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The Dem lead gov is on par with PRC/RUS/NK/IRA when it comes to corruption and censorship. They are doing things that they would condemn and sanction those other countries for doing. I’m not saying the GOP is the total opposite or all that is good, as this isn’t a zero sum game. But for fuck’s sake, it is incredibly mind blowing to see Americans, especially “smart on paper” Americans, go right along with the bullshit. I get the anti-Trump mindset, but the Dems have lost complete control to the far left and incredibly evil people - a smart person sees the collapse and pivots away to solve the problem, not just go along because “Orange man bad.” Also, since I like to provide solutions after calling out problems - here you go: suck up 4 years, and in that time build up a moderate candidate who tells the progressives and elites to fuck off (just as a GOP candidate should tell far right and elites to fuck off), supports the constitution, understands basic financial math, but can still champion and push for liberal policies on abortion, immigration reform, the homeless problem, healthcare, etc. We can find middle ground again, but it can’t happen until half of American voters unplug their brains from the matrix and stop supporting radical, anti-American behavior and policies (and I mean the radical, anti-constitutional stuff, not directed at topics like abortion, for example).

Spot on dude. The rainbow Taliban loves their hypocrisy.

Hate Trump all you want.. Hang your hat on Jan 6th, but you are an absolute hypocrite if you don't give the same hate towards the Democrats that illegally contrived an impeachment.

I think you guys are focusing on the wrong metric in the totals vs totals discussion. What they can put in the field is not the same problem set as what they can command and maneuver. When this was started the Russians showed a complete lack of command and synchronization above the Battalion Task Group level (hence having essentially 4 axis doing 4 separate things and failing in all of them to achieve victory). The Ukrainians weren’t much better off but they only needed parity to achieve an effective defense and they had plenty of depth to surrender in the defense. That was an Army that had effective small unit weapons but lacked the thousands of armored and artillery pieces that would later be given in aid. Last year we started seeing the effective growth of Brigade level staffs in the Ukrainian Army, starting with their pushing back and regaining territory. It was largely limited to a few specific brigades. Since then we’ve seen a wider group of effective command and staff officers gain experience and now are fielding enough combined staff effectively to start thinking about Divisional actions (exactly what just happened in Kursk). There is a deliberate force generation going on to take advantage of this capacity, but that takes time to train and field and will probably be another 6-9 months before another wave of action is attempted based off all the troop-company level training that needs to be done so you aren’t just issuing impossible orders to conscripts. The Russians on the other hand are not really getting better, they still effectively can chew for ground by just throwing bodies at it, but it’s why they can’t present multiple dilemmas effectively across the broad front. Remember May when they were so sure they were taking Kharkiv? Yeah they don’t either. So when people say “the Russian victory is an eventuality” it’s really saying if the Russians are allowed to fight the war the only way they know how, eventually they win… at a ridiculous cost. The Ukrainians don’t have to allow them to fight that way, but they do have to be equipped and trained to change the name of the song that’s playing. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

But abortion isn't.

This is what is RIGHT with the Air Force, they get it correct sometimes, and this time, they got it so right it will give you chills. Kuddos to Luke AFB.

WTF? Sent from my iPad using Baseops Network mobile app

After dragging four Pave Lows from Jacksonville FL to Virginia, hanging out, and dragging them back, our crew was awarded an MRE. I got the ham slice, better than the pork and beans I guess. It was an ORI so we made Norty look good.

Less of an ass pain than 10 hours gay in a helo.

Down goes Michigan...hard to win when you can't steal signs. Down goes Notre Lame...and they paid NIU $1M to come kick their ass.

One of the best leaders in the Air Force and that’s what comes to mind? Concealing tail flashes completely makes sense when you consider how good our adversaries are in building PoL for us.

80 years ago today, on 5 Sep 1944, Lt William H. Allen became an “ace” in one day when he shot down five enemy aircraft in just a handful of minutes. Flying a P-51 Mustang (like the one pictured here) named “Pretty Patty II,” Lt Allen and his flight of P-51s (all from the Eighth Air Force’s 55th Fighter Group, whose emblem is also pictured here) attacked a Nazi airfield north of Göppingen, Germany. As the German airplanes took off one after the other, trying to get airborne, he shot down his five targets. Together with the other members of his flight, they took out 16 enemy aircraft in total. Between 3 and 11 September 1944, the 55th Fighter Group took down a total of 106 enemy aircraft, which earned them a Distinguished Unit Citation. The 55th’s heritage was inherited by the 55th Operations Group, today at Offutt AFB, Nebraska. (Photos: USAF; NMUSAF)

Reminds me of Milton and that red stapler.

Some units have said they won't interview me unless I enlist, period dot. The unit I'm going into guarantees an interview for internal enlisted personnel, which is more than can be said for my entire application history to this point.

I have seen more than one guy get FEB'd for non-flying related actions. It sounds like whatever you did to receive an LOR is bad enough they don't want you flying, and that's their prerogative. Really do some introspection here and determine if this is something worth spending a ton of money and stress on. It's very possible you really fucked up something in life/officership, and if that's the case, I'm not saying incriminate yourself further or not lawyer up, but also I wouldn't burn yourself out and drain your bank account to fight a losing battle. If this hypothetical is hitting close to home, then learn from the past, do what you need to improve, and move forward on a new path in life...flying is not everything, despite what we all think in our 20s.

Who told you nobody was going to pursue one against you?—the convening authority, ie most likely your wing commander? Because that’s who officially sends you to an FEB. Did you write a response to the LOR? If you want more info on an FEB, you need to read the regs and talk with an ADC. But unless the LOR is completely bogus, then it sounds like you messed up and now the AF is wanting to make the case that you shouldn’t be flying because of your lack of judgement, character, etc. Without knowing the exact details, it’s kind of hard to give you advice from the peanut gallery…and as others have mentioned, it’s smart to just keep your mouth shut and away from social media. My only general advice is (if you haven’t done so already) to seek out a couple close friends/family members who you really trust, can give you honest feedback, and who can keep an eye on you to make sure you don’t allow this take you into dark(er) places. Even if the AF takes your wings away and involuntarily separates you, this doesn’t mean that you can’t live the best life possible from this day forward. But that will take ownership of what you did, and realizing why you did it, etc and how to right the ship in your life. Good luck and please be safe.

Get a lawyer

Hey - I am also in a more or less similar boat. However, I am currently a FO at a regional airline. I am 33 years old (knowing full well I need a waiver right off the bat) currently studying for the AFOQT and looking to apply to Guard units as well. I do think that to a certain extent, civilian flight time and credentials will help in separating you from another candidate in the case for heavies/transport, especially assuming you have some PIC time. But this is pure conjecture. With regard to fast-movers, (which I am also chasing), this may very well work for or against individuals like us. The truth is I'm still in the process of learning about that too. I am also taking this angle to a degree as far as the pilot retention issue is concerned, but more so that I have experience as an aviator, and that my age, in a way, is an advantage since I have more life experience and am a serious since I'm 33 and still want to fly fighters. What I hope can be made clear is that, if given this opportunity (a UPT slot for fighters), folks like you and me will literally drop everything to make it happen (in the very least I can speak for myself here).