B52gator

barney I'm a BUFF guy so my opinion is a little one-sided. I am bombardier (refuse to say radar nav) in the mighty BUFF and I do love it. For a nav type, it is one of the better jets (except mabye Beagles and Gunships) to be in. Obviously you'll start out as a nav and after two years or so you'll move over to the left seat to be the bombardier. Being a nav on the jet is just that, being the nav. Get the jet to where it is supposed to go and get it there on time. Easy enough right? Navs stay pretty busy navigating and helping the bombardier with weaponeering. A typical training sortie is 5-7 hours with A/R, Missiles (CALCM, JASSM), our "smart" weapons (JDAM, WCMD), and good old fashioned gravity bombs (M117, Mk-82). The sortie usually ends with an hour or so of transition back at home station (which sucks balls for the guys downstairs). We also like to mix it up with Low-Level, FIEs, Mining, and of course our bread and butter NUKES! CONS...well, they're aren't many for nav types. There are a handful a pilots that despise being in the BUFF, but just about every nav I know likes it. Downstairs with no windows takes some getting used to. Never in my life did I get airsickness until I got into the BUFF. It took a few sorties to get over, but your body and brain get used to it after a bit. Deployment rates...well like everybody else we're on an AEF cycle. Once every 15-18months or so we'll deploy for about 4 months. If there is a combat deployment or a war going on, then you'll be deployed more. Our deployments spots are nice; Guam, D-Gar, and England (usually only for combat). Most places don't like having a nuke bomber on their ramp. PCS: The glory days of BUFFs and SAC where there were 20+ BUFF bases throughout the CONUS are long gone. Minot or Barksdale...pick your poison. I'm a Minot guy. Been here 4 years and my wife and I love it. As ANYBODY on this board will tell you, each base is what you make of it. Don't listen to the people who say "Minot sucks" chances are, they've only been here for a TDY. The one squadron we have here is really tight. Great bunch of guys. Most guys get together fri and sat night and go to the bar (if you're into that kinda thing). If you're single, the bar scene isn't that great. There are hotties running around, you just look for them and fight off your bros. If you're a family guy, great place to raise a family. A lot to do and the weather isn't that bad. Gets really cold for a couple weeks in Feb, but that's about it. Ejecting in ANY aircraft would suck. Guys have ejected downward and lived to tell about it, just make sure the jet is at least 250' AGL any lower than that and you're risking turning yourself into a pile of goo. The BUFF is an extremely safe jet. The last two BUFFs that have crashed (94 Fairchild and 91 DGar) were pilot error. The one in 91 where the navs died (ejected too low) was a compounding pilot error/mechanical problem. The EW gets a bad rap, go easy on em. During a typical peace-time training mission, they don't play a huge role. Some of them are really good cooks on the jet. But, if the sh!t ever hit the fan and we were in full-up combat...the EW is gonna save everybody's ass. You as a Nav will work with EWs quite a bit when it comes to threats. Most EWs are good guys. But like any jet and any crewdog, there are always a few douchebags out there. You're at Randolph? I know there are some BUFF dudes down there, ask around. If you need any more info PM me. PS: How is the Auger Inn these days? That place was the balls just a few years ago. Crud, drunk chicks = , fights. Now I hear it's pretty lame .

Simple post guys and dolls. I am a guy big on heritage, history, and old-school Air Force shenanigans. Reply with what you think/wish should be brought back to the AF. I'll get it started. Bring Back: Naked girl nose-art on bombers Party Suits Bomb-Nav Comp "Real" O-Clubs...complete w/strippers, "dead-bug", and full contact crud Robin Olds-Chief of Staff 4 Life

A BUFF Bombardier's (trying to bring back that term, "Radar Navigator" is lame) two cents. The BUFF has SAC stink all over it, and with money going to other weapon systems, the BUFF will never fly without a bombardier, nav, pilots and an e-dub. I sit downstairs, so I don't fully appreciate what the pilots do. They are busy and do have an ass load of jet to fly. Could they handle the workload of flying and weapons employment if they had the means? As much as I hate to admit it, yes. But, they will never have the means and they must rely on the more than capable offenders to...ughh i hate saying this "put bombs on target on time." The BUFF, like the gunships, talons, etc is a unique weapon system because in order for it to function, it requires the work of more than one individual. As for the future of Navs/CSOs/WSOs/EWOs/ I think you will see will still see some form of Nav 20 years from now. Beyond that, who knows? As much as I love my pilot bretheren, it is a pilot's Air Force and it sucks. There are lots of good Navs out there with excellent leadership skills that never had a chance to command because they don't have a radiator on their wings. As far as the BUFF community goes, if you're a nav and if you want to command, get to the O5 and above level, all that stuff...you have to have a patch. this went longer than i thought...sensetive topic [ 27. July 2006, 15:06: Message edited by: b52gator ]

I love it when a Nav whips out the SNAP comment. I bet you that "guy" was probably an EW. But that would be the easy and obvious guess.

Dude, have you even been here long enough when we actually HAD a hooch? That whole area has been shut down for months now and I thought you didnt get on station til after it was closed. Our hooch is going way downhill...this should sum it up here. We do have a B-17 ball turret hanging from the ceiling, which is pretty bas a$$ if youve never seen one up close. A nice tribute to bomber heritage. Also on the wall is (from what I recall) a painting of a B-24 with an old school pin up on the side. From what Ive heard, we will have to paint over her, cause that isnt PC anymore. So much for heritage. We might as well take down the ball turret cause it probably killed people...

Minot

to each his own i guess. i'll stand by my opinion, but if it happens it happens. like i said, i enjoy myself a margarita every now and then. man, i thought i'd get a little more support. i guess i am the d-bag with a beer(s) in my hand. [ 06. June 2006, 15:02: Message edited by: b52gator ]

Margaritas? In a squadron bar? Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a margarita every now and then. But not in the hooch, the hooch isn't a place for nancying around with margaritas. It is for beer, bourbon, whiskey, tequila shots, swearing, debauchery, dirty jokes, farts, telling "so there i was" stories, crud, and getting wasted. nuff said

One of the "guys" in our squadron thought it would be a good idea to get a margarita machine for our hooch. Should I: A. Talk some sense into him B. Tell the SQ/CC this has bad idea written all over it C. D. Tell him to quit being a SNAP E. C and D [ 06. June 2006, 20:46: Message edited by: Toro ]

This is why I love the Minny. We may have a bunch of liberal hippies, but we get A LOT of support.

Also another GREAT BUFF book..."The 11 Days of Christmas." BUFFs, SAC, and LINEBACKER II

"The 11 Days of Christmas" B-52s, Linebacker 2, SAC Nuff said

i am stationed at minot and love it. if somebody says "it sucks" they probably have never been here. most people i know who have been here have had a great time. now for a single guy, you have to work a little harder...but there are plenty of locals and basers to go around. no matter where you go though, it is what you make of it. if you have a bad attitude, then your time here will suck. plus the mighty BUFF is here!