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NATO's Bomb Supply Is Running Short ..."Less than a month into the Libyan conflict, NATO is running short of precision bombs, highlighting the limitations of Britain, France and other European countries in sustaining even a relatively small military action over an extended period of time, according to senior NATO and U.S. officials"... Libya “has not been a very big war. If [the Europeans] would run out of these munitions this early in such a small operation, you have to wonder what kind of war they were planning on fighting,” said John Pike, director of GlobalSecurity.org, a defense think tank. “Maybe they were just planning on using their air force for air shows.” UFB

I've done PME inres every level (except ASBC not around for an old fart like me). SOS was a waste, but that is because I was from an Ops background. I think the non-ops folks actually learned something about the Air Force, most did not know the types of airplanes we flew. IDE was unfun...there were parts that had promise and I took a little time to understand the bigger picture in relation to political theories such as realism and liberalism. Beyond that, it was mostly a waste, but again because I came from an ops background. ASG was simply the best academic experience I've ever had. Very small student body, world class instructors, heavy academic load (read 273 books in one year). We spend five days walking the beaches at Normandy with PhDs who had written their thesis about the landing and eventual breakout. We walked Belleau Wood with a young Frenchman who has adopted the battlefield and truly loves Americans and the fact that they came to save France...twice. We walked the beaches of the southern landings with another PhD who wrote THE book about that operation. We traveled to Vietnam and walked the battlefield of Khe Sahn, stood behind the wall in Hue City where LtGen Christmas won the Navy Cross...with LtGen Christmas, and I stood on the Paul Doumer Bridge...looked up and took a minute to wonder what it was like when my old man rolled in on the bridge in an F-4 with iron bombs, winning one of his won one of five DFCs. SDE (not AWC), was a scratch because the leadership was so so...tough to revert to student mode and present a note for a doctors appt when your last assignment was as a Sq/CC. That being said, the access was unreal. We met personally with every service chief and got the chance to pick their brain. We spent time with SECDEF, a Supreme Court Justice, CJCS, Gen Pace, Gen Patraeus, Gen Zinni, and former President Bush (43). Tom Ricks is an idiot, but beyond that he does not realize what INRES PME offers that you would never get at a civilian institution, the opportunity to work with the other services and pick their brains. My SDE calls had several graduated Battalion CC's that were just coming out (sts), of AFG and Iraq, their insights were invaluable. The curriculum is dry at times, but it does focus on aspects of the DIME that you would never get at a civilian institution. Harvard, Yale, and Stanford all have outstanding programs and yes some military officers would benefit, but we do need a cadre of officers that understands the military system. I am not saying the current system is perfect, but there is value.

I number of years ago while a student in the ASG program I had the unfortunate and very unsatisfying opportunity to sit down and debate the pompous egomaniac that is Tom Ricks. His is single-minded in his belief that everything is done wrong, no matter who does it, it is how he makes his living. His hatred of the Air Force was BLATANTLY obvious as we discussed and debated ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. His myopic view of the world is limited to a boots on the ground approach and after two hours trying to engage it was readily apparent he does not have a strategic bone in his body. I am not a graduate of Air War College, but I dare say this idiot could most certainly benefit from completing the curriculum...if nothing else the PT program would help him shed the 80 pounds of girth that seems to be impairing his thought process.

If You Can Tell Boys From Girls, the Air Force May Give You 20 Grand Although I can see how it is a tough nut to crack...no sts.

Bad on the good bad scale...thanks lead!

Wise wise words...

"Two"

I thought he said 600' over the shoreline.

Christ...I get it...women fly fighters...so un-news. We are failing as a service...trying to hard when we keep propagating these stories. The best pilot I've ever flown with....well actually the second best, was a woman...she was a phenomenal pilot with great airmanship and instincts...but in the end who fucking cares....move on...we have so many other REAL issues to deal with.

That bad? We were Capt's together, I have dirt on him but have not talked to him in years.

Sounds like a no-gyro PAR...Fun. Jet Makes Blind Landing in New Orleans

I truly thought someone would post "four empty kitchens", before the NOTAM reset.

Pimp My Ride https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Il2HKuKIEY

Man Kicked Off Plane for Being too Tall

Embarrassing Love at First Sight Wrong Number Voicemail

I don't have the numbers in front of me, but the rate for "non-select's" going to IDE INRES is much better than SDE which is only 2-3%. Non-selects typically have the best chance in their last look. As a Sq/CC I had two non-selects get picked up and both were in their second look, which at the time was highly unusual. As I recall they are trying to send IDE folks earlier and SDE folks later which may open the door for late look non-selects. The board/DT looks at your entire record, SURF, and the most importantly...the strat on your 3849. Your Wing/CC usually gets at least one silver bullet that will be honored unless there is something bad in your background. Your individual circumstances will also affect your chances...if you were recently moved out of the squadron to the Grp or Wg, that is usually another message to the board. Best of luck.

Yellow snow...

Nope...if you actually READ the article you will see the WTO ruled Airbus received FOUR TIMES the subsidies the Boeing did... Even if Boeing received the same $20 Billion that Airbus got I would still say buy Boeing, it is American. Adios Airbus...move along...and while your at it go find that plane that fell into the Atlantic.

Should Drinking Age for Military Personnel Be Lowered to 18?

The lady (assuming she is a police officer), says you may not taunt them)...so the police can take away your first amendment rights when you are standing on your own property?....ahhh no.

This incident happened in Panama City, I read this morning that the crazy whack bikini amazon UFC fighter was arrested and is facing felony charges.

You guys kill me. The instant I saw Junker 14 I sent Rainman a note saying a Google search would reveal his name (something he might not want you guys plastering all over the place).

Best and worst I've seen/heard in person. Two ship ocean crossing after a few months in the desert. New navigator on other airplane is REALLY homesick and missing his frau. His crew tells him about the MARS radio system and he listens as the AC makes a call and gets a phone patch to home. Cherry Navigator is very excited and wants to do the same. Unbeknownst to Cherry Navigator both airplanes change HF freqs to a non-MARS freq, Cherry Navs begins calling at which point nav in my airplane posing as a MARS operator responds and sets up a "phone patch to frau". A very gruff and deep voice answers the "phone patch" and explains the fraa is not available, she is in the shower. As the conversation goes on the voice on the other ends explains said Frau wants nothing to do with Navigator husband anymore...Said navigator was near tears as were we from laughing all the way to Westover.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=az4qASdPD4Y