ClearedHot

It is crazy how one idiot can ruin it for everyone. Sadly, his comment is still used to the detriment of the community today. The U-28 and the community changed the fight in many regards. Fing heroes and extreme professionals in my book...still carrying the mail to this day, but one idiot made a comment that left a stain. Awesome to see those in the community grow up and take big leadership positions. There are a few on here whop have done great things for the community. We need more of that less Pavelow/Talon II Mafia.

Yup, OSI convicted, NSAv guy helped...there were several who got in trouble and few who got away with it. I was very close to the story, not all of it came out and I won't air all the dirty laundry.

Brother...you have not been paying attention. The Biden administration has actually made this a strategy...THEIR Strategy. I am NOT trying to be flippant on a web forum. I would invite you to read a paper that came out of CSBA called Deterrence by Detection. It did not get a lot of traction under Trump but for some reason Biden's folks have latched on to it. Very long story short, this paper was published in 2020 and on the surface is operational concept to put a large network of long endurance RPAs in key areas to watch China and Russia, then use the constant flow of information and intel to shape our adversaries in public. Think back to our withdrawal form Afghanistan and how they answered questions about continuing the fight and how it would impact our ability to fight. The answer was "over the horizon". The Ivy League mushmellows in the BIden administration shaping DoD policy have decided this concept is the answer to all our problems and they are FUNDING it as a strategy (there is an RFI on the street right now). A couple of key statements that show how they are building the case. “Deterrence by detection,” based upon the idea that our adversaries are less likely to commit opportunistic acts of aggres-sion if they know they are being watched constantly and that their actions can be publicized widely." Follow on DoD and policy articles have referenced the strategy, they believe they can and I quote "SHAME" Putin and Xi Jinping into stopping a certain behavior. Another thought piece went as far as to say that using this approach we could cohere China and Russia in to "cow to our demands" They point to the U.S. releasing sources and methods in the past to achieve these effect. in the 60's the U. S. government publicly released highly classified U-2 reconnaissance photographs to demonstrate that the Russians had missiles in Cuba. They reference Colin Powell presenting pictures and voice intercepts of the Iraqis talking about mobile WMD labs leading up to Gulf War II. The also discuss the United States releasing satellite and other intel on Iran...nuke facilities and actions on the oil platforms. My assessment and just an opinion, they are taking a risk averse tactical view and are willing to disclose sources, methods and technology to achieve political goals that are probably unachievable as our top two adversaries are not as vulnerable to the press as a free nation like America is. If you listen closely we are already signalling we know what Putin is doing with a false flag operation and a video. We likely have the video and they are trying to get the word out...will it stop Putin?

Probably depends on region, I have been very pleasantly surprised and have received all of my post military medical care on base. I go off base for Dental (obviously), and was going off base for yearly eye exams. Recently had a small procedure on one eye and now they want me to do yearly exams on base.

Agree and had not given it much thought until I heard some of the negative electrons. Honestly I am shocked and disappointed at the response. I learned in a J-3 Super Cub and never thought it was that big of a deal. Taxi ops were different but an easily learned skill (again if a bone head like me can do it in a day, anyone can do it.) Seriously, it is surprising to hear the continued pushback given the majority of austere operations done around the world are accomplished using tail draggers. The HQ guys must think all those bush pilots in Alaska are lunatics. Agree here as well, this is not a pick up game and will demand more than basic brain stem power. I think there will also be a maturity requirement, collapsing the stack and the projected operating environment removes a lot of support (Intel/JAG/Command), and places even more decision authority on fewer shoulders. I liken it to the NSAV folks flying around Africa and operating out of remote dirt strips with with money belts. The vast majority of those folks did well but a few went rouge and started dealing in strippers, smuggling and even blood diamonds (yes that really happened). We (America/SOCOM/AFSOC), can't afford some stooge slinging LGBs or rockets into a crowd of children. In other words people like Danger41 are going to have to LEAD...Develop Solid TTPs and TRAIN until it hurts. Sadly, I don't have a lot of hope. It takes more than a single road show to a UPT base to make the case.

I was a demo pilot on the AT-6B back in the day, landed it on a lakebed out west and did a little FARP. I understand the C model has the A-10 mission system. I found the B system very easy to use. Even a ham-fisted stick monkey like me could easily strafe and plop rockets in the circle. Great airplane in certain aspects but not a great plane in the dirt and VERY limited in duration unless it loaded with a crap ton of externals. This program and how it falls out will have repercussions for years. For those not following, the ACQ folks are increasingly moving towards the OTA construct where they ask industry to take great risk up front. The problem comes when they diverge from the stated evaluation criteria. They played this game once before with The Lite Attack Experiment and it if they go down the same path it is going to end the process as industry will no longer play. Ultimately the American Warfighter will not get the best equipment. Let me give you an example: Dear Industry, here is an OTA for a 6th gen fighter. Each company can submit a White Paper and the government will have an onsite evaluation. From that we will down-select to four offerings and each company will get $20M to build a prototype for the flyoff. Yes we know that covers 1/3 your cost, but those are our rules. For the evaluation we have the following Tier 1 requirements, if you fail any of these you are automatically removed. 1. Supercruise 2. Objective RCS less than .01 3. Internal Weapons capacity for 12 X Aim 120 4. Fuel Flow < 8,000 PPH Company A designs and flies a prototype that exceeds all Tier 1 requirements as well as all Tier 2 requirements in the fly off - SOCOM Answer - Continue in the competition. Company B designs and flies an airplane that fails a Tier 1 requirement and half the Tier 2 requirements in the flyoff. Company B complains "we don't like the way you measure Fuel Flow and count AIM-120s - SOCOM Answer - Continue in the competition. Company C designs a plane that does not Supercruise, has an RCS of .1, holds 4 X Aim 120 and has a fuel flow of 20,000 PPH. Company C says "so what...this is what we have so this is what you really want" - SOCOM answer - Continue in the competition.

Apparently...Hellfires are hard... Yes, L3Harris. IOMAX had a different Crop Duster that is now out of production and was not as capable.

New rules that I am guessing a lot of folks don't understand. This is an OTA so the government can do what it wants after the initial down-select and there is no opportunity for protest....they can even go outside the Tier 1 requirements. FYSA MC-145 misses SEVERAL Tier 1 requirements. That being said Congress can certainly review the outcome. You might review the last NDAA where Congress specifically called out the program and delayed funding allocation until the completion of an OSD/CAPE study that should be complete next month. "Dear Congress, AFSOC here, remember that plane we bought a few years ago then DIVESTED most of them, well we would like to purchase 75 more...yes we are aware it would require restarting a now discontinued production line in a foreign country because there are not enough existing platforms to convert for this program. Also, yes we fully understand the logistical train will be completely dependent on the whims of a foreign nation. Yes there is plan to do final assembly in the U.S. but 80% of the production, touch labor and highly skilled jobs will be done in a foreign country." For the record - 100% of the AT-802 would be built in the U.S....mainly Oklahoma... home of the ranking member of the SASC and a key member of the HASC.

Also non-complient with with the OTA in MULTIPLE categories. Incorrect... We shall see, also non-complient in at least one category. Having flown AT-6B and taken it to the dirt, I think there are significant hurdles to overcome if you want to operate this platform austere. Also, it simply does not have the legs needed to change the AOW paradigm. In a recent exercise the AT-802 flew an unrefueled 8.2 sortie and landed with 1.5 reserve. Three sensors, monstrous weapons load, and burns less hourly fuel of the non-compliant MC-145. Also, the AT-802 carries all weapons the MC-145 can plus some including gun. Unfortunately, politics will play greatly into the decision which is NOT how OTAs are supposed to play out.

Former aviators launch ‘Mach 1′ fighter pilot caucus on Capitol Hill Given the ongoing health concerns about potential exposures for those in the community there is a new caucus focused on issues impacting the community.

I believe in being fair and giving credit when it is due. Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi is now dead I am proud President Biden had the stones to send our young men and women into harms way to get him. Today we can all celebrate that an evil son of a bitch no longer walks the earth. Murica!

You never know what people will say. Many years ago I was at high key in a T-38 as my buddy took the barrier in another T-38. He must have clinched every muscle in his body including his thumb on the radio button as he screamed "F@CKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!"

Could have been and lots for them to work out, but it appears someone wants the story to get out.

CCP virus vaccine side effects caused a US F-35 fighter jet to crash in the South China Sea "...and the pilot was also diagnosed with acute myocarditis after being sent to the hospital for treatment."

Leaked documents show the Biden administration was still discussing basic plans for mass civilian evacuation hours before the Taliban took Kabul "Axios reported that leaked documents showed basic decisions hadn't been made as of August 14."

Second place I've heard this, slowly leaking out, I am sure there will be a deep dive but this is obviously concerning for everyone.

Do I know if he directed or gave approval to close Bagram...nope. Do I suspect he forced them to close the base...yup. Do I know if he was briefed on every part of the plan...nope. Do I suspect he and his political minions had their hands in it, of course, every administration does. Did he say we wouldn't leave Americans behind then lie and set the conditions and timeline for an expedited withdraw...Yup He is the Commander in Chief...not a SINGLE Person has been fired or held accountable for the loss of those 13 Marines.

So in summary, we meet in the middle on somethings...just like the framers intended.

I am sorry but that is just insanity to contemplate, I don't want either side to have that much power. I presume you've read the Constitution, have you read the Federalist Papers? I am not a scholar but from my fumbling attempts to read and understand there is an major theme that pops out. The Framers wanted compromise, discussion, debate and consensus. I dare say the vast majority of folks on here and in both parties are not full on extremists, but the current political environment has both sides trying to rule from the extreme. I am a Republican but I believe in Gay marriage and abortion (yes it is horrific but I will never try to tell a woman what she can do with her body), and many social causes. I don't want the AOC and Bernie Sanders wack jobs passing Marxist policies and I don't want the right wing religious zealots trying to force everyone to attend church and rule by the bible. I completely disagree with Trumps call to end the Filibuster, just like I think it was a HUGE mistake for Harry Reid to invoke the nuclear option. As much as I disliked Clinton I give him great credit for reaching across the aisle to work with Newt Gingrich to pass legislation in the middle. Same with Ronald Reagan and Tip O'neil...neither side fully one and neither side fully lost. Ending the Filibuster is poison if we ever want to get back to the middle in this country.

13 dead Marines and a hand waive of both responsibility and compassion by some on this forum. Whatever you think about staying or leave Afghanistan what happened was an absolute abortion and lays squarely at the feet of the Commander in Chief.

Words words words, don't waste your time, stopped reading your drivel a long time ago.

I should have been more precise, "MY" gains have been wiped out (too much tech), or were wiped out until the bounce back on Friday. That being said is your "believe what you want on the other points" a hand waive at the other issues? I choose to believe Biden completely screwed the Afghanistan Withdraw, I guess you disagree. I choose to believe Biden and his massive government plans have caused inflation, I guess you disagree. I choose to believe that Biden stood in front of a camera during the campaign and said "I am going to shutdown the virus." He also said of the pandemic "I am going to end this. Finally, during the last Presidential debate he said "anyone who is responsible for that many deaths should not remain as president of the United States of America." This clown now has MORE deaths during his term than Trump did. I guess you choose not to believe those facts. I don't want a war with Russia and yes it is a very complicated situation that has a long history including a security promise made by the United States if Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons. I don't know if Trump would have defended Ukraine (from his recent statements saying it is a Europe problem probably not). Regardless, Biden's diminished mental capacity and continued word scramble makes him and us look weak. Good look up his "small incursion" comments...to me it sure sounded like a green light to Putin. Before taking office Biden announced he would end Trump's tariffs on China, and aide had to walk those comments back. Yes I know it is a complicated situation but the mixed messages...When Biden took office he immediately suspended a planned arms sale to Taiwan (and other countries as you are aware). At that point China started ever increasing incursions into Taiwan's airspace. Those incursions are not weekly with large force presentations of 40-50 aircraft strike groups. It took Biden until August to "re-approve" the paused sale. So yes I choose to believe China is doing whatever they want thanks to us looking weak. I choose to believe Biden campaigned on bringing the country back together...he said it multiple times. Looking beyond the record number of Executive Orders he signed. He also has supported ending the filibuster, he opened the borders and has secret flights dumping ILLEGALS into our cities every night, and has supported a lot of far left proposals. Sorry but I choose to believe that is NOT bringing us back together and governing from the middle. I choose to believe he has NOT re-established America on the world stage as he promised. Also, when he calls a reporter a "stupid son of a bitch" I don't think that is restoring dignity to the office of the President. Again, Trump is an ass, a horrible person, but I don't see how the haters simply hand waive the lies, mental decline and failure that is Biden the meat puppet.

So in summary Uncle Joe has: 1. Screwed the Afghanistan Withdraw. 2. Torched the stock market (all gains since the election now erased). 3. Brought inflation home to America. 4. Failed to stop the virus as promised. 5. Opened the door for Russia to invade Ukraine. 6. Allowed China to rage in the South Pacific and now launch large force packages at Taiwan. 7. Tried bring us all back together by destroying the filibuster. He sure has re-established America on the world stage. Yes Trump is an ass, a horrible person, but this was worth all your hate? Simply unreal.

It is not true to quote his death rate statement? GTFOH. He said 98% survival rate NOT ME so I did the math. Not "MY" survival numbers. Does anyone actually ready on here? I guess not...so probably pointless to repost my statement "I am not in favor of masks, shutting down the economy, or mandatory vaccinations but I think we should stop the 98% survival rate BS and acknowledge there is a real impact" M2 - you are correct, we should nuke this thread.

I will never understand the 98% survival rate statement. 340,000,000 Americans x .02 death rate = 6.8 million dead Americans, you are ok with that? We got lucky, so far it has killed 849,000 Americans and world-wide it has killed 5.5 MILLION People. I am not in favor of masks, shutting down the economy, or mandatory vaccinations but I think we should stop the 98% survival rate BS and acknowledge there is a real impact.