HU&W

A few interesting headlines today regarding the "knockout" game where unsuspecting victims are attacked with a single punch. 1. 400+ teenagers decided to hold a "knockout flash mob" at a Brooklyn mall. Naturally, they followed it up with looting and bragging on social media. Link 2. The very first federal hate crime charges have been filed in a knockout case. Interestingly, it's not the first time the suspect and the victim have been of differing races. Link

Thanks for the insight. I really appreciate you jumping on here to show us a little peek of the bigger picture. For feedback, the budget deal did some damage to the relationship with troops who were planning to continue to retirement, but not as you might have expected. Sure, the loss of $100K or so over 20 years hurts a bit, but the real issue is with the betrayal of trust. Throughout the year, as recently as September, congressional leaders from both houses promised any military retirement reform would include a grandfather clause. This one didn't. If those holding the keys to our future are willing to make this small reversal, can we reasonably trust them with 20 years of our lives without fear of far greater losses?

On that note, Merry Christmas ya'll. https://ww1.jeppesen.com/documents/publications/commemorative-charts/north-pole-chart.pdf

In other news... Ghostrider?

It does not. Promotion sequence is based solely on date of rank. If two people have the same date of rank, they follow the criteria listed in AFI 36-2501 para 3.7. In order to "game" the system to keep USAFA ahead, ROTC grads of the same year as USAFA grads have their date of rank after USAFA graduates. The way line numbers usually play out is OTS grads ahead of USAFA promote first. Then there's a big group of USAFA grads that are arranged according to the AFI. Last are all OTS grads after the USAFA graduation mixed with ROTC grads.

Anyone know if it based on PAFSC (who owns you) or what you're currently doing?

Senate approved 64-36. Link also

That is exactly what gives your voice power. Because so many people share your sentiment, a single letter could count for the voice of thousands of silent constituents.

The "evil profit makers" don't post guards to stop the economically disadvantaged from entering the military recruiter's office.

Pretty ugly, but I'd gladly fly it. It needs a gun.

Here is the site to run your own numbers. Calculating my own tentative retirement plan, gross cumulative retirement income before taxes at age 62 is $1.71M (conservative). Under the new plan with all the same parameters it becomes $1.53M. This comes to a loss of a little over 10% of my planned income during my post military service years, not 1% as you stated. ETA: numbers are between 10-11% for anyone who retires close to 20 yrs both on the E and the O side. They go down to 5-6% for folks who retire around the 30 year mark. This is mainly because the closer you are to 62 when you retire, the less money you will lose.

Not there yet. Link

Beautiful performance. Also, people who feel they have to get a video of anything and everything interesting on their cellphone are idiots.

The only thing better in AFSOC is that nobody abdicates their PIC authority to TACC.

Does anyone have one of these yet? Thoughts? I'm pretty tempted, but I'm also a nerd.

They're right here. Number 25 on the list of National Liberal Arts Colleges. Defined as:

I think they must be talking about this...

I want to hear about this "F-25 Lightning II" that's going to replace the hog.

Sure, when the plane's broke. Isn't that why the Academy has a jump team, to get them ready for ejection seat aircraft? No, I'm pretty sure the Academy jump school exists to provide grads with the USAFA Grad Badge (jump wings) so you can readily identify them once they are on AD.

This article belongs in this thread for the headline alone. Wow.

F-35 F-15C B-1 C-21 RQ-4 KC-10 CV-22

DOS Statement on the US position.

This is solid advice given current market conditions. Only thing I'll add is to look into buying your next car before coming back stateside. There are great incentives (I've seen up to 20% off) for being stationed overseas and most include shipping/delivery in the states.