Boxhead

I did, esp in public, where all that silly saluting was happening. I took some minor grief from some on it, but they got over it, returned the salute and we all then got along just fine. As for the other point, I was an airman as well, and while we did not always say "Sir" to an Airman that outranked us, there as hell was a respect and pecking order, even from 1 to 2 stripes. And A1C were in charge of 1 stripers, and SrA/Buck Sgts were supervisors. Also, once you hit SSgt, you stopped going to parties with Airmen...ah well, that was a long time ago. Simple fact is that the only Lts that have heartburn with saluting each other (overall, I am sure there are counter-examples) are folks with an 11 or a 12 in the front of their AFSC. They want all the "cool" parts they feel they deserve with wings on, but don't really want to do any of that "gay" stuff that goes along with their rank. Your Airmen see everything you do. As soon as a 2Lt does not salute a 1Lt, their brain will think why should a Airman salute a 2Lt, after all the only difference between the two is that the Airman has been promoted once...right? I mean, where do the cool, "we are all cool together" unwritten rules start to trump the written guidance? If it's not in a yellow checklist it does not matter I suppose. It's just something that folks will never agree on, and that's OK, esp on the internet.

I would argue that example is apples and oranges. There is not an AFI in existence that has been around even remotely as long as the custom/courtesy of saluting. We complain about having no heritage, no history, and one of the few things that has stuck around in virtually every military in the western world...that's the one that folks think is OK to disregard. We are our own worst enemy.

One of my motorcycle riding troops got told at the gate today here in sunny Cannon, that the extra reflective belt around his back-back no longer cut the mustard. The "new" requirement is that the horrible dark spot covering your back will now warrant it's own entire and full up reflective VEST. Someone just got a OPR bullet for improving the safety of the Motorcycle Safety Program.

This was all funny and all until I looked it up on Google...and could only really see two of the six. Then, after about 15 minutes of searching, I realized it was midnight, I was up alone in the dark and I was on the internet looking for penises. Fail.

x2 I don't care if they straight up lie about research they did, that rule has to be in effect, 'casue if I am trying to read/sleep/talk normally to my neighbor and I am surrounded on all sides by people that are talking in their cell phones...I'll most likely end up being arrested when we land. "Cause you know the cell phone talkers would be even louder due to the noise level in the plane...uggg...

It's not an "old" standard, it's a current policy, just one that is ignored by virtually everyone. I'll have to dig up the letter. It basically says exactly what you just wrote, if you are a new guy, you will not have any duties except flying for the first 6 months or so. I think that is something I may start to bring up again...it's a fantastic policy.

Here's what you do. Make nice with some of the SPs there. Get them to allow you to store a privately owned weapon in said armory...get the permission in writing...then carry the gun in your car as usual every day, and in the off chance that you get stopped at a Vehicle Inspection at the gate...simply show the paper, and then, of course, take the weapon to the armory that one time, then take it home after shift. Repeat as necessary. Technique only though. Creech is unique...at a "normal" base, you just get a few of your on base housing buddies to let you register their house as a storage location for your gun...then apply the same basic principle as above.

That was the best video I have seen in a long time.

This is not additive...they are just going to move the 2 SOS from Nellis to Eglin, really, this article should read "we are moving a unit to a new place, and we would like it to be somewhere not horrible so we can retain some of the guys that don't want to leave Vegas"

I'll have to go find the email that had it in there...it was ridiculously restrictive in my opinion, particularly because no amount of MCE hours prepare someone or are indicative of the ability to perform LR well. Of you want, PM me your email, I'll just forward the document to ya.

Yep, the LR syllabus conference up at Creech a few weeks ago talked about opening the flood gates for those cats. I think the 432 is being a tad restrictive on their interpretation of "ready for LR"...but hey, that's not my call! When the new syllabus comes out, they will start going through just like anyone else.

PURE speculation. Ha ha! But you forget that the "6 months" in question is always 6 months from the actual day you say the idea. Now that it's on here, everytime someone reads it...re-hack that 6 months. You picked Aug 2011? Aggressive! That would not surprise me at all.

Mark your calendars, and remember this post I am going all Nostradamus here. The UPT first term RPA guys will not be released. until late 2013 at the earliest Crossflow guys will not be released until late 2013 at the earliest If they do let those guys go, and keep ops tempo the same, but they significantly reduced IQT thruput...that mans the guys left behind will be hating life and sitting in the box more than ever before. Now, somewhere around 30-ish percent of folks in RPA are coming up on their 10 yr commitment starting mid 2012 and lasting for about a year. If they release those other dude, and make the lives of the left over suck that bad...they will have no one left, and no replacements. I don't see them releasing a bunch of folks and then stop-lossing, that would make things even worse. They will wait to let folks go until they see how many get out. But that is just my bet. Only time will tell. "We were told"....come on brother...if I had a nickel for all the stuff we were "told"...I would have a fancy car like yours!

Nope. 5/2 8hr fly shifts. Now, if you have a job in the sq, your days are a little longer to do your office work. If you are a pilot though, manning is starting to almost look kinda better, so there is usually an office day or a split shift thrown in there (fly 4 Office day 4)

My guess will be the next crossflow board. That will have them here just under 3 years, so good enough time to hear what their future holds. Good thing all RPAs are changing their names shortly to "MAWLoAs" (Manned Assets With Lots of Automation) That way all those guys can go to a manned asset and Big Blue never has to lie, cause you know, the truth simply changed. Nice! I'll be here till NLT Sept, then I'll see ya in Holloman instead.

The FTU at Creech is in a state of...let's say flux. I would guess you will be getting a RIP changing you to the 6 RS at Holloman for FTU. Right now, March is just doing ANG folks.

should read "...in a military whose leaders want to reduce smoking and curb drinking, and who are also too focused on CYA and making everyone wear diapers when one idiot craps..."

It can be. And the Dependants/civilians can't really be "arrested" either, as military cops "apprehend" only, and while those other folks may be detained, really all the base can do to folks not subject to the UCMJ is ban them from base. They can also call the civilian cops (stateside) to come bust them, but they don't come out every time, sometimes, they gotta just let them go. Granted, if the WG/CC actually puts them on the debarment letter, and they try to get on base again...then it's a federal offense and the Federal Judges are a tad strict on goofy crap like that to come across their desk. This is kinda why they just match up with the civilian law...it gets muddy quick.

Ironically, the State has no "real" say. Sure, they can make whatever law pleases them for off base, but all the WG/CC has to say is "Nope...even off base". There are no such things as federal drinking ages...it is just common practice for the Base to match the local age for "ease". Newark AFB had a "anyone with a military ID card or guest thereof" could drink. It was funny being a bartender there and serving to 16 year olds that were there with Grandpa. My take is yes...it should be 18 for everyone, not just military. OR, all the other stuff mentioned above should move on up to 21. It's total horsecrap to have it all split up like that, you are either an adult or not. (OK, you are either a LEGAL adult or not, there are lots of legal adults even now that only qualify due to birthday, not decision making capability.)

I selflessly volunteer to begin a new era of Cradle to Ops Unit training. I will make the sacrifice to move my family from Clovis to San Antonio, then, train those mofo's fast and effectively, then go to Creech with them to help with manning at the 11RS, all the while providing fantastic training! Live in San Antonio, regular TDYs to Vegas...I can do it. Everyone would benefit, quick I need to sell this to someone so they can say no, then use the idea 6 months form now as their own, then send other folks not as qualified to go accomplish the task. It's foolproof!

Cause the pipeline is not filling all the vacancies from expired commitments around 2013...they "should" start caring about morale...just a little. Do you want to join in our "when does Stop Loss begin" pool? $20 and you pick a two week period. FWIW, my morale is kinda up...things are looking good for a PCS to Whiteman. Maybe not for everyone, but that's great news for me!

He is not 100% wrong, there are a host of reasons some folks don't like what we do, some have personal issues, some have professional issues, and some like it just fine. You can have not one second of time in the USAF and be able to figure out that there is a general "issue" out there, he was simply asking what it was. Career potential...well maybe he spoke outta turn. Good thing that never happens on here. I'm all for a good name-calling thread, but let's have a few posts about the actual topic. I don't want to have to flex my edit abilities and turn anyones posts into homo-erotic ones. I am that mature.

Nasty Rumor. Zero truth, at least in the near future. Basically, they barely have the manning to fill the lines as it is, if they do a "true" companion trainer (eg, the AF runs it...now you have to have someone do the IP cadre, etc...plus MX costs, ramp space, the list goes on. My suggestion was they simply give some sort of card to everyone (punch card, etc...) for use with a local FBO, and simply pay for something like 5 hours a month for whomever is qualified. That would put all the logistical/MX onus on someone else and just let folks that wnat to do it, do it. It would be WAY cheaper than a "real" companion trainer and just the thought would do a crazy amount for morale.

Well hell. Looks like Mexico figured out how to get around the ridiculously restrictive FAA. Just ignore them...they will give ya your plane back!

You must have different GCSs than we do. I know what mine looks like, and I know when I am exahusted and accidently stroll into a MQ-9 GCS to give a piss break, the sh!t looks mighty different.