HeloDude

This is not how military punishment works...there is nothing in the UCMJ/regulations that say 'if the person made a bad decision and received bad consequences from their bad decisions then no military punishment can be given'. Obviously the legal system/discipline/punishment is extremely subjective in the military. If Berghdahl deserted it (again, I'm still waiting for the report that for some reason has yet to be released) then he deserves to be punished (perhaps via Article 15, if he accepts it?) or it should go to trial where the legal process can determine innocence or guilt and then punish as necessary. Now if the punishment rendered is for him to be knocked down a rank, fined, etc with no jail time then so be it. What I am saying is that I don't believe any of this is going to happen, just my best guess given the optics of the situation. And do people really believe he didn't voluntarily leave his post and defy orders? If it was clear that he was captured through no fult of his own then I doubt there would be much of a problem with the US Army saying so. This all has to do with politics, and fortunately for Berghdahl, I think he'll be able to go quietly because of it.

Since when do we sentence people to 5 years with the Taliban for desertion? Why are you and HU&W referring to his captivity as punishment? His 5 years in captivitity had nothing to do with official punishment from the US Army, rather, it was due to his poor decision making. As I said before, I don't think he'll receive much official punishment (if at all) from the US Army, hence my point that telling a sexual joke at work would get you more official punishment from the US Army.

Well played, sir.

Helicopters...tits is a close second, though often a first when I'm not flying helicopters. Guns are always pretty damn awesome. And bacon is just a perfect form of sustenance that can be enjoyed at any meal.

He has not been punished by the US Army...at least not that I'm aware of. He just had to ordeal a pretty shitty situation because of his own actions (assuming you believe that he voluntary left his post). This is like saying if airman snuffy drinks and drives and wraps his car around a tree, is in the hospital for a couple days with some broken bones, and has to incur legal costs/fines with the local judicial system that the Air Force should just overlook it and not reprimand him because 'he has been punished enough'.

https://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/careers/2015/01/09/air-force-losing-drone-pilots/21503301/ https://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/careers/2015/01/08/air-force-drone-pilots/21388565/

Agreed. However the big difference being that outside of just some in the military/military watch-dogs, the American public is cluess/doesn't care about Metzger. Her ordeal didn't make national headlines, didn't have the President on the WH lawn with her patents when she returned, didn't have a Congressional hearing which also gained national attention, and most importantly didn't involve the trading of 5 enemy Taliban. Bergdahl's situation involved all of the above. So I agree with you about Metzger, Bergdahl has gained a lot of national attention and Congressional inquirees...and we still don't know exactly what happened in terms of the official report. My guess is that it will eventually be released when the 2016 nomination process heats up...this way it won't gain as much traction in the news media. Bergdahl will probably be given an other than honorable discharge, will never see the inside of an American military prison cell, and that will be the end of it. He would face a harsher punishment if he told a sexual joke at the workplace.

Then why is Obama's DOJ going after Patraeus? If he is just going to pardon him then it seems silly to bring him up on charges, especially if could potentially make the administration look bad. Personally I think this is bad politics/optics, but if he allegedly committed a serious crime, then bring him to trial and see how it plays out. I do like that Patraeus has hinted/said that he doesn't want a plea deal. ...funny, we still haven't gotten official word on the Bergdahl story, and that investigation/report has been completed for several months.

What do you want to talk/debate about? There's always plenty of good stuff out there and difference of opinions that can make for an interesting post/discussion. I recently read on AF Crimes that the AF is losing RPA pilots faster than they can train them, though I would be willing to bet that is already posted somewhere, besides, it's not thst big of a surprise.

I think we should implement flight pay and aviation continuation pay (aka the bonus) to better retain pilots. ...and yes, I'm well aware of the majority opinion that the bonus does not incentivize many people to stay in vs get out, hence my comment. If the Air Force doesn't need to throw money at the problem to either incentivize people to stay in/go to a certain location and/or extend their ADSC, then the Air Force won't wont throw in the money. Not saying you have an entirely bad idea, just that it's not how Big Blue thinks/operates. Since when is the AF having a difficult time manning Minot? Just my $.02

Correct me if I'm wrong, but how could you get a non-a and still be in TLF?

Not too surprising, but the Taliban is claiming 'defeat' of the US in Afghanistan. Whether or not we were defeated is how you argue the position, but that being said, my money is on the Taliban taking over quite a bit of territory within the next few years. What a waste. https://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/29/us-afghanistan-war-idUSKBN0K70UC20141229?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=twitter

I agree with both you and Pawnman, but I don't agree that 'no one' is talking about the horrible reason as to why Garner was stopped. Link below (yes, it's from the horrible racist FoxNews) has Hannity and Rand Paul talking about this exact issue. I'm not a big fan of Sean Hannity, but I think he gets it with this issue. Unless by 'no one' you mean clowns like Sharpton, de Blasio, and other progressives on the left, then I agree. And of course they will never address this issue for three reasons: They love taxes, they love government control, and they want to make this a victim issue not an issue of Liberty (see Saul Alinksky and his rules). https://www.foxnews.com/on-air/hannity/transcript/2014/12/05/sen-rand-paul-eric-garner-didnt-need-die I don't support the protests because it is not a pro-Liberty protest. It is by and large a big group of people, fueled by race hustlers like Sharpton and Jackson, who want to feel like they're victims, regardless of the circumstances. This should not be a race issue, but a pro-Liberty issue that involves people from every race. I blame the politicians the 'second' most for these LEO's stopping, arresting, and harassing people for victimless crimes. I blame the people the most for putting these politicians into office election after election. The police, by and large, are just doing what they are hired to do. They don't make the laws, but just enforce them. The vast majority also don't get to decide on the policy by which they operate. Saying this a 'police vs black people' problem is like saying or problems in Iraq were from a 'Iraqi civilian vs American soldier' problem, which it was not. When the 'hands up don't shoot' narrative/cheer is still being supported then I refuse to listen to the nonsense. One of the few things I support coming from this whole ordeal will hopefully be States/local cities making their LEO wear body cameras whenever dealing with non-LEO when acting in a official capacity.

...I had to actually look up what the 'cis' was referring to. I think it means 'male assigned male at birth'? Yes, if we're going to say 'male' we now have to be specific as to whether or not the said male was born a male. (for all the the younger kids out there who understand the Internet slang better than I do, please let me know if I'm using incorrect terminology or definitions)

I'm sure if people say negative things about Law Enforcement (based off of recent events) that not much will be done...

He should just issue an executive order for it not be enforced...problem solved!

Ironically, in Texas, it's also illegal to open carry an AK-47 pistol, but it's legal to open carry an AK-47 rifle.

It's Christmas time--people buy me crap all the time that I don't want. Maybe we can re-gift these tanks to someone else. I'm sure ISIS would gladly take some more of our equipment.

Oooohh--I hope so! ...but it's 'Marilyn'

It was a swing and a miss because you said Barber was a 'lock'...and this was even after election night in which it razor close. So yeah, far from Barber being a 'lock' after election night. Poor analysis and/or poor choice of words--your call.

https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/documents/fmr/archive/07aarch/07a_35_Jun10.pdf Reference page 44 in the PDF, rule 3. It says if he 'immediately enters on active duty with the other Military Service, then separation pay is not payable. Surfing around the PDF looks like 'immediate' refers to less than a break of 30 days. It mentions something for AD officers in reserve commission status, but we all have regular commissions (at least after being in for 6 years). So it could just be what he told them and they have him info on what he said he plans to do? Hope this helps!

You said he was going AD in the Army...so not really separating from the military. Separation pay has to do with the entire military, not just the AF. Besides, you will all have pay back your separation pay if and when you retire from the guard, reserves.

Well since I'm not a Republican, their party's candidate has to convince me that they stand for more Liberty than not. Jeb is not that guy, neither is Christie. If things are going to get a lot worse then they might as well be under the party who openly states that buisnesses do not create jobs. Also, did you see the crap that got passed by the GOP a few days ago? If the party nominates Rand Paul, then I'll vote GOP. You of course can vote for whoever you want.

Since you're the smartest guy in the room, care to make a prediction on continuation vs non-continuation rates/outlook on next year's O-5 board results?

Well, before it was masters/no masters (or Bachelors +) vs what kind of masters degree...so perhaps it's a pass/fail annotation on the spreadsheet? Who am I kidding--you out of shape/fat guys are screwed! But in all seriousness, agree, UFB.