Longhorn15

Yes, we had to destroy our own jet a few days later. Not sure which is worse...

F-15E 1. High, you'll be busy, whether you're at home or away 2. Reasonably stable, but busy. Expect 1-2 AEFs per assignment plus numerous exercises/TDYs 3. Pretty darn good 4. Around until at least 2035, good upgrades planned 5. Mountain Home, Lakenheath - amazing / Seymour Johnson - not so much We bring some capabilities no one else does, but we also have our limitations compared to the 5th gen guys. We're popular right now due to our load out, comms and long legs (for a fighter.) I suspect the reason you haven't heard a ton from the fighter guys is that if you aren't 100% sure this is for you, it probably isn't, as you'll quickly burn out. Deployments are fun, but the 12hr+ days for years on end at home will wear you out if you don't love it. If I have to talk you into a fighter, it isn't for you. That isn't meant to say that you can't make it, but that you may not want to. If you've always dreamed of flying fighters, you will have zero regrets and kick yourself when you look back for even thinking of another option.

Way more than 10% true. "Maggie" was totally clueless, even the tanker plan sucked.

How do you feel about killing people?

The point you're missing is that in Welsh we had a CSAF who actually gets the problems and was unable to affect meaningful change. It could be much, much worse. I was in USAFE when Welsh sent out his "Dear Boss" email and then came and talked to us. Before that talk, I always thought the Generals were just clueless or just out of touch. Trust me, Welsh understands the problems, he is just sadly powerless to fix them. Of course he bows to political pressure on all the social engineering BS, he has to if he wants to have any chance of getting the funding he wants from Congress, or even talk to them about important issues without being overrun with sexual assault questions from Gillebrand. Was Welsh perfect, far from it. My biggest gripe is why the hell are we still doing so many 365s? There are many others. Seeing Welsh's performance over the last 4 years has convinced me that no one can make it better. I think Goldfein will at least minimize the bleeding and damage caused by the next round of politicians, whoever they may be. I hope CH is right.

This is an interesting concept. Very few CAF guys are going to staff these days. In fact, as part of the CAF match, guys are volunteering for remote staff to get staff credit. To give MAF guys an idea, I provide these two examples that I've seen in the last 2 years. 1. A FS/DO who turned down command, went Ops-to-Ops, and not for a command opportunity 2. An O-5, who has never been an IP, got non-vol'd to the FTU for IP duty We saw a few pure-ops guys get BTZ last year from the CAF and AFSOC. I'd be curious to know what directions to the board were. Maybe staff matters more for MAF than CAF? Notice you rarely see 11Fs anywhere but a fighter base of staff? Strange times.

The proposal to increase the bonus to $35K just barely covers inflation from 2000-2016. $25K in 2000 = $34,325 today. The other pay factor worthy of discussion is the ACIP. Hasn't increased in the critical 6-14 year range since 1990. $650 in 1990 = $1178 today. Pay won't keep everyone in, but it certainly won't hurt to take us back to pay rates on par or better than the 2000 era, which was the last time the AF was worried about retention.

I was told 84% as well by my SR. Not exactly sure what it means though. Is that an overall number, is it based on the number IPZ? Anyone know?

Don't confuse the FMS price with a USAF price. Ours is significantly cheaper. There are a ton of extras built into FMS sales. Cost isn't just about purchase price. LO MX comes with a hefty price tag. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There is a world of difference between quitting at the Academy and quitting UPT. Now for some facts: If you quit the Academy, you fall under AFI 36-3504 para 16, and you are liable to either serve your ADSC enlisted or pay back your education expenses. If you quit UPT, you never have a flying ADSC. There is even a specific note in AFI 36-2107 Table 1.1 note 2 that says you'll have either a 2 year ADSC or the ADSC for the program you quit, whichever is less. There is another section in 36-2107 2.19.1 that talks recoupment of bonus and incentive pays for non-completion of the associated ADSC, but since you never get an ADSC if you quit UPT, it doesn't apply. I personally saw one person SIE over their aircraft drop (non-RPA) in 2009 and another over their track select in 2004. They were separated with no attempt at recoupment of any costs.

ATC cannot route IFR traffic through an active MOA. They either have to send them around, or call the airspace back. If you're losing airspace without your consent, you need to talk to the Chief Controller at your local RAPCON and see why they're giving away your airspace without your approval. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Got my ATP at Cobra Kai recently, and would definitely recommend. Solid instructors, program and big picture examiner. I definitely appreciated the three flights, I would've been way uncomfortable doing a check ride after just 1 flight. It costs slightly more than others, but I'd use them again. Happy to answer any questions via PM. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

PYB is a retard who thinks he is smarter than everyone else about the law. However, being an idiot and going about things in unbelievably stupid ways doesn't make him 100% wrong. I was struck when I was traveling in Europe and one of my British friends told the other Brits to bring ID to an event, then looked at me and said: "You're American, of course you always have ID on you." What right do police have to stop me if they do not suspect me of a crime? We scorn the Germans in old movies when they randomly stop people and ask for the "papers." How is this different?

“Tiger, one day you will come to a fork in the road,” he said. “And you’re going to have to make a decision about which direction you want to go.” He raised his hand and pointed. “If you go that way you can be somebody. You will have to make compromises and you will have to turn your back on your friends. But you will be a member of the club and you will get promoted and you will get good assignments.” Then Boyd raised his other hand and pointed another direction. “Or you can go that way and you can do something – something for your country and for your Air Force and for yourself. If you decide you want to do something, you may not get promoted and you may not get the good assignments and you certainly will not be a favorite of your superiors. But you won’t have to compromise yourself. You will be true to your friends and to yourself. And your work might make a difference.” He paused and stared into the officer’s eyes and heart. “To be somebody or to do something. In life there is often a roll call. That’s when you will have to make a decision. To be or to do. Which way will you go?

Board: Dec 12, first pin on: Jan 14. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

the guys who are Sq/CCs now are the ones who were burned by decision to unmask AAD last time. Therefore they have no trust and actually think they're helping you not get painted into the same corner they did. I don't agree with them, but as with any advice, consider the source. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

F-150 Ecoboost hands down. I get 20-21 MPG on the highway, it takes me camping/4 wheeling in the mountains, and can pull a 9K+ trailer with no problem. Amazing truck. Previous truck was a GMC with the 6.2L V8. No comparison. If you haven't seen it yet, I'd wait and get a 2015 F-150.

They're not. The Eagle has auto CMD settings too. No one uses it because it would waste all your chaff/flare, sounds like the F-35 will be the same. Once again, overly complex and expensive systems designed by engineers who do not understand air combat.

The attitude of the author in that article is about half of what is wrong with cops in America.

His wife isn't any better. Booze was removed from the FS bars at SJ and there are locks on the beer taps.

I don't know why people think government intervention is the solution to inequality, big government is the CAUSE of inequality. Welfare state policies (supported in both sides of the aisle) have encouraged a culture of dependency on gov't that ensures that more and more people will become dependent on the state. Why would someone work for minimum wage when if decreases their quality of life compared to not working? The increase in welfare, food stamps, long-term unemployment, and "disability" is a documented fact. increased corporate regulation has raised the bar to starting businesses and made it tougher to complete with established powerhouses. Corporations now spend hundreds of millions of lobbyists because they know political influence is as important as having a good business model. Any doubts, research Microsoft's habits when they were fighting monopoly charges. They didn't used to spend money on lobbyists, now they do. How about GE, you can undercut your competition if you get your friends in washington to pass tax breaks/incentives specifically to help your business, thus artificially increasing profits. How about fielding new medical equipment techniques? Good luck getting through the FDA. Not to mention the billions of our tax dollars on the failed business models of "green" projects. Government power is the problem, not the answer.

Liquid, The death of the fighter pilot culture is destroying the morale and brotherhood in fighter squadrons. Being a fighter pilot used to be a lifestyle, but you and those like you have reduced it to simply being another job. Roll calls and bar stories are dying, because everyone knows that it isn't safe to hang out there. All the informal learning that used to happen over beer/scotch is dying too, so yes our culture did make us better at our jobs. When you see retention numbers drop in the next few years, I'm sure you'll point to some other factor, but I won't be staying one day past my ADSC.

In addition to good food and beer, no PT gear and no reflective belts...you'll love it.

General curiosity, how would you gents feel about getting rid of the retirement in favor of 2 to 1 TSP/401K matching, coupled with bonuses to accept ADSCs? The healthcare benefit is losing it's luster with Obamacare looking like it's going to drive us to a single payer system. The unintended consequence of this is the AF would actually have to take care of it's people, not just pay lip service. If you have to pay guys 100K to take an assignment to Cannon, or stay in for a 365, perhaps big blue would realize these are stupid decisions that destroy QoL. It would have the fringe benefit of getting rid of many of the mid-level Officers and NCOs who are just wasting everyone's time until they can retire at 20. I would feel more comfortable leaving the AF with 300-400K in my pocket after 15 yrs than the promises of politicians that they're going to take care of me after I serve 20, especially when you factor in healthcare changes that are happening.

My opposition to gay marriage being legislated is that it infringes on an institution that is a construct of the Church. If gays want the same rights, fine, have a civil union and you'll get all the benefits you're looking for. However, this isn't viewed as good enough, because liberals want the symbolic victory of it being called marriage. Much like Obamacare forcing religious organizations to offer contraception and abortion coverage, liberals have no problems zealously pushing the separation of Church and State, but also no problem with the State dictating to the Church. Typically hypocritical of this bunch. WRT gun rights...I pledged to support and defend the constitution of the United States. Come for my guns, and we're going to have a gunfight. Liberty: Don't infringe on anyone else's liberty and you can do what you want, no matter how much I might disagree with the morality/reasonableness of your actions.