FLEA

It's still a tyranny. It's just who is holding the reigns our power is changed. State sovereignty is slowly being overcome by market forces and human networks. The modern state has not always been the status quo. Only the last 370 years. It's unsurprising a new status quo is begging to emerge.

I could care less about Trump winning. Didn't even vote this election. Didn't vote for him in the last one. The evidence that cheating is happening is 1.) It's low risk. 2.) It's high reward. 3.) People are generally evil and there is no way they would not cheat if they saw a mechanism to do it. You don't see evidence because those who accuse of cheating who actually have access of evidence also realise that by presenting it they implicate themselves. It's that simple. It's like steroids man. You know athletes are doing it even without evidence. There are weak protections against it but it's still so easy to circumvent you know it's happening. If I were running a campaign I would 100% try to cheat. Why shouldn't I? Almost 0 chance of getting caught and I could tilt the election in my favor then instill power mechanisms to keep me there. Maybe I'm just jaded and have a low opinion of humanity.

Both sides practice disenfranchisement. Democrats tried to disenfranchise the absentee vote in Florida in 2000 knowing a large majority of the Florida absentee ballots were overseas military. (Who typically vote more Conservative, especially back then) I think anyone who doesn't believe massive amounts of cheating or fraud are going on on our elections are a bit naive to how terrible the world we live in is. It 100% happens. The questions are the scale, how much organization is behind it, and to what degree is direction recieved from the top levels of each major party.

Review the history of the H3N2(swine flu) vaccine Gerald Ford distributed in 1976. 14 hospitalized and 1 dead before it was realized the cure was worse than the disease. The scandal lost him his reelection. Why people trust the government to get this right is beyond me. The government never has your personal interest at heart. It's just like the AF. At the squadron level your commander probably does care a lot about you. At the HAF level leadership doesn't give two shits. I bet politicians aren't lining up with their families first in line to get the vaccine.

I mentioned it in the COVID thread but there is a HAF/A1 email circulating that says they are examining VSP options for FY21. No details on career fields or numbers though. FY20 had the second highest retention since 2000 (including the year after 9/11).

So I guess if you wanted to go full fucking inception, yes, I quoted Clark quoting someone else, and then you quoted me. But who's fucking tracking.

1.) I didn't quote anyone. However, the provided quote was endemic to German thought. I've worked closely with the German government in a security cooperation position and the provided thought process does not surprise me. 2.) What roof? You mean the collapsed plywood on the mud hut in September of 2001? Yeah that was like that when we got there.

Just ask him man. "Hey I noticed you have pilot wings, that is unusual for enlisted aviators. Is there a story behind that?" Either a.) He is the 0.1% that is authorized to wear them and maybe does have a good story. Or b.) He's going to get embarrassed very quickly and have a hard time holding his game. If its option B, simply council him. It's not appropriate to wear badges you haven't earned. But a simple question when something doesn't seem right will go a long way. And that's a skill you can take to flying. As a new CP, noone is going to shut you down for being inquisitive, when your observations may identify a potential problem.

The latest from Maj Gen Wills: MAF Heroes, Below is a slightly edited version of a post I added to a CAF forum that I’m also part of. It followed a thread that commented on the release of one of the recent AIBs. Quite a bit of it is specific to the CAF, but I think the main points I’m trying to make apply to all of us, especially the shameless plug for our instructors. If you haven’t read the safety reports from the past few accidents in full, I highly recommend it. There’s something there for all of us, and it isn’t all what you think. Offered for your consideration and in the intent of this forum. ————————— Previous Post: Warriors, I’d like to add a couple of points to the recent thread regarding the recent mishap (s). First, if you haven’t had the chance to read the actual safety reports, I highly recommend it - there’s a lot there for us to collectively consider in a lot of areas. Some have asked “does the leadership know?” The answer is yes - declining experience levels and training cuts are at the forefront of our discussions, and specifically on the agenda going in to aircrew summit. I won’t speak for my ACC teammates, but they’re working on plans to address the experience levels in ACC. COMAETC and COMACC met today and this was at the top of the list. COMACC emphasized that this is an enterprise wide problem and it will require an enterprise wide solution. We’ve had some great discussions here about risk. If you’re wondering if the leadership knows we’ve accepted increased risk, the answer is yes. We also know that the Generals are the ones who accept it and you’re the ones who have to live with it. This is the usual arrangement, as unsatisfying as it is to all of us. Overall, the entire system is fundamentally out of balance, and fixes in one area tend to exacerbate problems in another. It’s an enterprise problem and it’s a little like squeezing a balloon. The previous COMACC described it as a ‘wicked problem’ - meaning you can’t work discrete elements of the problem, you have to work all of it at once. There’s no magic solution. We’re trying to make pilot training better, but we can’t make it longer. There’s a lot more to this story and I’m happy to field questions on this front. Keep in mind that there is virtually zero CAF experience at UPT and it’s been this way for a long time. The MAF has single-handedly propped up pilot training for at least 10 years and we owe them a lot. It’s also true that ACC + AETC deliberately adjusted FTU length and fighter tour lengths to restore a healthy flow from UPT to FTU to Ops units and back to white jets and institutional requirements. That change (and the syllabus) was coordinated, but it apparently wasn’t communicated across the MAJCOMs in an enduring way. As the syllabus owner for a lot of these programs, I’ll take the spear for that, and it won’t happen again. We have syllabus conferences coming up in for the F-16 and F-35; my pledge is that you’ll get a coordinated worldwide message going into and coming out of each AETC FTU syllabus conference that lays out what we’re collectively building and what it looks like. You’ll also get a front page of the syllabus that clearly lays out the aim of the syllabus and the kind of wingman it will produce. You don’t have to like it, but you’ll at least have the intent in black and white. Sneak preview - COMACC intent remains “The “B” in B-Course stands for Basic. We need to focus on the basics and ensure we’re teaching folks to do the ordinary things extraordinarily well.” B courses will remain ~6-7 months long. Regarding AAR at FTU, we’ve made changes at the AETC FTUs to ensure we don’t graduate anyone without at least Day AAR complete. Our tanker teams are outstanding but we all know that scheduling is a challenge. It would be unrealistic to say that no B courser will ever graduate FTU without AAR again, though both ACC and AETC are working hard to prevent it. FYSA, our team at Altus is sending a business effort tanker once a month to where it’s needed - we’ve had 3 thus far to Eglin to support the F-22 and F-35 FTUs. We’re also trying to get more out and backs from Altus to HMN to support. Shameless plug: Hats off to the FTU IPs out there. Our FTU heroes are working overtime to provide you with the wingmen you need. They’re being pulled in both directions - adjust to a less experienced input and provide a more capable output — it’s a tough task and I’m proud of those of you who are making it happen. All of this is made more difficult by generally low FTU manning and will get harder with some of the fleet challenges we’re going to be seeing. Bottom line: FTU is tough duty and our teams are doing great work with a mighty challenge. We’re going to be in a period of declining experience levels for some time. We can argue about how we got here, but we’re here. That said, what are WE going to do about this? One thing we should all agree on right away: let’s stop saying our new pilots “suck.” It’s probably closer to true to say that in most cases they’ve just had less training than you did. Put yourself in their shoes. Through no fault of their own, they went through the programs at a time of tremendous turbulence and change. The syllabus is one piece of the puzzle. Constant wash backs, fleet challenges, breaks in training and finally COVID means that their continuity in training was generally awful. Now is the time to think about what’s required to get them to the level they need to be. Most of us weren’t born on Mount Olympus...somebody helped you get where you’re at today. It’s our turn to pay it forward, and at the end of the day, they’re wearing our patch...how are we going to make them better? The second recommendation is a little closer to home. We say we’re fighter pilots...fighter pilots are supposed to be able to ask hard questions of themselves, not just of other people. Are we asking truly hard questions? Do we have a culture problem in addition to an experience problem? Are we paying lip service to ORM or are we really making the tough calls? Are we disciplined in execution, or have we let our own standards drop? Are we so empowered that nobody feels the need to know the rules or follow the rules? Another way of saying ‘declining experience’ is ‘fewer adults in the room.’ We’re in a period of the Air Force where if you’re asking if there’s an adult in the room, you’re the adult. We’re all going to need to step up. It’s easy to blame the machine, and the machine deserves some blame. The machine consumed me some time ago, so I’ll take all your spears on that front. The MAJCOMs are working together to try and build a good way ahead with the pipeline. All the easy answers are gone, so it’s going to be tough sledding for a while. One thing I do know is that we’re failing if we don’t look in the mirror a little bit too. It’s our Air Force and it’s going to take all of us working together. This is a defining challenge and it’s not going away anytime soon. ———————— Bottom line: We can argue all day long about how we got here, but we’re here. What are WE going to do?

This is what frustrates me so much having worked with NATO. They realise the US cannot just leave NATO or Europe will pivot support to the CSCE and the US will lose its role in shaping European security, an undesirable outcome. So they milk us for everything we have to secure their own interests.

There's a clear conflict of interest in this report. We don't ignore behavior from foreign partners that demeans American values. Was a Saudi SNR available to levy these complaints? Did the instructors know they should use the SNR to do so? This dude sounds like someone who should have been sent home.

Heard some rumors from someone connected to HAF/A1 today that USAF is at historically high retention due to COVID and voluntary seperation programs are being considered for FY21 to meet end strength. No hints as to career fields or what the bonus will look like.

Yeah I get that. But it didn't come off like that.

So reading that article.... whoever leaked that needs fired and needs to go to prison. Like, yes, I understand, its concerning for the public. However, you effectively leaked plans of a US military option on an adversary state to that state. The POTUS (this one or next) no longer has that military option now, as Iran will likely enact countermeasures. This was terribly fucking irresponsible. So now, when Biden walks back to the negotiation table to reenter the agreement, he is forced to start at a weaker negotiation position than previous because the amount of options we had under our BATNA is effectively reduced. This is fricken ridiculous. You cannot just leak shit because you don't like the policy. This irreversibly damages our national instruments of power.

So to be honest I don't support the CVID strategy. However, one major concern with anything short of CVID is NPT strength. Once you start allowing states like Iran and North Korea to possess nuclear weapons the NPT is effectively meaningless and compliance is no longer required by anyone. That is a risky road to step down and we already started it with Pakistan/India. Tolerating North Korea and Iran, which are likely the next two steps, will likely mean a collapse of the NPT and the rapid acquisition of nuclear arms by several other states we would prefer to not have them. The US is not alone in this endeavor. Russia, France, Great Britain and China all have interest in preventing anymore nuclear powers. There is a very legitimate and real fear that once some of these smaller states with high corruption, low security, begin obtaining nuclear arms, the probably of a nuclear incident increases dramatically. Edit: This is a good video where former secretary Perry describes the nature of nuclear strategy in the four hot spots of the world. Russia, China, North Korea and Iran.

Doesn't make me feel anything. He likely wanted to know what the US military options/plans against a belligerent Iran were before he announces complete withdrawal from Afghanistan and Iraq, given the strategic nature of those two border states in context to Iran. That would be something important to know before you permanently take that option away from your generals forever.

I'm almost certain military members will have to get the vaccine. Forcing military members to take vaccines was upheld in court in the late 90s when several officers protested concerns about the anthrax vaccine that was still new. A big difference is the anthrax vaccine underwent long term testing so the extended side effects were known. In the case of COVID, it seems like scientist are taking a risk because they believe long term side effects are generally more rare than short term ones. That said, as a country, we have screwed up with rushing vaccines to market before, specifically Gerald Ford in the late 70s who killed several people with a swine flu (H3N2) vaccine that wasn't adequately tested. I live in Europe at the moment and generally they are more compliant with public health rules, meaning, if an authority makes a reccomendation they are likely to follow it. They have also accepted lock downs easier because their governments provide huge social benefits systems to people who are unemployed. That said they are starting to get massive protest to additional lockdowns as well. People are plainly getting tired. As an American here it's pretty miserable. Still go to work, but nothing to do in your off time. Base closed to social activities and social gatherings; it feels rather isolating. Families are having a hard time. Many want to go visit home for the holidays but are being advised not to because their spouse will be quarantined when the family returns. (Current rules require all members of a household to quarantine even if the member didn't travel). The lack of concern for people (and their mental health) in this whole debacle has pushed me 100% ready to get out. I have 1.5 years left and it couldn't come faster.

The very big take away here is if a commander needs a contractor to advise him on these types of tasks, he is not suited for command. That to me is a significant problem. A commander needing to solicit advice on policy, strategy, geo political relationships is one thing, because those are fields that take a lifetime of expertise. However, if a commander needs to solicit advice on the very basics of leadership, that is problematic.

You must be an incredibly trusting person. I salute your optimism but in no way can I believe that people, especially politicians, are so moral they would refrain from a rather obvious means of securing power.

The simplest answer is most often the correct one. The Dems lost the senate while committing voter fraud because the Republicans were also committing voter fraud. (Which is why they can be confident of its existence and its relevance.) Neither side knows exactly how much fraud the other is committing, therefore they can only tip and election and never guarantee it. Not saying this is 100% true but it absolutely, 100% makes sense in today's world, which makes it plausible.

Its in the FAR's (Federal Acquisition Regulations) I believe this is the right reference, but I'm not a KO. I would take this to a KO and get an opinion. Basically subpart a1 prevents contractors from supervising military members on services contracts. The exception to this is "incidental to training." This is why blue suiters can write grade sheets on you in UPT. They cannot write your 475 when you finish training though.

I believe it is the DoDi's or GSA pubs. I'll try and find it tonight if I can.

I'm 99.99% certain they are not. Only 99.99% because there is always the .01% bullshit case out there. But I was a COR for several years and it was very explicit in the training that contractors cannot supervise military members. In fact, I believe in the web software used for the official contract reports, it directly asks this question each month. Commanders are not always smart on contracts/contractors. They often are appointed in quality assurance roles but have the bare minimum of training on appropriate utilization. I would approach the COR/KO/JA about it and get their take. Edit: Are you able to provide more context? Because you used the word command as well. Under Title 10, only a commissioned officer can command. There are very specific authorities associated with command, I'm no means an expert at this but your situation is certainly interesting. Generally this works both ways as well. A member of the military member cannot tell a contractor to fire an employee because that employee performs unsatisfactory or does something grotesque. The only thing the military can do is provide a cure notice that the contractor is out of compliance with the contract and its up to the contractor to realize that replacing the employee will bring them back to compliance.

All fair comments. And I appreciate everyone's insight. Learning off of other platforms is one of the ways we universally enhance our skills.

So it's interesting because I agree with your 1st statement but I think it contradicts your second statement. Part of being great at VFR, IMO, is knowing how to use your IFR knowledge to enhance your skill set. Hybrid flying (using IFR skills in VFR and VFR skills in IFR) would actually probably make a great paper topic in aviation safety if anyone is working on their master's in that area. Edit: and copy your and others inputs about differences using a HUD.