busdriver

Be honest, neither schmucky side is squeeky clean on this. The GOP wants to get the confirmation complete before the next election, so any delay is unacceptable. The Democrats want to drag this out till after the election, so there is no stone too small to turn over.

Given the wild, fear mongering nature of the speculation?

I have an xde in 9mm. It's basically a Glock 19 sized single stack with a hammer. It shoots fine. Holsters were hard to find. I haven't carried it due to the last point, but that's not an issue anymore. If you aren't proficient with a double action gun, either skip it or dedicate the time to be ok with the double action. It actually isn't that hard. The low effort slide thing is just a function of having a heavy hammer spring.

That's quite the wish list of capabilities. Should be totally achievable inside the FVL timeline.

60 percent of the time....

Didn't the last two presidents also "militarize the border?"

9mm commander size 1911 with an aluminum frame.

Got out just in time I guess.

Jim Crow laws weren't very Laissez-faire.

Countering Russia is cornering a dying bear. Russia is a mess and sanctions only work if they choose to play by the rules of the international political game that was created post WW2. What about when they go all conqueror again? Renewable energies are currently and for the foreseeable future, a pipe dream. They will not be economically competitive for the developing world for a very long time. The need for oil will persist long after that point. Shale oil and an energy independent N/S America seems to be legitimately on the horizon. Will the US continue to finance world security after that point? Interesting times are coming.

Serious question: what would be a meaningful way of "dealing with" the Russians? Europe is in serious trouble without Russian energy, or no?

You are so badass. Your badassness makes me insecure. I want to be like you when I grow up.

I've sat alert for SOF. And awkwardness had nothing to do with going back to ACC. That CAF 60s aren't primary for SOF dudes is a doctrine thing. Each component is responsible for fulfilling it's own PR needs.

Breath. Even if it is about money/iron, the AFSOC staffers really do think the mission can be done better with Rescue over there. The bros over there aren't bad Americans.

I think the point is a half-soc transition like the last time isn't what CH is talking about. A full on doctrinal shift and acceptance of the mission by SOCOM is really the only way to really "do it right." That would then allow SOCOM to source across the command as appropriate to fill the joint requirement. Moving Rescue over and keeping it in an MFP stovepipe does nothing, it's all or nothing to get any benefit. But that means exactly what the pointy nosed GOs think it means, at times there may not be dedicated forces on alert for their guys. It also means that SOCOM would have to buy off on being obligated to sitting alert for the CFACC during some phases of conflict. Who knows, stranger things have happened.

This comes up every couple years at the HAF level. New COMACC means time to talk about it again. Shit wasn't really that different the last time we were in AFSOC, I have no reason to suspect it would be different if they flicked us back again. The AO/Bro level at AFSOC staff absolutely thinks the mission and dudes would be better supported by Hurbie. I have no idea what the GOs think, but this is absolutely about curtailing the HH-60W buy, getting more CV-22s, and absorbing the HC-130Js and GA billets. At the core of it, ACC Rescue assets exist to provide the CFACC a capability to meet his PR requirements. I'm not sure how that is an AFSOC mission. I personally don't give a shit. Just support the mission appropriately or tell the pink bodies in the pointy nosed jets what risk is being accepted on their behalf.

Benelli seems to be the 3gun standard. Stoeger is owned by them and uses the same inertia action. Check out the M3K, it comes mostly ready to go.

Something like an 800nm combat range?

An actual RQS? 5 years. I'm old balls, I pre-date the Pedro years.

I've been out of the shiny penny club for awhile now. I only went to staff because I was literally the only person in the Air Force who could fill that billet, at that time. I escaped and I work well over 40 hours a week, and the chance of me commanding a flying squadron is essentially zero. I put in the time I do in the hope that I can make even a small difference to nudge my little corner of the AF in a better direction. Maybe I'm just too stupid to know better, maybe staff made me appreciate the small victories, I don't know. I do know that perspectives change with time and experience, and I'll get to re-qual "soon," life is good.

That others may live. Here's a toast.

Which was my, apparently very poorly made, point. I get the desire/logic of a light attack aircraft for AvFID, but the talk about putting them all over the place to be close to US SOF units seems completely at odds to the way the AvFID mission is currently organized. Not to mention the outright discussion of AFSOC being the right MAJCOM for the aircraft, irrespective of the mission.

Your name fits

I'm way out of the loop, but my impression is there isn't a shortage of requests for the AF to come play. More like fending off the wastes of time is the problem. In any event, you're right about ranges. Proximity to a good backyard range and airspace is far more important than proximity to any Army unit.

You guys realize there's nothing inherently SOF about a plane right?