pawnman

Well, you're climbing out that hole with no parachute. We removed the spare chute several years ago, ironically because the seats were so reliable. Edit to add: in the moment, you might hope for the auto sequence to work, given your lack of other options. But the seat is constructed such that it will not fire if the hatch is gone. Supposed to be a safety measure to prevent it from firing if there's a MX dude doing work that requires the hatch to be open.

It's all about the incentives. You get more of the behaviors you reward, and less of the behaviors you punish. The willingness to do things like CGOC early in their careers is probably a contributing factor in why MSG officers promote at a higher rate than aviators, even in the midst of a rated manning crisis.

A big part of why people don't want to go RPA is because they don't want to go to Holloman, Creech, or Cannon. If you're going ANG, you've already solved that particular problem.

As a WSO, I'm honestly a little afraid of climbing into an aircraft with an Afghan pilot. I've heard enough stories about them just throwing up their hands and yelling "Inshallah".

There's literally a picture of a guy wearing this mask with a helmet in the story.

If this were a one-off, I'd be with you. But the fact we've relieved so many commanders, coupled with the way we choose them means that there is something systemically wrong with the selection of these commanders. Who bears the responsibility for that, the people being chosen or the people doing the choosing?

The high-ranking officers that sponsored him early enough to get on that track are likely all retired now. Plus, when have we ever held sponsors accountable for their people?

Not until they rename UNT to UPT. But if we're sending CSOs to Undergraduate PILOT Training instead of Undergraduate NAVIGATOR Training, at least it will open some airline career options when they get out.

Same thing they did last year.

Same reason we give them discretion in assigning the DPs and Ps in the first place, then overturn them at the board when someone else, with no personal contact, decides the records don't support what the WG/CC is seeing. I don't know why we don't just get rid of the DPs and Ps entirely if the board isn't even going to take them into consideration.

You reversed the point. The point was that those are crimes that everyone agrees should be punished, as opposed to the military-only crime of fraternization. The lowliest intern at FB could sleep with Mark Zuckerberg and it wouldn't be a crime.

That was kind of my gut feeling. You don't just start abusing people suddenly, twenty years into your career.

I'm not sure what I disagree with, other than you claim the point everyone on the board thinks you are making isn't the point you are making. The fact that so few people understand what you are trying to say tells me the problem lies with how you are attempting to communicate, not with the majority of the listeners. Frankly, I think we've got bigger problems than upgrades to first class and 10% discounts at home improvement stores and restaurants. You're the one that started with this "jumped the shark" thing, not me. The Air Force and by extension the American Taxpayer have taken a lot from me...missed birthdays, anniversaries, Christmases and Thanksgivings. So pardon me if I don't weep tears or refuse to take the small pieces of gratitude that they are willing to extend. It makes them feel better, it makes my life just a tiny bit easier. Win-win. As to your point about WWII vets...of course they didn't feel the need to talk about their experiences. Everyone they would have talked about their experiences with had either served, was related to someone who served, or was close friends with someone who served. And their reluctance to talk is starting to take a toll as those stories and history are disappearing forever. Add to that the fact that the opening days of OIF and OEF were almost completely lacking documentation until 2008, and I'd actually argue the other side - we need MORE people willing to talk about their experiences, not less. You want to bring accountability to the use of force? Bring home the sacrifice and the cost of using the military to a civilian populace that's almost completely detached? Well, the way to do that isn't to shut up and deny all association with the military. It's to tell the stories and connect those civilians with what we're asking the military to do.

At the very least, he has failed to make the point he set out to make.

I have no idea what it is about. You are about 2 steps from the angry veterans screaming at people who thank them for their service on Memorial Day.

Sorry if we're all too selfish for you. Feel free to refuse your discounts if you want. These folks are happy to give them, I'm happy to take them.

Could be worse. Our airfield management is hovering around 40% manning, but AFGSC had turned down our last three reclamas and PCSed the OIC, and now they are trying to deploy the last officer in the shop.

Yep, that's my point. T-0 - Outside the Air Force T-1 - HAF T-2 - MAJCOM T-3 - WG/CC There's no tier for NAF.

Probably not many rated people. We can't even release people from my community to do "high-priority" staff jobs or other gigs (like the financial leadership thing). Can't imagine they'll release you to not fill a billet for three years.

These are our allies...

AFGSC is already our waiver for anything above the WG/CC. Remind me which tier of waiver authority the NAF holds again?

Aside from all the financials... There's a reason people are battling right at year twenty. So far, the Air Force has been unable to overcome this reasons. Why would someone who got out due to the BS, started another career, and planted the family in their permanent town want to come back? Seriously... People can already run these numbers before they retire. Why would coming back on AD years later be any more appealing than just staying?

I don't fault him for leaving Chapman behind. In that kind of chaotic situation, having already taken multiple casualties, and trying to evacuate whoever was left, I can definitely see how easy a mistake that would be to make. I am upset with the SEAL community's inability to look at the video and admit the mistake, and to double-down by arguing Chapman doesn't deserve the MoH.

Except that 12th doesn't send all of 12th at a time. So they're already splitting COCOMs. Just like when we send BUFFS to Guam (PACOM) and Bones to AUAB (CENTCOM). How hard would it be to dissolve those staffs and put their positions at the MAJCOM?

We could probably just dissolve the NAFs entirely. Do they actually do anything? In my somewhat limited experience on the Group and Wing staff, I've never sent anything to 8th Air Force...it always goes directly to AFGSC. Get rid of the NAFs and you may have a decent shot at staffing some of the MAJCOM billets currently going unfilled due to the Rated Staff Allocation Plan (or whatever we're calling it now).