M2

Nice bike, if you ever get over to Europe, check out Nürburgring. I haven't ridden it yet, I rode up there from Ramstein but didn't know the track was closed that day. Didn't matter, had a great ride up and back. If you want to see what the track looks like, download the video from the BMW K1200S web site. They rode the 21km track (with 73 corners) in under 8 minutes! ****ing A! Go to Episode two and click on where it says 'Under 8 minutes' Cheers! M2

Just ing with ya, 135...notice the grin! I'd buy one myself if I had any money left over after the wife and kids get ahold of my pay. However, I can't bitch as I still have my 1991 ST1100, another great Honda V4. I've had it since I made 1Lt, it's a great bike and even more fun over here in Europe. Cheers! M2

Jeep Vs. Hummer Cheers! M2

I was in the Reserves while in college back in the late 80's, after I completed my active duty enlistment (I had two years of inactive Reserve time on my enlistment following active duty, so it was easy to jump up to the active Reserves). The world was a different place back then, and 20 years ago I would have recommended it. It was a great experience for me, my annual tours were easily knocked out during the summer and it was nice to still be able to "play" Air Force while in AFROTC and school. However, in this day and age I am not sure I would do it (sts) all over again, with the number of call-ups and deployments going on, the chances of missing a lot of school are just too high for it to be beneficial. On the flip side it does get you an "in" with the unit you are considering applying for. A bud of mine from school was also in the same Reserve wing I was in, but later switched to a Florida Guard unit and later got a slot with them. He flew Vipers for a while, then converted over to Eagles. Not bad, eh? It's a noble thought, but in my not-so-humble opinion I would advise against it, unless you are willing to take that chance of deploying and are in no rush to finish school. If you can spare the extra time for basic/tech school/deployments, then consider it. However, I recall talking to a Reservist SP at the gate at Del Rio, he was on a two-year call-up and sitting in the middle of BF west Texas. Another thing to consider is who will take care of all your "stuff" while you are gone, if/when you go. I know I really haven't been much help, it is a difficult question to answer. Good luck with your decision...it's a tough call! Cheers! M2

gearpig Don't let the bastards get you down! You can still have a lot of fun in the USAF, you just gotta watch out for the PC types as they will stick it to you in a heartbeat. Just keep your SA on and enjoy...just don't expect to make O-6 either (or maybe even O-5!!). Cheers! M2

Hell, I was more offended when it was called a "cover." Please don't use ****ing Army terms for Air Force things. Whoops, can't say "****ing"...sorry! Thanks! M2

Or you could try one of these... Koenigsegg Swedish Supercar Just keeping the thread alive! Cheers! M2

Base price for complete car. Based on Honda Accord Donor. * 2.2L F22 engine. $35,900 But what a pimpin' car! Cheers! M2

A K1 Attack... Sweet. So that's an Accord under there, huh? Not much of it left, is there? Cheers! M2

I knew two of the T-bird guys on the team a few years ago, both were AFROTC grads from UF. I think having Viper time is a plus, but any fighter (including Hogs) time qualfies. Cheers! M2

I know the story of "Hoover" or "Zulu" O'Grady's shootdown pretty well, but I am not sure what parts of it are unclassified to discuss here. Do you have a SIPRNET email address? I had just arrived at USAFE when it happened, and was staying with an old bud who happened to be the chief of air/air defence. I would suspect there is a lot on his story on the Internet, I am just not that interested to find out. Oddly enough, they just found the remains of his Viper a few years ago (it was in Airman magazine) and I believe "Wilbur" Wright, a.k.a. BASHER 51 that day (O'Grady's lead) is now an O-6 at Ramstein... Cheers! M2 [ 25. April 2004, 14:12: Message edited by: MajorMadMax ]

Kunsan = WP = Wolf Pack Cheers! M2

Herc Spent four years at Ramstein and loved it. The base is crowded and parking sucks but there are lots of great places to live off-base within a half-hour's drive. We lived up near Sembach AB outside of Winnweiler, it was nice as Sembach still has some facilities (shoppette, gas station, movie theater, commissary) so it was convenient. The snow at Ramstein isn't that bad, when it is bad you usually won't have to come in. Gas is more expensive than in the States, but a hell of a lot less than on the economy. You will get 400 liters a month rations per car, so if it sucks gas big time then you may want to consider storing it and buying a used BMW (a popular choice, I had two 3-series and they were great cars). Insurance is expensive as well, but what do you expect in a country with the autobahn? That said, driving is a lot easier as the Germans are very disciplined and expect you to be as well, so no sitting in the left lane unless you are passing. But yes, a majority of the autobahn is still unrestricted, so you can go as fast as your TA will take you. However, having just driven to Spangdahlem yesterday and doign 120 mph on the way home, my VR6 Passat was drinking the gas...18 mpg and dropping fast! Still, it is nice to be able to do that, but keep in mind that even at those speeds I was being passed by Mercedes and Porsches. Kaiserslautern is a great place, as is most of Germany...if you can't have fun there, then something is definitely wrong with you! Cheers! M2

Oh, and Chuck is right about the Langley birds, FF does stand for First Fighter Wing... Cheers! M2

FT on the Pope A-10s is for 'Flying Tigers'. I think this is a full list of codes: AC F-16C 177th Fighter Wing, Atlantic City IAP, N.J. (ANG) AF Cessna 150, T-41, UV-18, TG-3/4/7/9/11 U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. AK F-15C/D/E, C-12J/F, C-130H, E-3B 3rd Wing, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska (PACAF) AK F-16C/D, A/OA-10 354th FW, Eielson AFB, Alaska (PACAF) AL F-16C/D 187th FW, Dannelly Field, Ala. (ANG) AV F-16C/D 31st FW, Aviano Air Base, Italy (USAFE) AZ F-16A/B 162nd FW, Tucson IAP, Ariz. (ANG) BB U-2S, T-38A 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, Calif. (ACC) BC A/OA-10A 110th FW, W.K. Kellogg Airport, Mich. (ANG) BD A/OA-10A, B-52H 917th WG, Barksdale AFB, La. (AFRC) BH KC-135 117th Air Refueling Wing, Birmingham Airport, Ala. (ANG) CA HH-60G, MC-130/P 129th Rescue Wing, Moffett NAS, Calif. (ANG) CB T-37B, T-38A, AT-38B, T-1A 14th Fighter Training Wing, Columbus AFB, Miss. (AETC) CC F-16C/D/CJ 27th FW, Cannon AFB, N.M. (ACC) CI C-130E 146th Airlift Wing, Channel Island ANGS, Calif. (ANG) CO F-16C/D 140th FW Buckley ANGB, Colo. (ANG) CR C-13E/H 302nd AW, Peterson AFB, Colo. (AFRC) CT A/OA-10A 103rd FW, Bradley IAP, Conn. (ANG) D KC-135R 100th ARW, RAF Mildenhall, England (USAFE) DC F-16C/D, C-22 113th WG, Andrews AFB, Md. (ANG) DE C-130H 166th AW, New Castle County Airport, Del. (ANG) DM A-10, EC-130E/H, OA-10 355th WG, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. (ACC) DR HH-60G 939th RQW, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. (AFRC) DY B-1B 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess AFB, Texas (ACC) ED Various 412th TW, Edwards AFB, Calif. (AFMC) EG F-15C/D 33rd FW, Eglin AFB, Fla. (ACC) EL B-1B 28th BW, Ellsworth AFB, S.D. (ACC) EN T-37B, T-38A, AT-38B 80th FTW, Sheppard AFB, Texas (AETC) ET Various 46th Test Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla. (AFMC) FE UH-1N 90th Space Wing, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo. (AFSPC) FF F-15C/D 1st FW, Langley AFB, Va. (ACC) FL F-15A/B 125th FW, Jacksonville IAP, Fla. (ANG) FL HC-130, HH-60G 939th RQW, Patrick AFB, Fla. (AFRC) FM F-16A/B 482nd FW, Homestead AFB, Fla. (AFRC) FS F-16A/B 188th FW, Fort Smith Regional Airport, Ark. (ANG) FT A/OA-10A 23rd FW, Pope AFB, N.C. (ACC) FW F-16C/D 122nd FW, Fort Wayne IAP, Ind. (ANG) GA B-1B 116th BW, Robins AFB, Ga. (ANG) GA C-130H 165th AW, Savannah IAP, Ga. (ANG) HA F-16C/D 185th FW, Sioux Gateway Airport, Iowa (ANG) HAFB F-16 Ogden ALC, Hill AFB, Utah (AFMC) HI F-16C/D 419th FW, Hill AFB, Utah (AFRC) HL F-16C/D 388th FW, Hill AFB, Utah (ACC) HO F-117A,T-38A, F-4F 49th FW, Holloman AFB, N.M. (ACC) HT AT-38B 46th Test Group, Holloman AFB, N.M. (AFMC) HV UH-1N 30th SW, Vandenberg AFB, Calif. (AFSPC) IA F-16C/D 132nd FW, Des Moines IAP, Iowa (ANG) IL C-130E 182nd AW, Greater Peoria IAP, Ill. (ANG) IS HH-60 85th WG, NAS Keflavik, Iceland (ACC) JZ F-15A/B 159th FW, NAS New Orleans JRB, La. (ANG) KC O/OA-10A 442nd FW, Whiteman AFB, Mo. (AFRC) KS C-21A 45th Airlift Flight, Keesler AFB, Miss. (AETC) KT WC-130H, C-130E 403rd WG, Keesler AFB, Miss. (AFRC) LA B-52H 2nd BW, Barksdale AFB, La. (ACC) LF F-16A/B/C/D 56th FW, Luke AFB, Ariz. (AETC) LI HC-130, HH-60G 106th RQW, Francis S. Gabreski AP, N.Y. (ANG) LK C-130E/H 314th AW, Little Rock AFB, Ark. (AETC) LN F-15C/D/E 48th FW, RAF Lakenheath, England (USAFE) LR F-16C/D 944th FW, Luke AFB, Ariz. (AFRC) MA A/OA-10A 104th FW, Barnes MAP, Mass. (ANG) MD A/OA-10A, C-130J 175th WG, Martin State Airport, Md. (ANG) MI F-16C/D, C-130E 127th FW, Selfridge ANGB, Mich. (ANG) MM UH-1N 341st SW, Malmstrom AFB, Mont. (AFSPC) MN C-130E 133rd AW, Minn.-St. Paul IAP/ARS, Minn. (ANG) MO F-15C/D/E, F-16CJ, KC-135R, B-1B 366th WG, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho (ACC) MT B-52H 5th BW, Minot AFB, N.D. (ACC) MT UH-1N 91st MW, Minot AFB, N.D. (AFSPC) MY C-130E, HH-60G, HC-130P, T-6, T-38 347th RQW, Moody AFB, Ga. (ACC) NJ KC-135E 108th ARW, McGuire AFB, N.J. (ANG) NM F-16C/D 150th FW, Kirtland AFB, N.M. (ANG) NO A/OA-10A 926th FW, NAS New Orleans JRB, La. (AFRC) NY F-16C/D 174th FW, Hancock Field, N.Y. (ANG) OF RC-135S/U/V/W, TC-135W, WC-135W, E-4B, OC-135B 55th WG, Offutt AFB, Neb. (ACC) OH F-16C/D 178th FW, Springfield-Beckley MAP, Ohio (ANG) OH F-16C/D 180th FW, Toledo Express Airport, Ohio (ANG) OK F-16C/D 138th FW, Tulsa IAP, Okla. (ANG) OK E-3B/C 552nd ACW, Tinker AFB, Okla. (ACC) OR F-15C/D 173rd FW, Portland IAP, Ore. (ANG) OS F-16C/D, A/OA-10A, C-12J, HH-60G, MH-53J 51st FW, Osan AB, Korea (PACAF) OT F-15A/B/C/E, F-16A/C U.S. Air Force Air Warfare Center, Nellis AFB, Nev. (ACC) OT F-15A/B/C/D/E, F-16A/B/C/D 53rd WG, Eglin AFB, Fla. (ACC) PA A/OA-10A 111th FW, Willow Grove ARS, Pa. (ANG) PA EC-130E 193rd SOW, Harrisburg IAP, Pa. (ANG) PD HC-130P, HH-60G 939th RW, Portland IAP, Ore. (AFRC) PR C-130E 156th AW, Muñiz ANGB, Puerto Rico (ANG) RA T-1A, T-6A, T-37B, T-38A, AT-38B, T-43A 12th FTW, Randolph AFB, Texas (AETC) RG C-130E/H Warner Robins ALC, Robins AFB, Ga. (AFMC) RI C-130E 143rd AW, Quonset State AP, R.I. (ANG) RS C-9, C-20, C-21, C-130E 86th AW, Ramstein AB, Germany (USAFE) SA F-16C/D 149th FW, Lackland AFB, Texas (ANG) SC F-16C/D 169th FW, McEntire ANGS, S.C. (ANG) SD F-16C/D 114th FW, Joe Foss Field, S.D. (ANG) SI F-16C/D 183rd FW, Capital MAP, Ill. (ANG) SJ F-15E 4th FW, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C. (ACC) SL F-15A/B 131st FW, Lambert-St. Louis IAP, Mo. (ANG) SP F-16CJ/D, A/OA-10 52nd FW, Spangdahlem AB, Germany (USAFE) SW F-16CJ 20th FW, Shaw AFB, S.C. (ACC) TF F-16C/D 301st FW, Carswell ARS, Texas (AFRC) TH F-16C/D 181st FW, Terre Haute IAP-Hulman Field, Ind. (ANG) TY F-15C/D 325th FW, Tyndall AFB, Fla. (AETC) VA F-16C/D 192nd FW, Byrd Field, Va. (ANG) VN T-1A, T-37B, T-38A 71st FTW, Vance AFB, Okla. (AETC) VT F-16C/D 158th FW, Burlington IAP, Vt. (ANG) WA F-15C/D/E, F-16A/B/C/D, A-10A, HH-60, Predator 57th WG, Nellis AFB, Nev. (ACC) WI F-16C/D 115th FW, Truax Field, Wis. (ANG) WI KC-135R 128th ARW, General Mitchell IAP/ARS, Wis. (ANG) WM B-2A, T-38A 509th BW, Whiteman AFB, Mo. (ACC) WP F-16C/D 8th FW, Kunsan AB, Korea (PACAF) WR E-8C 93rd ACW, Robins AFB, Ga. (ACC) WV C-130E 167th AW, Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport/Shepherd Field, W.V. (ANG) WW F-16J 35th FW, Misawa AB, Japan (PACAF) XL T-1A, T-37B, T-38A 47th FTW, Laughlin AFB, Texas (AETC) XP C-130H 139th AW, Rosecrans Memorial Airport, Mo. (ANG) YJ C-130E/H, C-9A, C-21A, UH-1N 374th AW, Yokota AB, Japan (PACAF) ZZ F-15C/D, KC-135R, E-3B, HH-60G 18th WG, Kadena AB, Japan (PACAF) Cheers! M2

Dudes You are young, reward yourself a little and get a nice car. Don't go spending $35K on a new Beemer, but there are decent cars and trucks out there. You've been struggling enough, and you will be working your *** off at UPT. Having a nice ride will make you feel a little better. Just a quick anecdote, I looked at a Nissan 300ZX in 1989 as a second lieutenant, they wanted $30K for it. Yes, it was a very nice car, but so was the 1989 Acura Integra LS I bought for half that. The Honda Accord I had through college was still a decent car, but I was no longer in college and felt I deserved something new. Oddly enough, now I drive a 8-yr-old Passat wagon, not quite a minivan but no longer a sports car either! By the way, be cautious of the USPA guys, unless they have changed their tactics they are a rip-off as far as I am concerned. They went after my paycheck as an O-1E as well! Cheers! M2

Drift/JPritch First, I am not a Defense Security Service (DSS, https://www.dss.mil/) employee to take that into consideration, but I do have a TS/SCI and some other clearances I can't talk about, and I can tell you from personal experience that it takes a lot more than what you've described to be denied a clearance. Interviews and minor discretions that can be explained won't matter, convictions and more serious stuff like that will. the best free advice I can give is to be 100% honest with the DSS guys and if you are denied, then address it with DSS. However, if you are caught lying there are tons of ramifications ("falsifying an official document", etc). Drift, I also had a clearance from my enlisted days that elapsed. That was more of a pain in the *** than anything else. They kept asking me why it elapsed, and I kept telling them it was because after I got cleared I didn't need it (it was for a different job I was being put into that never fell through). Regardless, DSS does a pretty thorough background check for clearances, and more likely as long as you have never done anything seriously wrong, and you are honest about everything you have done, you shouldn't have a problem. Cheers! M2

Actually, just to be clear, the term is "Join Spouse." A pretty successful program from what I have seen, the AF puts a lot of effort into it but it can't be 100% all of the time. You can get the gouge off AFPC's web site at: www.afpc.randolph.af.mil Cheers! M2

AG Always trying to help, much like you. I would love to go to the UK or Germany after Belgium, those and only those assignments would keep me past my 20. The UK has always been a concern due to one Mad King George. No, not George III, the British monarch afflicted with porphyria who lost the "Colonies," but a West Highlander White Terrier by that name who we've had for over seven years now. "George" is like our third child, and we cannot imagine not having him as part of the family. Luckily, we had him chipped when we came to Belgium, so we would be able to take him to the UK without the quarantine. There is more about the quarantine here, but unfortunately it is not good news. That web site also has some links to quarantine facilities. However, the bottom line is, "under the UK Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order of 1974 (amended) all domestic cats, dogs and mammals coming into the UK must be quarantined for six months. The only exemptions to this regulation are for pets coming from the Republic of Ireland, for commercially traded dogs and cats from the European Union, and for dogs and cats entering under the PETS programme." Quarantine information for pets that do not qualify for the PETS program can be found here. One more bit of bad news, to the best of my knowledge, the costs of quarantine are not reimbursable, and from what I understand not cheap either. Lastly, having brought George over to Europe twice, the easiest way to do it is to bring them when you travel. No, we didn't do it that way (sts), we shipped him seperately both times and it was a royal PITA! Both German and Belgian imports are costly and logistical nightmares. However, when we returned to the States we handcarried and checked him in almost like a piece of luggage. As long as you have all the health certificates (which the base vet can help you with), it is a piece of cake. Probably more than anyone cared to know but maybe it may help one day... Cheers! M2

AG The ROE is different for Brits bringing their animals back and non-Brits bringing their animals into the UK for the first time. The former can do so under the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) program (see second URL in my response above). The US is considered a "long haul" country. It is all very confusing and as stated ealier the best thing to do is contact TMO who should understand it all. Good luck, and remember the in the UK is worth the trouble! Cheers! M2

Still 183 days from non-EU countries, so if you know someone in Germany or Belgium, for example, who is willing to take care of them and have them chipped (electronically in their neck). See this story, The End of Britain's Strict Quarantine Laws. I have a bud who got to the UK about 18 months ago and he left his dogs in the States due to the quarantine. The Brits keep talking about changing it, but as the US has not eliminated rabies, it hasn't happened. Full gouge here. Sorry, wish I could have provided a better answer! Cheers! M2

Chicken Try this site: https://spacea.info/ It is not a military site, but it does link to the official sites of the major hubs here in Europe (Ramstein, Rhine-Main and Mildenhall) and has best gouge you'll find for Space-A. Also heed the advice above, it is all good. If you have any questions, feel free to email me. I am on my fourth European assignment, and am currently in Belgium at SHAPE (NATO). I also was born in Germany and grew up in Europe as a kid. I can provide lots of free advice, but you get what you pay for! (just kidding!). Cheers! M2 [ 31. March 2004, 00:11: Message edited by: MajorMadMax ]

At Ramstein we had a contest for a new AAFES slogan. Some of the entries were pretty funny, such as "AAFES will be closed on Monday to better serve you," but the winner was a hoot..."AAFES - Serves You Right!" I don't think I've been to a squadron, office, etc that doesn't have some sort of snacko going on, it is just a matter of keeping it under AAFES' scope. I can't believe that organization has a MG "commanding" it! I have never seen such a self-licking ice cream cone in my life! Time to outsource the exchanges to WalMart or Target! Cheers! M2

Not sure if it is a loophole, but most squadrons have a snacko that sell patches, coins, prints, shotglasses, etc to generate some funds. I know Gill Howie of Squadron Prints if you are interested in selling her prints. They are the best out there (IMHO) and Gill's a sweetheart to deal with, but she's dating a Dutch Viper driver so don't get any ideas! Most of the other stuff comes from Korea or Turkey, some of the older guys in your squadron probably know someone in one of those countries. Something else to remember is that the commissary is a different animal, run by an organization called DECA. They are not AAFES and it is where we buy all the goodies for our snacko. No one at DECA has come down on us about it, and it is pretty obvious when a major and a captain buy four carts full of sodas and munchies. AAFES has always been assholes about snackos, don't know why because lots of times they make their profit off the initial sale. I ain't no JAG officer (thank God!), but if it goes real ugly then have the squadron wives (oops, should I say "spouses") run it. What is AAFES going to do to them? Of course none of the above is guaranteed to work, I would advise trying to find a halfway cool JAG officer (good luck), especially one who doesn’t like AAFES, who could maybe help. Nothing like fighting fire with fire! Good luck, let us know how it works out! Cheers! M2

Easy, commissioned officers outrank all noncommissioned officers (NCOs). Optimally, the officer will respect the NCO's experience, and the NCO will respect the officer's authority. It is called mutual respect. Don't get wrapped around the axle about this, when you start your accession training (AFROTC, OTS, USAFA, whatever), they will explain this (and a whole lot of other things) to you. By the way, the first Saudi lieutenant I met (waaaaay back in 1981 when I was a mere slicksleeve just out of basic) scared the shit out of me because he had stars on his shoulders, and I only knew that to mean one thing... Of course back then I also got hammered because we were told at basic that only officers wore shoulderboards, but the AF had just came out with shoulderboards for the top three NCO ranks. Guess who was the first person to salute a SNCO?!? Cheers! M2