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OK, genius, tell me where I said "obsolete?" Your words, not mine. Plus, you can't seriously believe that there have been no disagreements with the principles on which the founding fathers set this nation in motion? Do some research...start with the Second Amendment, that should be fun! I'll make it easy on you, just watch this; then get back to me on how every American you have ever met has agreed with each and every view the founding fathers had. I'll be waiting... Cheers! M2

Y'know, I get the same feeling when someone puts a 200+ year old quote from one of the founding fathers! The threat we face today would have been unfathomable to them, and too much has changed to apply their philosophy blindly. Heck, if you go on their word, we should've had numerous revolutions since 1776, but that hasn't happened either. No one is advocating a surviellance free-for-all, but we have to be realistic about this. There have been some huge changes in the collection ROE since 9/11, and I was lucky enough to sit in on a brief given by the Director of NSA to the ACC staff at the time on what the new rules were. But I still think we need to come to the stark reality that if we allow these self-imposed restrictions to continue, the only people we are hindering is ourselves. It is an Archille's Heal and one terrorists are well aware of and will exploit. In as much as I hate to say it, the French "get it" and we don't. What will it take for us to clue in, another 9/11??? Cheers! M2

Understand that AFA is a lobby organization for the USAF, so they will naturally side with the Air Staff in a majority of instances. Not knocking AFA--I am a life member--but if Big Blue it touting doom and gloom, so will AFA's mountpiece, Air Force magazine. We've been in this boat numerous times before, and somehow we always survive. We may not end up with all the pointy-nosed jets we wanted, but there has to be a middle ground established between the excessive wants of the Air Force and the stingy givings of Congress. Somehow, the USAF will get by. It always has, and it always will. Worrying about it isn't going to change anything. Cheers! M2

The story, according to AFA... When will this injustice finally be righted? Cheers! M2

They should, there are more fucking Muslims in France then there are French! But as much as I hate to say it, maybe we can learn something from the French...we can start by pulling our heads out our asses when it comes to putting civil liberties blindly ahead of domestic security. It is not that I am against the former, it is just that no one seems to realize that if you are truly innocent, you have nothing to worry about when it comes to domestic surveillance targeting potential terrorists. I would gladly sacrifice a few of my personal liberties for the greater good of this country...I've already done that my entire adult life! Cheers! M2

And I wouldn't attribute it all to the weather claims, USAA made a bad move by trying to expand their market in opening up their services to the enlisted force. Now, before anyone tries to hand me my ass, I was prior enlisted and know firsthand the differences between the commissioned and non-commissioned ranks. Hell, I even had USAA when I was enlisted thanks to my father having been a member. Anyhow, there was a unexpected increase in claims after the customer requirements opened up and USAA wasn't about to absorb the costs themselves; so they did what every other insurance company does and passed it on to its customers. Then, of course, the hurricanes hit and they took an even bigger beating; but I live in San Antonio and USAA's headquarters here are proof that the company is still racking in the bucks. The company does have its benefits, but it is far from flawless... Cheers! M2

OK, since we posting pics of models in uniform, here is one that really gets me going... Cathy Rankin....yum. yum! Cheers! M2

Another good reason to carry "spare" nametags and patches...nudge, nudge, wink, wink, know what I mean!?! Cheers! M2

A second source, the Army Air Forces Statistical Digest, World War II, placed the total USAAF battle deaths at 40,061; 30,099 vs Germany, 9,810 vs. Japan, and 152 in "other" theaters. A further breakdown can be found in the Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths in WWII, located here. Cheers! M2

Smells a little like BS to me, but it wouldn't be the first time...so I did a quick search and found: Anyone feel like contacting the AF Historical Studies Office to confirm that? Cheers! M2

Even bombers were bad... Cheers! M2

Wikipedia on Flight 19...to include the one aircraft CH referred to... Cheers! M2

Yep, there is an option for an ambi thumb safety on the 2008 XD45ACP (Service models only at this time, if I am not mistaken) that just hit the streets last month... To be honest I don't think it is not really necessary as there are already two safeties designed into the weapon (grip and trigger). Just one more step to accomplish in a situation where you might not have the time to accomplish one more step! But to Springfield's credit, they did an excellent job incorporating it into the weapon! Some believe it was only done so SA could bid on future military and/or law enforcement contracts that require a thumb safety (the XD without the thumb safety is classified as a single-action pistol by the BATFE). Others think it was a lawyer thing. Either way, if you need an additional safety and had any concerns about the two that were on the XD, you now have another option. Personally, the best safety lies between the ears of the person handling the weapon; and I have no fear of carrying the XD the way it is... Cheers! M2

Nope, too lazy myself as well. And you won't go wrong with the XD. It is as good as a Glock, only better! Cheers! M2

Y'know, I remember seeing the 1911 in Airman and wondered what that was all about...I would much prefer to have been able to carry my .45 over that 9mm. But given the choice, I would've wanted to carry my XD45 above all, as it is not only as reliable as any handgun I have carried, but the 13+1 capacity is much preferred! Cheers! M2

I have seen people carrying Glocks, but they weren't USAF pilots! For the most part, and as far as I know, everyone in Big Blue carries the M9. Oddly enough, the Glock claim is repeated on the Wikipedia page on Individual Weapons of the US Armed Forces. Cheers! M2

Discussed on Warthog Territory... Cheers! M2

And more... Cheers! M2

Notice how the Stripes article works hard to not admit the guy was a total assbag? He was a prick at USAFE, and I am sure it all carried over to Miss State. Unfortunately, what he probably failed to realize was that there they could go tell him to 'fuck off!' The funny thing is he did the same at USAFE...his leaving really helped the command "move forward." The only unity that occurred while he was in charge was the common hatred for the douche bag. Still, I am surprised that the S&S even ran the article at all. If he was still at Ramstein, I am sure he'd have the editors on the carpet for even remotely criticizing him. Can you tell my hatred towards Doc is still deeply embedded? Cheers! M2

Just an update... Cheers! M2

I live to serve! right back at ya! Cheers! M2

Dig around here...I'm sure the answer lies in there somewhere... Cheers! M2

Burrito No, it is not illegal any more than it would be for an O-3 living next to you being charged even more. I never lived in privatized housing on base, but from what I understand it is the same as the old base housing situation where you simply forfeit your BAH/VHA. As for the original post, there are many pros/cons to living on base. For one, you can pretty much commute via bicycle and save yourself the wear and tear on your car for the 1.5 ride into work. At Ramstein my second car, a lemon lot BMW, became the squadron car until one of the guys that used it the most offered to buy it from me when I PCS'd. I told him why wait, he was driving it more than I was! Plus, at some bases you are within walking distance of the BX and Commissary, plus at Ramstein we had the 24-hr shoppette and movie theater within a 5-minute walk. But, there are some down sides. We were in stairwells our last year at Ramstein, and for those who haven't been to Europe that is basically an apartment block. Despite the German winters, we never turned on the heat as the couple below us had theirs cranked and it heated up the entire building. As a matter of fact, we would crack the windows open (European windows are great!) to get some fresh air in. Secondly, in stairwells you know everything that is going on in the building as you hear it firsthand. But at UPT bases you will most likely be in individual houses or duplexes. They may not be the most modern or spacious accommodations but they will suffice for the year. Also, you are expected to abide by the base regs on how to maintain your house, such as the height of shrubs cannot exceed a certain limit and you must mow your yard so often; but usually that is not much more than what any homeowner’s association would require. Plus there is the added security of living on base…I don’t recall many burglaries happening on base while I was in but I am sure it has happened once or twice; but not nearly as often as they do off base. Considering what you would get renting/leasing a house off base for a year, I think it is a smart move for a UPT stud with a family to live on base. It makes life easier for everyone involved, and you still get the thrill of watching planes fly over your house. However, once you get to your primary base I would recommend living off base, especially overseas. For one, Stateside it is usually a good investment as compared to throwing rent away for 3-4 years (even if you lose a little money when you sell the place, it is nothing compared to the amount you toss when you simply rent. Consider at $1200/mo, in three years you lose $43,200 and get no tax breaks from owning). And overseas you get a much better cultural experience living on the economy. Sure, it may cost a little more; but that is why you get COLA! I wouldn’t trade our time off base in Germany or Belgium for the world! Cheers! M2

Neither do I; but I do know that could be interpreted two different ways. As you are a bud, I'd expect it was the more complimentary of the two, for which I thank you! As for fatasses, I live in one of the "chubbiest" cities in the US (San Antonio). Trust me, despite having added a few pounds since hitting middle age; compared to most of the folks around here, I am still thin. Not cocaine-era Rick James ("I'm Rick James, bitch!") thin, but still thin! Cheers! M2

OK, a fellow moderator closed this thread, and I can easily see why. But as it had some good info in it, I cleaned up the latest tangent and will re-open it. However, if it gets off-track again it will be closed permanently. Basically this is the last warning. No operationally-sensitive information please; and if you are not sure what that means feel free to email me the info you are going to post and I will ensure it is good to go. I can provide an OSIS (.GOV NIPRNET) or a SIPRNET address as needed. If you have some tasty tidbit of information you want to share, but are smart enough to realize that it shouldn’t be posted on an open forum such as this, then simply post a not saying you have a briefing or whatever and tell people to PM you with their official email addresses for a copy. I have done this several times with such things as the pics of the F-22 intercept of the Russian Bears and it is a tried and proven method of handing any ‘Official Use Only’ info. But be forewarned that some folks will still ask despite not having a .MIL or .GOV email address. It is better to just tell them sorry, and not provide the info. Learn a lesson from Dozer, even if the info you have is releasable it still doesn’t mean it is wise to post it on a public forum where anyone can access it. I have no doubt that BaseOps is monitored, not only by people looking for information on the US Air Force, but also by our own folks looking to see if any information is being given out that shouldn’t. The Dozer F-22 example is a classic case of someone being monitored. It is not a matter of him being able to post the information, for all accounts he only posted what had been released; but the question is whether it was a good idea to broadcast such a large amount of info to an unknown audience. It wasn’t. So, with that in mind, this is a good thread and can be beneficial in educating those of us who have a general interest in the U-28, as well as provide opportunities to those who are actually going to fly the mission with contacts to learn even more. But it all must be done under the watchful eye of OPSEC, as there are limits and “needs to know” that must always take precedence. Someone’s life may count on it. Cheers! M2