brabus

SBR Form 1 took about 3 weeks from submission to approval through eForms. I’m shocked the gov could do anything that quick. All that to say the paperwork was a bit of a PITA to get together, but overall not too bad and totally worth it! Now to shoot this thing and hope it doesn’t blow up in my face (first AR I’ve completely built myself).

And CA, NY, MI...there is good news out there!

Yep, just need a lot more Sandmann outcomes...it’d be nice if CNN was paying out $250M every week, because that’s what they should be doing.

I encourage everyone to start looking for more local sources of news in place of the dipshit MSM. The state and lower level isn’t immune from bias, but between this type of news media and a couple international sources, I find it much easier to get legitimate news with a lot less bullshit, “tactical omissions,” etc. Nobody in the U.S. MSM deserves a dime or even an ounce of trust from you. To arg’s post - I’d say there should be legal consequences if stories are proven to be false. Make defamation suits far easier to win and the payouts huge. Hold companies accountable when things happen like the CNN exec being caught detailing the ridiculous political war they fought against Trump. When they start getting financially squeezed out of the game, they’ll reign it in...or go bankrupt. Money and power is all they understand.

That’s a good argument for your PC letter to SAF/PC - “this is why PC is good for the total force...” is what they want to see. Good luck man - this may all work out greatly in your favor, even though I can understand it feels shitty right now. Airlines are going to start hiring in the near future, so get the ball rolling now!

ISP will be peanuts compared to what those extra years of seniority, 401k, bonus, and massive boost in QOL will be worth. I bet the majority of ARC units will give zero fucks about being passed over; they’ll care if you’re a good dude and pilot. Remember, the ARC is full of dudes who got out of AD because of all the jackassery - they’re not going to side with AD on your non-promotion.

Start rushing guard/reserve units and get a job lined up/get your apps in. Don’t wait until you receive a no on the 2nd board. Can you decline an APZ promotion and separate when you still have ADSCs?

Ha, oh I’ve been doing some buying. My reloading equipment/supplies has skyrocketed over the past year. Ironically my wife who says buy planes and land, then gives me the look when another package arrives in the mail for me...”let me guess, gun stuff” - “you bet your ass it is!”

Unfortunately this smells like lacking training combined with a stressful environment, with likely an increased perception of threat to herself or others (whether accurate or not). She fucked up and her resignation (firing if she hadn’t) followed by likely at least civil suit is understandable. But that said, no I’m not going to demonize her as a person because 1. I wasn’t there and don’t know the situation first hand 2. I can’t count how many times highly trained individuals in the military employed the wrong weapon, employed on the wrong target, got confused where the bad guys and the friendlies were, etc. Shit happens in chaotic, stressful situations...training and reps is key to minimize risk of fuck ups. My perception is police at large do not get the amount of reps they should have given the situations they are likely to find themselves in. 3. Huge CF on the victim’s part. He’s not the RC, but he’d also be alive right now had he not done some things that I hope all of us would have been smart enough to avoid.

Not related to the tax discussion, but my wife also distrust the long term financial future (I do all of our long term investing). she wants me to pull it all out and buy airplanes and property...her words. So tempting - I hate being a responsible adult.

I’m aware of how OPM pay works...it’s still not great. I don’t know the OP’s location, but 11 step 1, “rest of US” locality = 80k/yr, all taxable. Compare that to let’s say 3 year O-2 (assuming based on training timeline), you’re only 60k taxable + another $24k non-taxable (assuming $1.5k BAH...I picked a random value). Not saying you can’t do ok on it, but it’s not a phenomenal deal. Also, I thought TDART was a contract, as in it’s not easy to just walk away? Maybe it changed. Now that said, I’d say regionals is the only reality for the OP in 1.69 years, but like you said, he’ll accumulate hours rapidly, hopefully upgrade to CA (and AC on the mil side) in a reasonable amount of time, then log a bunch of turbine PIC - snatched up by a major fairly quickly at that point.

Personally I think less than GS-13 is bullshit pay for a pilot. While the ART system has received a decent overhaul in pay a couple years ago, it’s still grossly underpaid for pilots less than -13 (my opinion). You also have to ask yourself if you want to be doing this until your 55 (the general point of permanent ARTs, which I think TDART logically dovetails into). It sounds good in your 20s, not so good for 99% of dudes in their late 30s/early 40s. That said, how many turbine PIC hours do you currently have? Reason I ask is seeing how competitive you’d be for airline hiring. While I understand that’s not your desire 1.69 years from now, it’s good to know what your odds are in case more orders don’t come right away. Bottom line, I don’t think it’s a great deal, and rolling the bones on future orders seems to work out much of the time...may require some flexibility on your part, but generally there’s always a way to stay fed...until you say fuck this and go get your line number.

That’s great news. What’s also interesting is while suicides fell 6%, gun sales increased 85%. Anti-gun crowd trying to explain how people only killed themselves because guns exist...

I stopped watching all sports a few years ago; maybe a game a year. Turns out there’s tons of stuff to do with my time that is infinitely better than sitting on the couch supporting these bullshit organizations. Life without football and baseball is phenomenal...never would have said that a few years ago.

That’s true, they did get an interview. But point is being home unit doesn't give them any amount of leg up in the interview/job offer itself. That’s why age is very important when considering enlistment for the ultimate purpose of getting a UPT slot. Enlist at 18-20, sure...20s post college maybe not. But that’s just an opinion based off how we specifically run our hiring. I know some other units are like us, and I know some are not. I also don’t know even remotely every unit’s stance on this subject. Play accordingly.

Option A: The highest probability for getting a fighter slot, but have a back up plan for life if it doesn’t work out. Option B: Very little chance of flying fighters (age), but if you’re content with serving in a non-flying capacity, go for it. Maybe more chance getting a slot at a heavy unit if that’s where you enlist, but that’s pure conjecture on my part. Option C : Doesn’t hurt to look into it. See if they’re offering OCS pilot slots...I’d rather fly fighters in the Navy/Marines than not fly fighters at all. Option D : You won’t clean up financially for a LONG time. Getting to CFI is expensive and then you make peanuts, then eventually you get hired by a regional...and make peanuts. Then God only knows how many years later you finally make it to a major. So somewhere in your 40s you’ll start making good money, after a decade+ of humping it for probably less pay than your engineering job. Maybe you get hired for UPT as a 30-something and avoid some of this, but are you content with the aforementioned path if UPT doesn’t work out? Also, very unlikely to get a fighter slot going this route (at your age). I can’t tell you what to do, but those are my opinions of the options you laid out.

Fine, let’s just call it even and you have to pass an FBI background check every time you want to exercise your constitutional right to vote. Also, you can’t vote directly by mail, but you can drop a ballot off and stand there while someone takes 20-69 min to validate whether you’re legally allowed to vote. Lastly, some guy in the govt decided arbitrarily that if you want to vote for anyone shorter than 6’, you have to pay $200 and go on a list that you voted for said candidate. I do understand what you’re saying, but had to point out how hypocritical it is for people to be so pro-gun control legislation, but lose their minds over voter ID. What do they want, no infringement of constitutional rights, or is it just on parts they don’t personally like? To be clear, not saying this pertains to you personally.

On the ID topic... https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-black-americans-debunk-liberal-talking-point-that-voter-id-is-racist-theyre-ignorant?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=benshapiro&fbclid=IwAR3LXnfay3S0y2WPcMfwIq__8NhTOLvRO4v9-_KnD1wB1AUmWHuOpPFh_nU

Not saying it’s not a fast moving ballgame; in 12 days 30+ can get it, and in 15 days 16+ can get it. That doesn’t change the fact this is blatant racism. Is it acceptable and not racist if I use the N word in public, as long as I clarify I’m only doing it for the next two weeks?

We didn’t hire a single home unit person this board (we hired three last time). Not every unit puts a lot of weight into an applicant being a current member. Kicking ass at the interview is what matters most.

It’s even worse than that. A 16 yr old healthy, black person who has almost no risk of dying from COVID gets a shot while a 39 yr old white person who has a high-risk child or parent at home does not. This has nothing to do with risk and everything to do with political pandering. Congrats Gov Scott, now you’re not just an idiot, you’re a racist too.

There's always setbacks. Can't remember rebuilding an engine and not having one Did a full rebuild of everything forward of the firewall. Moment of truth, running pretty well...and quit. No restart, fuck! 3 hours later - did I put the fuel pump push rod in? The little things will get you!

Time to break out the Mike Hunt name tag...new SSN 069-69-6969. Game over China.

Familiar with the WTI accident - task saturated and misprioritized tasks, not really an inability to fly formation in of itself. I saw similar stuff in some young guys in the Viper before I left. Haven’t seen it in the F-35, but I think we’re just starting to see new guys who aren’t necessarily the top of their UPT class. We expect the overall quality will decline, but for now the young guys are doing pretty well.