M2

Stuck Yep, it was yours truly that mentioned Piece of Cake. I bought the book when it first came out, and I would highly recommend getting it if you can find a copy as it is probably Derek Robinson's best work. The miniseries was great but it left out a lot from the book. Still, you can't beat the flying scenes! Although not about flying, a similar miniseries titled Danger UXB about a bomb disposal officer in London during WWII and was done as well as the Piece of Cake series. It is on my list of DVD sets to buy... Cheers! M2 I thought the book was much better... Cheers! M2

Nothing wrong with being a bum! As for your question, call your safety office! Cheers! M2 You forgot one important point... 4.6.6. All other retirees, contractors, dependents, and civilians who operate a motorcycle while on an AF installation are encouraged, but not required, to attend an approved motorcycle rider safety course. Outstanding! Cheers! M2

Yeah, you're good. As long as you've taken any MSF course, you don't need to take it again on base. Well, except that I think some commands require you to retake it every two years. I remember when I took my first USAF motorcycle safety course back in June 1982 ("Motor Cycle Challenges Course VII, IAW AFR 50-24" I still have the training certificate, the old blue ones that have the moon, a satellite, a rocket and some kind of futuristic jet on it...anyone remember those?), we were told it was the only course we would have to take during our entire career. Well, that may have been true at the time; but it sure wasn't true years later as I had to take it several more times during my career. I haven't ridden to work for years, but I would suspect that with the base decal program gone, if you have all the proper gear on and show your ID, you most likely won't even be asked for a MSF card. Hell, I don't even know where mine is... Cheers! M2

Great story! I think this is the way it should be. We had a cool NCO at my AFROTC Det that ended up with most of ours, but I still think it should go to whoever gives you your first "operational" salute. Cheers! M2

Call a local motorcycle shop (not a Harley dealership) and ask about MSF courses. I think they run about $75 for the beginner or the experienced rider course. There is nothing the H-D course could teach that would be worth that money. I suspect a lot of the time is spent learning how to "polish your chrome" (STS)... Otherwise, I would keep trying the free on-base course. So you show up and it's full...all you lose is about a half hour of your time. But you'll never know until you try... And see if any other military installation near you has it. Cheers! M2

Again I ask...when did the USAF get helicopters?? Seriously, tell them you want to fly helicopters and they send you to see the nice man in the white coat. They will attach electrodes to your cranium and give you a couple of volts of the lightning and if you still want to fly them, they double the dose. Seriously, this is what helicopter flying is all about....

Yeah, as Mike pointed out, your VA permit is not recognized by MD, so you can't carry. Here is a map of the states that recognize your permit: Maryland isn't the most gun-friendly state, and note that WV, MI and FL don't recognize your non-resident permit either. I have the XD45ACP, as I love the .45 caliber, I consider it the consummate American round and it is nice to be able to use the same ammo with my 1911. Plus, with 13+1 capacity, it's sufficient for most SHTF situations. I don't always carry an extra magazine, as after 14 rounds if the situation hasn't ended I will be working towards my exit ("Gimme three steps, give me three steps towards the door"). It is idiotic to stand your ground and fight, you need to be off the 'x' and on the move! About the only time you do that is when you are defending your home, at which the XD is only to give me something to shoot until I can get to the bigger toys. As the old axiom goes, you can never have enough firepower or ammo! The XD does have the trigger safety, as well as the 1911-style grip safety. As discussed earlier, they are now available with a thumb safety but I think that is a little too much. I don't have the requirements that the military and law enforcement agencies have for a thumb safety, I want a weapon I can grab and fire. But the bottom line is you should get the gun you fire well. Caliber is not nearly as important as shot placement, and a well-placed 9mm will be better than a badly-placed .45 shot. But there was an FBI study titled 'Handgun Wounding Factors and Effectiveness' that concluded: "Given desirable and reliable penetration, the only way to increase bullet effectiveness is to increase the severity of the wound by increasing the size of hole made by the bullet. Any bullet which will not penetrate through vital organs from less than optimal angles is not acceptable. Of those that will penetrate, the edge is always with the bigger bullet." It is a great report, you can easily find the full report by Googling the name. There may not be a huge difference in caliber sizes, as Hacker's chart shows; but even that little deviation between calibers can make the difference in between striking a vital organ and not. Plus, you greatly increase your chances by using JHPs, which I will only use in my carry weapon. Hope that helps! Cheers! M2

Box Ain't no way anyone would want to carry one of those as a CCW. Small frame? Compared to what? I considered one for when I am out hiking in my beloved Texas Hill Country, .410 revolvers make for good snake guns. But the reviews I read where not that impressive, and once I got the chance to hold one in person I knew it was just a novelty gun. Sure, I'd still like to have one, but my list of desired weaponry is long and distinguished. For concealed carry, there is no better option that the XD45ACP...easy to carry, 13+1 of .45ACP, and completely reliable. Cheers! M2

Yeah, it's called a paycheck. You got the education, now you need to pay whatever institutions were kind enough to lend you the money to get it. If you wanted a free education, you should've gotten a scholarship or gone to the Academy. That said, I think some states will forgive some or all of the loans they give if you serve a certain amount of time in a combat zone. You'll have to do some homework on that yourself; but otherwise, man up and pay your debts! Cheers! M2

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