Hueypilot

It makes the most sense for the C-130Js to go to LRF, simply because the AFRC unit there has no mx backshop facilities of their own, and the AD facilities they would have to use are J-specific. They don't have that infrastructure set up yet in NC, and the H-models there are already well-established. The primary reason why AFRC wants to move the Js out of Keesler have more to do with the fact that they've never really been able to get mx fully manned down at BIX, and during storm season, the slick Js suffer in order to keep the weather birds ready to go. Moving them to LRF will give the AD access to a few more tails and result in an overall better utilization of the aircraft. As for Pope, I think they will stay open, but I doubt they'll get the Js. They will likely become a normal AFRC wing. It's interesting that MS is fighting so hard...for one, they are the only multi-squadron MAF wing in AFRC anymore. They are also one of the best funded due to the weather mission, so the BIX unit isn't really in any jeopardy of closing any time soon. The MS delegation just wants to have their cake and eat it too. In reality, since having the 403rd go to a one-squadron (and well-funded) wing, the 913th having Js and associating with the AD, and Pope keeping their H's to keep the Army and NC politicians happy, that cannot be the possible outcome, because it makes too much sense. Instead, we'll keep the Js in MS, where they won't have any utilization with the RegAF and slick mx suffers every hurricane season, and we'll close LRF right after we hired 600+ people and unfurled the flag. That's more along the lines of how our government and DoD operate.

So after serving 20 years pretty much doing nothing but working in an office, you retire. 15 years later, and after over a decade of war, you decide to pen an article where you feel the benefits are too lavish because you personally didn't do enough to merit earning them. The guys returning from Iraq and Afghanistan in pieces disagree with you. The people who've spent 3-4 years of their lives (or more) deployed to various shit holes and missing birthdays and anniversaries over the past decade also disagree with you. If you feel guilty that you're getting nice perks for basically doing nothing, that's fine. Take that retirement and other monetary benefits and donate them to the Wounded Warrior Project. But to try and axe benefits for future generations who actually did deploy and face imminent danger while you've managed to enjoy those benefits for well over a decade is shameful. Not everyone (and in fact, very few) are able to enjoy a 20+ year career avoiding deployments and danger. The mere fact that we sit ready to give our lives, even if we're a cook, supply tech or what have you, is worth having those benefits. And I find it baffling that people such as this guy will attack benefits given to people who, at a minimum, sat ready to serve, but they are mute when it comes to benefits being paid to people who haven't given anything to this nation.

The AH-56 was killed from being too complex and too expensive. A prototype crashed as well, and with the A-10 being developed, the Cheyenne was canceled. The A-10 was not developed to kill off the AH-56. This guy is a tard. Chastising the Hog for not being survivable enough and then crowning the AC-130 as King of CAS. Ironic.

I need to tell my wife that any time she's speaking to others regarding me, she needs to start off by staying "The Major wants/would like/etc..."

What are they going to re-name the T-44 to? "Weeelll, I fly the Pegasus" just isn't going to be all that impressive in a bar. It's about as lame as a Viper guy bragging about flying the Fighting Falcon. If we were going to steal a Navy aircraft nickname, there are plenty of better ones we could have taken.

Hey now, I think I did a pretty good job "devoting my time to training new Combat Airlift pilots", and hell, I was actually doing "Combat Airlift"...also, I've fried chicken before, that's as easy as flying a tanker.

I would assume that being a shift manager means that "devoting her time to training new associates" is part of her normal duties. At least that's what shift managers did when I worked fast food as a kid many years ago. So much for recognizing the "above and beyond" stuff.

No offense to Popeye's employees, but how the ###### do they have anything to do with "Combat Airlift"? How does a civilian fast-food manager become the "Combat Airlifter of the Week"? I get it...eating fried chicken is probably #15 on the list of priorities, thus beating out #18, flying the mission. Edit to add: OK, yes she's technically an AAFES employee, but I'm staring right at the title of the award and can't seem to connect the two.

FWIW, that type of bullshit isn't the sole realm of the USAF. I ran into all types of crazy queep in the Army as well. One thing AF types don't have to worry about is Army-centric training. I found myself doing lots of infantry-type stuff when I wasn't flying. Hopefully they still don't issue and use shelter-halves anymore...sleeping in those in the field sucked.

Pretty shortly, Little Rock AFB will look like this: 19 Airlift Wing (RegAF AMC): - 41 Airlift Squadron (C-130J) - 61 Airlift Squadron (C-130J) 314 Airlift Wing (RegAF AETC): - 48 Airlift Squadron (C-130J FTU) - 62 Airlift Squadron (C-130H FTU, no aircraft, augmenting the ANG) 189 Airlift Wing (AR ANG) - 154 Training Squadron (C-130H FTU) 913 Airlift Group (AFRC) - 327 Airlift Squadron (C-130H) - 50 Airlift Squadron (RegAF Associate) * Plus, a strong rumor that the 50 AS and other TFI units (2 AS, 30 AS and 52 AS) may be short lived.

I'm pretty sure if you were killed in combat, you probably wouldn't give a f^ck what any memorial looked like. You'd be dead.

You can do better than SWA these days. As for the CAF vs MAF thing...I'm laughing as well. At some point in your career you just don't give a sh*t anymore.

As a former WO that jumped ship to the USAF, my two cents: As a young guy I loved flying helicopters and that's exactly what I wanted to do. Being a warrant was fun and although I had a BS degree, I repeatedly turned down offers from the BN commander to attend OCS. I was lucky that I was surrounded by a bunch of old-school W-4s and W-5s that had flown in Vietnam and most were flying offshore for their real jobs (I was an ARNG pilot). They spent a LOT of time trying to convince me to go to the Air Force and fly fixed wing, and to them, they regarded helicopter flying as "the white collar slave trade". I resisted for a couple years but finally took their advice, albeit skeptically. I almost quit AF OTS because I felt I was leaving a good gig, but managed to stick with it. Now, I don't regret for a moment my choice. Yes, the USAF is very anal in many ways, but it's a door that leads to a broader set of destinations. There are times I wish I could fly for the Army again, but only for a few moments...then I remember the fact that Army leadership almost always seemed to not understand aviators. Would I have had a good career staying with the Army? I bet I would have, but I can't say I would have had the opportunity to do what I'm doing now. For a young guy trying to figure out what to do...if you really like the idea of flying helicopters, Army flying is great and it's an awesome opportunity. But think about where you want to be down the road...you won't always be 28 years old. At some point you'll accumulate a spouse, kids and other things you'd rather spend your time doing other than flying.

I'll add that it's much easier to stand in goofy poses by one of those coffins when you are too young to know or understand the cost those things come with. Since most seasoned Army NCOs have BTDT as far as the flag-draped casket, I'm sure those kids will get "educated" very quickly.

The funeral and POW photos are good examples of why many people refer to the current young generation as "Generation ME". They took those photos only thinking how great THEY would appear in them and never bothered to think of how others would view it.

Every country out there has an Air Force. In most countries, the air force owns just about all the flying assets, to include the helicopters used by their army. And in some cases, the air forces operate the naval aviation assets. The US is really the only credible military force that has significant aviation assets in all branches. There's certainly a reason why each branch operates aircraft to suit their own needs, but I don't see a real reason to abolish the USAF.

A Southwest flight bound for Branson landed at a small GA airport tonight. I'm sure the pilots experienced what the TPF C-17 crew went through when they realized they just touched down on a 3730' x 100' runway. At the end of the runway was a nice 30' drop-off onto a highway. Apparently they smashed on the brakes and stopped about 40' from the end. https://www.kspr.com/news/local/southwest-jet-bound-for-branson-lands-at-wrong-airport/-/21051620/23895590/-/n08v03/-/index.html

I watched Lone Survivor this weekend as well. Great flick. After spending time riding around eastern Afghanistan in a Chinook a few years back, I thought the scenes in the CH-47s were very well done...made me feel like I was back in Afghanistan. Overall it shows what these guys went through even if Hollywood did take some license. Leaving the theater (which was in a mall), I heard people saying "that was a cool movie, it had a lot of action" as if it was made for their entertainment (ok, maybe it was...but to me it wasn't entertainment). After flying coffins out of airfields out there, helping wounded guys get from the Role 3 to a waiting HC-130 that were missing legs and had holes shot in them, having a rocket bounce off the gravel 30 feet from my pod and detonate on the other side of a t-wall, and flying the medevac missions, it was surreal to leave that movie and walk back through suburbia and the people shopping at the mall that have NO idea.

I now have absolutely zero reason to deploy ever again. On another note, I assume if you're flying out of one of those "non-combat" locations and fly to Afghanistan or another IDP location, you'd be eligible for both the IDP and CTZE, correct?

Nevermind, I re-read the article. It made a statement that a Black Hawk crashed in December as well. Sucks for any aircraft to crash, but the MC-12s have had a rough go of it...

Well...it would be fair to say the definition of manhood has changed somewhat with our current WH. Especially given that Phil Robertson of "Duck Dynasty" fame is currently getting thrashed in a manner similar to Paula Deen. And Mr Kiddie Pajamas is probably looked upon as normal.

Gitmo vs government-run health insurance are apples and oranges. It's relatively easy to skip out on a single-issue minor promise like closing a facility. It's much harder to campaign on keeping the federal govt out of healthcare and then turn around and sign a massive law that affects everyone. Had he been elected and then done that, I guarantee you he wouldn't get reelected, and he understood that.

True, the AF will still "exist". But your experience (flying experience) will all be sitting at desks while your cockpits are filled with with LTs. Good luck with that.

Vertigo, the bottom line is regardless of what price they mistakenly quoted her, she can't afford the plans. She can only afford the subsidized ones which she can't qualify for. While the state of Washington may be guilty of temporarily giving her false hope, they are not guilty of setting conditions that dramatically increase the cost of plans for non-subsidized families. The Affordable Care Act law, the president and Democratic lawmakers own that one.

I see that Obamacare thing is working out well for those middle class Democrats that voted for our current president. On a more serious tone, the fact she blames her state and exonerates the very law and politician that is driving the state of Washington to have these policies is just UFB. We are all fucked if that's a display of the average American's logic.