BQZip01

Couldn't agree more. I think Global Strike would be wise to "acquire" those assets

Saw a couple of those on the ramp here at Barksdale. 2

Gotta protect yourself against those people who wander too far from Vegas... ...or for use when you're landing Preds/Reapers in Afghanistan/Iraq.

ZING!

I'll believe it when it actually happens. Right now the fighter mafia is hell bent on making sure their hobbies (flying Mach 2 upside down with their hair on fire) stay intact over what is better for the Air Force and its future. With that kind of resistance, I find it hard to see how it will advance until that mentality is overcome in the upper echelons of leadership. Same is true for cyberwarfare

From what I understand, the guy left a bunch of white space all over the place and gave him rather unimpressive bullets for the rest. ...might've been in crayon too, I don't know...

You heard me... ;-)

respect my authoritah!

The DO is partly correct here and it is GREAT to see leadership sharing in the frustration over asinine policies, but leadership's job is to get the mission done. If something impedes/degrades that mission, it should be fought. If Lt Col XYZ will not change the policy, Gp CC concurs, and the Wing King won't override, it is leadership's job to continue up the chain, if it is that dire. Leadership is there to serve as both a bullwhip to subordinates and to shield them from higher headquarters. It is their job to fight for the little guy as well as implement formal guidance from on high. EVERY good leader I know had the balls to fight "the man" when push came to shove and stand up for his subordinates, damn the professional/career cost (though if torpedoed by other leadership, their acts were often realized and appreciated by others and they were rewarded elsewhere). PERFECT example: ORI time and the squadron I'm in (an MSG sq) is inspected. There are 8 findings for our squadron and 11 total in the entire group. Of the 8 findings, 6 were corrected on the spot or before the inspection was over. The other two were long-term funding shortfalls resulting in an impossibility of attaining the squadron's stated mission. Other squadrons had the same kinds of problems, but the IG folks assigned to inspect us apparently had a grudge and were out to get our commander (who wasn't always in agreement with his associated MAJCOM directorate/director). Those other squadrons with similar problems weren't written up and were simply noted in the final report, but not formally reprimanded. The commander was "shamed" in front of his peers during the outbrief, but the results were so (painfully) obviously skewed that no one really paid them much heed. It was a running joke on base that the MAJCOM intentionally tried to sink the guy's career and how obvious it was that a grudge was being played out. The commander in question was picked up for the National War College after the attempt to torpedo his career and became a group commander at another MAJCOM base. Another instance: a guy went up for the Major's board and the guy's commander simply lacked the necessary skills to write a proper PRF leaving out LOTS of details and giving a generally poor impression of an otherwise outstanding officer. The poor guy got passed over for 4 boards for Major. After the guy's boss moved on to "better" things, the Wing Vice heard about the situation and checked the guy out. He realized this guy should have been promoted ahead of a lot of other people. So, in 2001, despite being a 4-above-the-zone, this guy was promoted to Major because the Colonel hand walked it through every step short of entering and interfering with the board. The guy was a MAJCOM DP (definite promote)! In short, good leaders are servants: they serve their subordinates, their needs, and make their jobs easier by cutting unnecessary red tape. They lead through their actions, not edicts/proclamations. Ask yourself if your leadership serves you or their leaders (or even worse, themselves) and I can assure you, it is a bright line between good and bad/poor leadership. [/leadership rant off]

Fine...I'll now use something other than a slipknot... 2

I'd like to see 'em prove it...

if the longhorns were playing against the University of Moscow, I'd be in Red Square waving a big ol' Russian flag! ...Geaux Tigers

...the B-52 suddenly becomes viable through 2060...

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA): Do you have any more responses for my questions? Brigadier General Michael Walsh: No ma'am. [pause] Sen. Boxer: I'm sorry? [sen Boxer defiantly gets up to leave the committee room] Sen Boxer: Thanks, Mikey. I love Washington. Another senator: Excuse me. We aren't done here. Sen Boxer: I beg your pardon? Gen Walsh: Ma'am, I'm believe there are still a few more senators left with questions. Sen Boxer: Senator! Gen Walsh: Ma'am? Sen. Boxer: [addressing the cameras and press pool] I would appreciate it if he would address me as "Senator" and not merely "ma'am". I believe so highly of myself that merely following proper customs and courtesies is below me. I deserve extra credit. I'm pretty sure I've earned it. Gen Walsh: Certainly, Senator. Sen Boxer: [muttering to the General] I don't know what the hell kind of unit you run, mister... Chuck Norris: And the Senator will address the officer before you as "Brigadier General Michael Walsh, United States Air Force", I'm quite certain he's earned it. Take your seat, Barbie! Or I'll open a can' whoop ass...

09-01 (graduating 17 July) will be the first class to include dual qual Nav/Radar Navs Rumor is that this idea will be dropped in the near future but we'll see what pans out.

Pictures are a must!

I suppose, but that's only because there aren't as many slots allocated to OTS, so percentage-wise they are at a disadvantage. Good luck on the F-15E, but don't make your desires unreasonable. There are plenty of good airframes out there that aren't the F-15E, so keep your options open and learn about other aircraft too. You may be one of the best to ever graduate from CSO school, but a better guy might still beat you out. I'd recommend getting a "top five" list (with F-15Es being at the top, of course) to open your options. Don't burn your bridges either. As for AD Navs that don't make it through UPT, it depends on the reason. I didn't make it through UPT and I was sent to Nav School. That was only by the commander's recommendation and because I had the grades in academics. If I didn't have either one, I'd likely not be on this board...

There are alternates that are selected, but once the fiscal year begins, they have to stick with what is on the books. You can't allocate 10 spots, washout 2, and expect 2 more to be spun up to the same level as the other 8 within the same fiscal year. You also assume that all are qualified for all positions (they aren't), that they want those jobs (not everyone does), that their commanders will release them, and that they don't impact percentages in one particular commissioning source. Then there's the folks who are picked up on active duty... That's a pretty calloused way to look at it and I encourage you to realize that some people fly for a long time and, once they get into military flight training, realize they don't like it. Why would you force someone who doesn't want to be there to fly? There are plenty of reasons for drop outs: doesn't enjoy it, medical reasons, wash out, etc. Almost everyone is there because they earned it: whether it was butt kissing or hard work, it is generally deserved. The PCSM score weighs heavily in the picks already.

What to do when late (reason really isn't important): push it up...

props to the TBirds for shacking that one (I could comment about being a second or two late, but that's a B.S. reason to dog someone on such a fine performance)

The drop/washout rate is supposed to be built into the whole program. They expect a certain percentage to drop out/wash out; while it isn't desirable, it is an understood necessity.

FWIW, I've got a new tab patch for the 69th too: it says: "Dinner For 2"

Penguins live in the Antarctic...

Welcome to the clan and congratulations! You might also be sent to another assignment for "casual" duty where you basically handle paperwork, but get involved in a flying squadron. IFS at Pueblo is now a given. With the transition to everything to P-cola, I'm not so sure about the Randolph->P-cola track, but I'm 9 months out of that school, so you could easily be correct. From what I understand (I was one of the first and last to go through IFT and one of the few that did it twice...) the training is identical to the pilots. Search through the threads a little more and you'll find some info on it. Standardization of training, so, yep When you get to Pensacola, do your best. It really is that simple. No it won't guarantee you an F-15E, but it will give you the best shot at it. As a side note, you may want to prepare yourself a little for the FACT (Fighter Aircrew Conditioning Test), a requirement for the F-15E. It isn't as easy for some people, so starting now is probably a good idea. There is nothing wrong with looking out for number one, just don't step in number two while doing it. You sound competitive for a pilot slot, but the biggest thing when you do apply for a pilot slot is going to be your commander's ranking, so do the best at the job you currently have. Show that you are "worthy". Be a good Nav. They won't hold you back from UPT if you are a good officer and good at what you do. PM me if you have any questions on this one (I've been at UPT, UNT, and got picked up for them from active duty as a support officer).

Did the internet go down? I just assumed the liberal tree huggers would be out in mass in New Mexico...