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This. Also, isn't the latest "Take over Gaza!" comment just Trump 101? When he's struggling to get the needle moving on a particular situation, he throws out the most extreme option. The press laps it up, and broadcasts it as far as they can. Frenzy ensues. It's chaotic, but often the end result is that stubborn needle begins to move, as Trump quietly walks back the original "extreme" plan.

It was reported today that a staggering 38% of the FBI's field agents were assigned to investigate the Jan 6th. All the crime in the country and the FBI dedicated that much of our capability to investigate some idiots running around the capital and one police officer who died of a heart attack.

Hey bud, you've been wrong on pretty much everything. So maybe take a backseat and see if it pans out. We've been sitting around for decades watching The Establishment fail to get anything done but insist that theirs was the only way of doing things. Now someone comes in and "revolutionizes" politics by doing nothing more dan saying what everybody knows but won't admit, and actually acting like the most powerful country in the history of the planet, and everybody is stumbling over their keyboards to tell us how this couldn't possibly work. So far it's working. Let the man cook.

He initially pressed the Arab nations to take the Palestinians, which they have basically refused to do since 1947 and still refuse to do. Hopefully, this is a shot across the bow that the other countries in that region need to chip in and figure out a real long term solution before the US basically turns Gaza into a Middle East Hong Kong. The idea has also been floated of bulldozing the entire strip and just leaving it bare for a while. Hopefully that is what actually happens. Then in 10 years, Israel turns it into a tourist beach resort area and shows the world what the Palestinians could have done but instead chose to elect a government of terrorists more focused on killing other people than providing for their own people.

People never tried cheating on their taxes before 2025? Also, I’m willing to bet a sizable amount of money that you’ll pay your taxes (the IRS cares much more that you pay your taxes, not that you file them)…so your example is as weak as your threat. Also your TDS is once again noted.

Fucking, epically fucking retarded! Not only will it not end well, but it won't ever end. That area is history's epic version of Hatfield vs McCoy and it will never end. And he wants to gut places like the FBI and CIA. Next, some dipshit reporter wrote that Rs think they can wrangle him in. Bullshit. I've seen that movie before. I don't think I'll do my taxes this year and set my withholding to 0. Who's gonna come after me? All those IRSers sitting border guard? The govt is getting hollowed out. Many here may be rooting for the house to burn down. When it gets to your room (VA benefits, retired pay, Tricare, DoD bennies) don't freak out too much. If Rs want to show any spine, they should spike the noms for both Kennedy and Gabbard. Send a message.

Hopefully now the families can start getting some closure... Remains of all 67 victims of the midair collision near DC recovered as NTSB probes altitude data

It's like the FB thread for my company where the TDS folks are saying unions are going away because they fired someone on the NLRB.

I think helo is right, it's more about downsizing than anything. Unfortunately a few some good ones may get caught up in the cross fire, but cost of doing business I suppose. They good ones will end up on their feet for sure, they always do.

AETC: focus on GPS things, prepare for advanced avionics. Also AETC: we are decertifying your GPS. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

There is an infinitesimal chance that we know what was actually agreed to, or will any time soon. People are ignoring everything Donald Trump has said over the years about how he negotiates. This is one of the reasons why he does so well in the Middle East, because he understands the concept of "saving face." Anyone who's done Air Force pme should be familiar with the difference between high context and low context interactions. America is a traditionally low context society existing in a world of high context allies and enemies. I tried using this negotiating tactic in our Union during the final weeks of signing the 2023 collective bargaining agreement. Our board of directors was, to put it lightly, flailing. I convinced them to put forward a list of demands that would immediately end negotiations and be pushed to the membership. I think it had eight or 10 things on it. The idea, when I pitched it to them, was that they should anticipate getting three to five things on the list and calling it a day. They could brag to the pilots that they secured more that gains, and the company could go back to their board of directors and show how even though the union had a list of 10 demands, the company resisted over half of them. Of course, pilots being the absolute dog shit negotiators that they are, half the board decided that they could only declare victory if they got everything on the list, and the other half panicked and decided that if they didn't abandon the list entirely they were going to somehow get no contract at all. So the plan only ended up barely working thanks to United Airlines. But the concept is the same. Give everyone at the table something to go back and brag to their people about.

False. You use strong language because you're emotionally triggered by Trump. Be sure to tune in today at 3pm when he signs the executive order banning men in women's sports. I hope your reaction is as equally entertaining.

I always like to see the source documents for these types of charts. Proof that the above agencies funded the Wuhan Institute of Virology and Ben Hu, the scientist working in the lab and identified as "Patient Zero", was obtained via a FOIA request. Interestingly, Fauci's pardon (found here) is backdated to 2014, the same year the funding for the research began. Documents here: https://blog.whitecoatwaste.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/wuhan-patient-zero_chmura-gima-correspondence.pdf Page 18:

If you watch the clip and zoom in on Bibi when Trump makes this statement. He was completely blindsided. Bibi visits Trump, discusses a few issues, and thinks he's got it all figured out. Then Trump does what Trump does... puts the other side of the negotiating table on their heels with something wild. Trump is completely comfortable doing this sort of thing in public, and Netanyahu is forced to stand behind the podium and try to not react. Trump is telling him that if we're going to fund Israel, we're getting something of material value out of it. Has Netanyahu himself addressed this since the press breifing? No, because he doesn't know what to do with it. Hilarious. It's like the tariffs. Trump didn't have to impose them, but he got Canada and Mexico to give up lot of what he wanted at no extra cost to us. I think the US actually having any ownership in Gaza is insane and I don't want any involvement in that mess, but using it as leverage is brilliant. https://x.com/rawsalerts/status/1886932839393796540

This is much more about reducing the size of government/federal employees than it is getting people back into the office. But since it’s extremely difficult to fire/layoff a federal employee, getting them to leave on their own sounds like the next best thing. Do we really need 2.4 million federal employees?…and that’s not even counting the military or those working for the post office.

Keeping the retirement age at 65 would be more beneficial to my career than extending it and keeping the LTD in play forever. It's an insurance policy. The older the people on it, the more expensive it is. Furthermore, long-term disability is to protect your earning capacity till retirement. I do not concur with the notion that retirement needs to extend beyond 65, therefore neither does the insurance for it. Airline pilots are obsessed with making LTD some sort of moral imperative. It's just actuarial. You can have a more generous system the lower the maximum age is. I have no sympathy for people who want to work past 65, and so I see no need to create a disability system for them. Are the extra earning years not enough? I am one vote, and like the old guys begging for an extension to the retirement age, voting directly against my interests, I am happy to vote against theirs.

Good, don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. If we could cut 80% of the civs, we’d be much better off.

I am thoroughly confused as to what ‘problem’ 19th thinks it is solving with Future UPT (it’s all FUPT up…). They are sending students TDY to these locations, and they are paying the schools. That isn’t cheap. It will take longer to get through the entirety of the program from start to earning wings. I suspect that 19th will only count the T-6 to wings portion and declare ‘look we produce pilots so much faster!’ I highly doubt the product will be better by any means. I’d rather train up someone zero to hero entirely within the UPT structure….it has worked well for decades. So we are getting a worse product, that takes longer and is more expensive. Sounds smart. Once 19th started tinkering around with UPT, it induced all the issues. They haven’t let a year go by with any of the syllabi recently before introducing a different one. It has just been constant flail in a never ending state of change. If we want to incorporate civil training, I’d say do it after T-6s. Send the T-38 studs off to do their thing. Send the rest to (insert sim company) and get a king air rating or something similar. I’ve been through both Flightsafety and CAE simulator training for military aircraft, it was outstanding training and would be a good top-off for studs heading to heavies. ….or just buy some T-54s…. /semiannual rant off Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Easy...everything will be, or have, gold as well as have his name on it.

Having done GO/VIP support for more years than I care to remember while I was on AD I learned GO's can individualize their uniforms in ways no one else can. Super annoying when having to explain that shit to Amn. BREAK BREAK Got this from one of my Capt's who did some amazing stuff on the cyber side. Good to know the fuck-you games haven't changed. "My assignment dropped last Monday, and it was to a CyberOps Sq that I didn't bid on, nor did they bid on me. I had matches on all my bids (pretty high ones as well) but AFPC was not helpful. So last week I talked to just about everyone I could (Major Gen name, Group CC, new CC, old CC, AFPC, people in, people out) to see if I could get at least my 2nd bid which was the 90th. AFPC said there were slots open there, but didn't want to fill them because they can't give every CC everything they want (even though we matched). So very frustrating to say the least. My supervisor was really helpful and was really seeking justification, and they kept flip-flopping on "well we have plenty of people with his skills", which my supe said no you don't, and "well we really need him". Wife and I decided we are going to 7-day opt..." So, now I'm helping my boy prep his resume and job hunt for a first gig in the low $100K's. He'll def be making more than me within 5 years, probably 2 if he tries even a little. Good job AF!

Ma' Deuce has entered the chat

Either way, she was going to be accused of being a DEI hire no matter what her history/performance. We can crow about how rules should always be followed, but then get pissed when we/family/friends don't get "exceptions" when we feel they're warranted. I feel like giving the family time to lock down the social media from the coming onslaught was warranted. Highly likely the family has already been doxed on some forum/site and is starting to receive threats. Or not, can't know for sure. I can't speak for the process, or reasons by the CC's/big army. I assume good intentions by default, worked well when I was in charge (and still does). Same as allowing exceptions when I could was a good tactic. Just trying to be empathetic to a family who's daughter/sister was a pilot who's now dead and being looked at as the cause of the worst air disaster in decades. Shit just sucks all around.

I can't speak to Mexico...because they could do more. I think a wall is stupid, but more "evil gov't employees 😁" in CBP and more tech to protect that area I'm good with. Canada however, reading their own press release what they committed to on Dec 17 seems to list everything "surrendered" by the Trump tariff tiff. Outside the "Fent Czar" being new, and last I saw less than 50lbs came through the great white north last year.

@Lord Ratner Sure, totally depends on expected use/scenario - we all may have wildly varying scenarios in our day to day lives. Mine will never involve needing to grab a folded AR and shoot from the hip, but I would never say or imply that applies across the board.

What a dumbass and a stupid reason for dumping the duty tabs. I thought they were a great call, made it easier to figure out who I was talking to. So are they stopping AFSC badges as well? Not my problem anymore, haven't missed it a bit.

2014 seems to be a VERY important year. Hence why PRE-EMPTIVE BIDEN PARDONS are all backdated to 2014. another coincidence I’m sure

This is most likely Trump doing his thing to elicit desired responses from other nations, just like with tariff threats. That said, if we truly go through with “full up” nation building, well fuck that. All for destroying people/things over there if required for our security, but outside of that, I simply DGAF about those people and the shitholes they’ve built for themselves, it’s not our problem.

True. But I’m also not really worried about the lack of that capability in a DI - the fold is so I can store more compactly, not to shoot it that way. Also, I fully admit one of these days I’ll at least buy a piston kit to mod one of my uppers. Mainly because I’m curious how much difference in carbon build up and gas to the face there is when shooting suppressed (which is how I shoot 99% of the time with ARs).

Hueys have a better GPS than the T-6, and that GPS went out of production in 2009!

I know fedex had them on order but ended up canceling

Well before we did a dumbass ADS-B solution, the whole jet was supposed to be amped back in the mid teens. That would have fixed the whole problem. Also Beechcraft/Textron pitched a mod to convert all the tails to a B/C standard but the Air Force said nah fam, we got this.

No, no, I’d like to try nation building in another desert wasteland.

Ridiculous deranged hyperbole. He's not threatening violence.

NOTHING TO SEE HERE JUST ANOTHER COINCIDENCE!

Lots of speculation but one camera view shows what could be sparks/flames trailing the airplane. I believe the weather was bad at the time so it could also be the collision lights reflecting off the fog?

If trump threatened the UK with nukes tomorrow, it seems like people would find a way to call it a “brilliant” negotiating strategy.

Good point and on any DI folder it’s just a better way to stash them and nothing much more. Have a few DI types, but definitely prefer the piston for the true ability to continuously fire while folded, easier to clean, less issues if your lazy like myself at times cleaning wise and doesn’t really crap where it eats. Maybe a little weight up front, but during stressful times my guess is you won’t notice it. My cleaning schedule is twice a year at best normally once diligently doing them all for a few days. As many have mentioned before get a can no matter what you decide to use if able - I still suffer from hearing loss from mock clearing rooms at a couple of shoot houses with some Army folks in the early nineties. Multiple flash bangs being thrown around recklessly wasn’t a good thing. Did learn a few things though. *Earlier last year my foolish self didn’t secure my headset quick enough prior to my bud popping off the 308 shooting out from inside cover. Trust me, within confined spaces get a can regardless of the ear attempting to block the shock and/or at least some good headsets by your bedside. Still have some impact from that stupidity.

Consider the LT instead (I have it). The slightly longer barrel is better for 300 blackout ballistics, and the gun is still really short overall. Also, with almost every suppressor that you're going to want to put on it, that extended mlok shroud won't actually fit any mlok nuts between the shroud and the suppressor. Better to just put a suppressor cover on the LT and have more options. There's a guy on Reddit who makes some pretty baller suppressor covers for a good price. SWaller89

The AF, in their infinite wisdom, split the contract to maintain the T-6 in two, one for actual MX on the jets and one for the parts sustainment/sourcing. Once the health of the fleet started to decline, it didn't take long for the two companies involved to point the finger at each other when they couldn't make their contract metrics. As LookieRookie mentioned above, the fleet has a pretty serious DMS problem (which is kinda wild given that the aircraft themselves just aren't that old) that is having a huge impact on tail availability. My buddy at 5/8 told me all the UPT bases are suffering, but CBM is in the wort shape. They have about 90 something T-6s and on any given day only a third are flyable.

Therein lies the issue. It will likely become very hard to maintain that good LTD program if the age increases. Here's hoping it never becomes an issue.

Nope, it’s pilot training, it’s not sexy enough

The problem right now (and the one AETC 5/8 is trying to work around) is that the T-6 portion of UPT is fucked/is the bottleneck right now. The T-6 fleet is in bad shape, it's getting worse, and there's no easy or expeditious way to fix it. The T-38 is well past any reasonable service life, and the T-7 is obviously delayed. This IPT concept is the latest attempt to get to the 1500 pilots/year production goal that the AF can never achieve. Believe it or not but the money issue for IPT was actually one of the smaller issues getting the program started.

Interesting. I wonder what changed.

They really all want to be on LTD, that’s the real deal Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's already a huge stretch to call anything related to J6 treason. No one was working for a foreign entity against our government, and no one was trying to replace one form of government with another. In fact the people involved (wrongly) believed they were defending our system and the integrity of our elections. The intent is a vital distinction. That doesn't mean it was rational or acceptable. It was a riot, and riots are almost always bad. This one certainly was. But that's not treason.

OK, it's only Wednesday; but this can't wait... U.S. pilot who vanished during Vietnam War spy mission accounted for A United States pilot who disappeared while conducting a spy mission during the Vietnam War has finally been accounted for, military officials said Tuesday. U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Donald W. Downing was assigned to the 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 12th Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force in September 1967, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said in a news release. Downing, 33, was piloting one of two aircraft in a nighttime armed reconnaissance mission over what was then known as the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on Sept. 5, 1967. While the two planes were on a run to the target, the first saw a "large, bright fireball in the air," according to the agency. Downing did not respond to radio calls to his F-4C Phantom II. And though search and rescue efforts started at daylight, electronic and visual searches of the area found nothing. (Full story at title link) A nickel in the grass! 🫡🫡