M2

Back when F-111s still ruled the universe, I was up at Mt Home. Many had bad things to say about it (I didn't, I liked Idaho!), but many more said "at least we're not at Cannon!" Whereas I am a strong advocate of making the best out of any situation, I also wonder why the USAF has to force everyone to "embrace the suck?" I can put up with it, but as CH so aptly stated none of us want our families to have to put up with it as well! The thing about Hurlburt was at least you knew your family was in a nice place. We all know the reasons the USAF chose Cannon, ain't no way you are gonna convince us otherwise. And watch what you say about Texas, junior! I think people would prefer even El Paso over Clovis! Cheers! M2

My philosophy towards chutes (and a lot of other things) is that 'it is better to have and not need, than to need and not have!' Having jumped from a few aircraft (for fun, of course!), I always thought it was a good skill to have. Honestly, there is nothing tough about it...all you have to do is remember to pull the cord! Other than that, all you are doing is falling... Cheers! M2

From AFA... I love the linked article, especially the comment "Crew members forced to evacuate in-flight aircraft with parachutes, for example, have much gentler impacts with the ground than those without chutes." Real funny. I know the Stratotanker has an excellent safety record, and the odds of actually getting out with a chute on are slim; but I would be curious as to what "real" crews thought and not the brainwashed gerbils that AF/PA gets to quote in their reports? Cheers! M2

Yeah, this sounds hosed. Your plan to go back to the ed office and ask about it is a good idea; but I would advocate talking with somebody different this time... Cheers! M2

Europe is a different animal. For one, the drive on the right side of the road, meaning you won't have to worry about new headlights or anything. Two, as there is more room on the Continent, roads are usually wider. Not always, you will still find some ancient cobblestone pathway that is being used as a road; but for the most part having a larger vehicle is not as much of a problem. I did a tour in Germany and Belgium, and although your minivan will stick out somewhat (they do have them over there, but they aren't as popular as they are in the States. And don't feel bad, we've got an Odyssey), you'll enjoy the hauling capability when you go shopping! Parts may be a problem, but if you find a good mechanic it shouldn't be an issue unless it is a piece of shit and breaks down all the time. As for motorcycles, most definitely bring one! It can go in your HHG and riding in Europe is a experience of a lifetime. A bud and I rode south through the Alps into Italy and it was the best motorcycle trip I have ever taken. Plus, you can haul ass on the roads over there, and drivers are much more motorcycle-friendly than they are in the States. All that said, as much as I like Aviano I would take Spang over it in a heartbeat. Driving/riding in Italy can be nerve racking, the Italians do deserve the reputation they have. However, Germany and especially the Eifel region around Spang is a lot less crowded and quite beautiful. We used to go there from Belgium all the time, it was a much nicer drive than going back down to Ramstein where we'd been stationed previously. Either place would be great, but given the preference I would chose Spang over Aviano. I am sure many would disagree with me; but if those are your options, then consider yourself quite lucky! Cheers! M2

All good advice. I was stationed in the UK and have been back there TDY on a few occassions. Even drove over from Belgium via the Chunnel on two trips. I gotta say driving a left-hand drive vehicle in the land of right-hand driving can be harrowing. For one, as HercDude said the hedges are scary, and I swear you can even see the groove in them cut out by the mirrors of passing vehicles. Secondly, you really have to pay attention at intersections when you turn, on numerous occassions I had think twice about what I was doing as I almost turned into on-coming traffic. I found driving a right-hand car to be a lot easier. Heck, if you like Jeeps (I own an LJ myself), go find a newer RHD TJ and take that with you! Or, as sugested, but a secondhand car while you are there. Although not as cheap as they used to be, you can still get a lot of your money back when you leave, as long as you take halfway decent care of it. I just think the Tacoma would be a lot to handle on the UK roads...and maybe even moreso for you wife. But I wouldn't let this one issue keep you from trying for an assignment there. I love the UK, the people, the culture and the countryside are all wonderful, and you haven't lived until you've done a real pub crawl! Even though things have changed a lot since I lived there (it was always expensive, but now with the even stronger Pound it is a lot worse), I still enjoy my trip back and if I ever had the chance to move there again, I would gladly do so. There is a lot to do and see, and a lot of history there! Cheers! M2

You can take it, but you may want to consider getting something locally instead. For one, you will be sitting on the opposite side of the vehicle and although it is doable, it is not optimal. Secondly, the roads in the UK were designed for considerably smaller vehicles, making maneuvering a mammoth like the Tacoma a bit tricky. Third, insurance may be expensive, and parts won't be as easy to come by as if you were driving something sold in the UK. And your US warrant will no longer be valid, if the local Toyota dealership in the UK even services your pick-up the best you can hope for is the same warranty it would have there, if it even sold there. If you need any warranty work done, be prepared to pay for it yourself then fight with Toyota to reimburse you. Not always the case, we took a Passat to Germany and the local dealership actually did a US recall fix on it, but it was a German car in Germany so we had a bit of an advantage. And you will be limited to how much gas you can get on-base, I think it is equivelent to only going back and forth to work; and if you have to fill up on the local economy, be prepared for a shock. Gas is $7-8/gal over there, maybe even higher. And, don't bother going to the UK customs web site, as your vehicle will be transported over via the US military. Contact TMO for the info. You do have to make some mods to a US vehicle if you bring it to the UK (some white running light up front and a rear fog light if I remember correctly); but you will not be subject to import customs. However, you will stick out as an American. Not a big thing in the UK, but you never really want to stand out overseas. Cheers! M2 p.s. Also, read this.

OK, I'm confused. What "fees" are you talking about? And how are you taking grad school classes where the tuition is only $276? I am working on a second masters, and tuition is costing $825/semester. It's been a few years since I got my first masters and I am no longer on active duty; but if you are still getting 100% tuition assistance than you should be getting at least $750 a class ($250/hr). You get squat for books and whatnot. I am lucking out as my company is paying tuition reimbursement, not quite as good as TA in as I have to pass the class before I get paid for it; but at least someone else is paying for it! And I would also advocate being grateful to be getting paid to sit around on casual status, back in "the day" we all waited to get on active duty, some folks up to a year! I was lucky as I only had five months... Cheers! M2

Shame, as the lad was over there trying to get some real experience that would serve him well; and once again, the media fucks it all up! Props to him for not being a FOBBIT and actually getting some Afghan dust on his boots, and to the Drudge Report for not knowing when to keep their big mouth shut! Cheers! M2

If you're being mounted in a vehicle, you've got bigger problems than not being able to draw from your leg holster! I had no problems with leg holsters when riding in vehicles, but to be honest I preferred shoulder rigs. Cheers! M2

Not the optimal draw in that position, plus I would still feel uneasy about its direction even thought I know it won't AD on its own! Get a leg holster like every other cowboy out there. Still, much like his uncle Andrew, he is "the spare" and therefore can take chances the primary can't. That said, I give him credit for being over there and getting the experience. I hope the idiotic press doesn't spoil his chances of seeing some action... Cheers! M2

Very nice, I would love one of those as it makes for a great concealed carry weapon! On a different note, I may have a chance at a Winchester Model 94 30-30 lever-action rifle that I don't really need but have always wanted. It has a low number of rounds that have been through it (10-15) and looks to be pristine, the only issue at the moment is the seller may have another buyer. It is cheap ($150) and if I get the chance I will probably grab it, I was just wondering if anyone had any firsthand experience with this particular rifle... Cheers! M2

Got this from AFA this morning... Cheers! M2

You knew it was only a matter of time before the Spwing-wearing space geeks started whining about their role in it all... The Navy schwacked it, stand back and let them bask in the glory! They deserve it... Cheers! M2

I cleaned it up for ya, once was enough... Cheers! M2

Welcome back, dude! Cheers! M2

Yeah, the Navy bubba in my office has been grinnin' about this all morning. I gotta say 'BRAVO ZULU' to them, schwacking a satellite at 17,000 MPH with a missile not specifically designed to do that (yeah, I know the AEGIS is close being a ballistic missile defense system, but it's not specifically designed for hitting satellites) was a real feather in their cap. It also has the Rooskies and Red Chinese up in arms, which is another plus! So you can hit a stationary object in space; big shit, we can hit one that's traveling at Mach 22! (and before the 40lb brainsteams attack, I know I am apply caveman math to the situation...just let it be!). Too bad the weather was shit here last night, we missed the eclipse; but we still have 40 days of the football-sized debris from this satellite floating around before it burns up. Might make for some more good UFO-sightings here in Texas! Cheers! M2

The AFA report... And the DoD Press Release... Cheers! M2

Yeah, read that, and it was a Navy guy who started the discussion. I wonder if it is the Aegis System utilizing Raytheon RIM-161 Block-1a SM-3s? Hopefully the Pentagon will release more info. The Boeing YAL-1 Airborne Laser (ABL) is still in development, but this would make for a fun test of that platform. Cheers! M2

Funny, we were just talking about that AP report! As usual, the normal disclaimers were present... But we were wondering what would really be feasible. Of course, it is well known that a US F-15 successfully destroyed a satellite using the ASM-135 ASAT on 3 Sep 1985. It took off from Edwards, climbed to 80,000' and vertically launched the missile at the Solwind P78-1, a US gamma ray spectroscopy satellite orbiting at 555 km. Although successful, the program was cancelled in 1988. (thanks Wikipedia!) I am sure the 40-lb brains have thought this through, and if anyone sees any official public releases on how this going to be done, please post them up here...and please, no sensitive or speculative insights, keep it to publically available information. Cheers! M2

They're cheaper on eBay, I got one of the first ones made and there was no negotiating the price. Still, I think it is well worth the money; but yes, it wasn't cheap! Cheers! M2

No one said the mission was classified, but it is sensitive and as such does not need to be discussed in depth on here. If you have issues with the moderation of this forum, contact BaseOps or PM any one of the moderators, myself included. Also, take a minute to refresh yourself on the rules concerning OPSEC and this site; or, if you prefer a little entertainment, watch this. Thanks! M2

I have an internal guide rod laser sight from LaserMax, doesn't add anything to the outside of the gun and is near perfectly aligned with the projectory of the bullet according to laser bore sight I have (slightly below POA, as expected. They are permanently aligned from the factory for center-of-mass accuracy at 20 yards). In anything but bright sunshine, it allows for faster target acquisition as in most stress situations a majority of people become binocular-dominant, that is, your brain wants to receive as much visual input as possible and as such, you may not be able to close one eye to aim, losing the ability to have near sight vision. In other words, you may not be able to focus the sights. With a laser sight, you can concentrate on your target, and the blinking red dot makes that a helluva lot easier and faster. Plus, as many law enforcement agencies will attest, the obvious fact that they have been targeted, indicated by the blinking red dot on their chest, subdues many criminals. They are also very useful in training at the range; but they ain't cheap--the LaserMax cost almost as much as the price of the gun. But much like a parachute it is something you don't really appreciate until you need it. Cheers! M2

Try the video game arcade by the BX, isn't that where the intel bubbas usually hang out? Cheers! M2

I'm in, let me know when we're going! Looks like it'd be a fun--albeit easy--time kicking ass! And no fear of the police intervening, as they prefer to "stay neutral." Christ, even the Berkeley cops are pussies! If they tried that shit in Texas, we'd be allowed to shoot the stupid fuckers. God Bless Texas! Cheers! M2