FLEA

It really isn't a discussion on epidemiology though. It's a discussion on policy, government reach and ethics. Turns out being an officer in the military does give you a great handle on those worlds because many of us often deal with them day to day.

So the transatlantic trade sphere is considered the worlds largest and has largely caged Russian motivations in previous decades. I.e., seeking a warm water port. But geographically speaking Russia has excellent access to the trans Pacific trade sphere already. I'm curious with tech hardware and tech software becoming hubbed in China and the US respectively how long will that be considered. Who makes that determination and how is it measured? I believe both the US and Russia have more interest in the Pacific right now that they do on Europe or the Atlantic. However US strategy is still largely built around the 1991 Trans Atlantic partnership/NATO.

Good link of how China (but also Russia's) sphere of influence has changed over the last 4 decades. https://www.axios.com/china-global-influence-map-us-powerful-cfe94279-2828-4364-a791-7f793e30aa0b.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=editorial&utm_content=world-chinaglobalinfluence

Black Sea yes. Hawaii... Unusual but I expect to see Russia exerting more influence in the Pacific region now that the global balance of power is becoming more centered in that region. People often forget, Russia has a Pacific shoreline and more of Russia is in Asia than in Europe.

Point #1 is huge and been a big focus of my own introspection for several years. The AF has a way of making you feel like they define your value as a human being. They in fact do not, and the AF has proven time over it is actually very poor at determining any human value (i.e. talent) at all.

The only thing I see as a potential flag is your final CGO strat being at the flight commander level which is a little strange to me. For one, I would ask why you were under a flight command as a senior Captain. By this point most are graduated flight commanders. Secondly, usually by this point you've attrited enough of the totem poll to get a wing or group level strat. Especially since you move off the wg/gp role the next year. Everything else looks fine to me. Shit tons of FGO awards. Were they all at the squadron/division or higher? If so then I'm instantly discounting every fricken rater who has given feedback that FGO awards are important. (I already suspect they're not since a lot of staffs did away with that category.) Edit: Should disclaimer I rarely know what I'm talking about and this is in no way meant to be feedback. I'm as much curious about this boards decision as anyone else here.

I will allow you this. For Trump supporters much of Trump's first year was overturning Obama era policies. It will take about a year for Biden to set the playing field to start building the progress he wants, for better or for worse.

In a sense that he didn't act to mitigate it yes. (Nobody could have stopped it. The housing bubble was a small part of a global recession that included the collapse of the Euro markets such as Greece. However, the housing aspect of it was completely failed policy from a US perspectives and signs of the bubble were apparent as early as 2006)

Mmmmm I'll give Obama 16-17, but he had nothing to do with 18-19, let's be real there. You don't get to take credit for shit that occurs more than a year after you've been out of office. Why do you think the tariffs failed?

He's not wrong though. This is a command and control issue and a systemic problem with everybody believing they are the #1 priority. His point stands, you can bitch at the tanker guys but you are bitching at the wrong people. Bitch at the HHQ who prioritize and assign their taskings.

Make sure to check out the Air Force Aid society as well. They have a grant to reimburse you $1000 for pet transfer oconus right now.

Lots of good advice on here. I think the biggest way we can help is if we know what your goals are. You may not need an internship right now per se, you may need a mentorship, someone who can show you the path, and discuss the challenges you'll have to overcome to get there. If you're under 18 you're very young, and I think it's great that you're proactive and already looking forward to see what you can do to expose yourself. Most of us were young with dreams like yours once to. Definitely take some time to browse the forum, read some threads, and try and get some idea if you think this is a field you can really see yourself in.

You can't really "intern" in the military. The military is apart of the armed forces and employment comes with certain legal responsibilities. Furthermore, there is security, and other issues. It may be possible to intern at a defense contractor but certainly not in a position of security. However, a lot of defense contracting like marketing and promotion could be unclassified as well. If you are interested in military aviation, I reccommend you look into Civil Air Patrol. The cadet program was distinctly designed to foster an interest in aviation and you may even get the oppurtunity to learn to fly a bit In a C-172. What are you career goals? Why did you suddenly decide you want to intern in the military aviation industry? Is being a pilot something you want to do? Or you aren't sure?

Guardsmen at units like Syracuse have an extraordinarily good deal IMO working as AOC augmentation. I know 1-2. I haven't done it myself so my info may be a little misguided but... They generally work part time, can live anywhere, and they drill by working as AOC augmentation during major exercises. These are usually two, 3-week exercises a year that are at Ramstein, Korea or Hickham. No currencies that I know of. You are just augmentation so the AOC can stand up 24 hour shifts when they do their accreditation exercises.

I too, am waiting in eager anticipation of this.

Recommend a moderator remove this post until it can be reposted without the individuals name/email addresses put on it.

Ah copy. I wasn't sure, because I knew you were a U2 guy but thought maybe you were just out of the fold. I'll have my detection meter worked on.

11Rs were not offered a bonus this year. So they will be zero take for the foreseeable future.

This dude already has a book out and political contacts. He's made regardless of what is done with him.

Great advice all around from everyone and I'm appreciative. Two more questions. 1.) Anyone have any info on the Nellis air taxi contract? Perhaps that's a good way to build expereince a bit more while still getting out of the AF and not having to take a tremendous pay cut? 2.) More of a question on airline lifestyle, what is your social life like at an airline? Asking because I think the majority of adults make their friendships based on who they work with. Something about the airline life though tells me it's harder to build a robust network of close friends since it appears you are constantly changing crews, people base different places and you are often working less frequently. It's not a deal breaker for me, just curious how people adapt to that.

Hey everyone; thanks for the contributions. One thing I will undoubtedly miss about the AF is the "bro culture" of helping each other out and trying to take care of our own. So if suppose I decide 100% to get out; what are some other options to accrue time? I mean, I know there are regionals, but any non-traditional opportunities I might not be thinking of? For example, a friend at work mentioned maybe something like the GOCO MC-12 thing the Army has going. Its a quick transition to left seat, flying focused, no admin BS, and probably pays better than an entry level regional. Thoughts? Also, back to the topic of Kalitta, their requirements seem lower but their pay is higher than most regionals I look at. Whats the catch here? I've talked to one of their pilots who has said I would definitely be competitive in the upcoming environment, but not so much so that he would guaranteed I would get hired. But he has said that he has definitely flown with people with less experience.

It's a possible COA for sure, if I can avoid a wing or group job there and just focus on flying. However, being an FGO, everyone seems to think I'm being under utilized by just being a line pilot. So who knows. Yeah I'm really in a tough spot and as much as I want to airlines to work, I just continue to see obstacles that delay my getting there. I also can't appropriately illustrate the total amount of nausea I have from continuing in the AF. This was a rough year for me that irreversibly flipped some triggers for me regarding my tolerance to stay.

It sucks that the RPA skill set is generally useless outside the military unless you have an LRE qual. Even then, the good gigs are all taken at this point from what I hear. I know the AF doesn't owe anyone anything, and I did enjoy some aspects about my RPA time, but it does feel like you get stiffed serving a 10 year commitment for a a different job than what you signed the commitment for.

I have 13 years. Do you think this is a better COA than just staying in for the same length of time? I don't know if I have the financial capability to stomach regional pay for that long.