VMFA187

That was likely it then. Glad there wasn't another to add to the list.

Was told a Draken A-4 punched today in the pattern in Nellis? Pilot ok.

In Naval Aviation, we always say these things tend to happen in "threes." https://www.lasvegasnow.com/news/2-a-10c-thunderbolts-crash-at-nevada-test-and-training-range/806180265 Mid-air? Both pilots are ok from what I've heard.

Unfortunately I no longer have the keys. It seems that it is exceedingly difficult to keep a two-seat sports car in the garage once you're married and your wife is still in school. At least I was able to replace it with the latter, RC8R Now, you've seen mine. Let me see yours.

That was a surprising loss for A&M. On the plus side, you didn't lose your starting quarterback for the entire season.

Moments away from the best time of the year. 48 hours away from one hell of an opening season game. Go Seminoles.

Depending on the platform that can be a completely different type of flying. It could be the last decade of my membership in the most effective propaganda machine since Nazi Germany, but many of my peers agree - We'd happily stay if we were flying 15 times a month doing CAS, DCAs, AIs, even remaining at O-3. Once or twice a week simply maintaining currency, that's why our guys are leaving.

Looks like all my time-to-stern WEZ gouge just went out the window.

Golf isn't an issue. I've found that I only enjoy doing something if I'm decent at it - Golf doesn't count. The hardest thing I've ever done. Twice. Well, I figured of the General Dynamics and the Dodge variety, I could only legitimately own and operate one of the two Vipers. And unfortunately it wasn't the former. Maybe I'll get into GA once I'm make it to The Show.

Maybe one day when I have a family I could see the benefit of owning a small plane for weekend trips, but as of now the only way I could see getting into GA is if a buddy of mine was willing to purchase a similar aerobatic airplane and we could meet up once in a while for a couple butterfly sets. That probably won't happen so I'm going to continue putting my money into fast cars and motorcycles.

The guy has been in the business of killing our nation's enemies for pretty much longer than anyone. I don't know why the American public doesn't understand that those who have been to tasked to defend them via violent means, may use more violent language than the typical person who never volunteers to serve for the defense of others.

Isn't there already a thread where someone posted that masculinity in the AF Academy is bad?

Agreed. I took a short field arrestment at Tinian a few years ago and it was awfully small, even for a fighter.

The meeting was comprised of two individuals who are tasked to create a report to the Senate Armed Services Committee to be published at the end of the calendar year. They were simply here to listen to fighter pilots and get an answer for A) if retention is actually an issue or will be, and if so, B) why? Salient points were communicated and we were told that in their meetings with higher levels of service members, only one service, and you can guess which one, has admitted it has a fighter pilot retention problem. They are also the only ones who are coming up with possible solutions.

That won't be a problem. Personally, I'd rather them take the bonus money, and hire dedicated civilians for all the ground jobs to take care of all the administrative duties so we can focus on what is important, rather than keeping all the collateral work and getting paid more. But money is clearly part of the issue for people with the amount of money that we all have had invested in us who have the available options we do.

A "GAO Fighter Pilot Manning Working Group," whatever that means, is coming to Miramar tomorrow to interview/discuss why everyone is leaving. Separate meeting for Commanders and Co Grade. Should be interesting.

You're asking for advice from those who have experience that you don't have so that you can make the most well informed decision possible. I'd be cautious about how your statements are presented.

Judgesmails - What do you want to fly? What are your other goals? I'll assume your goal is to fly fighters, if not, you'd be best served looking for an opinion other than mine. With that said, if I was in your position knowing what I currently do, I'd prioritize the ANG if at all possible. Quality of life is something you don't initially think about when you're young and all you can think about is strapping on a gray jet loaded with A/A and S/A munitions and delivering hate and discontent to the enemy. But it becomes hugely important when you've been deployed or on det 50% of a four year fleet tour. You can't beat quality of life with the ANG when you compare it to active service. Nearly all the benefits, with almost none of the massive downsides. And you have the added benefit of stepping into your first airplane knowing what you'll eventually be strapping on every day once you've earned those coveted wings. Now, as for going active Air Force versus Navy - That's tough, and it goes back to my above questions. From my experience AF pilots are generally more proficient, all things being equal. This is for a multitude of reasons, some of which may not be entirely accurate as I have no direct experience operating within the Air Force. I believe the main reason this holds true is largely due to aircraft health - You'll likely fly more when you're not deployed in support of combat operations in the Air Force than you will in the Navy because their jets are better maintained, and there are significantly more of them. If you choose Navy, you'll also have to sacrifice more time than your Air Force peers on collateral duties. The benefit, which some see with that, is that you will have more opportunities for leadership experience, outside of the cockpit. This can be a double-edged sword. My priority was always to be as good in the jet as possible: But being responsible for the entire squadron's airframe divison of 35+ Marines with no actual maintenance training made it difficult to perform both duties adequately, let alone to excel at them. Now, that being said, there is nothing like getting launched from the boat and catching a wire once you return. But living on the boat, which I've never had to do for more than a week, likely completely counteracts that positive. Bottom line, both are better than anything you can do in the civilian world. But if you want to be the absolute best in the jet that your capacity will allow, I'd go Air Force.

At least it is only 6 weeks in residence and not a year like O-3 PME in the Marine Corps... Or two years via Distance Learning.

If that is true, I think it beats the story of one of my 35 Airframes' Marines, who was 19, spending several grand on his government credit card at a strip club in Guam...

While the venue may not be the best place to voice policy, the decision is wholly welcomed. If we could continue this trend and focus more solely on our purpose as warfighting organizations I imagine a significant portion of the glaring retention issues would be solved regardless of the incredible outside opportunities.

It is. The Department of the Navy does two investigations just like you described. The first only to assess what happened IOT get the information out to the fleet to prevent further accidents linked to the same cause(s). The second investigation can be punitive, ultimately assigning blame for the mishap.

SIB/AIB = Safety Investigation? If so, I know that it'll take > six months for the report to come out. If you have more specific questions, shoot.

That's probably valid. I'll buy that argument.

Would you need AAMs with lasers? Regardless, I don't think I want to be in the game when that stuff is around.