HercDude

I am sure you already know, but approx 69% of Americans think Switzerland and Sweeden are the same country, which they also think is the same as Denmark, Norway, the Finland, Iceland, and everywhere like such as. God Bless public edukation

Like when Hoser (or was it Toro?) crossed the streams and put the smack down on the "RaptorKiller" on that other forum. Someone please find that link and post it! Edit: found RaptorKiller at F-16.net, 2/3 way down the page. Get's owned by Toro on page 3.

AIR FORCE magazine did an article about Constant Peg this past April. You can read it here.

Well the Navy is gay. Don't know if anyone has told you that yet . . . I knew several people in college who tried out Army & AF ROTC. It wasn't a big deal. I think the smart thing for you to do would be to let the cadre at each know what you are doing. That way you'll know of any potential conflicts ahead of time. And if you are high speed you may even find one side "recruiting" you more than the other.

You can indeed get your vehicle and trailer weighed anywhere. Keep the recipt and weigh ticket and make sure you note weather it's the empty weight or the loaded weight. TMO needs to generate paperwork for you to authorize you for the partial DITY, so you need to get this before you move. I am TDY enroute right now and before I left my last base they specifically said that you are no longer allowed to do a partial DITY and claim it when you get to your new duty station. You must have the paperwork submitted and approved before you depart. You need to go back to TMO and tell them to do their job.

Regarding AC upgrade, while it's still around: This didn't happen with any class when I was there (summer '06). Too many late adds to the classes and disconnects with Guard types, so the test was always given the week after you arrived. Still it's good advise to prep as early as possible. That store hasn't been there for a while . . .

The quick answer is yes. But if you know you want to do an AFSOC, Hurricane, or Electronic Combat mission, I would reccomend trying to get that right out of UPT. In the last few years at least, most guys I knew in slicks who were wanting to fly something different (primarily Talons, Gunships, and Shadows) were told the slots weren't there, and were told to persue slicks, white jets, or UAVs.

It was Taji. Not really a great place to move the family. I get one every month asking if I want to be an OTS instructor in Iraq. WTFO? They actually get volunteers for this crap? How horribly bad would your career have to be to take that one. The one for Kirkuk and Taji sucks slightly less because it's a flying job at least.

I don't have a single mission AM, but I was on a crew where 2 were awarded. We picked up maybe 20 pax out of Balad or Baghdad, taking them back to Kuwait. About 30 minutes in to the flight both LMs started distributing extra food & water to the pax, when they noticed one guy was unresponsive. One of the LMs was a prior AE guy, and though this guy might have heat stroke. They couldn't revive him so they reccomended to us we get him on the ground ASAP. They gave him oxygen and did whatever it is you do to someone with heat exaustion or heat stroke (I'll admit I skipped SABC this year), and upfront we cordinated for a divert into Talil. The guy was in an ambulance about 12 minutes after we first got the call from the load that something wasn't right. I didn't really see anything wrong with giving the loads an AM, as it's quite possible had we not gotten him medical attention he would have died before we got to Kuwait an hour later. What did reak of bullsh*t, was hearing one of the loads say to the AC a week later "you know we might want to consider bumping the award up to a DFC, because we never got in thewindows for the decent (because they were giving SABC), so we really put our own lives at risk." He's speaking here about flying in to Talil in '05. Right around the same time the Iraqis were shooting PRO in their brand new 40 year old Hercs there. On hearing that, the AC (the Flyin' Haiwian for those that know him) just laughed and said "uh, I don't think so."

No. I'll proudly lay claim to that with my FOUR YEAR DLAB thread revival Yeah dude I rock!

I can't speak for everyone, but for airlift guys it's awarded for 20 combat support missions, whereas the Air Medal is awarded for 20 combat missions (technically 300 points awarded from combat missions). Generally speaking, a mission that flies in to, out of, or over Iraq or Afghanistan is a combat mission. A mission that flies in direct support of OIF or OEF (for instance taking passengers from Kuwait to Qatar), but does not enter Iraqi or Afghan airspace, is a combat support mission.

How many of these guys went to West Point, Annapolis, or the AFA - where you are required to play a sport?

They played here last month and it wasn't mandatory. I was expecting all kinds of emails "highly encouraging" me to go, but that never happened. 2 years ago when I was out here TIB and the Singing Sergeants played within 2 weeks of each other. No one went to the first one, so a scathing email was sent to the whole base threatening not to bring any "talent" (then specifically mentioning USO sponsored events, not Craps in Blue) to Kuwait any more if we didn't turn out for these events. I again didn't go but instead went to watch a movie in the theatre. 2 minutes before it was supposed to start a SSgt walks in and says they won't be showing it due to the Singing Sergeants performance. Essentially the leadership shut down all morale activities on base while they were here. Losers. Oh BTW I picked these guys up in Kirkuk and took them to Balad 2 months ago. They actually travel in khaki pants and blue polo shirts, underneath their flak vests and kevlar helmets.

Yep, it depends. You'll notice now that the AF is paying some pilots to leave prior to completing their comitment. They are also essentially booting thousands of non-rated officers simply because they think they have too many. So like pretty much everything in the military, timing is everything. Don't base your decision off of what's happening today, but realize that many people who were told the AF had them for 8 - 10 years after they got their wings are now back to being civilians. And by the way, as a 22 year old 2nd LT you'll be making way more money than anyone else you graduate from college with who deson't have an engineering dergee(one you actually have to work for). Especially if you want to be a pilot and major in Political Science/Sociology/History/Basket Weaving/etc . . .

If your trying to talk like a Vietnam vet, the word in beaucoup. Or did you mean to say "for beautiful blow of info on PJs"?

The main difference is that Udvar-Hazy houses the stuff that was too big to put on the mall. If you are only going to make it to one I would reccomend going downtown. It uwas at one point (might still be) the most visited museum in the world, so yeah, it's crowded. But there is a reason for that. The International Spy Museum is pretty cool if you are in to epionage and the CIA and crap like that. It's one of the few places in DC you do have to pay for though. Do not miss the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington. If there is only one thing you can do in DC, do this. I believe during the summer they do it every hour, but I know it changes depending on the season. You could spend 1/2 a day at Arlington, but you can also pick up a guide or talk to someone there and be shown the tourist spots, catch the changing of the guard, and be out in 2 hours. Go to Adams Morgan for grub. There are about 50 different ethnic joints there - I've never gotten tired of that place. Night life is pretty fun too, and a lot less uppity and snobbish than Georgetown. Georgetown is good for shopping to satisfy the wife or if you are gay. If you just want to feign shopping to satisfy someone, go to Union Station, unlike G-town it's right on the Metro. Oh if you do make it to Georgetown go to the Exxon on M street. Walk just behind it and you'll see the stairs that Father Karras throws himself down at the end of The Exorcist!

Our Heritage:

Damnit I hate hearing people say stuff like that. Why am I not allowed to like the taste Budweiser? F**k you - the're my tastebuds! I know what I like! Granted, Bud isn't as good as Yeungling or Shiner, but I think it tastes a hell of a lot better than Budvar for crying out loud.

LMAO. And did someone just mention Strongbow on a thread about beer? Are you a girl or just gay?

Suprisingly, my search turned up nothing useful besides this: MWS vs White Jet debate And it's not my intention to rehash that debate. I already took the red pill and accepted a T-6 IP job. Can anyone tell me what to expect at PIT. Specifically where my wife & I should expect to live in SA, what I'll get paid (do I keep my current BAH?), how cock-ish the PIT IPs are, will they let me take leave, etc. Also, anyone here get there Master's while doing a UPT gig? Harder or easier than doing it at a MWS assignment?

Automatics aren't good for offraoding. Climbing, cresting, and descending 60 degree inclines requires finesse that you can't get with an automatic. I've never driven a Wrangler with an auto, but it seems like this would be the case. You'd also be apt to ride the brakes down a steep hill, depending on what the low gear in the auto is like. Anyway, automatic transmisions are for girls.

Hard Tops are a waste. Unless you live in Alaska, you never need one. I've had my TJ for 5 years now and never once wished I has a hard top. Soft tops are noiser, and they probably will need to be replaced (~$700) after 8 or 9 years of normal use, but the convience of switching to topless in 45 seconds is a lot better than removing your hard top and finding a place to store it for the summer. If you plan on taking this thing off road . . . well if you don't plan on off-roading then just don't buy one. So when you take it off road your going to want some protection. Does it have rocker guards or some other side protection? Take a look underneath and make sure the gas tank and steering box at a minimum have steel protection. My Wrangler has almost 70K on it now and I've never had any engine or transmition problems, so a 35K ride that doesn't have any obvious signs of neglect or misuse (and you have to use that term loosly with a Jeep) should keep you happy for a long time.

Getting the HOA runs out of Al Udeid was always a good deal in my opinion. Got to see some really remote places - anyone here been to Gode, Ethopia? I saw stuff that was really far off the radar scope in places no one I know had ever even heard of. The kind of places you have to pass over to clear camels off the runway, the tower is a Army dude on an ATV waering basketball shorts and an M-4, and the only fuel available comes out of a 50 gallon drum. Breaking in Mombasa for a week wasn't bad either.

Look, the guy's obviously a few McNuggets short of a happy meal to begin with. Let's not attempt to critique his hijacking technique. The pilot's got my respect though. Of course, he may just be making it up so he doesn't have to own up to a dorked up landing . . . Have fun in federal-pound-me-in-the-ass-prison, Mohamed

I've got nothing but good things to say about our current Sq/CC, but PPM definately was the best one I've worked for in my 6 years in the AF. She had way more to live up to than she diserved I think . . . Comming from the C-141, never having flown a Herc, first woman CC in the Herc world, former Exec of the NAF/CC, etc. But she got her hands dirty and earned respect of the whole Squadron pretty damn quick. Wish I could say the same about her DO/the current Deuce CC, but let's not taint this thread with that . . . please. As much as deploying 183 days a year for the last 6 has sucked donkeys, I'd love to hear any other stories anyone has from "the good ole' days" of the 41st.