Herk Driver

If you read more, I thik he was referring to the B-2 here although with his continuation about carpet-bombing (B-2 or B-52??) I can't be sure..

I don't know if you even need that Chuck. He claims to "know" that Iran has F-16's that they bought from Cuba before we instituted the embargo (that's why they can no longer get parts for it) and also has named the Wing Leadership incorrectly, although trying to cover nicely. This guy is clearly a fake.

In addition, there are other language programs out there besides Rosetta. EUCOM has several available to the base populace and some you can access from home.

Depends on how much stuff you have. I have had them pack ~13,000-14,000# of stuff once or twice. That takes 3 days. Not sure where they make the cut for 1 or 2 days though.

Maybe that's not the aluminum they taste.

No experience in this whatsoever, but from what I saw when people this last time around could go Palace Chase (switch from AD to ANG or AFR): whatever ADSC time you had remaining was doubled for time to serve in the ANG/AFR. In your example, the 5 remaining AD years would mean 10 years in the ANG/AFR. I don't know anyone that has been allowed to Palace Chase recently.

So, what is the requirement for a course to be listed as a TDY? Exactly how long is the course at LRF these days?

[sarcasm]Never heard an AF pilot say anything arrogant or out of line.[/sarcasm]

Wrong. And before you rebut this, go back and read the post where you said that "the credit card has never been a requirement of joining the club". Toro responded with, "Yes it has. Possibly not anytime recently, but the credit card was mandatory when I was at Laughlin in 95, which raised a huge stink." Then you went on tell us how he was confusing the credit card with the club card. I was at an AFMC base back in '93. AFMC was the test command for the "new" Club Cards. They were required then. That may not be the case now, but at that time they were. So, the credit card feature is NOT relatively new (within the last 5 to 10 years) as you claim. It has been going since the early '90's when I "used" to be a club member.

That depends on how you define "support the border guard and DEA". Posse Comitatus is not a prohibition against all things that support law enforcement. Military support does not violate the PCA

Don't pull it out (sts) of an ATM unless you are willing to pay the ATM Advance fee.

I think this has been discussed before. Do a search. However, an email is not policy. You said, "The NCO stated that while the AFI is an official document that spans the whole AF, lower levels and MAJCOMS (in this case, AETC), can implement different requirements that suit their needs." Ask to see the policy letter or official document that "suits their needs".

As for all of your post, I'd ask that you re-read my post. Specifially focus on the mutual respect thing being a two way street.

BLUF: I havent' seen too many people walking into (name your support function) and demanding to be treated like a king. It usually is only after they don't feel like they are getting a fair shake (sts) that they go to the supervisor, etc. I agree with the premise of your post. The problem is that your bottom line doesn't match what you presented above it. You basically told us how the "good 'ole boy network' hooked you up. You laid out the argument that since you had a relationship (sts) with Airmen Snuffy and he personally had friends in the MPF that he hooked you up. You use that point to justify that "nobody is better than the other" yet you just got preferential treatment because of relationships that you built and the relationships that he had. While I have always been able to build these types of relationships and get things done (two way street) when the chips were down; it shouldnt' be based on who you know. What if I'm the new guy on the base? I wouldn't be able to pull those same strings. Mutual respect is one thing. It's a whole different ballgame when we talk you have to have a friend in each organization to get sh!t done. The 'good 'ole boy network' should not exist in a professional organization. Also, the idea that I should treat every support troop like I want to be treated is a two-way street.

Exactly. I think that Kayla mentioned that she was being bounced back and forth between MPF and finance. If the guys she was dealing with didn't know and couldn't fix it, how was she supposed to know? She went to an office and got the "I'm too busy between short hours and closed for training hours" excuse. That's it.

Exactly. Nice try though finance guy. If the guy at finance had his shit in one sock, like you obviously do, he would have explained what you did above and sent the member to MPF. When the guy returned with the BS from MPF, the finance guy worth his salt would have called the MPF, spoke to the NCOIC and gotten the shit squared away. Really, no one really cares how MPF system x feeds finance sytem y; they want to get paid. It is not the member's responsibility to make sure that finance and MPF can do their jobs. And before you say it it isn't finance's job to make sure the MPF does their job, but ultimately, you know how the system works and could make one phone call and get it squared away. Instead most finance guy just send the person away with the it isn't my problem and wait for them to return 69 times before trying to actually fix it.

Funny. I ended up going through LR with that guy. Reservist that flies for Delta now.

Probably doesn't matter, but how long between when you were last qual'd for UH-1 and when you were mission qual'd in the tanker?

With Advanced Academic degrees being unmasked, one might expect that it will start making more of a difference. For those that were not around for when a Master's was basically required, the percentages were lower, but a Master's was a very big discriminator. The powers that be intend to get back to those days. In a world of basically paying people to get out and still needing to cut another 10K or so people, I wouldn't expect that 95% promotion opportunities would stick around for too long either. In a couple of years, I can see the Master's degree being back at the level that it once was (i.e. people without a Master's will find it difficult to get promoted).

No, it hasn't.

Have been receiving some decent information as of late from the guys on the MAF DT's. I know this isn't exactly the right place for it, but not worth a new thread and fits about right here. If you want to know one of the top factors for the MAF DT when they make vector decisions etc, it is pretty much keeping your preference worksheet (ADP) updated. The feedback that we continue to get is to have one in that is not older than 12 months. If you don't take care of yourself and you get screwed over, you have no one to blame but yourself. Hope this is helpful. Here is the cut and paste from the email: Ladies and Gentlemen, As the Chair for the Mobility Air Forces Development Team (MAF DT), I would like to provide some feedback from the panel that met at AFPC from 14-17 April. The DT reviewed 394 O-4 selects from the 1999-year group and provided them with a developmental vector and in most cases a skill pairing. These officers may see the DT input by reviewing their DT Vector in AMS. It will take roughly 4 weeks for AFPC to get these vectors uploaded into the system. Below are some of the DT's observations and recommendations. Please feel free to share with your MAF rated officers in order to further educate them on the development process at this stage of their careers. * Overall currency of ADPs has improved, but, 24% of the 1999-year group still had ADPs more than a year old -- several were over two years old. * Many SURFs were not accurate, especially regarding the most current duty title -- members can check the accuracy of their records on-line. * It is imperative that officers maintain a current ADP, and records in general, especially upon selection for promotion. * The Development Preferences section of the ADP is where both the officer and reviewer can provide accurate input to the DT regarding professional goals and any career broadening opportunities that might be of interest. * Recommended vectors from the reviewer are encouraged, however, real JCS and Air Staff Vectors are very scarce...please save those recommendations for your best and brightest. * Additional factors the DT used to differentiate performance/potential include: Consistent, and meaningful, stratification Completion of advanced academic degree Completion of PME Weapons Instructor Course Completion of DLAB and formal language training Instructor duty in a MWS I can't stress enough the importance of accurate records for these boards, especially for the upcoming Summer DT. The Summer MAF DT will be held in August '08 to provide IDE/SDE recommendations to the Developmental Education Designation Board (DEDB). Many thanks to those who served on this DT, and a special thank-you to their Commanders who allowed them to attend. Any questions can be at addressed to me, or my DT advisor, Maj xxx, at DSN 779-xxxx. or xxx@scott.af.mil. V/R, Fred FREDERICK F. ROGGERO, Maj Gen, USAF Director of Air, Space, and Information Operations

No you don't need both a personal (blue) and no-fee (blue) passport. The passports that your family will get will be blue passports, typically unless you are doing something out of the ordinary, like a diplomatic or something else. FWIW, I use my Official passport when traveling to from CONUS and to other stops over here that require it. My family has the blue no-fee and I have a personal (blue) passport for the non-NATO countries and NATO countries that require more than just an ID and leave form. We have never had a problem. If you've ever been to Turkey you will know that they are sometimes the world's worst when it comes to passports and visas. Just returned from there (military not stationed in Turkey need a passport for tourist travel there) for Spring Break and didn't have any issues. The family blue, no-fees say that the passport can only be used in conjunction with the bearer's residence abroad. Well, just like when traveling to/from the CONUS, travel between our current residence and any place in Europe is in conjunction with our residence here. There are many who will disagree with what I wrote above. The bottom line is that in two tours here and lots of travel throughout Europe, we have had zero problems with it. Spend the money if you must, but be aware that you don't have to.

Sputnik is spot on. I don't know where these guys get their info from but seems a little high to me (see below). But, serve enough months in the desert and you will end up getting all of your income taxes back for the year anyway. From the AFPC website. Aviator Continuation Pay (ACP) Bonus Tax Free While Currently Serving In A Combat Zone Answer: Depending on the situation. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Publication 3 allows commissioned officers to exclude certain pay (i.e., active duty pay, imminent danger (IDP)/hostile fire pay (HFP), etc.) from their income. However, the amount of exclusion is limited to the highest rate of enlisted pay (in same hostile area), in addition to IDP/HFP, for each month during any part of which you serve in a combat zone. According to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) ACP representative, aviators who currently receive their initial ACP installment while in a combat zone receive approximately $6,700 of it tax free. Members not in the combat zone have their initial or subsequent installments paid with the 25% FITW deduction and possibly SITW (State Income Tax Withheld) deduction.

That sucks. Welcome to the non-AEF cycle that many -130's have been on for the last 3-4 years now. 4 on, 4 off, If you're lucky. 12 off would be nice. (sts)