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Toro

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Everything posted by Toro

  1. Toro

    Crusades

    Pretty soon he'll give a link to 2girls1cup....
  2. Remember, allpme is just some yahoo like you or I who is posting his/her answers to the study questions. I used it for reference to check against my own stuff and most of it was good. I'd occasionally find nuggets of info that I didn't already know, and there was some stuff that was completely out to lunch.
  3. Oh I don't doubt that. I should have been more clear; "I'd be impressed to see a pilot eject from an aircraft Tinker Toy and that aircraft Tinker Toy hit the ground and be anything other than destroyed. Reading the new info, doesn't sound like he was too far from the ground, so major damage vice destruction makes sense.
  4. I'm all about having the comm nazis ease their grip, but this is a shitty idea. It's hard enough to get the support agencies to do their jobs as it is. Now they're going to be twittering, poking, friending, and LOLing when they should be helping me figure out why my travel voucher is screwed up. Do that shit at home, do your job at work.
  5. Glad to hear he's okay. As always, the AF Times reporting leaves much to be desired. I'm curious as to whether this is what was reported by the AF - I'd be impressed to see a pilot eject from an aircraft and that aircraft hit the ground and be anything other than destroyed. Osan city or Osan AB? Just saying "Osan" makes me think city (which is not where the base is actually located), but "boundaries" makes it sound like the base, backed up the fact that it was "preparing to land". I don't see a need for that factoid, unless you're trying to (very prematurely) imply that its age contributed to the crash like the C models.
  6. Not unless Spang has an FTU (that happened at Lakenheath). Anyway, you completely missed the point I was making. It wasn't about clubbing baby seals and nowhere in there was I bragging. The point to be made was about underestimating or not understanding the other aircraft's capabilities and/or overestimating your own.
  7. Yeah, which is what made me think it wasn't a Strike Eagle guy. From a CAOC perspective, the mentality ought to be to get somebody there as quick as possible in a time sensitive situation. A-10s should be fragged for CAS and fighters fragged for DT(XINT). But if a CAS situation pops up and the A-10s are going to take 30 minutes to get there vice the Strike Eagles in 10, get the Mudhens in and have the Hogs pick up when they arrive. It's the same thing for Sandy; you wouldn't hold off on CSAR because the Hogs are on GSAR alert and won't be there for 45 minutes - you send it whoever you have to provide cover until the guys who do it for living can get there. But if the A-10s in the AOR aren't even being fragged for CAS - foul. As far as the comment on brass...shack.
  8. Are you saying that's a Strike Eagle not wanting to do CAS? Doesn't sound like it from his comm - he says, "I don't even recommend F-15s for this" as opposed to "We're not the right jet for this." If it's not a Hog and it's not a Strike Eagle, sounds like it would be a Viper (assuming it's AF).
  9. The U-2 puke and shit stories take it to a whole new level - they're over in the U-2 thread now.
  10. Ditto all. I've fought Hogs, Vipers, and Hornets and it's all about what you're doing, who you're fighting, and your game plan. I've seen Hornets pull amazing hi-AOA maneuvers that made my eyes water as he moved from a defensive perch to my six o'clock in a matter of seconds. At the follow on high-aspect engagement, I saddled up in a WEZ right below the guy because he underestimated what I could do in a low to high transition. I watched high and dry as my wingman held his own to DLO termination with a Viper who thought that being able to pull 9Gs against a Strike Eagle - with no concept of vertical turning room or assessment of nose position and energy state - was a valid way to fight. Thump your chest all you want about beating up the fat kids. That attitude going into a fight without a gameplan of how your aircraft can outmaneuver him is going to, best case scenario, surprise you. Worst case scenario you'll get your ass handed to you. The training syllabi are broken down into a roughly 50/50 split of A/A vs A/G, but the emphasis is on A/G. Look at our doc statements and you'll see why - we generally don't do OCA/DCA as a primary mission when we're embedded with large forces, and we certainly don't do it in current operations.
  11. Managed to shrink the Viper taxi file, it's attached. I also pulled the two threads about Viper dudes crapping themselves into one - you now have a single source for Lawn Dart IBS issues. Viper Taxi Crap.mp3
  12. The back seat crap (in flight) is attached. I'm trying to find another free file server for the taxiing back seat crap file (it's just over 2MB). Back seat crap.wav
  13. Toro

    UPT packet

  14. First off...you had to edit a one word post? Anyway, he's Johnny Depp's fat brother. Can anyone find the ad? I found an entire page of Super Bowl ads, but that ad isn't on there. The ad was on YouTube, but it was pulled. I didn't see the ad during the game (thanks, AFN), and I don't listen to the White Stripes, but hunting for the ad I read some comments that said it was either the song or a dead ringer for it. Here's the White Stripes song. And totally unrelated, here's another gem I found while searching.
  15. It will absolutely fly. AFI 11-202 Vol 3 Your instructor's rationale is flat wrong since he was going into the squadron to do official duties and you would clearly have a case against that idiot cop.
  16. It can be anywhere from a MAJCOM to a Wing/CC decision. So short answer is yes.
  17. AHRN This one is fully legit - it is not only endorsed, but required by the housing office in USAFE (and possibly beyond, not sure about CONUS). It requires a military e-mail to create an account and has a lot of great features. For one, it's free. Also, it will embed a mapquest shot of your house location within your page, allows a good amount of pictures, plus external links to any other pages for your house (like photobucket). If you don't want to display your email, it will deliver messages to your email (you can use a personal email) via PM through the site. There are a couple others I have used to rent (they all allow the option to sell as well as rent). Military By Owner - Pretty good site, but the most basic package (no pictures, limited text) is $15 for only 45 days. I used this last year, but only because potential renters backed out at the last minute and we were scrambling to find renters. RE Military - Free site, but kind of low-frills. Very basic. All three of those sites will allow you to sort based off proximity to military installations, which is nice. Realize that while the last two have military in the name, you don't actually need to be military to get an account or rent (we ended up renting to civilians through Military By Owner most recently). I have used all three and had responses from all three, but I would recommend AHRN if you are only going to use one.
  18. Agreed. Finance Guy got shit on when he first showed up trying to defend the finance offices, but he gutted it out and is now a moderator and one of our most beneficial contributors. Having started this thread so long ago, I don't see REMF as trying to defend indefensible actions, I see him as trying to put things in perspective of the leadership. Kudos to you for hanging around, and even having a bit of self-deprecating humor with your profile name.
  19. Big time revival. Just found this gem in some old files, written by (I believe) a Wing Weapons Officer. SNAP INTERVENTION Over the last few early morning MPC tours, when all you can do is sit around and wait for the MCOs to drop, I have had a couple of revelations. First, I hate SNAPs. Second, I find great pleasure in SNAP intervention. Prior to having all of this idle time, I thought that the source of all of my anger was stress. Now I realize that the catalyst for my ever-increasing “Case-Of-The-Ass” (COTA) is unavoidable, daily interaction with an unprecedented number of that scum of the fighter pilot breed – the SNAP. These parasites are infiltrating our ranks and disrupting our time honored traditions and customs. On a personal level, some of them can be all right. However, they don’t have a clue about what it means to be a fighter pilot. Many erroneously assume that only lieutenants qualify for SNAP-hood. Sadly, nothing could be further from the truth! Over the last few years I have noticed that this fraternity, disregard – this sorority’s membership consists of many different ranks. Frankly, I’m not sure if any rank can be excluded from its pledge pool. In times past, the strong crushed these weak links like June Bugs under Oklahoma streetlights. (You might have to be from Oklahoma to understand this analogy). I believe that almost everyone begins UPT with unlimited potential. Some rise to the challenge. They take full advantage of this dedicated education and learn from their mistakes. Others, namely the SNAPs, simply fuck it up. Traditionally, the strong were identified during the early phases of training and were targeted for a future in fighters. Today, the bar has been significantly lowered. The initial ID has slid to the right, sometimes as far as the first Ops squadron. Foul! I realize that it takes effort to build a fighter pilot from the ground up. Just like a father enthusiastically teaches his son to play baseball, older fighter pilots (at every level – not just IPs) are charged with the honorable task of educating the next generation. Historically, a focused RTU/MQT program combined with follow-on mentoring during the critical cocoon year, ensured a 90% success rate of transforming the amoebae into a full-up United States Air Force fighter pilot…the Austin Powers of pilots worldwide! The other 10% seemed to get stuck in an endless “OODA loop” of Blind, Stripe, making excuses & embracing radio calls, and then demanding an explanation. Eventually these folks riding the short bus were sent to “Other Jobs” where they could do no harm. But, instead of withering away they usually end up getting promoted early…so there’s still hope…I’m getting a big COTA just sitting here. Today the SNAP population has increased exponentially! Where has the system failed? Why are there so many SNAPs? The system has failed because we have allowed it to fail. We can only blame ourselves for neglecting to nut-punch each and every SNAP as they popped up. The SNAP pop-up report criterion is ASAP. The shot doctrine is Rpi BVR weapons free. A little Frat while in hot pursuit of a maneuvering SNAP is acceptable. It usually takes more than one shots to achieve a 100% Pks (Probability of killing the SNAP). IPs, if in the past 5 years you have passed a STUD when you know you shouldn’t have, for whatever reason, you bought SNAP stock. If you have not taken the time to adequately debrief a sortie, you’ve bought stock. If you are now a majority stockholder, shame on you! Do us all a favor and find another job. We will all be better off without the likes of you. I’ll concede that even the strongest instructor has moments of weakness. If and when this happens, confess ASAP to the nearest weapons officer – you need to be exorcised. I think there are many reasons why the SNAP population is exploding. First, as I previously stated, the bar has been lowered across the board in UPT/RTU and within upgrades in the squadron. KIO-KIO-KIO! It will take time to reverse this trend; therefore it is essential that immediate action be taken. We need to work at retaining our identity through our actions – our tactical prowess. I think we all know that paying lip service to chaff and flare is a bad habit. Let’s not pay lip service to our profession. If you are not capable of kicking ass, anytime, anywhere, you need to work toward that goal! Over the past few years, I have heard over and over again that we are too busy. I agree that we are shorthanded, but that is the hand we have been dealt. Quit whining (defined as bitching without a solution) and figure out how best to solve the problem. The only forum in which bitching without a solution is permissible is the Elbow. Barring that arena, do not pass up the opportunity to keep your SNAP-hole shut. Whining is a sure indicator that you have been infected with the SNAP! It is an insidious disease and most SNAPs do not even realize that they one until it is too late. How do we fix this problem? We need to prioritize and focus on how to become better fighter pilots. The MQT/FLUG/IPUG programs need to resemble their purpose – i.e. combat capability, rather than just coming and going. The officers who subscribe to this “coming and going upgrade philosophy” will drag us into a state of unrecognized and unrecoverable mediocrity. We are the best Air Force the world has ever seen. Don’t let it slip through our fingers on our watch. This doesn’t mean that we should fly only 4v4s. This means that we need to teach the building blocks and hold their little SNAP feet to the fire. They will either sink or swim. Those who sink are better off flying something else. What good is a “Combat Mission Ready” pilot or flight lead that is not qualified or ready to go to war? No one is perfect, but we can definitely do a better job than we have done lately. Our Pks is at an all time low across the CAF. If you can’t debrief a CT sortie in excruciating detail in 2.5 hours, then you should never have made it through the FLUG. It all boils down to education, training, and attitude. If any of these areas are not in line, you need an adjustment. Most SNAPs are SNAPs because they lack adequate training and/or were never taught how to be a fighter pilot. Flying fighters in the USAF should be a privilege, not a right. Old dudes get up and start working! Your duty is to teach the punks how to act, walk and talk fighter pilot. Never pass up an opportunity to bitch-slap a SNAP. SNAP intervention is everyone’s duty. If someone is acting suspicious go offensive early – SNAP attack is the only mission where fratricide is acceptable. I have found that it gives me great personal and professional pleasure hunting these vermin. Give it a try and I think you’ll like it too – unless you are one. Symptoms exhibited by SNAPs and recommended corrective actions: (Feel free to add your own techniques) Minor Dose: Notify him of his SNAP status and administer psychotherapy. Use friendly voice inflection and body language so as to not to alarm or cause undue stress. 1. Whines about his schedule…”I can’t show 5 hours earlier tomorrow” 2. Whines about the having to mission plan 3. Whines about the need to work 4. Any Lieutenant that demands an explanation for anything, from anybody 5. Expects leave during X-Mas without prior coordination…then whines when it doesn’t happen 6. Wears socks with his sandals 7. Asks for food over the radio “ C/S is on the deck Code 1 – please bring food” 8. Any Lt that is too lazy to take off that damn reflector belt indoors. Medium Dose: Slap his ass back on track. Aggressive but non-threatening behavior works best with this dumb ass. He needs to know his conduct is unbecoming of an USAF fighter pilot. 1. Needs an explanation before he’ll get off his ass to work 2. He worries more about his investments than his BFM skills 3. Feels compelled to share all his petty problems 4. The dreaded 500 hr Know-it-all…SHUT THE FUCK UP – JACK ASS 5. He will not make color copies of the map because he wants to save money 6. Afraid to frat during an Elbow…WTF!!!! 7. Any scheduler that schedules his own up-grade with Santa’s/0-5s and above 8. Any Capt too lazy to remove his reflector belt indoors Heavy Dose: Needs immediate treatment. Start with a swift kick in the Jimmy and a week’s worth of shit details. However, he’ll need follow-on treatment, so be aggressive popping this zit 1. Writing in the Doofer book and not having the balls to sign your name 2. Fl CC or above that thinks the FLUG is all about coming and going 3. Cares more about his career than his flying skills 4. Doesn’t log bad deal sorties (i.e. instrument) on TAR and then whines about his sortie count 5. The all mouth and no action dude 6. Any O-4/higher that doesn’t have enough SA to remove the reflector belt indoors 7. Whines more than bitches 8. Tries to do everyone’s job but his own He’s a goner: Send him to a job that restricts his access or influence over fighter operations. 1. Writes in Doofer and signs some else’s name 2. If he’s a Democrat 3. A patch-wearer that whines about MPC duty 4. Any officer that thinks he’s setting a good example wearing the reflector belt in FPCON B, C, or D 5. If you feel compelled to make this article gender neutral - you’ve missed the point
  20. The dorms are furnished, so your options would be to move in your own stuff and have them stash their furnishings, or they should store your stuff. Call your UPT housing office to double check.
  21. Ziggy, I've moved your post into this thread which has a lot of information relevant to your questions. Read through it, and I'll add this - Problem #1 - You're already predispositioned to dislike the military even though everything you have experienced has been through second hand word of mouth. Continue to get more information (for which this site is a good source) and you'll see that while military life is not a bed of roses, it's not all thorns either. Sure it is, but then again so is marriage. So are kids. So are anything worth while in life. You are actually in a great situation for entering military life in that you will be entering it with him. Yeah, he has grown up as a dependent, but he will be entering onto active duty and fumbling his way through as a lieutenant, just as you will be fumbling your way through as a girlfriend/spouse. When I met my wife I had already been in five years, so she was completely thrown into this new world. Just as he is trying to figure out how to put his Lt bars on his blues, you'll be figuring out how the heck TRICARE works. Yes. The flying squadrons are generally an excellent support system, and there is also a family support center on base that provides counseling, child care, and many other support factors. Here are some threads for more reading on that subject: I have "dragged" my family to assignments in England and we are currently Germany. Loved and are loving every minute of it. Nothing against you personally, but I have never understood people who are afraid to move away from their comfort zones. The military will pay you to move to some interesting locations - sometimes they're crappy, but I am proof that sometimes they're great. I have hiked mount Vesuvius, been to the Roman Colisuem, seen the Eiffel Tower, drank a Guinness atop Dublin in their factory, seen Patton's grave in Luxembourg....all essentially thanks to the Air Force. Get out of your comfort zone and open yourself up to going somewhere new.
  22. Not so much a news story as a interesting (gross) picture of the kind of guy who always seems to sit next to me on planes. It brings up the debate over charging obese passengers extra. Personally I think this dude should be put in the cargo hold, but that's just me. Should obese fliers pay more? MSNBC video on the subject
  23. I've lived OCONUS collectively for over five years now and I just found out about these discounted APO/FPO flat rate boxes. It's (nearly) too late for this Christmas, but the USPS offers Flat Rate boxes for shipping to APO/FPO that are a couple bucks cheaper than normal flat rate large boxes (11.95 vs 13.95). For those stationed overseas who have relatives sending them stuff, let them know about these. Your folks may be able to get the boxes from their local post office, but they can also order them online (in packs of 10 or 25) and there are no shipping costs to order them. The link to USPS is here, but you can get them through a number of other sites (like stamps.com).
  24. Shouldn't be a problem unless you make a lot of trips to those countries.
  25. Nothing but yuck all around. The only thing that could have made this worse is if they had a three way with Kelly McGillis.
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