Gravedigger

I saw an enlisted satellite operator from Schriever wearing his flightsuit in the Colorado Springs airport when I was heading home for Thanksgiving. In addition he was carrying his leather jacket in hand (at least he wasn't wearing that too, I guess). I wanted to go and have a talk with him but he was boarding his plane when I noticed it. I'm already embarrassed enough that they issue us flightsuits and leather jackets...ugh.

That is true, and there are also career broadening jobs for the 6X's to fill as Captains and such. However, most of these are MX, Intel, and Space and Missiles. Mx gives a pretty good idea of what aircrews need, but it's still not enough. It works great for Space systems acquisitions, where they actually fill a space operations billet, but you can't send a 6X to pilot training for a 3 year assignment; and since most Air Force acquisitions are aircraft, there still needs to be a balance of operators and acquirers. The Air Force is starting to move away from having rated commanders of absolutely everything, so expect to see non-fliers in a lot more leadership positions. If everyone sticks to what they know best, but also works together to get a good end product, we can be successful.

Slacker is right about factoring in attrition. However the reason they get pissed is not because somebody who wanted a slot didn't get one, it's the fact that UPT costs a lot of money, and when you quit that money is lost. The UPT class slot that could have filled by somebody else waiting on pilot training is also lost. SIE at IFS is no big deal (that's what it's there for), Phase 1 and 2 are still not that big of a deal. They get really pissed when someone SIEs halfway through 38's...that's a big chunk o'money down the drain. And if you SIE with a guard/reserve job...that's the ultimate bitch slap. If you want a pilot slot work hard and get one. Bottom line is getting a pilot slot (from ROTC or AFA) is really not that hard.

This might be the single most worthless piece of advice I have ever heard. Like was stated in the post above this one, if they want to SIE because of family, or they decided they just don't want to fly, or for some other reason along those lines...as in they will not be unhappy with their decision in 5 years, that's fine. If they want to SIE because they think they wont pass, or are convincing themselves they are going to fail, then you need to let them know to fight as hard as they can until the Air Force decides it's time for them to go. There is absolutely nothing wrong with SIE or washing out, as long as you can say you tried your hardest and/or are happy with your decision. When I decided to SIE, I knew the people I actually cared about would still be there, and if somebody's opinion of me changed because of it, F them right in the A. I knew that my join-spouse situation was never going to work out if I stayed and finished UPT. Now we have been assigned together, and I can still fly as much as I want with my family in my free time. I am very happy with my decision, and know a lot of great people who have made the same decision and are also happy. I also know several people that were close to making that decision, but stayed and are absolutely certain they made the right decision. It goes both ways, and nobody on this board knows exactly whats going through your friends' minds. Hopefully it all works out for them, good luck! Also, let them know that their next assignment is a complete crapshoot, so make sure they are prepared to face that.

Many of the AFSPACE bases are named after USAF veterans (Vandenberg, Schriever, Peterson, Patrick etc.) I am in no way opposed to naming a base after a Vietnam (or later) hero, but I don't know about renaming a base. I personally have no problem with it, it would just be an incredible expenditure during cost cutting times. A new base...absolutely.

...and I was echoing his sarcasm Also, you can have an opinion on whatever you want...it's just wrong. Cheers We can't talk specifics about missile defense systems or about Russian technologies for combating missile defense systems on this forum, but just take a look at this picture, and think of the flight path of Russian ICBMs. Keep in mind that a large percentage of their arsenal is mobile. It's just physics.

I still maintain that this system DOES NOT defend against Russian ICBMs. Unless you are talking about ICBMs being launched from Russia to somewhere in Western Europe. These defense systems would need to be located at Thule, or other polar or northern places to defend the US. At a strictly unclass level, this is not about Russian ICBMs. If you have access read up on where our missile warning sites are and why they are there. There is a reason they are not in Poland or the Czech Republic. Exactly

Those sites are NOT where they would need to be to stop a Russian ICBM or any combination of Russian ICBMS, which would arrive to our homeland via the polar express. These sites would most certainly provide a deterrent and strategic ability to defend against anything that might be lobbed from the Middle East region. The Shahab 3 is more formidable than you might think, especially since it is a building block launch vehicle. If Iran succeeds in putting their own sputnik into space...I would be very happy to have a missile defense site in Poland.

If you can teach yourself to see Magic Eye 3-D images, you can pass the test. I know of several people, including myself that have learned how to "pass" the test using this method. It works on the same principle, and it sure does save you a lot of pain if you can just pass it and not need a waiver. Good luck! Magic Eye

As long as 13S stays under ops, flightsuit and leather jacket wear will continue. In fact I'd imagine that since missiles is moving to Global Strike Command, the bomber jacket wear will become even more prevalent. Do I agree with the current policies? No. But at the same time, I am certainly not going to stop wearing a flightsuit. I know that it is unnecessary, and it does make me embarrassed to see some of the wide-bodies running around in bags, but somebody way above my pay grade decided this. Think it's bad now? Just wait until you see cyber-operators running around in flightsuits and leather jackets.

You are right, but you can find these and other "hot job" type assignments on the AFPC secure site under the officer assignments tab. They usually have plenty of word documents and powerpoints on the current special assignment openings, as well as future opportunities.

Yeah, Maj going through initial qual and then Lt Col 2 years and 4 months later, how far BTZ is that? Major Nov. 1, 1982 Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 1985

Rhodes scholar...nice.

Posted a few pics in the gallery, I probably took about 100. This truly was a once in a lifetime opportunity to see this thing land and takeoff at CBM. Gallery

That was absolutely ridiculous!