mudhen69

So, it says "AFSCs colored red are not eligible for the voluntary programs being offered". Does that mean we are still eligible for the involuntary programs...IE the RIF?. Logically, I would say that it makes sense that if you are not eligible for a voluntary program you are safe from the involuntary programs. However, we are dealing with the people that think glow belt wearing directly correlates to my ability (or lack thereof) to deliver weapons on target. The little bit of morale that I have left will quickly be zapped by having to put a RIF package together for a board in which my chances of getting RIF'ed (due to manning of my AFSC) being zeron

Never claimed it did,. Lower stock price=more shares=more volume and/or more ability to diversify With $1K I can buy one share of Google and open myself to all the risks that come with one owning stock in only one specific company...or with my $1K I can buy 10 shares @ 20/share in 5 different stocks in different sectors and mitigate my risk. Among other things already mentioned, I also try to pick stocks in the 10-20 P/E range. Just my personal investment strategy...it works/has worked for me. Personally, if there are two companies with the same market cap, dividend yield and P/E, I am going to pick the one with the lower share price.

Write me a check for 15K and I'd be happy to give you 17K in 36 months (4.4% annual return)...25% penalty and no return if you want your money back before 36 months. Or: Open a brokerage account with "insert major investment bank here" and find a large cap stock with a decent dividend (2-3%) and low share price (20-50). I use Google stock screener and pick a stock using the aforementioned criteria...have been doing pretty well (8-15% depending on which stock you look at). Sure there is some risk, which at my age I perceive as fairly low given the return I'm getting. I just hope I time my withdrawal prior to the zombie apocalypse and the collapse of the US financial market. Not a stock broker.....annnnnnnnd debate on Obama's financial policy and the benefits of burying gold, rice and dried beans in your back yard....go....

Innumerable?? Not the adjective I would use. I did do some casual research prior to my post and found an journal article stating that convictions under article 88 are "extremely rare" (pg 73) and there is has been one person charged under article 88 since 1967 (pg 75).. https://cape.army.mil/repository/materials/WhenSoldiersSpeakOut.pdf I knew that masters degree was going to pay off someday. Not familiar with that amendment/article of the US Constitution...please elaborate. I also "googled" this assertion and the top article was titled "7 Bull$h!t myths we believe about police thanks to movies" If you actually read what I said you would realize that I don't claim that publicly disagreeing with civilian military leadership is consequence free. I merely said that it usually (def:more often than not) does not result in a criminal conviction under article 88. I firmly believe that military members should remain apolitical and keep their comments to themselves. However, some senior uniformed leaders have chosen to bring their viewpoints into the public forum to force debates at the expense of their own career.

Would it make you feel better if I reference more explicit and more specific that says you can? "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances" ​I am not advocating that we should all go out and bad mouth the POTUS. That would be and should be a career killer and you would likely be forced to resign/retire since, as a condition of employment, you should not publicly discredit your boss, whether you are a military officer or a jr exec at Apple. My only point is that I would be shocked if anyone was ever criminally charged under article 88 and convicted since the US Constitution protects the free speech of everyone (including military officers). I think it would be an interesting situation and would likely find its way to the Supreme Court. Disclaimer: Not a lawyer

I don't think any of the recent GO/FO "firings"/forced retirements (McCrystal, Ham, Fallon et al.) had anything to do with UCMJ article 88. Rather, I think it has more to do with an employee/employer relationship than breaking a law. If I was an Apple employee and wrote an Op-ed piece saying the iPhone sucked and Steve Jobs was an @$$hole, I would expect to be fired. The same goes for those in the military. I think any military member is well within their rights to disagree, even publicly, with anyone in government. Consequences may include being asked to leave the military but I think you would have a line of free speech attorneys willing to defend you pro-bono if it ever went to court martial.

Ask and ye shall receive... What the Dave Ramsey haters fail to understand is that his whole methodology is to get people, who have demonstrated an inability to live within their means, to a place where they can. He does not tout "paying cash for everything" as an investment methodology but rather a tool to learn how to live within ones means. It forces you to ask your self "do I really need this" before you buy something. Think of it this way....you are a personal trainer and you have two clients...one is in good shape and is wanting to train for a marathon while the other is 100 pounds overweight. Your training regimes will be different for each client. If you can just get the one who is 100 pounds overweight to the gym every day to just to something, that is a step in the right direction. Whereas you would need a completely different approach to train the marathon runner and his work outs would not work for the overweight dude. Sure, for a guy who does everything right money wise, you take on debt that economically makes sense like a mortgage, student loans, car (with exceptions). But the people that benefit from Dave Ramsey aren't there yet. They need to focus first on the simple things like living within ones means (...or going to the gym everyday) before they start option trading (...running 10 mile tempo runs).

www.rightmove.co.uk The way they do rentals is a little different in the UK. Typically each apartment (flat) or townhouse (terrace house) is owned and rented (letted) separately. There is no "front office" for an apartment or townhouse complex. Cambridge is a good place to live if single or married w/no kids. Just like everywhere else, there will be a tradeoff between location and space with anywhere you live in the UK. If you want a place with two parking spots, a backyard and big enough for all of your furniture, you will probably not find that in Cambridge....unless you are willing to pay out of pocket/get a roomate.

Another thing to consider is that if the dependant is not command sponsored, they are not eligible for a dependant visa. What this means is that, while for all practical purposes, the non sponsored dependant will be able to enter and exit the UK on a "tourist visa", they technically and legally will be an "illegal immigrant". . If the passport agent is in a bad mood or a jerk, they can deny you entry if you don't have a means of exiting, normally in the form of a return ticket. For example, the non sponsored dependant will probably not be able to buy a one way airline ticket or a round trip ticket which terminates in the UK. While you may luck out and get into the UK, if you ever leave, say for example to go to the continent for the weekend, you may be denied entry back into the UK. Worst case, they could get deported back to the US from that port of entry. Having been through UK passport control several of times and just like any other type of law enforcement, you see varying levels of actual enforcement of this rule. When my parents visited, they got through the Heathrow passport control with no problem without having to show anything and got the standard 6 month tourist visa stamp. However, when we went through the passport control at the Calais Ferry terminal, the UK Border agent made us furnish evidence of their return plane ticket (we had the e-ticket confirmation email so if was no big deal) before they let them board the ferry. Additionally, on the tourist visa stamp it says something like "no recourse to public funds". I have had no experience with the NHS since I go on base for medical treatment but this condition may limit the types of services you could receive at the hospital. Obviously if you get your arm chopped off and you are bleeding out, they will patch you up. While there is some sort of agreement between the NHS and Tricare since I know of a few people who have been treated off base with ailments outside the scope of the base hospital, I don't know if they apply to a non-command sponsored dependant since they are not "supposed" to be there. Lastly, when my wife applied for a job she had to show that she was allowed to legally be in the country. So this could come up later if the non sponsored dependant tries to find work. Certainly, they could get by Heathrow passport control with no issues, but the winters here are depressing enough without the prospect of never being able to travel and not being able to find a job.

I can not remember the last time I went to the O' Club unless it was for a mandatory fun activity. If I want a drink I usually belly up to the bar in the squadron and pour one. First, its free...or mostly free. Secondly, and more importantly, I can get as drunk as I want and say pretty much whatever I want without any fear of any real repurcussions. Lastly, there is usually always someone to take you home and if not there are about 100 couches in the squadron to crash on. I know some people on base would be applaed that we have a bar in the squadron and say how unprofessional that it is. I think if you look at the DUI stats, they speak for themselves. Sadly, there will be a day that the squadron bar will go away. Some idiot will get a DUI or God forbid hurt someone after tying one on in the bar. That will bring a shit storm down on us so strong that we will have to turn the bar into something a litte more PC. PS> If I hear anyone call it a "heritage room" I will piss in your coffe mug. It has beer..it has whiskey...it has popcorn....its a ######ing BAR!

Somehow I think you made my point for me. A shoeclerk squadron commander and someone who is KIA gets the same medal, a Bronze Star for Service. Perhaps there should be 3 levels of the medal, one with a V device, one without, and one with an S (for shoeclerk) device to indicate that you are a shoeclerk and spent your deployment enforcing grooming and glow belt regulations. In the end, I really dont care. Thanks for the lesson though...I lost my copy of the Tounge and Quill when I needed something to prop up my dining room table that broke during my last PCS. Too bad the people at TMO were to busy writing medals to pat themsevles on the back to take the time to hire a reputable moving company where they dont employ ex cons who show up drunk and break all of your crap. I am going to go read 3-1 now from cover to cover to make up for the brain cells I lost arguing with you over the BSM. Good day sir!

I would just call a flight surgeon at what ever the closest base is. There is a reg out there (not sure what it is) that defines what is allowed, what is waiverable, and what is not allowed. If they dont know off the top of their head they can look it up. Bottom line though, do what will make you happy. If its not allowed, is it something you are willing to sacrifice to be a pilot? Only you can answer that question, if it comes to that. I have seen a few of my friends push through (and suffer) through some chronic illnesses just so they can fly. To them it was worth it, I guess. Best of luck.

Actually, you can get the Bronze Star for "Heroic or Meritorious Achievement" (ref back of medal). The standard medal for being killed while deployed is a BSM with or without a valor device. BL: Not everyone who gets killed in action gets a BSM(V), (whether they should or not is a different arguement). If I'm walking around oblivious and get shot by a sniper, I am not really doing anything heroic. I would probably just get a BSM with out a V to recognize my meritorious service while deployed. Different story if I knew of the sniper threat, exposed my self to help another and then got shot. SrA Yelner: BSM (no valor device) for being killed as a result of an IED/ambush attack. (Bagram DFAC named after him, citation outside on a plaque) Capts McDowell and Gramith: BSM (no valor device) killed in a aircraft mishap in Afghanistan last summer Several of my friends from high school and college who went door to door in Bagdhad: BSM (no valor device) All heroes in my book. though same medal as the FSS commander. BSM no V. Consider yourself educated. Not sure where you got the idea that we were making fun of OEF....take a lap around the Strike squadron at BAF. NOBODY thinks its a joke. I got a thick skin and I'll take the riducule over a beer in the bar like anyone else. But, I'm not sure why you feel the need to belittle someones accomplishments no matter how seemingly insignificant you may think they are. In your world, I probably shouldn't even wear my wings, since I would not want to "edify my life by broadcasting my accomplishments".

I hear ya. It is what it is. I find it hard to believe that someone in the F-15E community has 6 DFC's. Hell, Robin Olds has 6 DFC's and he is a triple ace and flew in two wars. Maybe got submitted for 6 DFC's but I seriously doubt they ALL actually got approved. I couuld be wrong, but that hardly ever happens. About medals... I too think they are way over inflated. There is no way a shoeclerk squadron commander who never leaves the base should get a Bronze Star, which by the way is the standard medal for being KIA. I challenge anyone to prove to me that sitting in a HUMMVEE turret and getting killed by a sniper is any where close to manning a desk at the Force Support Squadron. I will say however, that you also have to take the actions of our troops in the context of the current fight. By today's standards, everyone who landed at Normandy, Iwo Jima, Guadacanal etc deserves a Medal of Honor. Just because no one is charging a machine gun nest or getting shot down doesnt make anyones actions less heroic. Heroism is a state of mind and exists regardless of the situation.

No one is trying to assert that the missions flown in Vietnam are the same as OEF. It is mearly a tip of the ol' hat to heritage and a mark of a historic milestone for any fighter pilot. Sure, there are missions that I honestly feel embarrased to call combat sorties. But they are nonetheless. Just because there is little to no threat does not make my service any less significant. Now walking around with 5 air medals would be a little gay but I dont see the big deal with someone being proud of a "100 Combat Mission" patch.

Only if you want to hear "Fox-2" in return. (Sarcasm intended)

I think the fact that there are more girls born in fighter squadrons has more to do with karma than gigawatts. For my tanker brethern, here's some advice that will get you style points. Consider adding "reccomend" to your calls. For example, "Pornstar 1 cleared precontact, reccomend 2 to left wing." At that point, the 99.9% of flight leads will say in the inter-flight "2 cleared to the left wing" That way you get your way and the flight lead gets his ego fluffed a little by still being in charge of his formation. Technique only, not written in any T.O. but worth a shot.

I agree that people who cant fit in one seat should pay more. I had to sit on the rotator from being deployed for 4 months next to some fatty who cried all the way from Ramstien to BWI cause she couldnt sit next to her husband. To add to my pain, she had a FULL SIZE bed spread and TWO FULL SIZED pillows to cuddle up with. I took an ambien and restoril and still didnt fall asleep cause I was so uncomfortable. I finally got up and stood in the galley and chatted with the flight attendants. What I am really scared of is asserting my rights to my seat space on the plane. Last thing I want to do is rock the boat and have a couple Vipers come interscept us. Though, if I saw that they were Vipers I would just pass a note up to the pilot and tell him not to worry.

North Face duffel bag is a must have. Its water proof, it fits in a travel pod and it has backpack straps along with normal duffelbag handles. So I guess what I am saying is I concur with what everyone is saying in the other threads. I have a large one (sts) and it fits just fine in the travel pod. You could probably fit two in both ends and have room for two small back packs in the middle.

Other shipping advice: Sometime back I purchased a heavy duty plastic foot locker from Cabella's. They are made by a company called "Plano" and are much more high quality than the stuff you can find at the BX. Just google "Plano Storage boxes" and youll be all set. I can literally stuff 69 pounds of crap inside and the USPS will ship to US (inculding APO) for about $1 per pound if over 30 pounds. If under 30 pounds you pay as if there was 30 pounds since the it is a large container. If I go back to the states for more than a week or so I put my what I would carry luggage wise in the foot locker and mail it. Its cheaper than paying excess baggage fees and its you can insure it, unlike airline baggage. Plus you dont have to lug it around with you at the airport with the other 69,000 other people trying to check in to thier flights. Lastly its great for deployments especially if you fly pointy nosed jets since you are limited in what you can take with you. Its been back and forth between the US and UK and Afgahnistan about 10 times and I have never had a problem with it. I dont lock them in case customs wants to look inside. I just use plastic zipties that way the box has an extra layer of closure and if customs wants to open it I am only out a $.01 ziptie and not a $30 lock.

I have "Mild seasonal allergies" and this is what I experienced. I "fessed up" to it in my FCI physical. It was no big deal. All they did was took an x-ray of my sinuses to see if they were normal, which they were. I am not a doctor, nor did I stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night. What I think they are looking for is any history of breathing problems triggered by seasonal alleriges or a pathological inability to equalize pressure in your sinus cavities that may be triggered by seasonal allergies. About 69% of my squadron has the sniffles in the spring when the pollen blooms and the other 69% gets the sinffles in the winter from other alergens. From about March 1 to Sept 1, I take a shot of Flonase up each nostril and down a Claritin (all prescribed by the flight doc). Otherwise I would not be able to go outside with out sneezing my cranuim off. I fly with Afrin (also prescribed) just in case and take a nice long hot shower in the morning to clean everything out (so to speak). I think the issue here is if your allergies are a trigger for more serious problem, not just a sniffle here or there. Once again, just relaying personal experiences. I am not giving any medical advice. I am not a doctor yet I did get laid once in Vegas beacuse I told this cougar I was a cardiothorassic surgeon. Very Nice!

My favorite tactic is when MX begs for mercy early in the week and we tailor our schedule so they can show no MND's. Then when people dont see themselves on the schedule to fly they mire themsevles in the queep that has piled up on thier desk. MX will miracle some jets then ask ops if they have anyone to fly them. When ops says "NO" it becomes an OPS canx. An original schedule of 10 lines gets tailored down to 6 to prevent 4 MND's, can turn into 6 scheduled lines with 2 ops canx if MX produces extra jets. Oldest trick in the book, the ol bait and switch. MX goes from 2 maybe 4 MND's to 100% production with 2 ops cancels and in the mean time never produced the orignal amount they aggreed to produce.

I think all of the preceeding counterpoints are valid. I am also not an advocate of "blindly following queep". I just feel that at some point the law of diminishing returns applies. To me I dont wear a glow belt beacuse I think it makes me any safer or I think its a good rule. I wear a glow belt so I can walk around with out anyone bothering me. Sure I would love to stage a sit in at the DFAC protesting the glowbelt...but I have better things to do...like fight a war. Replace glowbelt with just about any stupid queepy policy. I am not advocating them or saying thier right. I really just don't want to be bothered. If some civic minded SNCO decides he is going to point out an egregious infraction of the an AFI or local policy, I identify my self as an officer and point them to AFI 34-1201 Chapter 8.2 and excuse my self from the conversation ( I carry a copy of that paragraph with me just in case...im not kidding). I have only had to do it once and I never heard a word from that SNCO again. I guess I am lucky to have had great squadron and group commander while deployed who have your back. On the same token the two times Ive been deployed, the group Chief and Shirt have been equally as great. Most of the run ins I have had have been from fellow CGO's trying way too hard to pracitce all they have learned during SOS in correspondence. Im a Captian and I have had at least a half dozen Capts and Lt's ask me if I was forgetting something when I walked past not saluting. Yes, in the end, there are some idotic policies out there. I just have better things to do, like fight a war, than to fight the power.

My only point is that there are somethings worth worrying about and/or fighting for. It takes less time out of my busy day to tuck in my pt shirt, wear a glow belt, and click through the self aid buddy care slides as fast as I can than to sit around and complain about how stupid these policies are. Also, imagine a wing staff meeting where the wing commander goes around the room and when he gets to the Chief he has nothing to say. Now my commander can get back to the squadron faster and be a squadron commander. Or we can fight the system, have the Chief bitch about the discipline problems in the wing and how the officers aren't setting a good example..yada yada yada...Its back to that whole philosphy of not highlighting your self. If you are working out so hard that your PT shirt comes untucked...then so be it. No one is going to say anything to you beacause you are a sweaty mess. Clearly there are other situtations where it is reasonable to un-tuck your shirt. Use a little common sense and dont use the lack of common sense to prove your point. I think you are cleared hot to untuck your shirt when you are using the restroom, taking it off to change or if you were on fire just to name a few. The AFI can not cover every possible situation so use some common sense and think about the intent of the rule and not the black and white lettering. Someone walking from thier car to the Shopette with the shirt untucked is completly different from someone using thier shirt to wipe the sweat off thier forecranium while working out. In my runins with SNCO's, if I've had a reasonable explanation for my violation of AF policies, 99% saluted smartly and continued on with thier day.

I am not at all justifying SNCO uniform patrol but.... Is it really that hard to tuck in your shirt? It takes two seconds and it prevents 5 minutes of akward conversation with SNCO's and it certianly prevents your commander from having to listen to the Chief bitch and moan at Stand Up for 10 minutes when that 10 minutes of your commanders precious time can be used for him "fight a war" To me this is just one of those things that you just have to lay the "needing to be right all the time" part of your ego aside and look at the big picture. After all, that is the standard you are holding the leadership too. To me, there are only a ceritan amount of chips you and your commander are given to cash in to fight stupid policies. I'd rather see those chips wasted on trying to get a 24 hr DFAC that serves hot meals or not having civilian contactors bust in our rooms for safety inspections while we are sleeping. Just tuck in the shirt...if you really want to protest Air Force polices...grow a moustache...Other wise go try to find a job on this economy...and guess what, they make you tuck in your shirt there too!