Prozac

Personally, I'm with George Carlin. I pray to Joe Pesci because he seems like a guy who can get shit done.

Not even close man. Troublemaker is the one making the flawed argument that homosexual activity does not occur in nature therefore shouldn't occur in humans. Simply refuting that point.

Suggest you check your facts bro.

You make my point. The numbers are skewed. If A1 really wants to have a clue, you all need to take a good hard look at how you derive your data. Get out and talk to the people at the Sq level. You're proving to all of us that you can't really get a bead on this from an office in the Pentagon. The Capts and Majs can see the issue because they're in the thick of it. I get that they don't have the "big picture" but if you'd tap in to their viewpoint a little more, you might be surprised at the way things start to look.

Talking about numbers: How do we know the numbers we're looking at are what we should be looking at? WRT the glut of 11Ms, I wonder how it looks when you consider all the guys that a typical AMC Wing takes "out of hide" to man the WG staff? Add that to the number of dudes that are filling MC-12 positions, CAOC tours, at PME, Upgrade, etc., etc. The guys that are left are what you should really be looking at when it comes to manning. I fail to see how any AD Mobility Sq can be considered "healthy" when you look at who's really left in the squadron. Maybe it'll change as we draw down Afghanistan. Or maybe we'll just allow the manning to attrit so the same dudes can continue to carry the load.

Blame, BLAME FEs? Seriously? I think it's obvious had an FE been onboard, this potentially fatal incident simply would not have been allowed to happen.

Wow. Lobotomy complete. Seems like a pretty short sighted view if you ask me. Here's an idea: Physically go poke your head into a mobility squadron. Don't tell them you're coming. Just show up and look around. When you meet the CC or DO, look them in the eye and tell them they're overmanned and their morale is at record levels. With a straight face. Good luck.

Gen Woodward is good shit. That said, I think anyone in her position is going to be pretty strictly limited in the way they attack this issue. Let's hope for the best.

Depends. Was the OP uncomfortable because the troop was gay? Or was he uncomfortable because, along with the uniform violations, many would consider the over the top effeminateness to be inconsistent with acceptable military bearing? I don't have any problem whatsoever with gay troops. I have a huge problem if any group is going to be held to a different standard (and yes, this includes different PT standards for women).

You could've used the exact same argument six decades ago when the services became integrated. Regardless of your views on homosexuality, the fact is today, as then, the DOD has decided that we will accept this group into our ranks. I'm sure there were plenty of service members back in the day who felt it was immoral or even against their religious beliefs to serve alongside black Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines. I'm sure some left the service because of it. We survived. If you don't think the DOD or the nation as a whole is resilient enough to withstand the integration of the LGBT community (which despite it's current large voice is an extremely small part of society), then I think you don't have much faith in our way of life. I am positive we will continue to exist while accepting all walks of life as has been a bedrock of the United States since day one. If I am wrong and this nation finds itself on the precipice of hell within a decade, I'll happily buy you a beer as we tumble over the edge.

I thought that paint was just for the A & C models...

Yep.

I've seen 2+ Gs on more than one occasion before rotate. Let the Kyrgyz keep that shitty runway, the shittier radar, and the most worthless controllers on the face of the planet. Hell, they can even keep a few of the Tower/Radar liaisons. The only thing I'll really miss is the humor provided by the give-a-shit, drunk ass Dushanbe controller as we flew over his head. Oh, and BTW, the chili was never that good.

Who gives two shits about what he may or may not have been doing behind closed doors during DADT? I'd be more concerned about the potential for focusing more on the "see[ing] sexual orientation policies further changed and better codified" part and not enough on the 'killing our enemies and breaking their shit' part.

The National flight was headed to the UAE, where I assume the MRAPS would've continued their trip by sea. Getting equipment from landlocked Afghanistan to a seaport is still a tricky proposition.

Please, Please, PLLEEEAASSSE, point your leaf blower at him the next time he goes by. I promise hilarity will ensue.

Wrongo. As moose stated, GNEs happen because of procedure, not lack of technology. Airlines and the FAA enforce a strict crosschecking regime when it comes to class II navigation. The USAF is miles behind implementing these procedures yet continues to hammer crews for GNEs. Believe it or not, most of the nav and communications equipment in the KC-135 is as good or better than what we have at my company, so it's not case where technology solves all. At the current time, there is still no replacement for a spare brain and set of eyes in the cockpit. That may change at some point but I doubt it will be anytime soon. I am unaware of any airliner in development thatbis being designed for single pilot ops.

I can fly and handle the radios myself just fine. Hell, I can even reach just about all of the switches on the other guy's side of the cockpit. Doesn't mean it's not a good idea to keep 2 crewmembers up there. What do you think would happen to GNEs over the NATs with single pilot ops?

If my company had to pay for my tabs at all the pubs I visit they'd be fucked.

This is also a part of the argument the article makes. Personally, I'm for anything that gets the public more in tune with the military. I also think WE could do a better job getting ourselves out and intermixed with the public. One thing I don't agree on though is the author's take on the Total Force concept. From my perspective it is still very much a part of the strategy, yet fails to be the brake on military action that the general suggests. For the most part, thencivilian sector either accepts or ignores the downsides of what is a very small percentage of the workforce going off to war. I think a more appropriate approach would be to put real limits on how much you can use the reserve component. This may have the effect of forcing politicians to think twice before commiting the force to questionable causes.

This. Also be prepared for the possibility of a 365 should you 7 day opt. If you want to do the airline thing, you should have your ATP done and be in the process of putting together your resume and doing interview prep, networking, etc. like, now. If one of those shitty assignments involves flying, I'd consider sucking it up and punching when you are nice and current and have a few hundred more hours to show for it.

Yeah....'cause we trust you 100%. Look, if I've got co-altitude helo traffic on 1 mile final who isn't complying with ATC instructions, you're damned right I'm going to react. Interested to hear the mil side of this one though.

4. Never bring a camera TDY.

MWWAAHHAHAHAHAHA! Heard this one before.

Heard stories about those guys doing walk-arounds in the snow, with de-ice fluid all over the ground, in their sweet flip flops.