RTB

Ok that makes sense. I didnt see you were talking about retiree returns.

I'm not advocating N/N ground evals...but as a young wingman back during a previous hiring wave, it totally sucked showing up to a squadron full of dudes talking about bailing to the airlines. I had finally 'arrived' at my dream job in a fighter squadron and it was pretty depressing to have many of the experienced dudes I looked up to talking about airline apps, lifetime pay comparison spreadsheets, and ATP prep courses around the squadron. Not sure what happened (it was out of my view) but about a month after I got there our leadership at the time put the hammer down and airline discussions pretty much stopped, at least overtly, and were once again replaced by the typical BFM and ACM debates. It was a MUCH better squadron environment after that and all of us that were eager to do the job were thankful someone in leadership above us had done something to change the dynamic. So I guess my point is, rampant airline talk can be a real drag for the young guys who either have many years to go before they could bail or are fired up about learning their job, or both. Full disclosure: I was probably guilty in my later years of doing the same shit (talking airline apps) in the squadron.

Bonus takers are ineligible for involuntary deployments?

Like I said, it was a rhetorical question. This board is filled with stories of the good guys leaving for greener pastures, and for good reason. That said, even with good guys leaving, I would understand if the "Best of what's Left" got picked for leadership, but even that isn't happening in many instances. In some cases absolute total dicks and douchebags are put in command over much more qualified leaders. I know lots of good guys still trying to get the job done but Big Blue refuses to accept that they're good choices for leadership. They haven't been properly groomed from the O-3 level so their pedigree isn't good enough. Sad.

How do these people still keep progressing when everyone can see how bad they are? Rhetorical question but it drives me crazy. So many good leaders forced out along the way.

Sadly my pessimistic side says that there will be little direct accountability for anyone in the AF who failed to do their job and let this guy buy his guns. I hope I’m wrong.

Exactly. Lots of concerned looks, wringing of hands, and then going about their day.

WSJ is reporting that the AF failed to notify the FBI about this asshole’s Court martial conviction, which had it been sent, should have prevented him from buying the guns that he bought.

CSR does not have any hotel benefits besides the luxury collection mentioned earlier, which sucks.

Yeah, you're correct, it does have that "benefit" but it's not definitely not as useful as Marriott Gold. Have yet to find the CSR hotels useful because it allows you to book high end hotels around the world like The Carlyle in NY at the great price of only $831 a night in October, or the Shangri-La in Hong Kong for a mere $450 or so a night. But again, I signed up for the CSR only because of the $1500 in airline tickets and $200 in airline credits. So for the $450 annual fee, I got 4 round trip tickets to take the kids to see their grandparents without hassling with non-reving, and also got $200 worth of credits which Chase defines VERY broadly. Even with the 50,000 miles currently offered, that's $750 dollars worth of airline tickets plus the $200 travel credit and $100 Global Entry fee. Definitely a win if you only use it for the first year. I also use it to buy any food at restaurants at home and on the road as it pays 3x points for restaurants. Which are then useable at 1.5x for airline tickets.

Nope

I got the Chase Sapphire Reserve when they offered 100,000 points which was essentially $1,500 worth of airline tickets. Great deal since $200 of the $450 annual fee was offset quickly with various travel related credits. Club access is only for Priority Pass Select which can be limited. And no Hotel benefits. As a result, now that I've used my 100,000 points, I'll be switching to the AMEX Platinum before my Chase annual fee comes due. AMEX offers Sky Club AND Priority Pass access plus Gold status at 3 hotel chains. Costs more but with $200 in US Uber credit PLUS $200 in travel credit, it's a way better deal IMO.

Do tell!

I’m sure that staff job will be running like a finely tuned machine.

That just seems so weird to a career CAF guy. Can't fathom having a guy leading a Sq/Gp/Wg who didn't have huge credibility in the jet. The only exceptions I saw during my time were during transitions to new jets like the F-22 when there were no experienced F-22 O-5s/6s. What is the rationale in the MAF for doing this broadening thing? I've heard so many bad stories about it I'm surprised the MAF keeps doing it.

It's not a mistake, it's a crime.

So stuff like satanic graffiti on churches was standard stuff where you grew up? Completely agree

Rather stout mains!

So anyone should have access to the full range of military weapons? This is where the pro-2A argument goes off the rails. Musket v musket, it made sense. With today's military weapons, not so much. Like I said before, there's a reasonable limit beyond which your average joe doesn't need to be armed. So if that's the case, where do you draw the line? Does a semi-automatic AR with a 100 round drum magazine and a bump stock make sense? Should a full-auto rifle be allowed? Should we let Hoss have his Hellfire missile? The other side see's our arguments FOR bearing arms as a slippery slope in that direction.

As a pro second amendment, multi-pistol, multi-AR rifle gun owner, I have to agree that simply saying “but it’s my right in the constitution” isn’t going to keep working. I don’t want my guns taken, banned or taxed into oblivion. But IMO, there’s an upper limit on what type of “arms” can reasonably be protected by the 2nd Amendment and this massacre may very alter that dynamic. Where that line is drawn is a question that is very difficult to answer.

Well that escalated quickly. Apparently so. Good info, sounds quite a bit different. If we were briefing a mission or reviewing mission slides at the squadron or ops facility, our crew rest was over.

Maybe I'm confused as I've been a (ret) for a while now, but in this situation, didn't showing up to brief and look at mission slides effectively start your duty day and end your crew rest anyway?

Usually flown single seat. The second seat is helpful to allow in-house upgrades and qualification though.

Or about $8600 after taxes...

Well said Mr. Brown. “I’m going to give you the real deal: I’m an American,” Brown said. “I don’t desecrate my flag and my national anthem. I’m not gonna do anything against the flag and national anthem. I’m going to work within those situations. But this is my country, and I’ll work out the problems, but I’ll do it in an intelligent manner.” https://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/08/25/jim-brown-criticizes-kaepernick-style-protests-dont-desecrate-my-flag.html