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Smokin

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Everything posted by Smokin

  1. This program would pay for itself quickly, it is astounding that the AF hasn't already gone to something like this given our current budget problems.
  2. Maybe I'm a bit of an optimist on this one as I have done pretty well on assignments, but yes, I think they do give a crap. Do well at your job to get placed high on the VML and list your choices clearly along with your intent and AFPC will help you out if they can. Obviously if you are the only guy on your VML qualified for a specific job or you're toward the bottom of the rack and stack, you probably won't get your first choice. Remember that your functional at AFPC may actually be someone you already know from previous assignments. Hell, it could be you at AFPC for your next assignment and I hope you would care what your bros want.
  3. If people use that reasoning, then we shouldn't be able to give checkrides within our own squadrons because the O-3 SEFe might feel pressured by an O-4 ADO. We should have to have another squadron SEFE give checkrides for our squadron. But then, they're in the same wing, so maybe another wing should do it. But they might be in the same numbered AF and feel pressured because of that. Maybe we should just have only SEFEs from another service give the AF checkrides, that'd fix any ability to cheat. Or we could trust our people to have integrity and squash those caught cheating.
  4. Is the Hawk a zero-zero seat?
  5. I would start with the AVIS in the US. They probably have a better system for communicating and dealing with the Italians. Tell them you are going to file a Better Business Bureau complaint. This will also avoid fighting the Italians on their turf as they are pros at bureaucracy shenanigans. You can also try challenging the charge with your credit card company. Send them the info and they can cancel the charge while they investigate it.
  6. Looks like the straps are connected, but it is a bit unnerving that they'll let you go that far forward.
  7. That was really inconsiderate of the Viper guy to not tell the FJ-4B, who may have flying a trail recovery judging by the fact that he landed after the Viper, to go around.
  8. Stand by for next months email from Chief Shoeclerk: Our Air Force Heritage; Why the Persians Defeated Leonidas on the Third Day The real reason King Leonidas' 300 men could not hold against the Persians 200,000 after three days was that the Persians had done a uniform inspection and fixed all their discrepancies that morning and thus their 'Human Weapon Systems' were in perfect condition. Abbreviated by the Persians as HumWS, the legend of the victory was the original inspiration for the Hummus (note the similarity to HumWS), the delicious Chick Pea dip that spread throughout the Persian Empire. Hummus was a daily dish throughout the Persian Empire and thus reminded the soldiers that a proper uniform will defeat any enemy.
  9. I don't get it. The cop was extremely respectful and polite, why is this a WTF other than the guy taking the video being unable to answer basic questions? I understand that its his right to carry and I am all for that, but I also expect cops to investigate unusual things going on.
  10. "6.5.2.1. T-Shirt - Desert Sand colored (Tan). The desert sand colored crew-neck t-shirt without pockets is the only t-shirts authorized for wear with the ABU. The desert sand colored crew-neck t-shirt without pockets are also authorized for wear with the FDU/DFDU. Synthetic moisture wicking fabrics, 100% cotton or cotton/poly blend may be worn with the ABU as long as they match the color. During flight operations t-shirts must be cotton or fire retardant material due to added protection. T-shirts made of 100% nylon or polyester are not authorized during flight." "...is the only t-shirts..." If the writer cannot pass a fifth grade English test, the reg should be optional.
  11. Wow, really? If you were newer around here I'd say that you were just trolling, but the sad part is that I think you're serious. There are so many things wrong with this statement that I don't even know where to begin. Maybe if I had two or three more people helping me type on this keyboard that would help... each person could take their own row of keys so no one is looking at the same letter at the same time...
  12. If you're looking to get an MBA online from a college people will recognize, it will take longer than a year or two, so start TODAY. Taking two or three classes now while you have nothing else to do is a great idea, then you can take one at a time and be done with plenty of time to spare. You won't regret starting now, but if you wait you will kick yourself when you are working 69 hrs per week and have a wife and kids. As for schools, there is another thread talking about it, but Oklahoma State University offers a top tier program online and I think they still drop tuition down to $250/credit hour for military.
  13. Any source for that? After a quick scan through JFTR Ch 5 Part D, I could not find any limits as to any max weight limits for partial DITYs. Careful throwing around WOMs. People spreading incorrect WOMs, combined with laziness, is why many TMOs will not ship booze even though it is generally allowed by law.
  14. Eight weeks?!? The five week course only had about two weeks worth of actual work and now they're going to stretch it out another three weeks! They should just make it nine months, add a masters degree, and make it a PCS. Oh, wait, there's already a school there like that... Imagine how much harder it will be for guys to not punch their flight in the face (that was my one and only goal there) when they have to deal with them for another three weeks.
  15. You should have just sold them your boots. That would help with the reverse engineering. Everyone knows suede boots are the key to airpower.
  16. That is true because the junior airmen are generally not mature enough to understand the difference between the relationship at work and drinking with friends. In a previous squadron, some of us officers often invited our two MSgts to go out for dinner and drinks. We knew that they could handle the distinction. Many, if not most, A1Cs can't and we had problems with the exact situation you described. There is a time and a place for everything. I would expect a 2Lt to salute a 1Lt in the BX parking lot where there are tons of junior enlisted around. If they are in the squadron parking lot where no one else is around, I would laugh at the 2Lt if he saluted. As bq said, the (generally) better situational awareness and maturity of senior enlisted and officers is what gives them a little discretion as to when to have full up customs and courtesies and when it is ok to relax a little. When I'm in the work environment and the SQ/CC walks into the room, I stand up and greet him. When in the bar or the SQ/CC's office drinking a scotch, I'll call him by his call sign as long as I know he's cool with it.
  17. "after notifying the Secretary of Defense of the rationale for this action" is extremely vague unless the reg spells out a specific notification process in another section. A general passing the SecDef in the hallway at the Pentagon and causally mentioning this topic could be considered notification.
  18. Assuming you want to sell those non-IRA mutual funds and buy Vanguard funds then yes, you will incur taxes. But you also should be able to move the funds over intact just like the IRA and not pay any taxes (handy if you bought stocks six months ago and want to avoid the short-term capital gains). In the long run, it will most likely be better for the bottom line to sell the higher cost funds and buy Vanguard funds.
  19. It depends on how involved you want to be on your investing. If you want a fire and forget type fund, just use their all in one retirement fund series for your age group; like the VFIFX if you plan on retiring around the year 2050. If you want to accept more risk you can buy a number of their index funds. If you're interested in this, I'd recommend reading Bernstein's book as he lays out a couple suggested investment distributions. I split my ROTH IRA roughly along the lines he recommends but a little lighter on the bonds as I don't mind a higher risk. Figure out what risk level you can accept and allocate accordingly. I currently own their 500 Index Fund, Small-Cap Index Fund, Total International Stock Index Fund, Growth Index Fund, Total Stock Market Index, and Total Bond market Index. With either the all in one or the split funds, you can set up the automatic investing and only think about checking it every five years or so to make sure you still have the risk exposure that you want. Whatever specific funds you choose, go with index funds. In the long run, they will generally have a higher return than actively traded funds for many reasons. As for the family friend broker, that is exactly the type of setup I had at my full service brokerage. It was tough moving away, but see the above post on the amount I expect to make/save with Vanguard versus the family friend. Also, having seen some of the troubles my relatives have had with mixing family and business, I try to avoid that mix at all costs.
  20. I enthusiastically second Vanguard. I used to have my investments with a full service broker until I read The Investor's Manifesto by William Bernstein. It is a great book and I highly recommend it to everyone. He explains in great detail about how it is possible for a full service broker can make more money off of your investments than you do. After reading the book, I did my own research and ended up agreeing with Bernstein that Vanguard is the best choice. Like USAA, it is an investor owned company rather than publicly traded, so it does not have to succumb to the short term demands of stockholders looking for a quarterly profit instead of a long term growth. Based on their MUCH lower operating costs and passively managed funds and assuming a historic return, Vanguard would make me around $300,000 more than my full service broker. Plus, it turns out they are actually easier to work with than my previous full service broker, so it is a win-win for me.
  21. Smokin

    Gun Talk

    It will also get you booted from most ranges.
  22. Smokin

    Gun Talk

    S&W has a military rebate right now, $50 back for that pistol (or any other M&P handgun) and $100 for most M&P rifles.
  23. Holy old link batman. Based on the 6.9 foot stack of .223 ammo on sale at Cabela's, I would guess that US makers have caught up to demand and then some. However, point taken in regard to the implied (or at least inferred) reference to the Israel ally topic.
  24. Have you considered a DITY? Seems like that might be the easiest solution for you. It should be fairly easy to have TMO give you the brief with or without orders. As long as you document everything, it should be explainable that you had to move before you actually got orders. I'm sure TMO can also help you out with suggestions for storage before you have to move, which is claimable and not part of your DITY payment.
  25. If it really is a state law, why would anyone expect the power company to break the law? The anger here should be focused on lawmakers who pass dumb laws without fully thinking through the ramifications. Just because they can pass laws does not mean they should.
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