Napoleon_Tanerite

I didn't see anything about volunteer activity or self improvement, so really, he's only an average troop. And has he finished his CDCs? What about CCAF or a bachelors?

Just like any "elite" or difficult group to set into (pilots, CCT, EOD, etc) members tend to police their own. The harder one has to work to gain admission to the group, the more protective its members tend to be.

So apparently this D-bag was a cadet at my ROTC detachment for a semester. I don't remember him, but talking to someone at work she remembers him. Apparently they talked over facebook a few months ago and he fed her his "story" of being a CCT and getting blown up.

I read this whole thread with my face firmly planted in my palm, but when i got to this post I became instantly excited.... I remember a few months ago you said you were going to look into the matter. I hope you're finding something useful and in time we will find out what really happened.

Anyone know if you can renew it stateside? It's looking like it might be a year between deployments for me, so i want to keep it from dropping dead, especially since I think there's some money still on it.

I use it to avoid getting those infuriating pogs. That alone is reason enough for me to use it.

As serious as I am with my batman belt. It's a ridiculous policy, and deserves to be mocked.

i know a few guys with "active" reflective belts (i.e. self powered and illuminated). I'm terrified they're going to catch on.

Buying old, used up airframes and putting new equipment is DEFINITELY a tried and true method of producing reliable, modern airplanes that are in no way operationally restricted by their century old technology. I see no problem calling them new airplanes, just like going to the used car lot and buying that 72 Pacer is like buying a new car.... new to you that is. Hmm.... there appears to not be a sarcasm emoticon...

Step 1 to not getting viruses on your computer is to not click stupid shit. I haven't run AV software since I was in high school, and I don't get viruses. It's amazing what you DON'T download when you only click links you know. NOTHING is EVER being given away free on the internet, NO, she's NOT live on camera, and you don't need any "toolbars" And much like the girls in downtown Del Rio, Internet Explorer is nothing but a virus delivery medium.

nobody from McConnell listed...

https://selfridgecap.org/341.pdf Here's a 4 pack in PDF form!

You must be well liked.

I thought the same thing. An LT is fighting an uphill battle for sure. My advice to him would be to limit his engagement to the situation at hand-- if an individual shoe is disrespectful, correct THAT instance, but declaring war as an LT is a bad idea.

Like I said, I do believe there's a full on assault on the old way of doing things, and the changes are all for the worse. Problems always arise when people who don't play well with others are put in a position of authority. From the sound of it the author was one of these people, and unfortunately for him, so was his boss. I'm ALL FOR having your community and your own way of doing things; however, unless you can interface with the big picture in a positive way without thinking that you ARE the big picture, you are doomed to fail. While I don't know anything about the author beyond the article in the OP, it sounds like he overestimated his sphere of influence, and it bit him.

Oh the irony! While I agree with his assessment of the no-fun Air Force and the social and political rot it's causing with our ranks, an otherwise on-point article is ruined by a thick stench of butthurt whining. He would have a lot more credibility if it was a "I quit and here's why" article, but instead it sounds a whole lot like "I'm a victim and here's why". I agree that our service is overrun by shoes. I also agree that the no-fun, risk averse culture being forced on us is destroying morale and unit cohesion, but what I don't agree with is his apparent attitude that if you ain't a figher pilot you ain't shit. (flame suit on)Fighter pilots tend to be the whiniest support guys out there. Sorry dudes, even YOU aren't the tip of the spear (though closer to it than most). Fighters were initially conceived, and continue to support bombardment operations, but don't tell fighter pilots that. You can't whine about people not knowing their place, and then clearly demonstrate your lack of knowledge of your own. While our fighter pilots may be some of the most skilled, dedicated and well trained aviators in the world, they still have a specific place in the puzzle, and the puzzle is, believe it or not, NOT a picture of a fighter. Ok, that's my piece, I'm ready for the indignant criticism sure to come from the fighter pilots on this board.

I'd like to hear what the chief had to say to your co, since I'm pretty sure your co was an officer. And YOU should have gone and had a discussion with the A1C regarding her tone if you thought she was offensive. The reason shoes are so powerful is because they're allowed to be-- don't ever forget that. Yes you have to follow their rules, seeing as how our leadership has bought into their bullshit, but that still doesn't mean they can be disrespectful in enforcing them, including shoes that outrank you. The ROE "should" be that if you outrank the shithead shoe, you correct the issue on the spot. If the shoe outranks you, you remain calm and polite, gather identifying information, and pass it either up your chain or over to the shoe's chain, as appropriate. Even if you are in violation of the rules, professional respect still applies, even if some people think it doesn't.

Sorry dude, I still disagree. You don't HAVE time, you MAKE time. Did you notice the times I listed? All the times I've gone downtown have either been AFTER a 15+ hour crew duty day, no sleep in between, or when I'm in transient waiting for a rotator after passing the torch off to my replacement. No way you can accelerate the tempo beyond that, at least not for the hours we fly, your airframe/mission might be different. ETA: It's also a long standing Air Force tradition to lay waste to whatever town you are closest to when you're deployed. Unfortunately that's not really an option in Doha, but at least give downtown a shot, if for no other reason than you get SOMETHING to tell your kids and grandkids aside from the great easter egg hunt of 2010

I disagree, Doha is worth the trip if you can spare the time. For as much as the Deid sucks, Doha is great, and is a refreshing does of reality, and makes you realize just how ridiculous the Americans act at AUAB.

I have convinced myself the ECGOC is a sting operation, and that anyone who actually shows up for it is immediately sent home since they are clearly not needed in the AOR given that they have enough time for stupid bullshit like an ECGOC. That's the ONLY way I can sleep at night. The likely truth is too painful to bear. I've gone downtown before, and it IS freaking awesome, but it was always either in the 12 hours AFTER flying and before crew rest started (thus we're talking a 30+ hour day) or after I've been replaced at the end of my trip and am waiting on a ride home.

Last time I was there I bought a bunch of the trinkets and gave them away to family and friends as christmas presents. The card said something like "please enjoy this gift from our undisclosed location in southwest asia. Forget that it was a coffee mug with an outline of Qatar imposed over the Air Force symbol, with Al Udeid written big as shit on there.

The worst is when shitbag zoomies come home and tell everyone they "deployed". Owning a sweat stained reflective belt does not a seasoned warrior make. Since they can't go on combat sorties, what benefit do zoomies actually get in the AOR aside from shoeclerk indoctrination and a carrot to hold over the head of everyone else that they've been "in the shit"?

The key to doing situps if you're paired with a FACer is to have them hold your feet for you if you can at all arrange it. That way they can't verify if your shoulders actually touch the floor or not. Hopefully when the FAC concept inevitably bites the dust not too many otherwise good dudes will have been burned. I already know of a few good dudes who are being shown the door because their flight suit fits too tight. HOPEFULLY the damage doesn't become too extensive before the problem is corrected. WRT not being able to test while you're deployed-- NOT TRUE. You are not REQUIRED to test while deployed, and CAN be waivered, but my understanding is that you have the OPTION of testing while deployed, so long as the tester is a qualified PTL. I'm not saying that testing while deployed is an easy way to get hooked up by a bro, but I do know that most people are in GOOD shape while deployed, and catching up on lost time while on R&R generally doesn't do a lot to improve your PT score, so testing in the last week or two you're deployed might not be a bad idea if you get the chance.

Unmanned aircraft program takes on first class Hopefully they can increase the volume in the 18X pipeline enough to reduce demand and cut the non-vol 11X pulls.

can i reserve the lead zepplin suite? if not, I'll take the kaiser wilhelm suite.