tac airlifter

Why do you say that?

I've been hearing it for a while. We'll see. Lots of $$ to turn on what they turned off, and no small undertaking if they want to get the RW FID mission back.

I've taken PC-12s there and through the whole area: AVX, L05, L26, L35, CN37.... The only issue is ascertaining taxiway quality at those smaller fields. We need 23' width which is easy to find, but locations that don't see aircraft the size of a PC-12 will sometimes have significant erosion and grass growth on the edges, and that can be problematic. I don't know about an M-28 at REI; looks like single wheel is limited to 12.5 and I have no idea what GW they operate at.

Exactly. I'm so glad I left AMC. Those dudes are a whole new level of risk aversion and rules without reasons.

What's the elevation?

NATO. FML.

FWIW to whoever is considering school versus punching out, I definitely wish I had 7 day opted rather than go to school and accept the ADSC. If I could do it over again, I would have left. Right now, I'm leaving the moment my new commitment is up.

Well that was a fantastic answer, and is exactly the reason I come to BO.net for discussions. There's no way I'd ever have found someone around the proverbial water cooler who had that depth of continuity. Thank you for taking the time to write that out.

Why do we have the RQ-4?

Why? And why AT-6 over A-29? One thing that isn't often discussed when talking about COTS light strike aircraft is acoustic signature, but it's a huge player in (current) SCAR. I don't know how the scorpion stacks up.

people like GC precipitated this crisis, but don't expect any accountability or apology.

Lawman, what is the first rule of fight club?

But they won't ever be used in SOF the way this thread is advocating. Our culture is different, and it's unlikely to change. Consequently, we don't get a justifiable return on investment. It's just my opinion, and I know it's controversial. I just think the AF took an idea that worked in fighters and tried to fit it into a myraid of different cultures and it doesn't fit.

I can't generate the energy to care about the "misuse" of WOs in my corner of the AF. I think the WO program was designed for the fighter world and is not a good fit for MAF or SOF. I personally have not seen the benefit justify the cost in my world. FWIC seems legitimately valuable.

The U28 is not an NSAv aircraft, but yes we have transitioned people there. We have sent folks to every other AFSOC platform.

Concur. If you like protecting friendlies and killing enemies, you'll like the U28. And it will open your eyes to the full spectrum of our worldwide counterterrorist efforts in a way other manned platforms will not. Also the stateside flying of our PC-12 companion trainer is a blast. I took that thing to several hundred exotic and challenging locations that had never seen a plane that big (comparatively) land there.

Are one bedroom quarters with only a microwave for cooking considered "adequate" for a 9 month TDY? I don't know, but it does suck. Given how much suck is inevitable in our careers, and how much of it is beyond our control..... I find myself philisophically opposed to leadership decisions which increase suck merely to be in compliance with regulations, rather than produce some quantifiable increase in mission effectiveness. Officers exist to make smart choices in precisely these kinds of circumstances. Your logic above is soundly IAW applicable regulations. Unfortunately, zealously following regulations made by faceless bureaucrats has significantly increased the personal discomfort of this segment of our war fighting force without increasing their lethality. That's not the kind of leader I want to be, and probably not you either. Perhaps a better leadership angle would be: "I know this training is taking longer than we thought. I know many of you brought your families here and these accommodations are placing a strain on your personal life. Because I care about you being the best RPA operators possible, I recognize that your living environment should be conducive to optimal learning and my on base facilities simply aren't there yet. I'm rescinding my policy and I encourage each of you to find lodging within your budget that best enables an environment where your training is optimized. This is not an efficient use of funds or equipment on my base, but let me worry about those justifications. Our nation needs you to focus on honing the precision engagement skills which have become the bedrock of our strategy against AQ/IS. Do your best, be your best, and thank you for helping me identify a personal strain I can alleviate so you can focus on our mission. Go kick ass."

More like celebrating the escape of poland from the USSR because it was an oppressive empire.

I don't know anything about BREXIT but if China, POTUS and John Oliver think it's bad..... I'm probably in favor of it. Also: TEXIT NOW!

TT, I was expecting that reply. But we've treated these expanding wars as a sideshow for years, to our national detriment. The USAF is leading the preponderance of KS activity. We don't get a pass on the outcome. Vietnam was a war plan authored with fail above our level, but we still have tons of L2 about our own failed implementation practices. If we're being tasked incorrectly, and we are, where are the GOs advocating better usage? It's a cop out to blame politicians when our leaders are the ones championing shitty practices. Where is the AT-6 or equivalent? Where is the advocacy for better intel analysis practices? Where is the equitable distribution of work load? Why do I see so many O4/5's who haven't deployed at all while others have done a 1-1 for a decade? we suck, and it's our fault. Until we have done everything in our power to be better, it's wrong to blame politicians. Yes, building a Jeffersonian democracy in a culture thousands of years entrenched in tribalism is stupid. Where are the GOs saying that? I could go on and on, from streamlining the strike approval process to ending dumb ass wasteful 365's, to constantly sending brand new know nothing BPZ never deployed types to command units downrange allowing them to check the command box without ever judging the merit of their work. WTF are we doing? From strategy to administrative implementation, we suck. The line guys are kicking ass. The institution is failing. And there is value in saying that fact, because until we acknowledge our failures we can't hope to fix anything. It's past time for us all to be on the same page: we are losing wars, the enemy is gaining ground, and it's our fault. So what do we do about it?

You can be a sitting WG CDR at 24 years as an IPZ guy your whole career. AFSOC just had one picked up for a star. The problem isn't the math, it's the erroneous assumption that BTZ is required to compete for GO. di1630s post was so incredibly spot on. The facts are undeniable after 15 years of losing wars: we suck. Much like an alcoholic must first admit they have a problem, our force, at every level, needs to accept the reality that we are not accomplishing the tasks set before us. There should be a firestorm of debate about why, and a willingness to examine and scrap all aspects of our institution that have brought us defeat. Instead no one is talking about this, they all want to preserve the system that did them a solid despite the fact we are failing. The careerists all keep chugging along "mentoring" younger people to be like them. Disgusting.

I was told Monday.

I've never understood this. Why is this a huge secret until the official day? Anyway, yes commanders have it and some already told their folks.

I totally agree, and said almost exactly that in my end of course feedback.

I'm not an ASG guy, but since no one else answered you I'll try. But take it with a grain of salt. My impression is that ASG programs, especially SAASS, select people who already have a record indicative of O-6 or higher potential. Then they advertise that their grads go on to high ranks, but there's a bit of "chicken and the egg" with those claims because the candidates likely would have been successful without the extra year. Ergo, to increase your chances of being selected for SAASS, do all the things you would normally do to have good paperwork, then arrive at your IDE and apply. For ACSC, volunteering for MDOS will help your chances, being a PAS guy will hurt your chances. My impression only!