brabus

Totally agree on that. My response is primarily directed at “CAS is fucked, the AF should just hand it over to the Army” comment. CAS is not fucked and we shouldn’t hand it over to the Army - that’s my point.

@di1630 You’re majorly overacting. CAS is not a priority right now, and it damn well shouldn’t be. But will it spin back up when we get into OEF 69, yep. Will multiple platforms (including TACP/CCT) knock the rust off and be just fine, yep. It’s understandable to be emotionally attached to what our generation did for the majority of our combat careers, but remove the emotion and it’s easy to see why going the direction we are is the right move for now (not to say there’s not a shitload of fuckery along that path). Also, the A-10 patch community disagrees with you; they’re pushing to do things that are relevant to the path we’re on. Though admittedly I can’t speak to what leadership roadblocks they may or may not be facing. I hope it’s none.

Back on track regarding careers outside the military. Happy to report @Biff_T is doing well transitioning to his post-mil career…

Hindsight moments before posting on Baseops after finishing a pint of moonshine…

Logically, the regional guys are generally working harder and accepting more risk in terms of more time spent in demanding phase of flight (e.g. before TOC/after TOD). The WB guy may fly a bigger airplane with more people, but he does 1x takeoff and landing, while some 23 yr old is doing 5x day shuttling around the NE in dogshit WX. So yeah, from a completely singular focus of risk/safety, it is not really logical to pay the regional guy the lowest pay. BUT, I’m not saying it should change! 1) Self interest 2) Need motivation for pilots to want to “fleet up” to the majors 3) If a major crashes, it’s going to be more death and more problems (probably), 4) Shareholders at the majors are probably a bit more demanding of quality/experience of pilot (real or perceived) because they want to avoid #3 (logic or emotion? Doesn’t matter)

Haven’t read the book, but is the lack of assimilation argument based on the host nationals trying to prevent immigrant assimilation or is it the immigrants refuse to assimilate?

I think most of the country does not support the radical bullshit. However most of the country does share in the blame when they do nothing about it (except stick their heads in the sand/bitch about it at the BBQ but demonstrate no action). There’s a difference between actively believing in, and actioning on, these things and just standing on the sideline.

These people are fucking lunatics. Their mental incapacity knows no boundaries.

1. DNP letter 2. 2x Passed over 3. Guard + airlines + still promote But if you’re really hell bent on staying in, then… See Huggy’s post on the last page of the below thread

The pilots group’s worst enemy is…the pilot group.

Yet the recent Trump indictments have only increased his standing in the GOP polls. Just as the Dems want. Trump is the most likely to lose against the Dems, why is it so difficult for conservatives to see that!?

Without an implementation timeline and associated fines for not meeting it, the new contract has as much meaning as the TP I wiped my ass with. The company knows this, but are they really so arrogant to think the pilot group doesn’t? What is going on at AA!

It’s the classic situation of multiple things can be true at once: 1. Humans absolutely affect the planet, climate, etc. 2. Humans should continue to develop cleaner energy and bring it to bear when the technology is mature/able to actually support civilization’s energy needs 3. “climate change” as defined/argued by the left is absolutely a complete bullshit lie and only pushed for the gain of wealth/power for select groups of people. People like Greta are just useful idiots in that process.

Didn’t realize flying Sopwith Pups in the war were that hard on the hips. But seriously, good luck with the surgery, hope it’s a quick recovery and doesn’t take you out of flying long!

A sure fire way to destroy the next 2 days of your life. Getting old is bullshit. Disclaimer: No, I haven’t learned my lesson yet, and probably never will!

I did have a wing/cc once who said everyone who gets an incentive ride will shadow the entire 12 hr day prior for mission planning, etc. And on execution day would be there the entire 12 hr day. For all the time they couldn’t be with the pilots due to lack of vault access, they would shadow the SARMs, AFE, go out on the flight line with MX, etc. 2x 12 hr “average days” was a massive eye opener for everyone who went through.

@frog You’re not wrong, but also being a truly mission-focused wing/cc who calls out failure and demands ops-like performance out of the MXG/MSG gets shitcanned in 6.9 sec in this AF. So they ask about the grass instead. Ultimately your rated leadership failure is happening at the O7+ level. Of course there are careerist douche wing/cc who stand on their own lack of merit, but hard to be a stand out warrior leader at the O-6 level and not get fired when you’ve got the crop of GOs that exist today.

It could be the quality of recruits, but I could also see it heavily being the non-rated world discourages free thinking/critical thought while encouraging binary thinking and zero mission ownership. This is not a problem in at least portions of other services. Hell, the USMC officers I’ve worked with from the “shoe clerk” MOS have more mission-focused/get it done attitudes than the entire non-rated AF combined.

Term limits would make a hugely positive impact. It’ll never happen.

Assuming not much has changed (fighter world), most O-4/O-5 are maybe getting 5x month. Their guard counterparts are doubling that in many cases. Even the part time guard guys fly more than their AD counterparts a lot of the time. That’s a very general statement, and there are obviously some people on both sides who don’t fit this mold.

Wow, that is truly terrifying that many Americans support such un-American things. Every person in those percentages above is a POS who has zero critical thinking skills.

Test #6900000 - does the 9M still suck? Result: Yes it still sucks.

The amount of asshattery on staff is astounding, it’s 69,000 worse without pilots holding people accountable, getting shit done, “mentoring” the REMFs on what actually needs to be done and why their ideas are fucking retarded, etc. A better fix is remote staff work, which the ANG is slowly coming around to. Not everyone can be remote, but a lot of pilots wouldn’t mind staff much if they could stay living where they want, still fly regularly, etc. I know a couple guys have done this on AD as well. Loosen the grip on the “it’s always been this way” thought and things would be better.