schokie

Check out The Bullet Hole on the South West side. Decent range with lots of rentals. https://www.bullethole.com/ I haven't found a good gun shop for browsing, but I think M2 might be able to recommend something.

I didn't have any serious problems at the 'fuge, but 2 guys I went through Pcola with did. Both dudes didn't pass their first time out. One of them got put on a weight training program with emphasis on lower body. The Navy also let him sandbag rides in the T-2. When he went back later he past with no problems and moved on to the Strike Eagle where he had no problems. The other guy failed horribly. He got put on a similar program to the first guy. When he went back he failed again. He was a good dude, just couldn't pass the 'fuge, so he ended up getting a B-1 out of it. It's not that difficult to pass, I suspect the 2nd dude let it mess with his cranium too much.

You're not that far off. The current iteration of the plan has both 17Ds and 12Ws starting training going through a brief (1 month ish) Intro to EW course. Then they branch off to their respective training programs. Some 17Ds may find themselves in a EC-130 as a 'flying comm/intel dude", though the current plan states he will NOT be rated (though he might receive flight pay). I'm willing to bet he'll need to wear a flight suit all the time as well then. Cyber is also trying to create this training program with undergrad and graduate courses, something like Cyber 100, Cyber 200, etc. For example, you can't be a Cyber SQ/CC unles you've attended Cyber 300, you can't be a Group/CC or higher unless you've attended Cyber 400, etc. Those are just presented as examples, the hierarchy isn't exactly like that. I hear this is similar to how Space does things. The underlying intent is to container out all the rated guys from leadership positions in the MAJCOM down the road. I suppose some folks on this board might consider that a good thing for them personally. Though like I've said before, this plan is in constant flux. This was the latest as of a couple weeks ago. Who knows what it will look like in another couple weeks.

The sad thing is I still need a gun that will help me save money on ammo. When's the next gun show in San Antonio again?

Thanks to everyone for your advice. I went to the gun show yesterday and looked over several Ruger .22s. I was about to buy one when I made the mistake of checking out the SA XD45. As soon as I picked it up I was hooked. It just felt right. Everything on the gun was where my fingers just naturally went. I had been considering getting one for quite some time, and with the price they were asking I couldn't resist. I got an XD45 Service model with the new thumb safety. I took it straight to the range and I love the way it shoots. The wife wasn't thrilled with the price (since I told her I was only going to get a .22), but once she realized this meant she wouldn't have to share the Sig at the range anymore she was happy.

I'm looking to buy a .22 LR pistol. I'm looking at both the Browning Buckmark and the Ruger Mk XX. There's a gunshow in San Antonio this weekend and I've got the itch to buy (Thanks M2!). I'm also considering a gun safe, but that's for another thread. I'm looking in the $200-300 range for a .22. I currently have a Sig 229 in .40, but I'd like a .22 to save some money on ammo at the range. I'd also like to buy a conversion barrel for .357SIG, but I don't think that will solve my ammo cost problems. The wife has authorized a purchase of a .22 and gun safe, but I'm also considering getting my hands on a S.A. XD 45 (don't tell her). Suggestions?

I was in that same situation a few years back and I was payed the O1 rate for DLA and other moving expenses. I don't know where to look to find that in writing though. It's possible I was just screwed over by finance.

I'm not sure if the original question was about only US Vipers but I know Singapore uses 2-seat Vipers as a combat aircraft. They put a WSO in the backseat and use it like a mini Strike Eagle. Unknown if these things have seen combat time.

I believe you're talking about JPAS. I have no idea what it stands for though. USA Today recently had an article about the backlog for security clearance investigations. USA Today

My wife is a Comm officer and she brought home a reader. That being said I prefer things the way they are now. Less queep to deal with off duty.

You will get reimbursed if you own the trailer. You'll get to standard rate for it's weight as if it was cargo in your car. You don't get reimbursed if you rent a trailer. (edit - You won't get reimbursed for the rental cost) My roommate bought a trailer right before he PCSed to Elmendorf. Drove it across the continent, then sold it after he moved it. Between the money for the sale and the money he got from TMO for driving that weight cross country he make out pretty well. All that aside, do a DITY even if you end up losing money. You'll have all your crap as soon as you get there, and it won't be stolen or broken. Both of which WILL happen if you let the government contract it out to the lowest bidding moving company. Just ask around for horror stories. [ 01. April 2006, 16:06: Message edited by: schokie ]

My squadron was in a similar situation about a year ago. A couple things you can do come to mind: 1) Jack up the price of the beer fund. Most people in the squadron only care if you have beer and snacks on hand. If they drink beer and they care about the state of the squadron's slush fund (which the snacko account is), they shouldn't complain about paying more. Increase your prices across the board for everything as a matter of fact. You're not running a charity. 2) Airshows. This is where you make your money as a snacko. Gouge the hell out of those people. Airshow visitors want your crap and they'll pay whatever you want to charge them. You'd be suprised with the price gouging you can get away with. Sell hats, shirts, patches, lithos, whatever crap you have on stock back in the storage closest. Travel around to airshows in the area. When a jet goes TDY to a show, have it take some of your crap to sell. 3) Don't let anyone but you have their hands in the snacko fund. If you have to, go to the bank and tell them to only allow you and you only to access the account. Tell people you don't have any money to spend. Folks that aren't responsible for that money will bleed you dry if you give them the chance. Don't lie to your CC about the money you have of course, but it someone wants money for their pet project for the bar or whatever, tell them to screw themselves. 4) Buy everything in bulk from Sam's Club or somesuch place. Bargain shop. 5) The snacko fund belongs to the squadron. If the snacko is in debt don't be afraid to take up a collection. Just general financial good sense is the key. Run it like the business it is.

You don't have to sqeeze the juice out of the peppers. As long as you're not throwing a cup of juice in there in addition to everything else you're ok. You do want the jalapeno's to be chewy, not crispy and black. That's why I throw mine if AFTER I put the corn in. Wait until the first kernel starts popping, then dump the peppers. They come out with a crispy outside and a green chewy inside. Don't fall into the trap of making it hot as humanly possible. The key is flavor, not heat.

I went through SERE with a buddy that had the SC state flag tattooed on his shoulder. He went to the Citadel, go figure... The only problem he ever had was during the intial search during the resistance phase. One of the instructors thought he was Islamic due to the silver cresent part of the state flag. Mild confusion, but the worst I've ever heard of due to a tattoo.

And here I thought I was the only one that thought he had serious problems. My healthy sense of cynicism has been restored. When does he Combat PCS?