Bergman

Good poop, CH. Nice to know there's common sense breaking out everywhere. I know a few guys who have been bitten by the masters requirement changing. Thus, what I used to tell the new LTs in my shop: just f*cking do it. Suck it up and get it knocked out before you make Captain. The AF pays 75-100% of the tuition, so it's basically free. And even if you don't need it for AF promotions, it may come in handy after you leave Big Blue. As for the Master's from ACSC...catch 22! You need a master's to make Major (regardless of what the policy is...senior raters use that to dole out P/DPs, as CH mentioned) but then they give you one after you get promoted. Go figure. At least it's free resume' fodder (and 12 months of cush stateside duty) - again, useful for a second career post-Big Blue.

I would avoid UPT in the future if you have that much heartburn from Randolph's program. FWIW, Dobbins will be good duty. ATL is a great place to visit/party.

Hehe...good show Lightnin... Before anyone jumps off a bridge or in front of a bus... You can have metal fillings! I have 3 of them from when I was a kid and haven't had a problem in 10 years of AF flying. It's a good thing that I didn't listen to high school friends and parents who said, "You'll never fly in the Air Force with flat feet and cavities!"

Good luck on the second round! Assuming you are not already enlisted, your flow would go something like this: AMS (6 weeks) - Knoxville, TN UPT (54 weeks) - Columbus, MS; Enid, OK; Del Rio, TX KC-135 Pilot Initial Qual (15 weeks?) - Altus, OK

Yes.

I did a few weeks of seasoning with other units; we had others who flew with Hawaii for 2 90 day TDYs (don't know how I missed out on that good deal). Granted, that's in the mighty Stratotanker not A-10s. I don't think you'll have a problem flying with other units, but you might run into some trouble getting your unit to pay for either A) TDY expenses or B) PCS entitlements to go somewhere for a year. You never know until you ask, but I suspect money will be the answer. Also, any particular reason why you'd like to leave your home unit during seasoning? That idea might not be well received for a new guy. I could see trying this once your seasoning days were gone - in an attempt to get another year of orders from AD or something - but IMHO you'd be better off being snacko at your home unit and becoming 'one of the boys'.

Hope that those guys with SAMs out there don't have access to our site...

You guys are KILLING me! I did a cut and paste from the reg and typed the additional line about "in their little arm pocket" for shits and grins, as I thought it'd be funny if a reg actually used that verbage. Normally the AFIs don't have a sense of humor...other than the occasional use of the word "manhandle", which I find funny for some reason.

A reading from the good book (11-2C-17v3) 6.2. Personal Requirements. 6.2.1. Passport. Crewmembers will carry a valid passport on all missions outside the CONUS. EXCEPTION: Unit commanders may authorize newly assigned personnel who have applied for, but not yet received, a passport, and those crewmembers whose passports are being renewed, to act as crewmembers on missions not scheduled to transit locations where passports are required. 6.2.2. Shot Record. Crewmembers will maintain worldwide shot requirements and carry their shot records on all missions outside the CONUS (except overseas units on local training missions). 6.2.3. Driver’s License. A valid state driver’s license is required on each TDY where use of US government general purpose vehicles may be required. Crewmembers will contact the local airfield manager before driving on the flight line. 6.2.4. Identification Tags. Crewmembers will carry two identification tags on all flights. 6.2.4.1. Crewmembers should carry identification tags in their little arm pocket. 6.2.5. FOD Hazards. Crewmembers will not wear wigs, hairpieces, rings, ornaments, or earrings in the aircraft or on the flight line. EXCEPTION: Crewmembers may wear plain elastic hair fasteners and/or pins, clips, or barrettes providing they do not interfere with the wearing of headsets, or the donning of oxygen equipment. They will be accounted for before and after flight. 6.2.6. Helmets and Oxygen Masks. 6.2.6.1. Crewmembers will carry a personal helmet and oxygen mask: Damn you're good, C17Driver!!

Google Earth provides a pretty good view of the ramp there. You can see the old christmas tree and a few DC-10/L-1011s sitting there waiting to die.

Yeah...don't know if the other bases show the video of the XL studs from late 90's in a -172 (with their girlfriends on board as well) doing "Iron Eagle" type stunts around the bluffs at Lake Amistad. A bunch of their buddies filmed them doing wingovers and such in very close proximity to the water and cliffs. A news report said they flew under the Hwy 90 bridge and later augered it in after a stall. All 4 killed. BTW - I would be interested in a copy of that video if anyone has it or knows of a link.

Overcome by events

I think you misunderstand the bi-annual flight review which is due every 2 years. It is not another check ride - it is just a requirement to go up with an instructor at least every 2 years for a review of your procedures...stalls, turns, pattern work, etc. The ones I've done have been very low threat and are really no big deal - after all, the whole point is just to make sure you haven't forgotten everything and are still safe to be operating an aircraft. Perhaps some of the aged CFIs out there will have better info. I've never heard of anyone "failing" their flight review, if that's even possible. I have to waive the BS flag if you're talking about Airworthiness Directives - unless it's YOUR airplane, why would someone hook a PPL check for not knowing the ADs for a RENTED airplane? As long as you can QC the forms and preflight the airplane to ensure it's safe to fly...what more do you need to know? My GA experience is fairly limited, so perhaps I've missed something.

We can safely assume that there's at least 1 Herc crew out there who's not afraid to stop and ask for directions. So if they all flew together for the entire rotation, would they still be considered a "hard crew"?? [ 06. December 2005, 20:11: Message edited by: Bergman ]

Obscure but Nice!! Gus Grissom and the Hatch

What model tanker? Just curious if it was an R-model with the better pressurization system.

I went to Turkey in June and it's not as great a deal as everyone claims (or, perhaps, as it used to be). Basically, they have great engraved shotguns for relatively cheap...much cheaper than in the states at least. The problem is getting them back into the US. You have to have them shipped from the shop in Turkey to a licensed firearms dealer here in the states. So, if you have a FFL or know someone who does, it won't be that difficult. If not, then you'll have to contact a local gun shop and arrange for them to receive your gun. The second problem I've heard is that the guns don't last. A few guys in my unit bought them the last time we went (1997) and said they rusted and pitted pretty quickly. I don't know how well they took care of them, but I know that even a cheap Remington or Winchester seems to hold up better than they described with little or no maintenance.

USAA's poop doesn't stink. They're that good. In all seriousness, I have gone through NationsBank/Bank of Amerika and Wells Fargo prior to switching to USAA. It seems like every month I turn to my wife and say, "Remind me again why we haven't been banking with these people for the past 10 years??" Do yourself a favor and go with USAA. $.02

While I have complained about the bleeding heart liberal news media for years, it has just been in the past 4-5 months (since Katrina really) that my bullshit meter has pegged. Stories like that just reaffirm why I've stopped watching. :mad:

You win.

That was FL415, light as hell on our way back to Kadena. Don't cheat us out of that last 500', bro. (I wish they had a Jim Beam bottle icon with crossed golf clubs behind it, it would be appropriate for any reference to that deployment) We weren't pilots at the time, so does it count?

I, too, hope everyone enjoys their COMBAT TURKEY this Thanksgiving. I was in Iceland for it last year and actually had to suffer through his wonderful programs/commercials. Glad to be with the fam this year!

FL410 in an RC-135 FL390 in a T-1

Concur 100%. While the liklihood of losing your slot at this point is small, with BRAC and Palace Chase in full swing I would rather be IN UPT than WAITING on UPT.

You'll either have to wear your nomex jacket over a flight suit or go buy the short blue coat for your blues.