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You're wrong - Find me one person on here who is black and white about the vaccine who is conservative - That is only on the left. I guarantee you anyone who is against the vaccine personally doesn't care if others want to take it. That's the difference. We want you to be able to make a personal decision because this vaccine is anything but proven. You and everyone on the left want everyone to be forced to take it regardless of their own individual research and responsibility.

I know a guy who got a pilot slot on last years board who was not notified in person nor on the list when it dropped but was actually selected from the board. He found out days later I believe. Imagine that roller coaster of emotion lol.

In that case, then the entire “news” media would go out of business…which maybe wouldn’t be such a bad thing?

Omicron cases are exploding. Folks can’t get tests. Thousands of flights cancelled over the holidays. The Biden administration has egg all over their face. The CDC lowers quarantine guidance from 10 days to 5… The timing is curious. Perception matters.

Show me any proof of this. I think this is gonna be a tough one for you. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence - how do you make policy when you actually have so many unknowns? Cloth masks have been shown to be at least 20-30%+ effective with current terrible usage, increasing with N95s. I personally don't agree with using them, but it is a far cry for someone to try to say that they are wholly ineffective. With that being said, based on the risks to emotional health/interpersonal relationships, I believe we should accept the increased spread that would come with unmasking. But that is a different argument than "mask don't work." There is 100% a scientific justification that isolation prevents spread. Don't see how that is unscientific. Sure, the kids may not die if they get COVID, but I don't see how you can argue that this wouldn't reduce spread to their families and therefore the rest of America. The middle is the way forward. Maybe this is the fundamental disagreement that we won't see eye-to-eye on. Compromise and understanding is the way forward. An America of 330M people, not just half on one side or the other, is the right way.

This is where you're wrong, and it would be kind of hilarious if it wasn't just a reflection of the polarization of society. I actually do not think this virus is a big deal. Haven't for a few months now, especially with omicron. Check my posts. But that probably doesn't compute, as you probably only think of people on two sides. What I do think is a big deal is the pathetic way folks argue about the virus that only sows more division. The way the right - and folks on this forum, specifically - argues about COVID is super dumb in that it takes uninformed black and white stances or, a recent favorite, uses statistics in a totally inapplicable way. The "scientific" approach to any argument is clearly with the left, because the right doesn't even attempt to use data effectively. Both sides have valid points. And both sides need to be communicated with in a way that isn't retarded, or else we aren't going to convince anyone of anything. That's why I played devil's advocate to a poorly constructed point. This forum loves to take indefensible black and white stances, and my only goal was to point out the absurdity. I am 100% sure that any solution to this pandemic that America as a whole can get on board with is in the middle. Just electing a new president in 2024 that says "fuck you" to half of America sure as fuck isn't going to help us be a better country. Stupid arguments are the continuation of the status quo.

will my opr now reflect my preferred pronouns?

Dawg, Here's my take--this no shit goes a long way to end speeding on stratification. The question is can we (the member or the organization..you decide) handle that level of honesty? What remains to be seen, is there a sweet spot for PCSes? Is there now a dead spot in the calendar where you don't want to move? I dunno, but I am sure these are issues that will become clear once we go through the beta test.

Okay, we’ll I’m not okay with a 5-15% and 30% mortality rate for a population that will almost surely get infected with entirely unmitigated spread. That’s where we disagree! Great, we figured it out.

Google it. Some of the earliest studies out of China showed single-digit cases of outdoor spread were in April. Prior to that all cases were indoors. It wasn't until the race riots in June that more cases of outdoor spread occurred, and even then a tiny fraction compared to indoor spread. This disease was spread in November 2019, not 2020. By the time it was an American crisis much was known. You don't. Because without a limiting principal, you always have the "what if" driving you to restrictions. Government's job was never to predict. But the very human desire for a pain free world pushes us to stopping hypothetical problems before they happen. The results are never pain free... "An effect" is not the same as "effective." They were not effective and preventing spikes, saving the hospitals, or "stopping the spread." Also, 20-30% is selective science. If you put the studies together you get around 17%, which as you pointed out previously, will not have a meaningful effect of a highly transmissible virus. This is also selective science. We have plenty of research showing why isolation is untenable. Humans just don't do it, and when they closed everything public, people just started meeting in groups at private residences, literally the worst environment for spread. There were also no spread differences noted between countries with differing school policies, indicating that schools were not vectors for spread. Sure, "scientifically" there's going to be some measurable difference, but as I said before, effect ≠ effective. Part of scientific studies is measuring effect, not just on a number but on an outcome. None of the studies indicated that school closures would have a meaningful effect, and Europe actually followed that science. Children didn't stop playing, they didn't start wearing N95 masks properly, and so they didn't stop spreading (insofar as children were spreading the disease, if at all). A scientific study on a hypothetical is sometimes neat, but it doesn't work for policy justification. On that we agree, but the new definition of compromise from the left is you compromise your position to join mine. You're guilty of the same breathless posturing. Are you ok with a 5-15% mortality rate? Yeah dude, I am. So lets compromise. States that aren't ok with it lock down. States that are can open up. The problem with compromise from a political standpoint is that we already have it built it. States' rights was designed specifically to allow for compromise. But the left wants everything dictated from the federal level. That's the antithesis of compromise. But California can't run their lockdown the way they want unless Texas locks down too. Yes... That's the compromise.

Hey all, so it sounds like we will either be hearing next week or the week after. Official documentation is in routing for final approval before push. Source: Reached out to AFPC and received the above this morning.

We aren't arguing about a personal decision to get a vaccine. We're arguing about ethics of vaccine mandates. You are mad at pawnman, for example, because he believes that you, ethically, should be required to get the vaccine. You believe that vaccine mandates are wrong. And your reasoning, as just stated, was because it's "anything but proven." Which is entirely based off of feelings. Numerous studies show that the vaccine decreases hospitalization and death rates by an order of magnitude. And the only statistically significant scientifically proven side effect to this point is a mild increase in risk of myocarditis in males under the age of 30. Also, your comments about "individual research" are a copout to try to legitimize any idea, regardless of source or evidence to the contrary. And I don't believe in blanket vaccine mandates, which, again, is hilarious in how you can't wrap your mind around that.

Huh? See this is where I think your fantasy of you as the grand moderate falls apart. We knew in March of 2020 that this disease had no documented instances of outdoor spread. But it was overwhelming the left having a panic attack over beaches and parks being open. Study after study after study have shown masks to be ineffective (for COVID), unless you limit the study to properly fitted n95. And yet the left has clung to masks harder and even I thought was possible. "The science" has shown no correlation between lockdown policies and spread. Between masking policies and spread. Yet what have the blue States done? The only politician I can think of that looked at the research and crafted his policy accordingly was Ron DeSantis. Others might have, but they weren't vocal about it. How about all those teachers unions, which are through and through on the left? There was zero scientific justification for closing schools and masking children. I agree that the right usually does a terrible job of leveraging science, but only because everyone usually does a bad job. The left only uses science because it has become their replacement to religion as they established themselves as the anti-religious party. This has been further complicated by the scientific establishment becoming politicized, as we have seen with arbitrary study retractions, and God only knows what nonsense is going to come out about the gain of function research that our chief scientists lied openly about to cover the lab leak story. There is nothing scientific about the left, I think you just really want both sides to be at fault here, furthering your analysis of the middle being the way forward, but as far as the pandemic goes that's not the case. The right has fucked up a lot of things since I've been politically aware, but they were right about covid. Of course that doesn't account for the lunatics you've pointed out who have made scientifically preposterous claims about the disease and the vaccine, but that's another fun element of this new politicized world we live in. Both sides myopically focus on the craziest elements of their opposition and erroneous seek to portray them as some sort of representation of the average. And as the left continues in their new tactic of othering and villainizing anyone who dares think contrary to their agenda, people on the right will come up with new and inaccurate justifications for their actions. And they won't make sense, but they're not willing to tell you the real reason, "I just don't want to." Because somehow that now makes you a racist, or a bigot, or you want people to die.

Just hoping the results don't get delayed a month. I heard last year they took a long time to release.

And we are the insane ones to point this out...

Don’t do it danger

Proving that level of UCI is almost impossible. If it the choice was truly the Sq/CC's, then why do the Gp/CC and/or Wg/CC need to know? Because they want to make sure the Sq/CC made the "right" choice, per their expectations. If not, then said Sq/CC's OPR/PRF may be adjusted accordingly. Commanders talk a big game about "doing the right thing" and all that filler, but when it comes down to it they are going to take the path of least resistance and threat to their career and potential promotions.

I was active AF and went Navy Reserve. I'm currently the XO (DO) of my Reserve Squadron Augment Unit...we're integrated with an active duty squadron. The application is an odd process compared to how someone would join the guard or AF reserves and there are a couple reasons why. Right now, there are just so many current and qualified Navy applicants for only a few slots. And the Navy Reserve doesn't take people off the street...just already winged .mil pilots. They do an Aviation Selection Board every quarter (generally...sometimes they skip a quarter if there are no openings). I was an active duty AF IP at Whiting and had every standardization (STAN/EVAL) qualification, FITU (their version of PIT) instructor, with letters of recommendation from several Navy Squadron Commanders (my own and sister squadron skippers that I instructed when they came through the FITU) and one from the Commodore. When I applied and was selected (in 2015) there was zero chance of anyone getting selected without Navy T6 time. After that, it was a 10 month process to transfer all my AF stuff over to Navy. It was about as fun as shitting a pine cone. If I had to do it over again, I might just have just passed and got out completely (since I made captain at my airline in two years). Now, I have to drop an easy trip that pays $2000 to go drill and make $400. First world problems I guess. PM me your email address and I'll send you the "trip report" I wrote up about my selection and IST.

KA, I'd look into the Gold Bar Recruiter Program. With your family hardship, you may be able to find a way to spend a considerable amount of time back home at your local recruiting office or ROTC detachment instead of bumming around the UPT student squadron for 6+ months. Research it and arm yourself with a plan, even if the regs don't necessarily say it's doable. Good leadership will pick up the phone and start making calls on your behalf, especially if it makes sense.

This thread could use some homegrown satire, if you can't take a joke--I feel sorry for you. ---- Officials confused by unexpected religious accommodation requests By Pseudonym WASHINGTON – On deep background, defense officials shared with media outlets a mounting confusion and frustration between commanders and servicemembers sending up seemingly disingenuous religious accommodation requests to opt out of current COVID-19 vaccination requirements. “I don’t want to put the department in a position to judge the validity of anyone’s sincerely held beliefs,” said General Max Power. “But to be candid, we are getting backchannel communications that are making us wonder if we are being deceived.” The generalized concern has been repeated in various branches within the Department of Defense. “We were all surprised when Lance Corporal Williams told the Master Guns he wasn’t taking the shot since fetal tissue was used in its development,” Said Capt Williams, 15th Infantry Regiment, MCRD Parris Island, SC. “My Marines were telling me all sorts of rumors, but basically they were calling him out.” “Let’s be clear,” said Master Gunnery Sergeant Tatum. “Not only does Williams not have a moral concern about fetal tissue, he talked his last three girlfriends into abortions—I’m sorry to say that last point has gotten him the nickname ‘ace’ in the barracks”. It’s not just the Marine Corps that are facing issues with members with seemingly incongruent values. “Me and the Vice were puzzled when Major Smith told us his religious concern about the sanctity of life and told us ‘whoever sheds blood, shall their blood be shed’,” said Colonel Jazz Morison. “Just the other day Smith was putting together his Air Medal package with an impressive EKIA count, not to mention his master’s paper at the Weapons Instructor Course was labeled ‘What to do when you accidentally strafe the Kabul Girl’s Checkers Club tournament’, which frankly is an oddly specific issue to be writing on—but shit, the investigation cleared him.” In other branches some troops are noticing previously agnostic or atheist members are finding new beliefs in faith. "So last year my supervisor was all insistent that we call the Christmas party a Holiday party, and was all like super woke’" said Staff Sgt Meyers on a twitter post. "Fast forward to late November and we are all getting the shot, then this punk is wearing WWJD bracelets to work and demanding prayer breaks and telling me I should not reenlist so I can start a traditional family.”

It's not discounting anything. Jesus, you yourself laid out the best argument I've seen on this forum. There's simply nothing to be done. The vaccines are developed. They're not going to get any better. The therapeutics are developed, and those are getting better by the day, but they're already widely accessible. The disease is understood, and the public has been notified. The only thing we could be doing differently right now is if every single person were forced to wear kn95 masks, properly fitted and regularly swapped out. I don't think that is possible. If you think the people who don't like masks are being intransigent now, just wait until you make them wear n95s, which actually do cause a fairly significant level of discomfort compared to the way humans have breathed for the last million years. And that would be until when? The hopes that a better vaccine is developed? We were infinitely lucky that the MRNA technology already existed, otherwise we'd still be waiting. You clearly think this disease is a big deal. An entire segment of the population disagrees with you, including many who are most at risk. It doesn't matter which of you is correct, not even a little bit. Unless you can convince those people to be as concerned as you are, no amount of coercion is going to successfully result in the type of compliance required to make a meaningful impact on the transmission of this disease. And what ended up happening? The people who think like you were unable to make a persuasive enough case, and so resorted to mandates. And in the most predictable way possible, those mandates have failed spectacularly, both in preventing/beating COVID, creating a whole new source of division in our country. And every time authorities resort to coercion and force in place of persuasion, this is what happens. The excess deaths are going to come back down to normal after everybody who's particularly susceptible to it dies. That sucks, but it's also life. And it's especially life when we don't have any other options. All too often people, and especially liberal-minded people, develop policies that explicitly exclude human nature. This has been a case study in exactly that.

Yes. Time to move on, sorry you were misled.

The small changes would make a difference if ignorant assholes would stop making "I refuse to get vaccinated" their whole personality. You know why breakthrough infections are rare for measles? Because the vaccination rate is really close to 100%. You know why Covid continues to spread? Because we're nowhere near 100%.

Please, for the love of God, stop with this false nonsense. If you want to argue on the merits, please do but the vaccines lower the chances you get it. If you don't get it, you can't spread it. No vaccine stops transmission to unvaccinated people...that's why California had an outbreak of measles not that long ago. The Covid vaccines are about as effective at stopping Covid as flu vaccines are for stopping flu, and we in the military line up every year for the flu vaccine...which is an even LOWER risk category than Covid.

From Mike Rowe (one of the few celebrities I actually trust!)...

8======D For the space force bubbas.

If old things still make sense, keep doing them, if new things make sense, do them instead. The Air Force would be a lot better off if the understood that.

Haha! As the card carrying "Boomer" that I am, you'd be proud to know that I'm on Mattermost... and have embraced it!... along with the rest of my squadron.

Wait, you watched John Wayne moving pictures...in color?! I knew you were a hippie

What's wrong with that? v/r Clearedhot, Col, USAF (Ret) ( • )( • )

Not joking. Available on your phone, good for CUI without stupid certificates, let’s you actually coordinate on something rather than sending fucking emails back and forth. No read receipts, no masturbatory sig blocks, ack with an emoji, chaff can be deleted, attachments don’t have to be forwarded to the next guy, it doesn’t take an hour for old messages to download if you haven’t logged on to a computer in a while. Also you don’t have to log in to a stupid Air Force computer to use it, but you can if you want to punish yourself or are in a vault. Imagine baseops.net threads were just a bunch of emails instead, that’s how dumb we are.

But seriously, boomer email chaff like this is why everyone should be using Mattermost instead of NIPR email.

Hey….

Would you agree that even a short of stint of military service is better than none? For a job that requires zero military experience? That is also a political appointment? The check on some rando being appointed is that the Senate has to confirm the USecAF. And her credentials were good enough for the Senate to confirm. Plus she's had a decent amount of time in DIA, so while not in the AF it's time within DOD. And secretaries, undersecretaries, and assistant secretaries all have staffs that support them in their decision making. All that to say, chucking spears at her decision making are valid. But her experience or lack thereof don't really matter because it's not a requirement for the job so long as the Senate confirms, and civilian control of the military means that many of the civilians in charge of the military won't have significant military service.