Bergman

Wow, FOUR Distinguished Flying Crosses with Valor and a Purple Heart. Seems unusual that I've never read about him before. I call bullshit.

Thought this was pretty interesting. Proves that the tanker boldface of "Throttles - Cut-Off after touch down" is probably a good idea if you crash land and survive. https://gma.yahoo.com...topstories.html

I too would like to know, at least generally speaking, what the family concerns were/are. The issue I would have - and past experience backs this up - is that if you can't stay focused for 6-9 weeks of OTS, how can you be expected to stay focused for 54 weeks of UPT plus FTU and survival school? Hopefully whatever issues came up have been dealt with and put to bed for good. IMHO you will need to convince any ANG board of that.

Total shock. As with Scooter and many others, God only knows where my career would be without Rich and all the help he and this website provided. Rest in Peace, brother.

How much mileage is the husband going to get out of this one..."Look b*tch, I've already shot you once and I ain't afraid to do it again!" It frightens me that there are people this stupid in the USAF.

2

2. Isn't the point of going cross-country (in white jets at least) to get experience you wouldn't normally get flying at home station? Do some of that pilot shit...don't take "no" for an answer and make it happen.

This is great news! Really.

I agree in principle, but you have to admit that for your average non-Chuck Norris person, an AR-15 >= Bare Hands in most cases, especially against a prepared opponent.

I am with you on he CVR. Can.Not.Wait. As for upgrade...you're saying that maybe, just maybe, the "weekend warrior" ANG/AFRC guys are on to something, with regard to our glacial pace for upgrade? Say it isn't so! I agree with all your comments...too many people upgraded who shouldn't be, for the wrong reasons, and plenty of good dudes who are shoved into the deep end before they're ready IMHO. AYFKM? Dude, I personally flew 3 locals this week. I can't imagine an entire squadron only getting 1! That is jacked up. I admit, I LOLd.

Hell, maybe they'll ask you to fly it out! Don't fuck it up, brother. LOL Seriously though...how in the world do you mistake the 3600' runway at Peter O Knight for the 11,421' (plus God's Own Apron) at MacDill? DURING THE DAY!?!? IN VMC!?! Here's hoping the General was flying, thus saving the career of at least one LT or Capt.

I had a civilian job for ~4 years after MQT and finally quit (took a 9 month salary buy-out, actually) in order to live the guard bum dream. So, I concur...being a pilot and TDY >100 days per year plus a civilian job has got to suck! I averaged around 50-60 when I was still at my civvie job, which wasn't bad...it was more the 70-80 hour weeks that wore me out. Now, I have less work, less hassle, and am much much happier now even though I am gone more. Of course, the thing about guard bumming is that it can't last forever...so currently waiting on an airline (or ten) to call. BL: I choose to be TDY as much as I am...and love it! Well, in the tankers at my unit we usually fly up to the Volk range or maybe Hardwood (sts).

"Sweet...debrief done in under two hours!"

What is going to happen is the AF will admit nothing and then play possum (do nothing) until the new CoS arrives and then hand Gen Welsh several heaping, steamy piles of shit to wade through. I agree that it won't go all the way to stop loss, unless a new conflict suddenly erupts. Unfortunately, I also don't think this will even be a blip on congress' radar, especially with this being an election year. A 15 year cycle of stupid decisions repeating themselves seems about right based on watching it happen twice now.

You can be home or gone as much as you'd like. Requirements and opportunities will vary by unit, but from what I have seen the minimums are flying once a week and at least a couple of weeks TDY per year. Our maximum participators (i.e. guard bums) can fly 500+ hours per year and spend 200 days TDY per year. My 3 year average is 165 FWIW.

...and if you have to think about it, she's a 1.

It will depend on the unit...as was mentioned, some are hurting for people. Others are well versed in active duty shennanigans and won't care that you were passed over. Either way, I believe you will need a waiver to get into a guard unit if you are twice passed over. We recently hired two guys in that boat and they needed it. Time will tell if they were good hires.

The highlight of the change, IMHO: So glad to see common sense making at least a small return.

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. FWIW, I hope he gets the nod. We need some charisma and common sense badly.

Compressor stalls were fairly common in the -135E, which had TF33s lifted from 707s. One would assume the actual 707s that used to roam the earth would have similar issues. Typically they would happen at high power settings with a relatively high crosswind component of maybe 15-20 knots. When it'd happen, you would swear the damned engine just blew up...loud as shit and the whole jet would rock violently. Had it happen on go-around twice but think those were due to either ham-fisting the throttles or mx issues.

They mention 2017 as being the worst year of the shortage. Interestingly, if you look at the mandatory retirement data from American Airlines and Delta (and I am sure the other airlines' curve looks similar), their peak pilot retirements will be then as well. Wonder who is going to win the battle for talent? I personally think pilot retention is going to be way worse that the USAF is currently predicting. They deserve it, unfortunately.

+1 if they did it as an April fools' joke. Sadly, humor and fun have been run out of the AF. Countdown until someone gets an Article 15 for it...?

Dude, WTF? You just used the term "laser focus" of your own free will? Back on topic... 1) Best job anyone could realistically hope to have (exceptions such as porn star, rock star, trust fund baby, lottery winner, etc apply) IMHO. I could write volumes about all the awesome stuff I have been able, and continue, to do (and I'm "only" a tanker guy, mind you) that it would boggle your mind. 2) Notice I said "best JOB" above. It's still a job. Like any job, there are less desirable aspects to military flying but in my opinion they are vastly outweighed by the good aspects. Try to dodge as much BS as possible, minimize queep, focus on the mission, and never forget...you are living the "good old days" right now.

FOUL! No grape.

C'mon now! Eighties? That's a bit before my time. Maybe Rainman or M2 can shed some light on that decade. Nice.