ClearedHot

I used to leave the HQ building and it would take 6-7 iterations of the light just to turn left onto Cody from Independence, then another 5-6 minutes to get off base. Now you can get onto independence in 1/3 the time. The current issue is the merge mainly because of the light at Whispering Pines. After that light I can usually do 65-70MPH until just before Walmart where again the traffic lights are not synced. Last week was different because it was Springbreak, but I left the 19th SOS at 1630 and pulled into my driveway at 1654. As you pointed out, the overpass almost completely cured the morning commute.

Absolute lie. Prior to the overpass it could take 30 minutes just to get off the base, now traffic flows off base, the issue is the merge onto highway 98 and the fact that the lights are not synchronized on highway 98. That being said the state is wrapping up a multi-million dollar study and effort to synchronize the lights on highway 98 which will have a big impact. Regardless, from Hurlburt to the far west side of Holley by the Sea is 30 minutes, 40 on a bad day. Other things to consider: 1. Schools - FWB school are ungood. Some of the elementary schools are good but overall FWB schools get a 6 out of 10 rating. Navarre and Niceville are ranked much higher, both have incredible sports programs which act as a pipeline to some great schools (UNC, Auburn, Miami, Harvard to name a few recent scholarships). Niceville has a better AP program and there is a really good charter school in Okalossa County. I won't post all the details but we have been exceptionally happy with the Navarre schools. 2. Housing - As discussed the FWB homes are much older (1970's), so for the price you won't get the modern conveniences many folks want (big closets, granite counters, three car garages), unless it is a remodel. There is a LOT of new construction in Navarre so you are far more likely to find or built something to suit your tastes. 3. Crime - All three areas have seen a spike in petty crime and drug usage, FWB is having some gang issues. 4. Water Sport - Standby pointed out that he likes to go deep sea fishing, that is a tougher prospect in Navarre because you have to go to Destin (nightmare traffic in the summer with all the tourists). There used to be a pass through the barrier islands to the Gulf of Mexico but it was filled in by a hurricane many years ago. Newly elected Congressman Matt Gaetz just sponsored legislation to reopen the pass. If it is approved it will certainly change the dynamic of Navarre and already increasing home values will go much higher...something to consider as you invest in a home.

Not behind a paywall...

You guys have it backwards...the training value would not be for the 5th gen folks, it would be for seasoning hundreds of fighter pilots who could jump in a cheap jet that has all the switchology of a 5th gen and develop muscle memory and airmanship at the same time.

https://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20170331/muslim-group-urges-afsoc-to-sever-ties-with-counter-terrorism-instructor CAIR can suck a pig dick. If you are active duty or a GS I HIGHLY recommend the DIT course as well as most of the offerings at the Special Operations School.

Anyone tried the Hi-Point .45 Carbine? https://www.hi-pointfirearms.com/Hi-Point-carbines/45Caliber_carbine.html

I am truly loving WDC, up 20% since I posted this in Feb.

Most of the rest of the world does not understand how developed the SOF fires machine has become...they still think in terms of the AOC or CAOC running the fight with 3 GO's, 10 O-6's and 50 O-4's working the same permissions that a single dude in the JSOAC can pass. Sadly, BLOS and VDL have become pass fail, but they do act as an insurance policy in multiple ways. Sorry bra, I don't talk to the CAOC unless I want to know why the tanker is late...AGAIN.

Yes...

How much longer until the All Call with the boss punishing everyone for the crimes of others, I see group discussions, reflection days and new case study videos and CBTs right around the corner.

Sorry Danny the world needs ditch diggers too and I completely disagree with your comments. First, who said we have to take other peoples money, this is a question of choices and priorities. Maybe just maybe we say "NO SIR, we can't do that mission without completely breaking the force." Living within your means doesn't mean live on this budget but continue to operate your people and equipment like a drunken whore driving a rental car in Vegas. How many hundred thousand hours did we burn flying pointless "No-Fly Zone" missions? Do we stay in Afghanistan, Syria, South Korea, Europe, South America, and continue to project power into the South China Sea? 80% of the USMC Hornets are hard fucking broke, 80% of their heavy vertical lift as well, 50% of the Navy F-18's are down for the count, 50% of our B-1's...it goes on and on. You are correct, everyone has the same problem so how about we think outside the box and say no for once. Most aviators are type A and we don't like to admit defeat, most of the folks I know and flew with are hard charging mission hacking mother fuckers who will find a way to get it done...but we have been doing that for too long and it is now at risk of major parts of the enterprise. So if are going to live within our means then lets operate within out limitations. If a Service Chief fell on his sword and said I need more money or less mission period dot, I think it would make a difference, if more than one did it I think we would have change. Now, GET OFF MY LAWN.

Back to the topic at hand... I spent over 1/3 of my career in the Weapon School and from the instant I walked through the door at Nellis one thing was blatantly obvious, Albino Drivers are complete and utter assholes (including my old man who was one, but of course excluding BeerMan), that being said they are "our assholes" and I do not want cross the fence without those inglorious bastards.

Mr. Cameltactics, what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

"Two" I've pontificated on this before, we have been saddled with bills that enable other services (Space, RPA, Cyber), without an increased piece of the DoD pork pie. The A-10 fiasco had several motivators but the biggest was dollars and cents. I was in the room for some of these discussions with OSD and SECDEF and they went like this: SECAF/CSAF - "We need more Money" SECDEF - "No, execute within existing resources" SECAF/CSAF - "Copy Boss, We have a Title X responsibility to provide these core capabilities so we are going to eliminate capability A to pay the bills" SECDEF - "No, Service X needs that capability, execute within existing resources" SECAF/CSAF - "Copy Boss, We are going to eliminate capability B to pay the bills" SECDEF - "No, Service X needs that capability, execute within existing resources, and here is a new bill." SECAF/CSAF - "Copy Boss, We are going to eliminate capability C, D, X, and Z to pay the bills" SECDEF - "No, Service X needs capability C, D, X and Congress has a special interest in Z, execute within existing resources and here is a new bill." SECAF/CSAF - "Copy Boss, The only option left on the table that pays the bill is to eliminate the A-10." SECDEF - "Ok." Congress - "Not happening, and we direct you to ramp up F-35 production, here is the bill." Until SECAF/CSAF fall on their sword in a very public manner we will continue to see issues like this.

Amen

Spending my spare time waiting in the pharmacy and counting down to 1 April so I can bum-rush the Commisary and Class VI.

Pork Bellies. There are several index funds that go beyond the "bigs" people typically associate with the mercantile. I am trying to carefully target my position because I want nothing to do with oil right now (OPEC is getting their ass kicked by America and chances are oil is going to the $42-$40 range), I prefer commodities associated with consumer consumption of manufactured goods. I am going to sprinkle a bit on precious metals staying away from gold...a little platinum, palladium and silver along with a few others specific to consumer electronics production.

I'm moving a portion of my portfolio into commodities with the following rationale; given the rapid market growth the past two months (my portfolio is 11% since 1 Jan), increased job creation, increased manufacturing, and tax reform which will certainly bring home some overseas orphaned money...I think we will see increased consumer spending in the coming months. Time will tell.

The lessons should have been learned but they were not, there is blame on both sides. The pointy nose crowd was running the show and lived by the "nothing but 5th gen mantra" at a time when it was not affordable. The did everything within their power to crush the rebellion including having the CSAF personally take a WIC patch away from an Albino kid who wrote a blasphemous IDE paper that dared to suggest when didn't so many F-22s. The rebels...well they are rebels and in their effort to fight for enough table scraps to build 1,000 lite attack airplanes they ended up pissing off everyone and created just enough doubt in Congress and DoD to let people like McCain and Gates dictate our terms of surrender. If you think we have enough fifth gen or we won't need it, go into the vault and have an honest look. If you come out still thinking we have enough, choke yourself. We are and were our own worst enemy. The truth is, we need BOTH and a LOT more. Space and RPA are bills USAF pays but take away from our piece of the pie which hasn't gotten bigger. It is time for a CSAF to stand up and put it all on the line...communicate the urgency and if they don't listen, RESIGN and make a stink. The guy behind him should do the exact same thing until someone listens.

Becker was a warhorse. Godspeed brothers.

Don't hold your breath, AFSOC can't pay the rated officer bills it has right now let alone absorb another mission.

Valid point points...however. There is no denying decisions at the very top, particularly strategic ones are often a choice between two uncomfortable paths. I liken it to decisions made by senior generals in wartime who know men will be lost in combat and find a way to disconnect from reality as they make choices that will most certainly send men to their death in an effort to save a country or a way of life. What gets me is the double-speak, the slight of hand, the outright lies as he says one thing to your face then goes behind your back to advocate a lower hours requirement with Congress. Be a fucking LEADER, stand up and tell the truth to your men and women...Ive done what I can within my power and I am left with no other choice to save the service. I know Goldfein, Rand, and many of the others and I don't simply understand why they surrendered their integrity.

It would appear there will be an Airburst of discipline to follow...key words included "participating in or BEING AWARE OF."

Spoo is happy, the dude never works...if I see another picture of you drinking beer and skiing I am going to file a congressional.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out, as Brick pointed out there are potentially 30,000 suspects (group members), and the fallout could fundamentally change the leadership structure of the USMC for many years to come. At first glance this sounds like a systemic issue that has been going on for some time. If they are truly draconian (as the Marines tend to be), this could destroy the career of anyone who ever came into contact with this FB group.