brabus

I say we are less lethal. Not because we don't have the capability, but because the required training is increasingly stymied by politicians. You can't play the probation-regression-regression-RAP-probation,etc. game, rob the AF of valuable flag level training and expect dudes to perform well in the types of contested environments we only talk about. Give dudes the chance to actually train to that stuff and our level of success will be infinitely greater. I feel like we're heading towards the super bowl, but the general manager only allows the team to use Madden XBOX to practice and forbids real practices.

180 out from the CAF. Are good dudes just never given the chance to be EPs? It's mind blowing that apparently 90% of MAF EPs are some of the biggest cocksuckers walking around with wings.

Grounded for 30 days, seriously? How does someone think that's a logical response to someone not wearing a hat.

Heard the exact same thing...over a year ago. It'll probably happen, but believe it when you see it.

Are you really surprised Vetter? I'm not, but I still have to throw out the obligatory, YGBSM!

I'm with Dayman on this; if all of the "privileged" SIB info can just be used against you anyways by the guy deciding your fate in the end (in an FEB situation like this), then really I have zero incentive to tell the truth/give every detail during the initial SIB interviews. The whole point is "spill everything" in the SIB to ensure 100% of the lessons learned are had by the aviation community to avoid further accidents of similar nature. The AIB is where "the legal shit" should happen. If the two are not mutually exclusive (as I have always understood it), then fuck it, I have nothing to say to the SIB board if there's even a remote chance the AF could find me even partially at fault for something. On that note, I've been involved in two SIBs (one for me, one for a guy in my 4 ship), and both actually seemed to work how it should. In the end the SIB for the other guy found him totally at fault, but then in the AIB it was determined to be mech malfunction. Nothing happened to him and he went on his way continuing to fly in the AF. Maybe this is more a MAF problem than a CAF problem...I don't know, but the story above seems pretty fucked up (at least how it was technically handled).

AFN here wants to follow a pilot around for a week and make a documentary on "how the pilots contribute to the mission." Are you fucking kidding me, what we do IS the mission! Everything else (much of it very important) is supporting the end game, which is pilots killing bad guys and breaking their shit. On the plus side, I can't wait for this guy to work a 70 hr week and see how life is far from "fly for an hour and then fuck off the rest of the day."

Shack. We're really getting into some extremely unlikely scenarios here to support the argument for Marine F-35Bs. Lawman - I'm not on the 100% Super T boat, I get it that the Marines need something more capable/survivable in a higher threat envelope, but they certainly don't need something that's "kick the IADs door in." Perhaps some Super Ts combined with carrier-based hornets would be a good mix. The bottom line is if Super Ts/Cobras can't do what's needed AND there is zero time to wait for the CSG/AF, you have now entered "so you're saying there's a chance!" land. Not impossible, but very unlikely. Nsplayr pointed out your erroneous Korea example, but your Syria example is just as wrong. What do you think the AF is doing? When shit starts looking bad, we're there a lot of the times well before anything goes down (if it even does). The scenarios where Marines are the ONLY dudes there and need to act are the low intensity stuff like South America and Africa - places where Cobra, Super T, Osprey can do their thing at an acceptable ALR. Marines will not be going at sophisticated IADs by themselves, because the AF and/or the Navy already is in a position to effect those locations...hence if shit hits the fan in one of those places, you've got the AF and Navy to provide the capes/expertise on IADs degradation/destruction, OCA and DCA while the Marines execute their portion of the ops...the aforementioned is not really what Marine Air is there for.

If that's going down in a location that REALLY requires F-35 capes, we a) don't have an embassy there, or b) on the .69% chance we do the other services will bring those assets to the fight for a joint venture. I'm a big fan of the marines and am not shitting on the general concept of MEU, but VSTOL F-35s are way more than what's needed. As nsplayr said, it's a nice to have, but very far from a need to have. It's a political play to keep L class ships and "viable" organic fixed wing. You guys certainly need new jets, but something like new super hornets would be great for what the MAGTF really needs. If no shit we get to "storm the beach" and EVERYBODY is days out and "this" needs to happen right fucking now, sounds like something helos can do until the CSG and the AF get there, which really isn't as far away as some Marines may think. If you say the helos will get slaughtered, SA-15s etc....we'll then it's wait a bit or were at ALR Ludicrous.

Nice Stract. Unfortunately, you now have to contact Liquid for remedial training to discuss the vulgarity of this patch and undoubtedly the 3+ chicks you raped immediately following the first time you put this patch on.

Anyone have the Summer 14 fighter bills? All I see on the myPers site are the Fall 13 bills. I have no idea where dudes found the Spring 14 bills.

Definitely a red cunt...wait, I've said too much, guess MEO will be at my door momentarily.

High likelihood it was a, "we need the slide to show green stat!" without any critical thought involved. So here we are, wasting more time doing something that wasn't really required in the first place. Perfect.

I also used to think they were witch docs...until I couldn't move my nugget for about 4 days and finally gave in. I was surprised and thankful for the results. Go on your own dime, don't mention it to anyone in the af and you'll be fine. I went that route a few times until after getting my wings; then I figured I was "in" and went to the flight doc a couple times since....no problems, no DNIF.

Easy to say looking down from your level. I have and continue to do the right thing (as do several officers around me), but have been shit on repeatedly in the past because some crybaby NCO went to daddy, because "that's how it's been, so fuck off Capt" (followed by push back based on rationale and common sense, followed by a "get in line or get out" response). Along those lines, for every NCO/SNCO that is a great troop and worth a shit, there are 10 that need to be kicked in the teeth. Doesn't matter if you're a Capt, they will tell you to fuck off (not in those words, but in their attitude/lack of action) and if you say something to the officer(s) in their chain of command you get dickless leadership who either won't do anything and also maybe add a kick to your left and right nut for trying to give orders to an enlisted member. It's not that CGOs/FGOs don't try, it's that they are shot down and stamped out at a rate much higher than you clearly know happens. I'm sure this did not happen nearly as bad when you were a Capt/Maj, and that's probably why you think I'm full of shit and "there's no way it's really like that." The buck stops at the O-6+ (and some O-5s) who allow this shit to happen or need to be seen as "visibly doing something" when someone complains the officer was mean to them or keeps making unreasonable requests, such as "do your job please." My SQ/CC is great and I am allowed a good range to execute the officership and leadership any CGO should in the SQ. Unfortunately, that latitude is not given by many of his peers and only because he's a good dude and at the "fuck it, this is probably it" point in his career, he has zero problem going to bat for his people and shielding us from the other asshole O-5 who wants us burned at the stake for being officers outside of the flight line. If CGO/FGOs were given the same latitude across the base (not just in their own corner) to be the officer and leader they should, things would be much better.

What I mean is O-5 and below are rarely given a real chance to demonstrate the type of leadership and officership that you're demanding here. The problem is you and the rest of senior leadership is out of touch with how it REALLY is a few levels below HAF. Capts through Lt Col's are destroyed if they actually use real leadership and judgement. If you don't tow the party line, you get crushed. I totally get it that there are great WG/CCs, OG/CCs and SQ/CCs...I'm not arguing those individuals don't exist. The problem is they are the minority and in many facets of the AF at the Wing and below level (the levels I see on a normal basis), we as a service are plagued with self-serving, tow-the-line d-bags that demonstrate terrible leadership (and by that I mean zero), lacking interpersonal skills, don't even attempt to use common sense/judgement, etc. I want to see people be allowed, and trusted by senior leadership, to exercise the exact leadership, officership and judgement that you are demanding here. Perhaps we really want similar things in this arena, but the problem is you say, "well why don't you do it?" and my response is, "because I want to keep my job...for now." Senior leadership has zero SA that the good qualities above are stiffed and stamped out a large portion of the time. It's all CYA, tow-the-line, don't rock the boat OR exercise good leadership, officership and judgement...then subsequently get burned at the stake for making choice 2 instead of choice 1. Empower the CGO and FGO level to do these things and the organization will be much better for it. Continue to allow this cancer of shitty leadership, crushing a CGO because he told an NCO to knock it off, prioritizing (insert bullshit) over mission, etc. and you will never have the AF at the lower levels that you falsely think exists or could exist in the current climate. Changing organizational climate is difficult, but beating us over the nugget with "get on board or get out" is not the answer.

Liquid, Pawnman summed it up quite well. That's a pretty damn good rundown on the pulse of the average warfighter. The only SQ/CC's I've seen truly lead (in the sense I honestly think senior leadership wants, but won't admit publicly or through policy) are the ones who have stopped giving a shit about advancing in the Air Force. They're not given the chance, but they take it anyways because fuck it, it's most likely their last assignment. That's sad; guys should be able to be real leaders and then continue advancing and maintain that real leadership into the senior ranks. That track is very much be exception these days. What Pawnman summed up is a good snapshot of why guys with 4-6 years left on their ADSC are talking about the best way to prep for an Airline career, making contacts in the Guard/Reserve, etc. Why in the hell are guys doing their "dream job" planning an exit strategy so far in advance? Senior leadership has let them down and castrated the warfighter at all levels. I'm not saying it's specifically you, but it certainly is those around you. People will only tolerate so much bullshit; at some point the feeling, "the bullshit is worth it because the flying job is awesome" ceases...it's alarming that this point is happening at only 6-9 years into many peoples' careers. You can call them whiners, pussies, etc...or you can listen and take it as honest no-shit feedback from the guys "in the trenches."

I'm 98.696969% (repeating of course) they're required by the FAA to wear parachutes. I've only seen a couple pilots not wear them and their parachutes were sitting next to their seat.

Doesn't count...at least in PACAF. Either that or we were lied to and I wasted a solid 45 min of my day.

Good luck in this fiscal environment...probably will happen again someday, but doubtful any time in the near future (i.e. at least this next year). Hell, we can't even give fam rides to MX, and they're by far the most deserving ones. Damn shame considering empty backseats fly pretty much daily. Along with what RTB said, try to keep in contact with someone in OSS/OSO in case the policy gets lifted.

Sure it is!

Damn, sounds like a host of issues refueling with the drogue. I retract my statement towards the drogue guys, but it still stands for the boom guys who make similar complaints.

Seriously? I too prefer a -10 any day of the week, but the -135 isn't some horrible god-awful platform to take gas from. If someone says it is, then they should maybe take a look at their own flying ability before placing all the blame on the tanker for why they can't get gas well, expeditiously, etc.

Come on Helo, everyone's a winner. Anything else is just unfair and an evil Republican conspiracy.

Here's why we cannot fix the problems: careerism. I know exactly how to get an AFI changed, as do many other people. The problem is not the "how to," it's the simple fact a stop along the approval chain is a careerist asshole who will not "rock the boat" or do anything they think there's even a 1 in a million chance of ruffling their boss' feathers. Middle management just holding on in their current position so they can make it to the next rank/job is what is killing the AF. It doesn't matter one bit if the AFI change makes complete sense, enhances warfighter ability or is simply just a stupid annoyance that needs to go away. There is an O6-O9 98% of the time who will kill it to stay in the perceived good graces of the dude above them. That's the cancer we have in our AF and just like "real" cancer, it's not an easy fix.