FourFans

From the horse's mouth. If it were up to me, it would be a different story. I don't know how much input he has into who comes to the squadron. Right now it sounds like we're sitting at roughly 30-50% prior E/H dudes and the rest from white jets, UPT, FAIPs, and crossflow. Talking to some of the dudes who think they're "ready to be and AC," based on the fact they were and AC in the C-17 or KC-10, it's kinda scary. But it's sorta good too, because this airplane is a whole new animal. It takes a new type of herk driver, but it's still a herk. Right now everyone seems to identify with their prior aircraft as opposed to identifing with the J. We'll see who it pans out. FF P.S. FWIW our CC is a prior KC-135 dude.

For all those wanting the J-model, now is the time for you...unless you're a C-130E/H dude. The 41 AS/CC has made it clear that he doesn't want any more E/H guys transitioning into the 41st. Sounds like white jet, t-one, t-44s, and faips have the best chance, if the CC has anything to say about it. FF

Slow down a second folks... Are you all saying that with new equipment like the F-22 we have to get rid of old equipment like the F-15?! I don't care who you are, that's just WEIRD! Ditching the F-16s I can't really speak to, but it seems like we've got enough that there are STILL squadrons that haven't been to the desert yet. (please correct me if i'm wrong) Ditching 9 A-10s? Right. Those were probably the ones that couldn't accept the C-model upgrade. We need the A-10 and it's not going anywhere. The Air Force is trying to save money. We've been doing this for years (around 60ish). They've slated the A-10 to go away, what, 4, 5, 6 times now? The C-130E's were supposed to be all in the boneyard by FY0X...yeah some of those are probably holding right now, at Balad. It seems like all the -135 varients have been in the process of getting "replaced" by the KC-X or some other platform for the past 10-15 years...but -135s are still ALL over the world supporting the fight. Unfortunately, in the AF, change is 10% need, and 90% politics. If this projected plan actually happens as it's written right now, I'd be very surprised. As for UPT dudes, of the 1% of the population that answers their nations call to serve the greater good, you have been commissioned into the leadership cast that encompasses only 20% of the total force. Of that sliver of the military, only 20% become military pilots. That's 20% of 20% of 1% of the US population. Like it or not, the 11X AFSC is an elite club. IF you make it. So stop crying like my newborn, accept the fact that LUCK and TIMING are 75% of your assignment future, and start acting like men that should be leading the world's most powerful military. Please? FF

So do UAV pilots flying OIF missions from Creech have to wear blues in the box on mondays? If so, that is setting horrible precedent.

Tower: "Crome 23, confirm you shut down engines before Charlie?" Us: "Affirm" Tower: "Veeeeeery lucky! You pay big bill if not shut down!" FF

LOGIC FAULT: "Good Quality" and "ABU" used in same sentence.

Better yet, make The Manual a tyvek fold out integrated into the belt itself...printed in powerpoint 4 to a side of course. I feel the need to kill myself now. FF

While we're at it why don't we bring back the experience stars for the flight suit sleaves (ok...so I actually do like that idea) and shinny plastic covered rank too. For that matter, lets get back to brown instead of blue. I find it to be much more reflective of the combat mentality where we're operating right now. Speaking of reflective, can they make the belt for blues reflective? Kill three birds...keep my pants on, keep me safe, AND keep me combat minded while supporting my fighting brothers. Ugh. Where the F*** is Lemay when you need him? FF

The OG/CC here at Yokota flies the line AS an IP. He's cash money...a hardass...but better that then the alternative. FF edit: Crog I can't wait to hear ALL about this wonder of aviation.

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So who is this woman? I'm moving the Little Rock and I wanna know what I'm in for...

I'm glad someone appreciated that literary nuance. FF

Sounds like that just about sums up all I needed to ever know about this "thing."

...and apparently no internet. I'm guessing that CH knows...he just ain't telling...

- BQZip01 buddy, guy, friend, palooka - I don't even know where to start...unfortunately I have plenty of free time on hand today. Please try and learn something from this instead of just blowing it off because someone is critiquing you. No one here is impressed. We're at war. 12 hours is the standard. Again. Geography has nothing to do with position on the spear. Barksdale can be the pointie end. You might want to re-evaluate your role-importance-decision-making paradigm. The 'Deid is everything from the pointie end of the spear to the weapons locker that holds the spear. The fact that your were driving your O-6 CC's car has no bearing on traffic laws...but it is quite telling that you included it and found it to be important. Here's a hint. RANK HAS NO BEARING ON LAW. Be it traffic laws or LOAC...the law is the law. Period. So you're saying that you saw the cop and didn't double-check your driving. Poor SA. Remember that whole rank and laws thing? Apply here. Technically, the airman basic cop outranks a 4 star driver by one rank during any traffic stop or at any checkpoint...look it up. Yet another very telling quote. I'm really glad you gave 40% of your attention while driving your bosses car. If you really see SF as cannon fodder, I respectfully request that you go spend some quality time down at the cop shop. Until then, know that cops are some of the most overworked and under-appreciated jobs in the AF. Good work on not getting up in arms during the traffic stop and letting the upper levels deal with it. That's how it should work when stuff goes wrong at the lower levels. As for your entire other story...granted common sense is supposed to rule...but you've got to know that checking the box in front of Desk SSgt will never work...that's why we as aircrew preach this little thing called by: "attention to detail" Maybe some other career fields should take that to heart. As for taking care of stupid people making excessive decisions at the lower levels, that's where the crew-dog concept should be understood AF wide. Example. In the desert recently with my crew. Me and my crew member are in the gym lifting weights. - My crew member is making some excessive noise when he sets down a heavy set of weights during one of his exercise. - 2 services A1Cs tell him to stop...he response emotionally (mistake 1)...then they respond emotionally (mistake 2) - The services NCOIC and I get involved - send the fighters to their corners - and work out the problem right then and there. The long and short was that the Services dudes had O-6s breathing down their neck about weightlifting injuries and people making too much noise in the gym. (we'll leave the judgment of the O-6s out of this argument...but all parties disagreed with the O-6 opinion in the matter...irregardless...the O-6 gave a lawful order and services was following it) - That we took the time to understand each other's point of view at the Capt to TSgt level saved my crew member from being banned from the gym getting paperwork (O-6's rule). THAT is the crew-dog concept. People need to know that VERY RARELY are Captains and TSgts out to hose each other. VERY OFTEN they are each trying to save their own ass and aren't willing to take 5 minutes to listen to the other side of the story. One person calling KIO and taking the emotions out of the situation can save a LOT of pain...especially in the desert where everyone suffers from SRH (sperm retention headaches). BL: Know your role in the system. When in doubt, there's Common Sense and the Crew-dog Concept: USE THEM! Wow...so this is what it feels like to be HerkDerka...I think I'm developing carpal-tunnel. Cheers, FF

CH - We need more like you. ...and more of that bourbon...

Scarves are stupid...but if they want to say "be in uniform", they can. Until they change the reg to say the scarf is not a part of the uniform, they have that right. I'll buy that (i'll just choose to be out of uniform and accept the consequence when I get hammered for it). But I'm in the military, and, when I need to, I can shut up and color...that's what militaries are supposed to do best. However this is what concerned me the most about that whole thing: Translated: I hear you but I don't care. Me looking good in front of my superiors is more important than enabling my people and setting them up for success not failure. If they can't afford it, well that's their problem. I hear your concern but I don't give a shit. Look out for me and do what I tell you to because I out-rank you and you have to obey me...so do it. Any Baseops senior leadership lurkers please hear this loud and clear: HORRIBLE LEADERSHIP IS 100% OF WHAT IS WRONG IN THE AIR FORCE TODAY! I couldn't give two shits if the paperwork is done right. Honestly...it's paperwork, it'll get done right eventually. Give me a Sq/CC and Gp/CC and a Wg/CC who is a leader. Who can get in the jet and lead me into combat. Who can inspire and lead from the front. Who is willing to kick some teeth in to get the a Sq/Gp/Wg in shape and ready to do it's mission. Who values quality over quantity...and is willing to fire douchbags if they need to be fired. Who understands that being in the military and flying airplanes is risky...and is willing to take some risks to make sure that our military is the best prepared on the planet. Most importantly, give me leader who knows that people are what make the US military amazing...not regs, not inspections, not equipment, not numbers, not networks, not cyberspace, no uniforms, not safety. People. Please...give us a leaders. I can't take another douchbag manager. FourFans

"...unfortunately, our cameraman had the bad luck to sneeze at a most inopportune moment. He was immediately sought out and crushed by the male. In the last seconds, the tape reveals the male saying the words..."f_cking crunchies!"

Crap like this makes me want to either get the F out so I don't have to deal with it anymore...OR...stay in so I can actually try and do something about it. I have a feeling the first idea will win out.

A sampling from my bookshelf: Runway Visions -- David Vaughan (tell me this dude ain't the quintessential tac air pilot!) Flying Through Midnight -- John Halliday (a little bit painful to read at times, but a GREAT story) Blind Bat: C-130 Night Forward Air Controller HO CHI MINH TRAIL -- Frederick Nyc Boyd -- (as briefed) War Dogs -- Michael Lemish (currently reading it. not a bad little bit of history if you're a dog lover and a history buff) Lord of the Rings -- great storytelling and if you want a painfully technical but relevent look into the aircraft development process on the tac airlift side: STOL Pregenitors: The Technology Path to a Large STOL Aircraft and the C-17A -- Bill Norton (yeah, lets see if anyone else is geek enough to have read that beast!)

I can just see them getting re-fragged to go into the box...with cadets onboard. I would have the kid strapped to the bunk with no chance of getting up. Lord only knows what would happen if you broke your incentive flight cadet. FF

We go there pretty regularly. Anyone see OEF-P becoming a deployment? P.S. There are some great acronyms in this article. Enjoy.

Another perspective: It's all perspective. You need to realize that unless you're happy where you are, you'll never be happy where you are. If you can learn to be content to be constantly studying and continually trying to get better at your job, you'll finally figure it out. CH was nuts on about the sigh factor. If you're trying to figure out when you can take a breath and look at some other guy as the new guy, you're aimpoint is way off. This ain't about other dudes. Shift your focus. Instead of wondering when you'll no longer be the new guy, ask yourself what you can do better. Introspection is the key. If you focus on your job and keeping your attitude positive and focusing on how you can serve your squadron, somewhere a few years down the road you might notice out of your peripheral vision that other people are looking at you as an example, and that some young LT is asking you for advice on how to be better at his job. Does that mean you're no longer the new guy? Sure. But that's not the point. The point is there will always be stuff you can do better, only now you have to take care of that young new guy too. It's all perspective. If your desire is to be "in the accepted group" your aimpoint is off. There are 1 million "accepted groups" in every squadron. Shift your aimpoint. Focus on getting better at your job. Focus on what you can do for the squadron and for your squadron mates, not how soon they'll think you're cool. Good luck and stay in the books. Cheers, FourFans

Even if that WERE true, it would be 1 + 2 + 1 + 1 not 1 + 1 + 2 + 1. No. Wait... Oh hell! There's one bullet left and I'm going to shoot myself I hear MPD one more time!

2000 Jeep Wrangler Sahara. A blast to drive on and off-road. Served me well and saved my wife's life with outstanding frontal crash resistance.