Prozac brought it up wrt covid.