Bergman

That is exactly what I am saying. All volunteer deployments were canceled beginning 1 Nov 10. Thanks! I volunteer because I actually think the ANG should do more and want to do my part. Having said that, even I was surprised by the PM hate mail I received from my post. Apparently several of your AD bros don't care much for the 90-120 per year I (and many of my ANG coworkers) contribute each year. Can't please everyone, I guess.

Yeah, good deals is pretty much all we help out with. Like sitting strip alert at Eielson for weeks on end. Or sitting bravo in Maine for weeks on end. Or spending 5 months a year at Manas or the Deid. Something close to 20% of the deployed crews are ANG/AFRC volunteers (i.e not normal AEF crews). If you think taking that participation out of the system won't have an effect on AD TDY rates, you are nucking futs. Yes, the ANG/AFRC get a pretty good share of the good deals, but don't think that we're not contributing in many other ways. I will close with a firm "shut it" before you can even come back with a "yeah but our guys spend 9 months a year at Manas" or whatever. Not trying to start a TDY rate pissing contest here. FWIW I'm at 154 and counting this year, and I will still end up making only about 80% of what I would have if I was on active duty, plus won't see any retirement cash until age 60. And there are many, many more like me. BL - AMC has pulled the funding for ANG/AFRC participation within the tanker world, and the AD is not going to be able to cover the requirements. The fact that RF canceled due to lack of tanker support is evidence of that.

I'm on the road currently, so I can't provide documentation for this right now...but there is NO WAY they are flying '55s any more. There weren't that many made in '55 the first place, and as someone else has previously stated, they are all retired now anyway. IIRC '57 is the first year to have R-model engines, and Lincoln only has R-models. I'll post a reference when I get home and can find the exact tail number data. That is what happens when AMC cuts the funding for most of the ANG/AFRC tankers (crews)...who happen to operate roughly 60% of them. Between AMC's current budget woes (i.e. all MPA funding gone) and the new 18AF/CC policy for "no guard/reserve help to active duty" it's going to get pretty ugly for the AD bubbas. Not our fault, fellas!

So I've got to ask...WTF were you doing out on your deck at 0430? I have visions of this...(Rainman appears at :21) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjGwusHrOtk

I have the email. It was the 155 ARW/CC who sent it out to many interested parties (WG and OG/CC types). He was apparently in on the discussion/working group at AMC HQ, and the direction of "no more ANG/AFRC help to AD" comes from 18 AF/CC.

At least they didn't totally screw the pooch with the new motto. So sad that my USAF expectations have been lowered from "I just know they'll get this right, as usual" to "Oh thank God they didn't screw up again". As we've previously discussed, the motto could have been much worse.

That really sucks for the tanker world. The line guys are deploying their asses off...so let's cut 50-100 of them. I can't figure out how in the past 20 years the USAF still hasn't figured out how to get the average TDY rate below 150 days per year - which is well above the goal of "below 120" that upper management has been touting for decades. HINT: cutting pilots isn't the answer! YGBSM.

Ummmm...wow. I have never even heard of that before. I'll caveat that my experience is limited to -135s, but everywhere I've been MX makes a copy of the crew's 781 and there will be trouble if the times don't match.

True. Just wanted to note that buying-back time does count toward vacation time and seniority. Probably other things as well. Perhaps a bonafide technician can speak up.

Airline Pilot Central has a good selection of spreadsheets; one is mil specific.

We can all agree that it has been a resounding success since that's happened.

1:11 was, of course, my favorite part.

How many months is it going to take before they start adding "Fitness monitors" to our deployed UTCs?

Alrighty then...after some link/login buffoonery, I believe I am in. That should make 11 of 12 now.

"Hey, that's great. But who are the Chefs?"

I can only guess that the water shortage is due to the Qataris having to refill the river that runs through the mall down in Doha, after it was drained to repaint/reseal. Any sense of "combat zone" I might have had was completely shattered late last week when I discovered that we are, literally, a 20 minute drive from a totally modern city of 1M+ people who couldn't give two shits that we are here (and likely don't know that we are, either).

Hmmm...guess the folks at AETC finally saw The Last Starfighter. It worked for them...

I agree! If he was really taking himself seriously, then he'd compare himself to the Thud pilots flying Route Pack VI, which would definitely be crossing the line.

Count me in. No deployments on the schedule, so should have plenty of time!

So true! Beers for life to the person that releases the info to WikiLeaks.

As of my last trip there in April, here are your answers: - Bring your own laptop. Most/all of the rooms have WiFi access in them, so if you load Skype on your computer it is no problem. I called my wife/mistress/friends/family almost daily using Skype. You can also access Facebook, Twitter, etc. thru the WiFi. Not sure about the government computers, as they hadn't changed the policy yet. - The rooms have 220V plugs, but each room should also have a converter that will give you 110v - although God Forbid you forget to put it on a 12" tile for fire proection. Fire marshall bill will have a fit! As a side note, most laptops, razors, cell phones, etc will actually accept 220-240v inputs. Read the back of the charger to be sure. - You can purchase Leatherman tools, knives, batteries, shampoo, soap, PT gear, towels, tobacco products, magazines, etc. at the BX. For "general" items, they have everything you'll need. It's not a gigantic BX or anything (a trailer, in fact) but they have all of the daily-use items you could want IMHO. - Unless you go off base, you are required to be in an official uniform. So make sure he has all of his required cold weather items, or has someone mail them to him before it gets cold. If he is planning on going off base in civilian clothes, I would plan accordingly on the packing list. Their selection of civvies is nil, IIRC. - Lastly...as I mentioned, they have a post office there! If he's over the weight limit, someone back home can always mail him anything that gets left behind. Unless of course it's vodka, rum, or any of that. Those he'll just have to sneak in himself. Bottom line...being at Manas is very similar to living in the dorms in college. He'll likely have his own 8x10 room with a bed, desk, and wall locker. The bathrooms/showers/laundry are down the hall. There is a day room with DSN phone, TV/DVD, and some couches to hang out. The chow hall is a 5 minute walk away from all the dorms, as is the gym, BX, and bar. Honestly...it's not that bad!

I'm not exactly a grizzled Deid veteran like some of these guys, but IMHO if you wear your reflective belt (good call on the black!), tuck your PT shirt in, and don't put your sunglasses on your head in the CC/BPC, you will be just fine. I haven't heard one story of any of our guys getting hassled yet. There are bigger battles to fight around here than arguing with some narrow-minded shoe clerk about a uniform policy that we aren't going to get changed. I don't know what the internet situation is in the Beautiful People's Compound (where the 1 year folks live) so hopefully someone who does know can chime in. I can tell you that I will never live in CC again without a good USB wifi antenna. My boom just got one, and he went from no signal to full signal in his room. Definitely worth the $30 to be able to skype back home and email without going outside. A definite must for a 1 year tour. Honestly, other than being the hottest/most humid place on Earth right now, it's not that bad. I've been flying nights, so haven't had any time for half of the stuff they offer, but there is a pool, movie theater, great gym at the BPC, sports bar (football season is almost upon us after all), and 3 beers a day. If you are creative or "know people who can get things" that limit is only a small inconvenience. Honestly, most days we're either too tired or too close to crew rest to have more than 3 so it's not that big of a factor. They have indoor plumbing at the BPC, so you should either have your own bathroom or only have to share with one other person. Good luck on your tour!

I submit that this could possibly tie for the best "I QUIT" ever, although it isn't aviation related. "2" on the HOPA however.

Guys, I think help is on the way. I've only been here for a couple of weeks, but in that time I've gotten what I consider to be a decent look at how the new Wg/CC does business. I like it. For example...he spent 6 hours pulling concertina wire and literally digging ditches, he has flown at least 2 tanker sorties so far - one of which he spent almost 7 hours hand flying just to get a feel for the airplane, and has also pulled TCN and dumpster diving duty. I'm not trying to sound like an AFN commercial here, but after talking with him personally and hearing first-hand accounts of how he's doing business, he seems legit. I can only hope that he brings the same changes here that Col H brought to Manas! It's been over a year since I've been here, and I can say that there is noticeably less queep now. I don't doubt the recent stories of the sock patrol and such, but I can tell you that my trailer is 178 steps from the cadillac (yes, I have been bored enough already to count). I have made the trek several times with no belt/shirt untucked and haven't had one person say anything. When they do, a good "thanks" will suffice and then press on. Don't let the little shit ruin your day. Basically, deploying to CENTCOM hasn't changed much since 1997 IMHO. At least we can still have a few beers here (as opposed to PSAB)