Insubordinate & Churlish

"3" on "Lone Survivor" I was talking with a CCT student-in-training and he said that they are very strongly encouraged to read it. Just by coincidence, the next day, the book was given to me by a family member. What a powerful story Luttrell has to tell. Closely related to "Black Hawk Down," I read "In the Company of Heroes." It's CW4 Mike Durant's account of "Black Hawk Down." After reading that, any ideas I had entertained of being a helo dude were dismissed. to those of you who do helo work. I was only able to read a little bit of "Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War," but what I read was very good and had some good lessons in it, i.e. if you know you're right, stuck to your guns and don't let anyone convince you otherwise.

Do AF pilots play WoW? I'd like to think not. The fact that an "F-22 pilot" plays WoW is the biggest BS flag to me.

Any motorcycle gear suppliers offer a military discount?

The only caveat to the valsalva maneuver is that if you do have a cold and perform the valsalva, some of the crap in the back of your throat can get into the Eustachian tube and cause other middle ear problems, like otitis media. It's not that common for it to happen though, just FWIW.

Coming back home from college + nice tax refund = perfect storm for buying a gun After M2 suggested it, I got looking into the SA XD series. I read nothing but good things about it and got a good personal review from my dad's Army helo friend. I ended up with an XD9 for a couple of reasons (16+1 capacity among them!). I just got to shoot it today and loved it! I had to shoot it at 25 yards because other people were on the range, so the patterns weren't as good, but I still shot quite well. I do have slightly smaller hands, so getting them around around the larger frame is a bit harder (sts). The only other thing I have to get used to is the take-down lever. The way I used to hold pistols doesn't work, because now the take-down lever slams into my thumb when the gun recoils. Once I attend some pistol shooting classes, which I intend to do, I'm sure a proper grip will get figured out. Thanks for the advice M2! (<I didn't buy that.) -Port Dog Edit: You leave college for three days and suddenly you can't spell.

I'm looking to do some volunteer work with veterans. The nearest VA facility is an obvious first choice, but when I emailed the facility in my hometown for some volunteering information, they said that you must volunteer a minimum of 4 hours a week for a minimum of six months. Going to a college 4 hours from my hometown, that won't work. Anyone have a good way to do some volunteer work with veterans? -Port Dog

I completed there SERE CBT today at drill. I am now an expeditionary Airman.

Is there any better way of keeping a shotgun close at hand, yet in a slightly safer fashion? The thought of a shotgun that is (pretty much) ready to go left out in the open is kind of scary.

Are these on-base courses at AD bases only? I'm just a bum.

Okay, so I underestimated the number of people out there who want to learn to ride and waited one day after online MSF registration opened. It's booked. So I'm looking into alternatives. The Harley-Davidson course appears legit... for $295. Can someone vouch for it and say that it's really worth the $295? My other option is to go to one of the MSF courses the day of and hope that there is a no-show. Anyone ever done this successfully? -PD

Just like BDUs aren't supposed to be dry cleaned and starched, the ABUs are already losing their "wash and wear" status. And with this going on in such an institutionalized system as BMT, good luck reversing that trend. http://www.afforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11132 Edit: After reading more of the thread I posted, I guess the validity of the source could be called into question. Anyone observed this buffoonery?

I wore, until today, a bracelet for SSgt. Matt Maupin. He was from my hometown of Cincinnati, OH. Matt was one of four POW/MIA in the Iraq War. He was captured on April 9th of 2004. Today they found his remains. CNN Article Cincinnati News Outlet Article God rest his soul.

I don't know you PaddyPilot, so know that the following comments are not meant to be an insult to you, I'm just telling it the way it is. You may be a really smart dude, but the following needs to be said. Aeronautical engineering is incredibly difficult (obviously), and I think it is important that you know what you will do if you find it too hard and want to bug out. They're called enginerds (because they're really smart) and they smell funky (because they work so hard) for a reason. At my university, there is an incredibly high engineering drop out rate. My older (and much smarter) brother is an Aerospace Engineer at Notre Dame. I have personally seen the crazy shit he has to do for homework. He has also personally seen a large drop out rate, and ND isn't even one of the top three aero engineering schools. Or perhaps you find it's just not your thing. Being to the point, have a backup plan. This is where I cast my "nay" vote. I know ERAU has non-aviation degrees, but a large state school will have many more options. To each his own. Good luck with your choice. [To you engineers out there, sorry for the over generalization about all you guys smelling, but a select few of you got some bad stench that really brings the group's reputation down.]

If you end up having to go on a C-5/C-17: IIRC, besides complying with the FCG regarding immunizations, documents and quarantine, you have to provide a shipment container approved by the International Air Transport Association that is big enough to that your cat may stand up, turn around and lie down with normal body movements. Edit: Reference DOD 4515.13-R, C.1.6.2.1.

In Tech School, they let us take pictures while doing some of the training, hanging out in the classroom, etc. Right before you graduate, you give whatever pictures you've taken to your instructor, who then puts a little graduation slide show together. In the class a week ahead of me, there were some pictures of people, not in gangs, flashing gang signs. The section supervisor went absolute ape shit. My whole AFSC section of the training squadron was pulled aside at the end of the day and was subsequently reamed about how horrible flashing gang signs in pictures are "Because what if the media got a hold of them?" He even cited that same video you posted. They take it really seriously.

On the advice of the of both M2 and the local gun store owner, I'm going with an XD .45 ACP, so I will have a rail for lighting in the case of home defense. Let me know how the tritium sights work.

I don't have statistics to back me up, but am I correct in assuming that enough crimes happen at night that the effectiveness of the factory sights at night has to be taken into account? Do you guys buy aftermarket fiber optic type sights or something? I'm assuming that this is a carry gun, so you can't put a flashlight on the rail, as you might be able to in the case of home defense. Edit: me no type good

I've got to give credit where it is due. Techsan posted this picture (not poster) in the "Traveling Pet Peeves" thread. I had been looking for a similar picture (a picture from the front of "Times" a few years back with a 4 year old kid being wanded by the TSA) but couldn't find it.

I heard about a quite crass patch worn in the F-15 community, regarding a certain event, that says "It wasn't us" and a different but similar patch worn in a certain F-15 squadron that says "It wasn't me". Anyone heard of it/ have a picture of it?

Just couldn't resist. (The story, for those outside the know)

This is from motivationalbuck.com , another "create-your-own" motivational poster site.

I thought this arc as a final approach was difficult, but then I looked at some of the above approaches. Baltimore/ Martine State VOR/DME or TACAN Z RWY 15

Airspeed, brains, or altitude. Two of the three are required for flight.

Apparently the two radial engines aren't enough of a giveaway.