Smokin

Almost is enough to make me think the people deserve the ISIS government. Almost. Comparing FGM to male circumcision is like comparing a paper cut to a broken leg.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/07/26/emily-miller-federal-judge-rules-dc-ban-on-gun-carry-rights-unconstitutional/ Let's hope this ruling stands. If it does get appealed to the supreme court, it could have the potential to force a shall-issue CC for all states.

Good to know that you don't need the commercial. I was just repeating what Sheppard Air told me since I figured they knew what they were talking about. This just saved me the time and money studying for the commercial after I knock out the ATP test next week. Is there any reason to get a commercial if you're already going to get the ATP? How about the CFII?

You have to already have a commercial license in order to do the practical ATP exam as it was explained to me by Sheppard Air. But for military, you just need to go take the commercial test. You can take the ATP written to make the cutoff, then go take the commercial written, then go do the ATP practical within two years.

Pretty bold statement. I've worked with many reservists who are stuck in a 3-1 that is a decade old and couldn't fight their way out of a paper bag. I've also worked with reservists who only fly the minimum BMC rates and can still crush the new patch straight from WIC. Making a blanket statement about either side of the force is absurd.

It is refreshing to hear that some senior leaders between us and the Chief see at least some things through the same lenses that us line pilots do. Makes me think there might be hope yet.

That's it, I'm done. Delta: my application will be arriving soon.

Wait, we get hours for riding in the back of planes? I need to go talk to the SARMs and add my C-5, C-130, and C-17 time...

So if you apply for the early eligible as an 11F, you still don't get paid until the time you finish the commitment? As in you'll still get a total of $225K? That sounds more like an early sign up than being "eligible" early. I thought they had found a way to sneak in another $25K to help retention.

That doesn't sound right. I know lots of F-16 guys with very little multi-engine time that have ATPs and none of them mentioned anything about a restricted ATP.

It doesn't help that the military/congress invented the Alcohol Related Incident to elevate "incidents" into a handy three letter crime. What is the civilian equivalent of an ARI? I've heard of multiple ARIs that were not in of themselves crimes, but because alcohol was involved, now it is a crime. Why don't we have a Tobacco Related Incident? Think of the long term health benefits and medical cost savings we could achieve!

Could we do it today? And this

"In addition, the digital messaging system GroupMe, which was used by the squadron, was often littered with conversations containing pornographic imagery, often of male genitalia, as well as “vulgar, homophobic, and sexually suggestive statements.” At least he wasn't reinforcing any stereotypes...

Maybe someone placed a bomb in his back pocket...

Like Hindsight said, I know you're being flippant; but if there is anything young guys (even more so than the GOs) should be scared shitless about, it is a mass exodus of the experienced line IP type. I'm sure it is true of other airframes, but in a fighter squadron the line IP has a huge impact on the squadron in terms of the squadron pilots being survivable and lethal. The squadron patch is only one dude and these days it is not uncommon for him to be the ONLY patch in the squadron. It is the line IP that keeps the squadron up to the standards the patch and SQ/CC set. With so many dudes punching at the 12 year point, the AF is losing a huge amount of experience that is only gained 1.5 hours at a time over the course of multiple operational assignments. With the loss of this experience, other pilots are losing the opportunity to gain vicariously from this experience and will end up making the same (occasionally fatal) mistakes regaining some of that experience. This is the AF that you are going to inherit if you end up making it that far. When guys who know far more about the situation than you do are really worried, it is probably not the time to be the flippant SNAP saying you're glad to see the opportunity.

Every time I even hear HPO mentioned, it makes me want to go to the airlines. HPOs are not the guys you need to entice to stay in. People who actually want to become GOs are generally going to stay in because that is who they are. The people you need to convince are all the guys who want to top out at O-5, maybe O-6 if the job was right, but see the lifestyle of their commanders and DOs and don't think it sounds like something they want to be a part of. Going to wing stand up to explain to the wing commander as to why a four ship landed 20 minutes late? Getting an angry phone call from the OG because Lt X didn't properly fill out an eSSS before sending an unnecessary memo to the group? Having to tell your squadron that they are going to miss Christmas and be "deployed" for six months to a base in Korea where a third of them have already spent 12+ months because some four star wants another squadron in his command? No thanks. Fix this type of BS and the AF won't need a pilot bonus; they'll have to kick guys out because too many want to stay in. Last years change was a significant step in the right direction, but I think 2003 year group retention (or lack thereof) is going to force them to up the ante. Problem is, that would require explaining to Congress why guys who spent years getting to their dream job won't take a quarter of a million dollars to stay in that job.

Makes perfect sense. Why wouldn't the AF would fly black world jets in the middle of the afternoon over public land in the cons? And the elusive F-22? Maybe they should try meeting at a different airport.

The article was almost a complete waste of the few minutes I spent skimming it. However, the last paragraph is one that I actually agreed with: "Ironically, Brig. Gen. Robin Olds grew the mustache as a “middle finger” to leadership. Now that leadership has sanctioned this event, I have no doubt that, if General Olds were here, he would shave his mustache off in protest!" Except for the obvious fact that he didn't actually have a mustache as a BG, he shaved it off while still a full bird. I considered ignoring MM now that it is a CSAF led event. Kinda hard to have an anti-establishment morale event that is endorsed by the leader of that establishment and is AF wide. Not that I fault Gen Welsh; good on him for proving that he still has the line pilot in mind. But since the whole AF is doing it and it is a semi-official event now, I think this MM thing has run its course.

Even if it were a real gun, why would that merit calling the cops? Did he pull his tattoo out and threaten anyone with it?

A complete shame. The AF is far worse for his pre-mature departure. One of the few GOs who still had tactical relevancy; as a one star he would go fight BFM against line IPs and school them.

Anarchists and others who have been trying to overthrow the government for years. Not sure if it is still this bad, but a few years ago, if you flew into the Athens airport, you had a 50/50 shot of walking past a full up police riot bus with cops just sitting on call. They don't really care about Americans, but a car bomb doesn't discriminate. The tourist areas are safe because even anarchists want jobs, but I wouldn't chose to hang out near Greek government buildings and such. Probably similar threat level to the Basque region in Spain.

Holy hell! What kind of emergency would take $63K that you need immediately? That's more than seven months of pre-tax income for most of us. If anyone in our type of income bracket needs $63K for an emergency, items from the Gun thread would likely be of more use. I understand longer term emergencies (like getting caught using products from the above post, getting the boot from the AF, and searching for a job), but then you would also have six months to make that money liquid. Seems like you're running a huge opportunity cost to have that much money in an account that probably has a negative post-inflation yield.

And the brewery was founded by two previous Air Force guys. Gives me ideas for my retirement plan. If you like that, try their Nitro Stout or the Milk Stout.

If you are not planning on staying at lodging regardless, show up without reservations and hope for a non-A. Then, if you get a non-A, you're golden. If they have space available, you don't need any letter to stay off base, but you can only claim what it would have cost for you to stay on base. If you're going to be there for a few months, you should be able to find a place off base to rent for the $56/night that should be reimbursed regardless of any letter.

Republicans just wanted this to go through quickly and without significant media attention so everyone can keep pointing out how ObamaCare is falling on its face. Had there been another government shutdown in Jan, no one would care that Obama's signature legislation and his legacy is turning out to be a complete debacle.