FDNYOldGuy

Definitely great in that and before he jumped on the “Rob Schneider is a carrot,” train. He’s only overshadowed by Bob Uecker killing it in Major League; one of my absolute favorite 80’s movies.

Only caveat I'd say to the "government bureaucracy" aspect is that it was only government itself that what was capable of throwing massive amounts of money at something that had no profit motive to get it done in the 60's with NASA. We drove smart people into government/contracting fields that wanted to be part of something great. We had the fear motive with the USSR to keep the public behind it, thankfully, as it certainly would have been killed as government waste if not. Even with the great strides, it eventually was scaled way back when we handily beat them and the populace lost interest. Which sucks. The only reason, now, is that people with "F-you" money and huge egos can shake out their couch cushions and afford to fund space programs that are as close to rich-folk dick-measuring contests as anything. Sure, the outcome is great and competition does drive innovation, but there's also the point that the combined money spent by Musk/Besos/Branson may have avoided a lot of duplication of effort and competition for the brain-trusts and we could be further along if united. I also have some concerns with being beholden for massive amounts of government-utilized space tech to an individual (who gets richer off such contracts, too), but that is part of the game, I guess. Then again, what do I know? Honestly, I just wanted to post up a reply to you because I f-ing love your avatar, which brought me back and reminded me of one of my Top 10 movies as a kid. Kathy Ireland and "stick a spigot in that fat buddha over there..." are just a couple reasons that was an underrated gem.

Man, this was a great throwback post and walk down memory lane! Granted, I was sitting a little ways up the road in Tallahassee belting out my War Chant and likely hoping everyone playing this game came down with a wicked case of chronic diarrhea, but I remember this game and the awesome energy of college football around this time. Florida teams were perennial powerhouses, USC and ND were always circling, OU and UT put on some great slug-fests, and Ohio State really pissed on a parade. Crazy watching this how many of the names rattled off I'd not thought about in forever that popped back in my head. Thanks for posting it!

Not directed at you, but quoted to highlight to others that this point (exponentially increased if you have kids) is MAJORLY overlooked in the hunt for a chance to wear a green onesie. Sure, military flying is great, but there are a whole lot of glossed-over and seemingly not considered crotch kicks to you and your family by pursuing a military life. AD more so than Reserves/ANG, but both can strain. I've known more than a few guys and gals that washed out/self-eliminated because of family separation struggles or gotten divorced due to distance if the spouse/family stays home or due to dragging spouse/family to "garden spot" training bases around the country that leave them isolated and transient. Even those of us that survived the training pipeline stresses with our families intact didn't do so without a few scars from bumps along the way. Bottom line: It's awesome to be able to fly military jets. Hands down. I have no ragerts and would probably still do it all over again if I had to. But, I strongly warn against running blindly at the dream after getting all hyped up watching Iron Eagle and Top Gun without stopping for a tactical pause and true discussion with yourself/significant other(s...don't forget kids; even if you don't have them yet) about the downsides or obligations to obtaining and keeping your dream going. It certainly has been done successfully by millions in uniform in the past and is part of the sacrifice to serve, but just want to warn against getting too starry-eyed.

Damn. My last PM on here was from him 8 days ago, replying to a message I sent him in response to a post about lodging options in SA for PIT. Seemed like a great dude. Life is short. 🥃

I’m a couple months overdue on my positive review of Trident, but wanted to throw it in for my recent cash-out refi. I didn’t work with @Jon - Trident Home Loans directly (he didn’t cover my state), but he and I spoke a few times in the year+ process and he was always super helpful despite not being who I would work with. The whole Trident team was solid, the process smooth, and the rate was better than the going conventional. Definitely appreciated them will use them again.

+1 to what everyone else said; especially with your attitude to what the life presents. Traveling to the Middle East on my own dime is not super high on my list, but getting paid to take an all expenses paid trip to do so and carrying some cool stuff with great people, makes it pretty awesome. And sometimes that trip is to Hawaii… Does it entail some queep that is less than optimal at times? Yeah. But, it’s all part of the cost of the ride. You can easily make both careers work; it’s even easier with that type of schedule. Signed, A guy with a similar civilian schedule that has thoroughly enjoyed the last 5+ years of playing Air Force part(ish)-time.

Not a fighter dude, but my guess is that, even thought you're not above the age-waiver land, Reserve/Guard fighters usually shy away from folks close to that range. They got burned by the oldies in the past bailing out mid-UPT and there are pieces to a fighter track that are tougher as an older person. You're playing a numbers game and betting on the longer shots by narrowing to fighters; more competition for fewer seats. If you really just want to fly anything, you really should start looking at heavies. If you want some autonomy, start rushing heavy Reserve/Guard units. As many before have said, 96.69% of people usually enjoy wherever they end up as long as they embrace it. "Bloom where you're planted." AD has its place...and it's life. If you want life autonomy, (more of) a choice of what you fly (depends where you're hired, obviously), and the ability to get that airline line number started years earlier, you probably are infinitely better off holding off for Guard/Reserves. You might have a "better/faster" chance flying just going AD, but you risk getting pulled by your hammer around the world. As for flying fighters, you're putting WAY more in the hands of the fates than if you get hired by a unit. Your skills, your competition...errr classmates..., available 38 slots, and the needs of the AF all dictate more than you "wanting to fly fighters." You could be a strong above average 5th in a class that gets six 38 slots or you could be a hot shit 3 in a class that gets two slots. You could get that 38 slot and they only have 2 fighters in the drop, so FAIP or bombers for you. All of that is decided by random luck and timing. Then again, some folks are in it to win it and wanna ride or die AD. It's certainly admirable and a guaranteed paycheck for 12-ish years. It really is only something you can decide. Lastly, look into Reserves more. Guard is great and less AD-light, but it's much more disjointed in the hiring due to the inherent state by state nature. Each Guard unit has its own separate hiring apparatus with separate recruiters; Reserves can get you started (MEPS, forms, basic intro stuff) for any airframe (I think they still do Unsponsored...) and you can begin rolling as you're rushing multiple Reserve units. Whichever path you choose, 100% rush multiple times to the units you truly want. They're getting lots of hotdogs tossed their way; be a more memorable hotdog. Be a good human, put in the work to make them want to pick you, and don't stop until you've gotten the last TBNT. it's tough competition and no one is gonna just hand it to you, so don't give up. Good luck! Signed, A happy Reserve heavy driver that started UPT 7 years above the age cutoff ***(DISCLAIMER: during a VERY different hiring environment, so not happening very often anymore)*** and has greatly enjoyed the adventure I've been fortunate enough to experience thus far.

Happens pretty often. If you're making it in T6s and not a totally ham-handed pilot, they're not usually going to write off that training already sunk if you're struggling in 38s. Once they wing you (which happens earlier/after T6s now?), they're not going to want to lose you as an asset they spent money to train. As long as you get a heavy unit to pick you up (AFRC or AD will just shuffle you to where they need bodies if you don't have someone; Guard may require more work on your part since you're more owned by a certain unit/state) and you still want to fly, it's not an earth shattering move. I think I personally know of >5 people bouncing between pointy and heavy life at various stages along the training/career.

Yup. Exactly what @Boomer6 and @brabus said: They're likely not going to care about BS/BA; get a degree that is useful to you in case you don't get to play airplane for some unforeseen reason. Furthering that, it's great you want to know about psych but, if you have zero interest in making it a career, you're just wasting your money. You can buy some books to read/learn about psych and, if you really want to go through some formal courses in it, get a minor in psych to go with the major that's going to get you paid (or just rack up hours for airlines). Always try to open as many doors as you can; it'll allow you more options down the road when life inevitably changes.

Hence why I overly stressed that it's a bad investment and multiple other investment/financial planning boxes should be checked, but discounting the option completely isn't the answer and I'm guessing why you put "nearly" in there. I also mentioned the lower returns/better options in other investments. And, yes, most of us likely won't be lucky enough to be above the $12.92 tax free cap, so no (or little; some states have) estate taxes. But, your heirs will have to pay taxes on what they receive. All inherited retirement accounts must be wiped out within 10 years of your passing, so you kids will be forced to liquidate everything within that timeframe and pay taxes on (any non-Roth parts of) it. It'll also count as income that'll stack on top of whatever they're already earning. There are no taxes at all on insurance disbursements. 100% a Term is a cheaper buy, but you die outside that term and they get nothing. A Whole LIFE is way more costly for lower coverage, but it's a GUARANTEE that someone gets a wad of cash. Father Time is undefeated, so you're getting paid to die. It's also something stable you can 100% bank on paying out what it says it's going to. If you keel and 08-09 type market is around, your estate has taken quite the hair cut. You know what still paid out 100% in March 2009? Insurance. For folks living that airline life, you're already socking quite a bit away in stonks, which is why I threw the option out there (with a million caveats). Again, I don't think it's a great investment and they are very costly, but it's another estate planning tool that can have some validity for folks making a lot of money and checking other retirement/investment boxes. I make zero dollars by bringing up Whole Life and you will certainly have the wolves salivating when you ask any company about them due to the high commissions, but it can be worth a consideration if you know what you're going into. It could. The company will still contribute, but you'll just be unable to write anything beyond the $22.5 off your income and if you think you'd max out their direct contributions, too, then you might end up overfunding beyond the $66k allowed for TSP/401/403 plan type. Not really a tax person, but this is what comes to mind.

+1 on the IRAs (especially Roth), but keep an eye on income limits and you might need to do the “Backdoor Roth” option if you make too much. TSP is treated like a 401k and, if you max out TSP, you’re already maxed on 401k; pre or post (Roth) designations. If you have access to 457 you can end around that limit and contribute another $22.5. If you’re looking for more tax shielded investment options beyond that, next stop can be HSAs, or if you’ve got kids you think will need college tuition help, 529s. If your focus is giving money to heirs, it might be worth looking into a Whole Life insurance policy. These are EXPENSIVE and not really great investment options (fees are high and annual returns aren’t even close to market returns you’d get investing elsewhere), so they’re not worth looking into until you’ve checked quite a few other investment boxes first. But they’re useful ways to ensure your heirs get paid a tax free chunk when you eventually die (Father Time is undefeated, after all) and you can get tax free dividends in your later years, if you choose, or keep the value growing by reinvesting the dividends. You have to be careful talking to folks about these, as they (and their similar Variable/Universal/whatever Life compatriots) are pushed big time by lots of financial advisors and insurance salespeople because they have HUGE commissions relative to other investment options/life insurance policies. They have a vested interest to hawk them to you, so just do your homework and use someone you trust to buy one, if you go that route.

Bravest, not Brightest.

Meant to circle back to this one, because while the movie put some artistic license and drama to backdrafts, real ones will slam your prison wallet closed at a rapid rate. I remember back when I was FDNYYoungGuy being told by old hats that we'll think, "they're storing dynamite in there," when it happens the first time. They weren't kidding. This is a crazy video of a (rather large) backdraft the brothers in Queens had a few years back. It's amazing people weren't killed in this one; it's certainly larger than most (sts) with a block full of taxpayers on fire. Saving grace was a lot of street for it to expand out to and a lot of folks weren't inside (sts) yet; ones in apartments don't always have that luxury (RIP in peace Jason Gedrick; your sacrifice won't be forgotten...) and can be more lethal. @BFM this, nice pickup! Such a great movie that doesn't get the mileage it should. Some pretty heavy hitters in there for a goofy movie that doesn't get talked about much.

That guy farts, it'll make one of Axe's backdraft setups look like blowing on a birthday candle. 100% that guy's an engine chauffeur and is not making it 2 rungs up that ladder. @Danger41, yessir. Putting the OLD in FDNYOldGuy. I vigorously studied the "historical records" of Backdraft for entry into the FD. Just like I had to watch Iron Eagle/TG to get hired as a mil pilot. All on VHS, too. Haha.