TurnHer4

Im a Guard/Vance 2.5er, graduated earlier this year. No issues with the FSDO. Just make sure you have all the necessary docs and take the test.

If I remember correctly, Vance had F-22,F-35, a few Vipers, A-10, and a T-6 FAIP on the AD side.

Shoot me a PM

Hahaha you seem upset, did I say something to "trigger" you? You even resorted to name calling lol. Not sure if your entire post was directed at me, but I'll address your points. Again, I am a black male, right leaning millennial, probably more right after the latest foolishness. I'm not a victim, never said I was. I'm doing damn well right now despite the things I've faced in my past. Doesn't mean I can't bring those things up in discussion. I'm not here to change anyone's mind as I've said before. I'm here to get a different perspective and get an idea of why different people see things the way they do, also to provide my own perspective for others to see. I appreciate all the viewpoints here, even the ones I don't agree with. I was damn good on AD. I have the strats, records, and reputation to prove it. Never DNIF, never pulled off a sortie for any reason. I think that had a lot to do with me getting picked up to go to UPT in the Guard. But I'm not here to dick measure. I know some people just like the ones you described, they come from all sorts of backgrounds. I too commanded (flight) some of them. Know what I did? Had a one on one, one sided discussion on how they needed to unfornicate themselves and pull their weight. If they couldn't, me and the gang picked up the slack. I don't have time for complaints and weakness. As far as my car (1985 Cutlass Supreme) it was trash when I found it. Put rally wheels, white letter racing tires, 2 chamber flow master exhaust, single color (green) paint job, not to mention what I did under the hood. It wasn't the way you described it as, it was a sick car in my opinion. And I worked hard to get it to where I wanted to be. Not the best I have for racism, thats just the example you chose to pull out (sts) and thats fine. Doesn't make what I said not valid. I can write a book about the racist shit I've experienced in the south, you'd downplay that as well I'm guessing. Not going to, those experiences helped make me who I am. Made me more aware of my surroundings, where I can and can't go, and what I can and can't say. Also it made me open my mind to people that think differently than me. They don't know me, what happened in their life to make them see me the way they do? It helped me learn more about the world I was living in and how to live in it. My cutlass was stolen a few years ago. I was able to convince my wife to let me buy another one, and I'm in the middle of bringing it back to glory. I still get racially profiled in it, but that's apart of my life. Here's the thing, I should be able to drive whatever car I want without being pulled over and searched having done nothing wrong. I can get pulled over, unreasonably searched, and I have to comply under the threat of physical harm or death. That's not what freedom is my friend. I should be able to go where I want, when I want, in the car I want. If you're not ok with that, I don't have much for you and that's your opinion. I think your opinion may be that, that example is minuscule, and I agree. Doesn't mean that it's right. Just providing some perspective to the thread, that's all. I want there to be zero racist commanders, but I know that's not possible. I've learned to navigate that. I have many bros that think just like you. I tell all my black friends, I CANNOT and WILL NOT exile people that think the way you do. We need to hear what you have to say as well. Last week I got a bourbon and a cigar with a good friend of mine that has the same line of thinking as you. We talked about it like the grown ass men that we are, learned from each other, shook hands (yes, even during the "pandemic"), and made plans to continue the discussion down the road. That's why I don't post here much. I'd rather sip some Basil Hayden's and have a face to face discussion about these topics. But hey...I could be a mildly retarded clown. Think I've only been called that once, by my dad. Maybe that old bastard is right. Hope you're enjoying being out of the AF. If I run into you down the road, first bourbon is on me.

I'll have to dig for those examples. Admittedly anecdotal. Specific example from personal experience. I was an RA in college, and one of my residence tag was stolen. So I called campus police. While we were getting it worked out, I asked the cop why I had been harassed by campus police for the past 3 years. He said oh shit, you're the guy that drives that green cutlass supreme. I said yeah that one right there. He said oh we thought you were a local drug dealer. We have a profile on you at the precinct. I asked why. He said remember a while back when campus SWAT rolled you up (yes we had a SWAT team for some reason. I said yeah wtf was that about. He said a lady called us and said you were selling drugs in a parking lot and had a prostitute with you. I said yeah I had to get my Det CC to come out and convince them I was a student and in ROTC. He said we asked her why she made the call and she said because he's black and drives a ghetto green car. After your commander came out, we were still convinced you were dealing, because honestly you look like a drug dealer and your car screams drug dealer. So whenever we saw you, we would follow you, or pull you over to see if you had anything in the car. I said I appreciate your honesty, but take me off your wall. He said he would, and I was never bothered again. You may think thats just good policing, I think that's ed up. On your isolated incident comment; a guy driving an 80s mobile got busted with drugs and now anyone that resembles that description is treated as such. It's happened to me. I was pulled over going home and the cop said "you just look suspicious man" I was just driving down the street. But because of a few isolated incidents in my area, I was treated like a criminal. So I get it, it sucks. If you believe there is racism, but you don't believe people will use their position, power, job etc to hold other people down I find that hard to believe. And I think that happens with all races. It's on both sides, and that's why I'm trying to bridge the gap. Can you give me an example of a minority receiving privileges of this society more than the majority? I'd like to hear that. I love this discussion. Thats one thing I like about the AF. We can have differing opinions, talk about it and learn from one another. It will not effect our mission. I have a solid bro that thinks along the same lies as some of you. We as black officers can't exile him. We need to listen and understand his perspective. I can trust him to execute on the jet, and vice versa with our differing views. We're gonna go rage and when we get back, have a beer and continue the discussion. Just because he thinks a certain way doesn't mean he's not a solid bro. I think some people are missing that.

All of those instances are certainly nuanced. There is always more to the story, but my truth may not be someone else's. I see people placing those labels on people like you all the time, and it is unwarranted. At the same time, I've been called a thug, gangsta, you name it. Also unwarranted. As a right leaner myself, I see it. I feel like I was punished for my skin color and where I grew up. It indeed sucks. Could you imagine someone not liking you or thinking you're a threat just based on skin color or where you were raised. I think you can based on your post. Believe me, I'm having these discussions on both sides. I 100% agree we can't go backwards, but I don't think we are. We definitely can not apply the same mindset towards whites, it's counterproductive. I think I saw someone say they were the silent majority. Well, I'm in the silent majority of black people that want to move forward. We don't want BLM on jerseys or mounds or courts. Or the black national anthem played at games, we don't want those things. What we want are the things I've posted today. But we're being over shadowed by the noise makers and "the other side" is taking that and placing that on all the people that want real change. BUT! In the words of the legend Capt Jack Sparrow, "Take what you can, give nothing back" No movement is perfect and I feel like folks are asking for it to be perfect before they are willing to listen. I don't think the country was founded on racism. I do know that when they said all men are created equal, they didn't mean black people. Dope discussion bro, thanx for your question.

Excellent question. The answer is the same way you get better at being an aviator. And that's in the debrief. Which is what I think is happening right now on this thread. Take off the rank, biases, etc and have an open discussion. Listening to the feedback and applying it. I say we need to get people to understand that there are those that have hatred in their heart for minorities and non-minorities a like.Racism in most cases is covert and subtle. I ask that when we see it from anyone, squash that shit. I want you to understand my perspective and to not down play the way I view something. You may not every see it, but if and when you do, call it out. I understand what Guardian is saying, and I'll reflect on that. I ask that others do the same with different perspectives.

@Guardianexcellent discourse, I really appreciate your perspective. And I'm not here to change your mind. I think everything stated above was racially motivated, but thats my opinion. I do think the system is racist, heres why. Those people that called the cops on me, did it because of my skin color. Beyond that, they both have jobs. What I mean by that is, we can agree that racism exists. I don't think that hate and resentment towards minorities stops when they go to work. Racist people are in the system, and I believe that some of them allow it to cloud their judgement. When overt racism became uncool at the turn of the century, those people didn't stop being racist, it's just undercover now. I agree the BLM moniker is tainted. But from what you're saying, you understand that there is an issue, but others won't join because of the BLM moniker....that makes sense, I can understand that. I brought up the OKC issue to point to BLM here isn't tearing down stuff, looting, or rioting. I agree with you. And it's a call to celebrities in and from the area to help. MLK did say a riot is the language of the unheard. However, I agree. I don't like some of the things I've been seeing. Hopefully you don't think I think a whole race of people are racist because of MLK, I don't. I brought it up to show that it wasn't that long ago, and people that think that way are still alive. Most of us fully understand all whites aren't racist. We're trying to bring attention to those that are. I don't like preferential treatment either. But I also don't like people thinking I received preferential treatment to get where I am. I'm just damn good at what I do. Example. One of my peers (at the direction of some other peers) had enough balls to tell the Sq CC that we had too many black flt ccs. We had 2. 2 out of 10. I was one of them. Got Flt cc OTY at the group level, and the other guy got it the year after me. But some say we got it because we were black. Further, who ever these people are, are going to stay in the AF and continue their careers with that mind set. Thats bad in my book. But I'll continue to overcome that. As far as the system, there is a disparity from that I'm seeing. Brock Turner got 6 months for raping a woman an unconscious woman behind a dumpster. My cousin got 3 years for a dime bag of weed. That white lady that paid 15k for her kid to get into Stanford got 14 days in jail. A black homeless woman who used a friend's address to get her son into elementary school got 5 years. The change I'm trying to see is everyone being treated equally. I want the white racist that call the cops on blacks for nothing to stop. That fact that it's ok to use the police as a weapon against someone that has committed no crime is heinous. What police do when they get there is a different story. I've seen your post, and I'm aware you have different views. I see the world differently as well. I see it from an inner city kid perspective that made it out. Someone who couldn't go to schools in a certain areas, that was only looking for an opportunity to make it out. Believe it or not, not all of those kids believe they can make it out ( I didn't) and that's a shame because they can. The change I'm looking for is for us to get into those communities and show those kids it's possible. For me it was a white Capt in a flight suit at an inner city high school football game, where there are shootouts every weekend. After my game I asked him if he was a pilot, I wanna be a pilot. He said yes. I told him, you're brave for coming here. He said there is untapped potential in your neighborhood, so you want to be a pilot? And the rest is history. That's what I want. Also, I don't see that as preferential treatment because all I received was information on how to become a pilot that I didn't have access to/didn't know existed. You can believe everyone starts on equal footing if you want, but that's not true where I'm from. The change I want is for those of us that have made it, to reach back and help others, regardless of race. Get in those neighborhoods. There are 100 of me in each of those neighborhoods, just looking to take the next step, but they don't know where to place their foot. I don't think the fabric is racist. The behavior I'm speaking of is what's happened throughout America's time. The raping, pillaging, looting, and murder of the Native Americans. The enslavement of Africans. We literally fought a war to end slavery, and the beliefs of those on the losing side have been passed down. I'm saying rioting/fighting, and forcing people to bend to our will is what made this country into what it is today. That stuff happened, it's in the past, but it is history. I don't think we can dwell on it, but I do think it's important to understand that blood has been spilt by this country since it's inception. It has made us the greatest country on the planet, but my patriotism leads me to believe it can be even better.

Thanx, I'll be waiting for the title of the book. Dope knowledge on MLK, thank you for that insight. That's not where I'm headed. What 'm saying is, that behavior is in the fabric of America.

Not off base at all. I appreciate the response, and I'm glad to discuss it with you or whoever else would like to. I see your point. I think BLM has been taken out of context by it's leadership. We don't all agree with what they're doing. But at it's core, BLM is a good cause. Example: The number 1 demand for OKC's BLM chapter is a grocery store on the inner city east side. They can't even get groceries in their own neighborhood. The deeper issue is where they have to go to get groceries...the areas that "they don't belong" Fully agree BLM's leadership has gone rouge. That doesn't mean there aren't people out there looking for real change. I ask that you look beyond that and see the good that is happening. People like to bring up MLK for his contributions...absolute legend. However, that Civil Disobedience you speak of got him voted as the most hated man in America in 1967, and murdered in 1968. Btw the bullet didn't kill him...they let him die on the table. I agree with the pandering comment. Playing the Black National Anthem before a game, won't do anything for anyone. Help us. Help others to understand that we don't all want to tear down this country, we just won't people to listen and understand. Also, I'm fully against looters, not so much riots. However, not much has been accomplished civilly in this country when it comes to change.

For those of you that are tired of the Social Justice stuff before and during sporting events, I get it. Hell, I even agree a little. However, I am more tired of being racially profiled/discriminated against. Being pulled over, because "you look suspicious" or having the cops called on me while standing in my own drive way smoking a cigar by the new couple in the neighborhood that didn't think I could have a house that nice. And then having to convince the cops that it was actually my house. Or having parents bring their kids in when my wife and I walk by. Or having some of my peers thinking I got the strat/award because I was black, and not because I actually busted my ass. I was detained once because I "fit the description" Didn't ask me my name or anything like that. Cuffed and placed in the car. Then he searched me and found my wallet...and my cac. Knowing I had done nothing wrong, but more importantly I had a cac, I figured I'd be ok. That's the world I live in everyday. That's most of our reality. The issue is, most of us can't flash the cac to get treated like a human being. Imagine a young kid who's done nothing wrong being cuffed and detained for no reason, and how he may react. I've had to deal with that for 30 years, and will continue to deal with it for many more. I'll be just fine. But I hope you guys can understand why it's happening. We've been trying to have this conversation for centuries, people are just now starting to listen and understand. I'm a believer that a slogan or phrase does nothing...it's not actionable. But I can't scoff at the effort that is being made.

To the OP. No one here is trying to "crap" on you. @HU&Wgave you feedback that some people pay for. There is a shit ton of knowledge on this forum, I'm sure that's why you came here. Take that feed back and apply it. You wanna do CAS, A-10s and Vipers are the way to go. If you end up AD, the Strike Eagle does a lot of CAS. (Check my math, but I don't think the Strike Eagles Reserve unit hires off the street) When you say you want CAS and then mention the F-35/F-22, but don't mention the Viper, it throws some people off. That is where the research piece comes in. Look into the Viper more. You simply know what you want, that may be true. However, the feedback you're getting here is to keep an open mind. As someone that hasn't been through UPT (myself included...hoping for Vance sometime in 2020) you don't know if you'll like that type of flying yet. They are only speaking from experience. I say keep pushing for what you want, with an understanding that for some reason or another, you may not end up there. But where ever it is, you'll like it. If you haven't already, look into some Viper Guard/Reserve units.

That was the case until Covid hit. Not sure what it's like for Co's now. Not all of them got to go when I was deploying.

Check page 5 of this thread about half way down to see my post about AWACS. Im outta the game now (headed to UPT with the ANG) but it's still mostly true. I'm still in OKC and most of the bros are still at Tinker so I spend quite a bit of time there. I was an evaluator at the FTU before I left AD, so I still know most of the IPs there. Shoot me a PM if you need more specifics.

Been on the forum for years, just don't ever post. I think the environment I spoke of builds our attitudes and how we show emotion and stress. Growing up in a rough area is no doubt hard. Here's why. Kids are being exposed to things adults that didn't grow up there could never imagine. Shootings, drugs, murders, dead bodies, all at a young age. That does something to an individual. Could even be some sort of PTSD. I've been shot at, robbed, stabbed, etc. It changes you. So when we show up, we sometimes get labeled as nonchalant and not caring. But we've seen so much shit at a young age that what's happening on flights, in MP, etc may be super stressful but to us, it beats a day in the hood. Most of my friends from childhood are dead or in jail. I'm numb to those phone calls now, because I've pushed that pain deep down. My first deployment I controlled 120 plus planes in OIR for 4 hours by myself, didn't break a sweat. But my upbringing wouldn't allow me to show that I wanted to pop the lock and jump out. But I came across as not caring. So when you see something like that, alert the bros that some individuals operate that way. We get that label often. It's hard to see racism. We don't usually know until an ally alerts us. When you hear things about black airman, don't dismiss it. Try and understand the situation and what could have brought that about. When you see it, stomp it out. Had a black airman that had a flat top hair cut come to me and say the shirt said my hair is out of regs, I need to cut it. I do Flap Top February ever year, so he knew I would know. I told him, looks fine to me. Found a white airman, who's hair was actually out of regs rocking a flat top and went to the shirt. "Shirt, you said airman xyz had to cut his hair?" Yeah Capt, out of regs. "Cool, so what about this airman's hair cut? Same one, but actually out of regs" No, he's good to go. That's when I close the door and have a discussion with the shirt. When you see and hear stuff like that, speak up. Happens every day. To have equality, I think we need to understand that everyone has different upbringings and backgrounds. By that I mean understand who that person is, and why they approach things the way they do. What have they seen that has shaped their perception of reality. What you can learn from them and what they can learn from you. Like Dream Big said, we can learn from each other. We've made legit strides on this. We know it wouldn't be possible without you dudes helping along the way. We can continue to grow and get better.