Ghost of James Post

I might know your buddy ...another FDNY bro named Joe?

The Saudis export extremist Sunni Islam all throughout the world … broader Q: why should we even consider them an ally.

Warning to anyone considering VLPAD - be prepared for the AF to screw it up. I did a VLPAD tour July 2016-Sept 2019. Accessing to active duty was easy enough, but the AF has no idea how to offboard Reservists back to the Reserves. First, you'll have to find your own unit after you're done w/ VLPAD. This wasn't a huge deal for me, as a I had an informal "drug deal" with my prior unit …but still, it would be nice to have return rights. Your career will be managed by AFPC during that time, and they have zero idea how to manage Reservists. For example, they screwed up my separation orders, and I didn't get actual separation orders until 2 days before my final out. Then, instead of flowing me to the IRR, while I awaited the 1288 to be processed for my new unit, AFPC completely discharged me from the military....which took 6 weeks to un. I could go on with examples of this. Another thing to consider is promotions - I met a ROPMA mandatory board a year late, and I didn't pin on major until I was a 7 year captain. My $.02 - if you can get an AGR gig, take that. If your unit has an endless stream of man days, take those over VLPAD. VLPAD is a giant cluster

As ROTC instructor from 2016-2019 (Sept), I can confirm. Of our 40 or so cadets we'd have each year, about 10-15% would go rated, and of that, about half wanted RPAs.

I'm going through this process now in the Reserves. While a unit will hire you, you won't be on their UMD or administratively controlled by them until you get your Wings. The 340th (JBSA) administratively owns all UPT/UCT students until they've completed UPT/UCT. Once you head off to your FTU, you'll be gained by your home unit you were hired into. Once the 340th gains you, it doesn't take that long to get dates (2 days for me) … the weight was getting gained to the 340th.

Bruh ...this is glaringly obvious this is the Air Force's way of pursuing a "diversity" (our state sponsored religion) initiative and pushing for more female pilots, without explicitly accepting more females over men, which it can't do. The AF times even understands this, and it wrote an article noting as much. While I admire their ingenuity, I loathe their cause. Clown country, and ever increasingly clown AF.

100% concur - it's akin to hiring scab workers (not to denigrate the enlisted force ...or scab workers). If you're enlisted, and want to fly ...get your degree, and put your OTS application in. Don't do what officers do for much less.

Part of me is like, yeah the public doesn't fully conceptualize the cost of such an overhaul, which would be vast (to say nothing of the already $1 Trillion a year we spend on healthcare) The other part of me sees this line of attack/rhetoric as disingenuous. Where were people arguing over the costs of OEF/OIF and our attempts to pacify the greater middle east? Where are the people arguing over the cost of maintaining a world-wide empire and garrisoning the entire planet? - At this point, we just sort of take that for granted. If you're going to bring economics into the equation, it shouldn't be selectively applied (not saying you do this … but in general, it is).

I'd love to see public opinion polls on it how popular a single-payer healthcare system is - but my gut tells me you underestimate how popular it is. Regarding her foreign policy views, I would describe them as non-interventionist and in a similar camp to former Pres Carter's (and maybe Sen Rand Paul). Outside elite consensus ... yes, but when you loathe our political elite and the foreign policy prescriptions it champions, it's welcomed. Obviously it's anecdotal, but I plan on caucusing for her ...and I've only voted in 2/4 possible Pres elections (for Kerry in 2004 as a anti-Iraq War protest vote and Trump in 2016).

Bruh, cmon. Merely being a 4-star General means being political. McCraven merely represents elite foreign policy consensus. A "nice guy" ...maybe?, but I bet you he towed the line on some of our disastrous foreign policy mistakes over the past 20 years (Iraq War, Libya, etc.) Don't pretend he's anybody he's not.

Former ROTC instructor here (just left Sept of this year too ...so current) - You're correct when you say ROTC will take a current 422 and PHA in lieu of an approved DoDMERB exam. The reason ROTC allows this is that you'll have to get a MEPS physical before you can enlist in the California ANG. ROTC treats a MEPS like a DoDMERB in that regard. Your MEPS/422/PHA will also work as your commissioning exam. *****FOOT STOMPER**** If you go this route, you MUST contract into ROTC the day you're conditionally released (via form 368) from your ANG commitment. This date will be no earlier than 30 days prior to graduation/commissioning. If you do not, you'll have to get a DoDMERB .... and starting a DoDMERB clearance a month before graduating/commissioning is a surefire way of delaying your entry onto Active Duty. Also, side note - for that month you're contracted into ROTC (and out of the ANG), you will receive the ROTC stipend, which will be $500ish. Not a huge amount, but worth remembering (beer $$$). You won't get any ROTC educational benefits while you're simultaneously in the ANG, however ....most state's ANG benefits either mirror or are better than what ROTC offers ....and it's a GUARANTEE, whereas ROTC scholarships are competitive. Let me know if you have more questions.

I can't get to 80 ...at 201 hrs, PCSM is 69. I've retaken the AFOQT once, so I'm capped there, and since I administer the TBAS to ROTC cadets as the TCO, I can't actually take the test again (I guess it's cheating?)

First post here too - looking for some feedback AFOQT: Pilot 60, Nav 76, AA 64, V 57, Q 66 PCSM 26, 0 hours, start PPL next week. Will be at 50 when I'm complete. GPA 3.62 undergrad (non-STEM); 3.79 grad school (have MBA) LOR's 2x O-6's (both Weapons School Instructors and Group Commanders), President of major university Age 32 ....oosh!...Age waiver Very good record - strats of #1/17, 1/8, 1/7, 1/5, 3/14, 2/10, 2/7, & 2/5 PFAs usually 100% or 99% 9 years intel ...looking to go ANG or AFR...will be a junior major by the time I join a unit

No program exists for this currently - I was a former active duty officer who went guard, missed active duty life, and tried to get back on. AFPC doesn't have a special program for it ....which is beyond retarded. Best bet is to Guard bum or work your ass off to get a technician or AGR job

First post here too - looking for some feedback AFOQT: Pilot 60, Nav 76, AA 64, V 57, Q 66 PCSM 26, 0 hours, start PPL next week. Will be at 50 when I'm complete GPA 3.62 undergrad (non-STEM); 3.79 grad school (have MBA) LOR's 2x O-6's (both Weapons School Instructors and Group Commanders), President of major university Age 32 ....oosh!...Age waiver Very good record - strats of #1/17, 1/8, 1/7, 1/5, 3/14, 2/10, 2/7, & 2/5 PFAs usually 100% or 99% 9 years intel ...looking to go ANG or AFR