HercDude

Holy balls! That this quote came from the SECAF elevates this to the "What's Wrong with the Air Force" discussion in my mind. ---I know! Let's add yet another "here is a piece of ribbon for doing your job" medal to the growing list. That will keep them happy and definitely make people want to keep working here! Hi-5 guys!--- This is actually how they think?

$48,000,000 to keep a program alive that we've known for 10 years was a horrible investment. I remember going through GRACC (back when you actually WENT to GRACC and didn't do it via DCO) and hearing the 18 AF/CC tell us that AMP was going nowhere, was a terrible investment, didn't address the more serious wing box issue with the older Es & Hs, and that he expected the program to be eliminated within the next two years. That was in 2006. When we can't retire the airplanes we want, close the bases we want, or kill the programs we want, what pot of money is left to find our sequester-mandated spending levels?

Well at least we aren't firing all the good commanders in that community and promoting the pepper grinders.....

If SWA was my clear #1 choice, or the only airline I wanted to fly for, then I would pay for the 737 type rating. Also, if I was certain that I would never use the Post 9/11 GI Bill, and would never have anyone I could pass those benefits on to, then I would get the type, since the training would essentially be free. Personally, I chose not to get the type, because SWA is about #4 on my list of airlines I'd like to work for (but of course I would accept a job if they offered). I spent just over $3k and 4 days getting my ATP, and I know many people who have done it for much less money and time. If you want a career in civil aviation, flight training is an investment. For most people forking over $9k is a large investment, but it's certainly not a bad one.

There is certainly a limit there too.... I'm all for the USAF Band. USAFE & PACAF Band - fine. But why the hell do we have 69 other bands, many of them almost as lame as TIB. For instance why the hell does the Academy have it's own country & western band? https://www.usafacademyband.af.mil/ensembles/BandEnsembleBio.asp?EnsembleID=122 And why does the ANG have 5 (count 'em!) different bands? https://www.bands.af.mil/bands/

https://www.gov.ph/2014/04/28/qna-on-the-enhanced-defense-cooperation-agreement/ "11. Does EDCA mean the return of US bases in the Philippines? The Agreement is very clear on this matter and specifies in the Preamble the Parties’ “understanding for the US not to establish a permanent military presence or base in the territory of the Philippines.” EDCA does not authorize the establishment of US bases. It allows the US military access to Agreed Locations."

Not sure if you are asking because you already have an assignment or are just looking at options, but if you are a pilot actively trying to go to a legacy C-130 unit, you should probably talk yourself out of it tonight. Join the ARC or find a different MWS.

I wouldn't ops check that one. One of the joys of being a PII investigating officer and drafting the 69 page report for the Wg/CC was learning that he NWS (Network Warfare Squadrons?) continually monitor every email leaving the .mil domain, and will quarantine anything that looks suspicious. In the case I had to investigate, the attachments were named something generic, but it was still discovered that they contained SSNs and next-of-kin. ProTip: When I need to send PII shit out of the .mil domain I just log into my gmail, draft a message, then attach the file. I don't send it, but I can still access the draft and any attachments from anywhere I have access to gmail.

Just use Duolingo. Free App for iphones. Actually works.

Got this dozy in the inbox today: So, in order to participate in a DCO focus group - sitting behind a pc screen, picking boogers and Cheetos - you have to submit your PT scores and last 3 OPRs. I'd assume the point of such an event was for the 18th AF/CC to get some tactical level opinions from his troops - maybe see some small portion of the world through the eyes of those suffering through it, and not a stoplight chart & some PhD level spreadsheet. Instead the Wing has to nominate people then vet them based on strats and PT scores. Absurd.

The duck-facing Col is a former C-130 Sq/CC and later the OG/CC at Ali Al Salem. Trust me, he is not what is wrong with the Air Force.

I recently converted my entire flight records folder into an excel spreadsheet. I was astounded by the number of errors I caught that were evident only by looking at the pages it contained. I noticed dozens of times it showed I logged more NVG time than the sortie duration, instrument time while I was on the bunk, total times more or less than what the few 781s I had said, etc. I never bothered to keep a logbook, but based on what I saw - and now really have no way of correcting - I would recommend keeping your own records for anyone who thinks there is a chance they will one day fly for someone other than big blue.

Really? That is incredibly spineless.

I've spoken with two different FBO operators in the last week (both Part 141) who have confirmed what is quoted here, with the caveat that the 60% does not cover the entirety of training, but specific things like the FAA examiner's fee, and aircraft rental for the check. The instructor's hourly rate and aircraft rental for the prep flights is NOT covered by the Montgomery GI Bill. Both of them also said that the Post-9/11 WILL NOT COVER ANY TRAINING COSTS AT ALL, unless the course includes certain minimum ground and flight instruction, as is the case with Higher Power and other companies that offer a type rating. Given the volume of guys here talking about Accessible Aviation, Arizona Flight Training, etc. I was hoping some one can either confirm this, or tell me definitively that the Post 9/11 GI Bill will cover all or a portion of the costs incurred getting an ATP, and that these guys who run FBOs don't know what they are talking about. The VA's website doesn't provide enough specifics anywhere I could find to answer this question to my satisfaction: https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/flight_training.asp

You actually have to tell people not to eat at a place run by a piece of shit like that?

What rock have you been living under?

Can someone who has used the post 9/11 GIB recently to pay for their ATP either give the Reader's Digest version of the process or point me to a document or website that explains the process. And don't say "call the base education center". They asked me what airline ratings were.

Fool me once, shame on you...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ3kCqptpw0 He appears to be unable to appear in front of a camera without reminding you that he is a general. I'm surprised though that he agreed to do this without wearing speed pants.

Good to hear. What about the 3 officers that just had their careers shit on? I'm familiar with the one and don't think its justified. Curious how the 41st is taking the 1-2 punch.

Anyone who has used Accessible Aviation: True or False? When Hot Carl offers lodging as included in the cost of his program, that is in reference to you staying in his spare bedroom.

Guessing there wasn't much of a budget. The CGI in that preview looked like it was straight out of Battlefield 1942.

Best advice you are going to get. Pains me to say it as a legacy guy with a lot of time in this airplane, but there is nothing at the end of the yellow brick road anymore. Look at first assignment guys in the legacy squadrons now, and you 'll see that almost all are PCSing to white jets, MC-12s (which the AF is about to loose to the Army), and RPAs. Getting a J is not happening. AFSOC is not common. Most people in the community believe that AMC will have divested itself of the entire legacy fleet in the next few years. Right now the J pipeline can accommodate almost zero legacy crossflows, and in 5 years it's not going to increase anywhere near enough to account for all the legacy guys currently in the 6-ish AD squadrons. My crystal ball says that means more bad deals for us. If it were me, I would put the C-130J at the top of my dream sheet, then every other manned airframe, the the H.