Wing Sweep

This is great news, but I'll believe it when I see it. I'm cautiously optimistic. Why can't the new policy apply for all PDE? If it's good enough to remove the phantom requirement for SOS-C, it's good enough for all PDE. For the love of French titties, please get rid of practice bleeding! It creates hollow strats and bullets that are currently holding weight at many/most/all bases (e.g. Capt Obvious finished SOS-C prior to pin on....my 1/69 douche nozzles!). Bravo for the fact this is being seriously considered, but it needs to be accomplished across all PDE levels.

Shack! The ring story should have been a two sentence conversation that never made it to BODN. "Hey dude, you still have your ring on. Crap, my bad...(as the dude removed his ring)." Conversation over.

Actually, it's the 2nd greatest number of all time due to its many uses. The greatest number of all time, of course, is #1. This is especially true when speaking of yourself.

Pancake, Help me understand brother... You say "well, you know what you have to do" as it pertains to doing what's important to your boss. I agree to an extent. That is, if he wants you to be the exec, do the best you can at that job. If he wants you to be the Chief of Training, do the best at that job. Now, if he says don't come back without an SOS DG, that's a crockpot full of green baby turds! He should be telling you to learn, develop and add to your leadership skills by having the conversations that need to be had among CGOs, listening to instructor/peer experiences, and formulating your own methods to make your wing/group/squadron better. Why is DG required? Because it will help you make rank? What is the priority, making rank or developing leadership? I think the AF has created so much hype around winning awards and making rank (i.e. follow the model that gets you to be a 4-star general) that developing leaders/leadership has fallen by the wayside. I get that guys will play the game to make rank. It's going to happen, I know; however, it doesn't make it right. I make it a point never to talk to my subordinates about making DG, winning awards, etc... They should not be striving for awards. They should be striving to be the best officers and best pilots they can be. If one doesn't win an award, fine. If your saying to yourself, "but awards help me out later in life for promotions," that is true, but ask yourself if rank or developing leadership in your subordinates is more important. As a supervisor you should nominate your best for awards. I too often see guys getting awards because (1) they haven't received XYZ award yet or (2) it's your turn since everyone else has received this award. I'm digressing...back on subject. Bottom line, I don't need to have such a close personal relationship with the boss that I have to golf, ride bikes, etc. with him just because that is what he does. If I happen to enjoy participating in like activities and there is a group setting where others are involved, I'm all for it (e.g. boss takes the Flt/CCs golfing). Solo v solo, never. Most importantly, I would never do these things in order to earn the "trust and confirmation bias" required to be a step in front of my peers. I participate in extra curricular activities when I can and want to because I enjoy them, rather than to earn a lump of crap on my nose and my next promotion. Agree, disagree?

Say source? Confirm O-5 board?

1a. Now gentlemen, turn to page 1-69 of your Dash-1; change to my freq, 269.0; In offset container, 3 will wait 6 to 9 seconds to begin his turn after lead initiates his turn. 1b. We still don't have our craniums above water, so to speak. Mr. Black's life was an open book, so to speak; they must learn to wear several hats, so to speak. 2. ROE's that tie my hands. I can choose to help out the guys and get a Q-3 or keep my Q-1 status and let guys die. I've personally had it happen that I've had dudes I was providing air support for get shot because the ROEs wouldn't let me take care of business on the spot (i.e. decentralized execution). I had to get CAOC approval for the most menial bullcrap. Still pisses me off that someone has a bullet scar in their neck when I could have easily killed the bastards before there were friendly injuries.

Ha! My UPT studs actually referred to said memo this week and asked if it applied to them as well. I told them the memo was not part of our base and that if they use the # 69 and "so to speak" appropriately there would be no issues. Furthermore, I told them if someone gave them crap while these terms were used in proper context, they needed to let me know ASAP and refer said person to me. I understand the improper use of sexual references does not belong in the work place. To outright ban certain phrases is overkill, even if that CC is trying to make a point. In fact, the bros will just find another phrase or term to express themselves. The wild goose chase will continue. Banning "so to speak"...give me a break! I have reached the point where I could give the square root of f#&k all about the AF's attempt to castrate the officer corps that kills or supports the killing of enemy soldiers/MiGs for a living. We have been at war for decades, yet it's as if our leadership forgets we are trained to kill MiGs/soldiers in the Air Force. That is what we do! For those who don't kill people/MiGs in their MWS, they certainly support the killing of people and MiGs. A good old-fashioned, ass kicking, warrior attitude that focuses on the mission and scoffs paperwork would do the trick. Instead everyone is looking behind their back to make sure no one is reporting them or has their feelings hurt; everyone is worried about a strat or the next job; everyone is worried about how they can make themselves look good; everyone is worried about making sure there is no empty space on the right side of their OPR. What the hell is our leadership doing?! The CSAF needs to have another meeting (this time a closed door meeting) with his Wing/CCs and start ripping craniums apart until they get the message that PC, leadership by email, DE through correspondence to go in-residence, masters degrees, and banning words/phrases are not the anwer. My goodness, what is becoming of our leadership?! PC can be left to politicians. It doesn't belong in the military. PC kills good guys. PC has taken something that is valid (e.g. SAPR, MEO) and made it a joke that people roll their eyes at. Rant switch - OFF

Can LOE bullets that didn't make it to an OPR be included in the PRF? It was after a PCS and my CC didn't add too many bullets from my LOE because he wanted most of the bullets from my new job/squadron.

For PRF purposes to those who qualify, is total career info included (i.e. officer and enlisted) or just officer time? Thanks for the help!

Quibbling

and if you PCS inside the 150 days from Base A to Base B, you will compete against the dudes from Base A?

As in the board being announced this year? Could AFPC seriously be thinking about convening a board prior to the end of the CY?

My Sq/CC is aking for our PRF drafts NLT the 3rd week of Sep. If the dates above are correct, 15 months lead time (to the board convening) doesn't seem right.

Srosaaf, I'm on my way back in the next 6-9 months. Nonetheless, I'll tell you my experiences that are a few years dated (but arguably accurate). The housing market is stable. You won't make money, you won't lose money (maybe a few $K one way or the other). Overall a good experience buying and selling. The assignments here are good, the people of Abilene are big supporters, and the base has just about everything you need. Rent or buy, it's about the same if you plan on selling after you PCS. If you buy, you will mostly pay the bank for 3 years; if you rent, you will mostly pay the landlord for 3 years. I've done two assignments there and had great experiences both times. I rented only my first assignment, bought my 2nd assignment. If you're not from West Texas, it will be a culture shock initially; but you get used to it and you will assimilate in time. I enjoyed it and will probably be going back again for a third assignment (with a smile on my face). Either place (DYS or RCA) is enjoyable for a family in my mind. Deployment locations will be drastically improving in the next few years as we increase the Pacific focus. No, I don't have secret details about a depoloyment location change...but we won't be in Afghanistan forever. The mission is great, the jet is a blast to fly, lots of new upgrades in the next few years, ejection seats still work (never too soon), and you've got four afterburning engines and lots of crowd pleasing bombs to make you feel better when you're drowning in queep behind a desk. Just remember, in the B-1 all roads eventually lead back to Dyess. Hope that helps and enjoy!

Makes sense why the HARM shop said nothing. Thanks RTB.

1. Aviation svc date = Aug '05 2. UPT grad date = Dec '06 No long term DNIFs, one 6 month non-flying deployment, flying the rest of the time without breaks. So...senior pilot wings should have started Aug '12 or Dec '13? It seems like I'm hearing two different stories... I did a record review 3 months ago and it was not mentioned. Any advice would be appreciated. Either way, I'm going back to the HARM shop tomorrow.

PRF timelines in CY '14 for the '05 year group? Anyone? Anyone? 1. I agree 100% we don't need stupid sexist shit to be a warrior. I'm just not sure which stupid sexist shit you are referring to. You speak very well in generalities, but I have yet to hear specifics. 2. The AF has not changed how I nor 99.69% of AF officers act at work because we DO NOT and HAVE NOT condoned or taken part in sex jokes or rape songs in the work place...EVER. Singing and joking that some might deem inappropriate in the workplace, if and when it happens, is done on people's personal time once the J-O-B is done. Again I say, and as you also point out, what we do outside of work (without breaking the law) is our business. 3. It seems the upper officer echelons think there is a sexually perverse (i.e. sexist) mindset across our officer corps that has led to a serious wave of sexual assault and/or mistreatment of women in the workplace. Does sexual misconduct happen in the workplace? Yes, but very rarely! Do I consider this part of the culture? ABSOLUTELY NOT. In fact, I would say women have more opportunities and equality now than ever before in the DoD! It certainly doesn't help that there are high profile cases in the news, displaying certain AF officers as the poster boys of all that is sexually deviant. But I would argue that, by and large, the vast majority of us comply with, accept, and promote equality and professionalism in the workplace. 4. Sexual assualt is not a disease that has all of a sudden infected us wholesale, but rather a few idiots have been highlighted for their very poorly timed improper sexual actions. Political points are now being won in the legislative branch of the Federal government and all DoD members are getting their diapers changed with a new scent of Gold Bond so we can "rid ourselves" of "sexist thinking." BONUS ... For Pete's sake, the whole .69 thing...take a joke and smile man. If you shut me off at .69, then I would say you have bigger issues to deal with. Just smile, it will make you feel better. Mods- Sorry for the thread jack. I believe this would be more appropriate in the SARC thread.

Trolls, 99.69% of BODN members will not be politically correct here or act like we do at work, where everything we do or say has to be measured against the potential response of some shoeclerk MEO bitch that gets her feelings hurt twice a day and thrice on her period. We say "so to speak" as a jab at said shoeclerk MEO bitch that we all hate; we like to say 69 (or 6 to 9) because it reminds us of how awesome it is to 69 a chick; we sing songs about killing our enemies because we are proud make our country safer and killing those haji mother f'ers is usually the most efficient way to accomplish that; we tell stories about our drunken escapades because there are (many) times we get drunk and live to tell about it the next day; we talk about whores because at some point in our career we have seen our bros hooking up with said whores and then seen the look on their faces after their visit to the flight doc where their dick received the rotor rooter treatment; we sing songs about certain individuals such as Mr. O'Leary, Ms. Adeline Schmitt, the S & M man, our hooker moms, pimp fathers, whore sisters, bros, sons, etc. because we choose to. It's a personal choice. You, nor the CSAF, nor anyone else can force us to think a certain way. The one thing you and everyone else at the Puzzle can do is lead by example. Stop by telling us how we are demented, rapist, immoral individuals, and threatening us with "you will be weeded out." We are not the bad guys, and we are all on the same team, remember? The good 'ole US of A. Most of us will choose not to have our testicles surgically removed somewhere between O-4 and O-5. We will keep our warrior ethos whether you like it or not and we will talk about the aformentioned things whether you like it or not (and these two things are not necessarily related). I hope there are enough of us left in the officer corps that can and will make this Air Force a warrior minded, mission focused entity. If we can't, we will at least try. If we cannot because the machine is too big (sts), then we will move on to a civilian life where we can succeed in the private sector doing something else (hopefully related to flying). As a previous poster eluded to, morality at the personal level can never be instituted wholesale. It is a personal decision and that's where it starts and ends. I have learned this as an O-3 Flt/CC in dealing with my subordinates, hopefully you too will learn this someday. I don't know or care who you are, who you work for, or why you have decided to troll on BODN. If someone at the Puzzle put you up to this to get a pulse on the the lower officer echelons, I suggest you actually listen to the heartbeat and stop trying to insert a heart pacemaker. Until the next time, here's to Meg...

...another theory. Effect: All the dudes returning from ALFAs will end up going to WIC in 1-2 years as major selects or junior majors. Cause: All the new guys at DYS/RCA being groomed won't have the experience required because they are hardly flying and/or making RAP. The FAIPs will also go ALFA for lack of hours/upgrades in a timely manner. The current ALFA returnees will be upgraded ASAP, then volun-told (or "highly encouraged") to attend WIC, since there will only be a handful of dudes who were groomed and/or eligible/desiring to attend WIC. With reduced hours accross the board, it's a guessing game at this point. Skitzo, sorry to hear they won't bring you back dude. With your current MWS full up (with a cadre and multiple squadrons), it seems a simple process to bring dudes with experience levels far greater than the FAIPs back to the Dark side.

FYI... I just called Tinker's Education Office. They no longer administer FAA tests ( I was asking him about the CFI equivalency). The guy said they haven't done FAA testing in about 6 months.

*sts disclaimer for wording in this post 17D, My current commander has no problem telling someone they suck. He also expects each person to fess up when they suck or do something wrong (i.e. calling a spade a spade). I've had to do that once or twice in my career for what I would call pretty major stuff --- "Sir, we need to talk. I just f'ed something up bigger than Dallas..." I used to think the only people that made mistakes were those that sucked. Then I grew up, made my own mistakes and learned how life really works. Everyone makes mistakes sooner or later...everyone. I can say I've found true leadership in about 50% of my squadrons (through 14 years). Agree, it's not everywhere and I'm sorry for those who have not experienced it. It is truly awesome to have squadron commanders that lead. Conversely, it is an unfathomable state of crap when you have a squadron commander that is not a leader.

I would also add that this is on the highest leadership to fix as well... I hope the CSAF realizes the current system of LT to Capt promotions is f'ing retarded. Get rid of promotion boards for LTs! What the heck are we doing to ourselves? This is simply crazy! If anything, let CCs pick the bottom feeding 10% of their LTs rather than having to fight to see who is in the top 90%. My recommendation is go back to 4 years= auto Captain. If you suck, then it's up to your CC to fight to not promote you. It shouldn't be the other way around where they are currently fighting to get dudes promoted (or in the case of the FTU guys, no one is even fighting for them). *These percentages are just examples, not sure what the real numbers are for LT to Capt promotions.

GPF, I see your point, but I would argue it is incorrect leadership all the way at the top. Schwartz could have stopped this madness, but chose not too. Hell, the AU Commandant could probably do so as well, but chooses not to. I still stand by what I said since he just pinned on 1LT. Odium, you brought up something that really angers me about the AF. Not your fault your leadership is making you think about these things.

My neighbor is a retired Thud driver. He said back in his day shoe flag was 13 weeks. You might think that would have sucked, but they brought their Thuds with them! That's right, their Sq/CCs didn't want PME to get in the way of their real jobs. He didn't want them losing currencies or proficiency. A typical SOS day for him was slackademics, then go fly jets, then go VFR direct to the O-Club to drink the night away. On the weekends, it was more CT (cross country if they wanted to) as long as they made it back in time the following Monday. He actually enjoyed SOS. He never even thought about a Master's degree or correspondence SOS either. He was too busy being the best fighter pilot he could be and his CC wouldn't have had it any other way. Once he made Lt Col, his OG/CC told him he should probably start thinking about a master's degree. I have to stop hanging out with these old guys that corrupt me with the goodness that once was the Air Force. Night and day my friends, night and day.

I'll leave it at this...Enjoy being an LT. Relax while you're waiting for your FTU. There are a bunch of good books recommended from various old craniums on here that could teach you a lot about being an Air Force pilot and leader. Read some of those. Stop by your FTU on a Friday, go straight to the squadron bar and listen to some of the war stories.Don't talk, just listen. Visit the local nightlife and find some chicks. If you have a wife, spend some time with her (down time can be maximized here). Go to the gym. Travel. Find a new hobby. There, all your time is now filled with plenty of things to do. Before you know it, you'll be starting the FTU. Kick as in the FTU, kick ass in MQT, kick ass during RF and deployment spin-up, kick ass in the desert, then come back and maybe, just maybe at this point you can start to think about SOS. I say all that to say this. Everything has its time and purpose. Right now is not the time for you to be thinking about SOS. Am I going crazy or is the AF this F'ed up now? Why do LT's have to start think about this crap 2 years after commissioning?! For Pete's sake, the guy hasn't even started FTU and he's uttering the three letter blasphemy! Someone please tell me I'm not losing my mind!