brabus

"(Joint) Urgent Operational Need" - Unless you have that pinned next to a program/widget, there's no hope of even approaching "reasonable" when it comes to getting it, let alone getting it in a timely/decent cost context. Shack.

Yep, the "I want 100% everything" thought process crushes us in the long run. I'm with you, we need the 80% solution now and can add tech as it comes, but because of the aforementioned group of thinkers, we have a bloated and long-winded program.

We're fighting to get better EA, AESA and a lot of other shit on 4th gen fighters to increase effectiveness/survivability into the future; these are necessary things, but they aren't the ultimate solution by themselves is all I'm trying to say. There are good dudes well above me arguing for this stuff right now, and there is some light at the end of the tunnel, but unfortunately not near as much as you and I would like. We can thank the colossal fuck up the F-35 acquisition process has been for that one.

True, but it also is far less effective capability-wise than what we need. No matter what you do, you cannot make an F-16 into what is needed to cover the next 30-40 years, you can only make it better to a point, and that point misses the mark if it's to not be flown in conjunction with assets like the F-35.

The SCRA does not force companies to waive annual fees, just many do out of their own prerogative. The biggest thing it forces is low interest rates for those who incurred debt prior to entering military service.

I want to laugh at this analogy, but its too true in so many places.

Shack...seen that exact act 3 times now. Seems like very few good MX officers stay for the long term.

I'm shocked. Of all the monumental amount of MX terribleness I've seen in my career (and continue to see), 80% is the fault of shitty MX leadership, 10% is the fault of shitty mid-level leadership on the line (SSgt/TSgt level) and maybe only 10% I would even remotely consider putting on younger guys, but that's even a stretch. If the MX career field on AD could unfuck their terrible leadership, things would be much better. Every time I run into good MX leadership, they seem to be the exception, rather than the norm. It's sad.

I don't follow...

Holy shit. Are "what if's" open?

Wasted effort on the trick-fucking; all they have to do is keep chugging along like they are and the bullshit will continue to naturally weed out selects from going to IDE in the form of two big middle fingers combined with a guard/reserve/airline job.

So in dumb pilot speak, is this to say at least 5th gen should prioritize more weight of training effort to the "virtual" side in order to take advantage of full system capes? I'm well aware of all the "we can't go full up" limfacs, but no sim will ever replace the training available in live fly, even if there's some "trick fucking the system" that has to be done. Sims are great training tools, but they belong in the 10-20% max category when it comes to training allocation.

I think you win for the most fucked up personnel story I've ever heard. A1/AFPC are just unbelievably retarded.

to your uncle; it's awesome that even in his 70s/80s he would walk to the VA to support others. The world needs more men like your uncle.

YGBSM! Guess I shouldn't be surprised - what a bunch of dickbags.

Valid - the C model fleet has been cut a ton in the last 5 years, but I'm not sure why it's not getting the "full axe" like the A-10. Maybe it's because "they" view us as having more jets that can "replace" the A-10 compared to those who can "replace" the F-15C. Who knows, pure conjecture and not saying I have any reasons to support such a thought. I know, not saying A-10s are one mission. Where "they" draw the line is it it can't do A/A and AO/AI is pretty much not going to happen (take too long to get to a target and egress / not survivable in such scenario). It's ignorant to say CSAR, FACing and being a CAS fighter are the same thing, but from a large, institutional viewpoint when it comes to this topic, it's not completely out of this world that the three are combined into "single role." I hate all this as much as the next guy, and hell no we shouldn't be crippling combat capability like this. But, there's a lot of assholes who don't give a shit about such things and just want to keep their power, money, etc. They have put us in this "save X amount now!" and regardless of how insane and ridiculous it is, the CSAF has to make a very difficult decision that unfortunately can't be solved by TVs, furniture and TIB. The real solution to this problem is get the damn funding we need and allow BRAC. Or save us a shit ton of money by not spending it elsewhere in the world, who are ungrateful dipshits anyways.

I'm completely with you. But again, the latter statement especially lies heavily on Congress. My entire point is the CSAF is having shit forced down his neck and because of how our system works, there's nothing he can do about it except do the best he can with the shit he's been given. Congress is unwilling to reign in the F-35 (jobs and money for all my friends!), so they scream bloody murder for X savings "some other way," which has forced the AF into a very terrible situation. It's bullshit we're forced to do it, but since we are here, from a purely objective standpoint, you can't really argue (un-emotionally) against single-role being targeted over multi-role. The CSAF shouldn't be in this position, but he is, and I think given the stark reality of having to choose between piss and shit, he's not doing bad. Again, all of this to say I put 95% of the blame on Congress and our civilian leadership for these problems and bullshit situations, not the man at top in uniform.

So what does he push to divest that offers the same amount of savings as the A-10/KC-10? I'm not a fan of either going away, but if we have to divest something, what else? And yeah, I know there's bullshit waste like Tops in Blue and new flat screens - but unfortunately none of those will create the same savings. It has to be something "big"...I don't know the answer, and because of that I'm not going to throw spears at the guy. I will however throw burning spears towards Congress - this is their giant shit pie and now they're making him clean it up.

Completely disregard drops on this forum and anything people say, including UPT instructors or a random fighter pilot you know...completely serious. You are so far from track select, let alone getting a post-UPT assignment, there's no telling what will happen. If you go AD, you could be in a class where everyone gets a Viper on assignment night (apparently just happened), or you could get to track select and there's one T-38 and you're not the guy. Point is, NOBODY has an clue what it'll be like for you in 1.5-2 years. Every class is different, assignments go in waves, etc. If you go Guard there's a lot of great things, but you can pretty much count on never flying a fighter - if you're OK with that then take the guard job and never look back. If you'll always be wondering, "what if?" then in my opinion it's worth taking the chance, and even if in the end you don't end up in a fighter, there's still a lot great flying to be had in something else, doing great missions, and hell, you could still end up flying Hercs anyways and get a job at your hometown unit in 8-10 years.

$5 buyout? What kind of spineless LPA is this - it should be triple digit buyout!

I will never complain about an "uncomfortable" sortie. Hat's off to you U-2 guys!

Interesting...you say you've been dicking around since Sep trying to get the $450 reimbursed, yet I had the fee waived (and never even billed to my account to begin with) last month. I'm not saying what you were told isn't correct, BUT the vast difference between my situation and yours seems very strange. I think it's worth another call and talking to somebody different. By the way, I also had a different AMEX card waived in Jan as well. I assume you brought up SCRA (which is the keyword for AMEX).

Nobody is carrying this operationally. In fact, LRIP hasn't even started. So yes, more sensationalism that people with no SA use to "legitimize" their grip on the anti-F35 bandwagon.

Not gone, just well hidden, at least some places.