Bergman

Okay. I’ve read that entire article 3 times today hoping my conclusion would change. It hasn’t. “What fucking planet are you on, dude?!” I want to drive to his house with a 12 pack and invite myself in. “My man! We need to talk!” Because clearly NO ONE he has talked to has given him the straight scoop. He might as well have said, “Well, based on my two 15 day deployments in the last 20 years, THIS is what the rated force means”. YGBSM.

It’s a toss up between scuba diving in Curaçao, driving around Western Europe, or drinking Mai Tais in Waikiki. I wasn’t built to fly, but I sure was built to go TDY!

Names released. 9 guys. C-130 Crash Victims Identified

It is bone chilling. FML. 🍻

I thought it was "It's better to get lucky than be good"?

Always a light moment when taxiing in near view of the tower and announcing that we had our tickets... They were still doing the Gun Show at Al Udeid in December. FWIW I've seen the TN adjutant general in action for quite a number of years and this didn't really come as a surprise. A tragedy, for sure. But he doesn't like the Air component one bit to begin with, and has a very low tolerance for "flyboy shenanigans". It's interesting to note that he is one of the most old-school relics I've ever run across (and I'm pretty damned crusty myself). The stuff I personally have heard him say about women and minorities, out loud, and in public, made me and several others literally wince. Rule #3: There is no justice! How he has made it this far is somewhat of a mystery to me, although admittedly I don't know much of his career prior to being a two star. (Rule 1 being Timing is everything, Rule 2 Life isn't fair. The three rules of an Air Force career) I already thought the guy who runs the snco/nco Facebook page was a complete Nonner tool, and this whole episode confirms it. This shitbag literally ruined these people's careers, and in the case of the MSgt who tried re-enlisting, perhaps her entire life (she is a single mom whose only job was full-time ANG) and now tries to backtrack for fear of losing his precious clicks and Likes. You, sir, can eat a bowl of dicks. I'll never read or comment on anything he posts again.

Agreed. Maybe I’m just getting old, but the idea of more money to spend...in a place I didn’t choose to live, and getting deposited while I’m away from home for months on end AGAIN, all the while working for narrow minded leadership that doesn’t value my effort, just isn’t worth it. The fact the airlines offer significantly better stability and also the same, or possibly much higher, salary makes this a no-brainer. I will say I remember leaving AD and the fear of the unknown. It took a couple years to realize that yes, I can say NO to things, I can live wherever I want, and my life can be about things other than work.

That is equivalent to 3rd year pay at the airline, assuming you work 15 days a month. And you’d still have no control over your life (179s, 365s, PCS, RPA, etc).

This video sums it up

Hey! This was in Nashville!! Nothing to do with the flying units...it was either HQ or 118th (RPAs). EDIT: just read they are TN HQ people.

Well damn if I don’t have vacation from the airline that week. 🤔🤔🤔

This might be a good opportunity to not tell the VA your plans wrt not living there. None of their business and if you don't offer it up, doubt they'll ask. I'd probably pull the trigger as well, assuming you know what you're getting in to. It's only money after all! haha. Honestly, you'll be paying the principle down for an extra year or more and also gain the interest deduction (not sure how that changes with the new Trump plan).

Oh the irony, eh? We seriously can't even make this shit up anymore. I'd say it's impossible to get any more out of touch than this statement, but the douchebags running the USAF these days would take it as a challenge. I weep for our service.

IMHO this is an almost unbelievable perk. My parents are able to come visit as often as they want. I fly literally all over the place on a whim. Booking non-rev on other airlines is easy and free if you’re traveling by yourself. You learn the ropes pretty quick. Take the earliest flight possible, as once the first operational hiccup occurs, you could be SOL all day. Keep an eye on the weather and plan accordingly. Obviously some places are easier to get to than others but if you’ve got time and plan ahead, you’ll love it.

It’s Al Udeid...”Always different, never better” FWIW I got the $60/mo plan in Oct-Dec and it worked great for my laptop and phone. It is a PITA to log in every time you switch buildings/routers but at least it works well once you’re logged in.

Same here. 16 years between two ANG bases and never been searched leaving the base. I have, however, been searched getting on the base several times. The guards say, "Just go ahead and unload your handguns and put them on the front seat. We won't take them" Gotta love the Guard. Sometimes.

Is there a way we can print this, laminate it, and send it certified mail to Gen Goldfein to ensure he gets it? Then hold his Exec's family hostage at gunpoint until he makes the general actually READ it.

Agreed. This dude nicely summarizes thousands of angry Internet rants. I’m hopeful the clowns in charge read and heed, but doubt they will.

Okay! I made $130k at the airline and worked an average of 11 days a month last year. Many of those were half days, as I had zero report times before noon. At least 2 of those 11 per month were “off days” on 30 hour layovers. Oh hey, I’m on one right now. Drinking Guinness for $2.35/hour per diem and $1000/ day pay. Meh. i mention this not as a brag (that’s chump change for airline guys) but as a data point. Run! Fucking run! You’re treated better and well compensated. The Air Force no longer deserves the sacrifice so many good people endure to serve. The O-6s and above just don’t care about anyone but themselves. I can’t stand their bottom-shelf management (leadership nowhere to be found) and the self-serving buffoons in charge constantly crushing what little morale and QOL we have left. Calling it a career (AD/ANG) later this year.

This is 100% accurate. Worth the read. https://www.aviationbull.com/2018/feb/26/airline-pilot-second-year-review

That should be added below the base name on every AF base front gate!! Glad I'm not losing my mind about AROWs as well. Hope this speeds things up. Only in the AF could we spend $100 Million on a half-assed computer program to replace a clip board and photocopied form that had worked for 50 years.

No, they are all airline captains.

This made my day. So true. Big Blue is so fucked and 99% of the O-6s and above don't give even the slightest shit. Run fellas. Fucking run!

I think that's my next adventure when I can hold widebody in Atlanta. Talked with a 777 FO who flew 6 4-day trips IN A YEAR sitting reserve. At $232/hour. The trips were all one leg out, 48 hour layover, 1 leg back. Oh, with two crews...so in crew rest half of the two flights also. Although I have to say, my regular schedule has been pretty awesome lately. A full 81 hour schedule for March has 3 4-days and a 3-day, and all but one of those trips has a 33+ hour layover (entire day off) so not really working that hard. I bid specific layovers and usually have enough going on they don't even feel like work.

Saw this on an airline FB page this morning and thought it was oh so true and worth sharing as it captures the difference perfectly. Shared without consent so hope he’s not pissed. “I just got my new Delta ID. (It's been nearly 2 years already!?) It reminded me of the process required to get a new military ID. Block yourself off for at least a couple hours so you can sign in at MPF and then wait for 30-45 minutes for your turn to see a "technician." Then, sit in a chair and watch an overweight civilian with 13" acrylic fingernails or an 18-year-old scared of his own shadow peck away at an archaic computer for 45-60 minutes, waiting for that golden moment when you finally get to enter your new (not new) pin into the keyboard twice (and then twice again when the tech pushes the wrong button and needs you a do-over.) These two processes contrasted so sharply I can't help myself: I got a pop-up a few days ago when I signed in to the company system to trade the trip I was scheduled to fly for one that better fit my personal whims at the time. (No requirement to as Top 3...or any other human being...for permission on the schedule change.) The system said the ID would be delivered to my Chief Pilot's Office this month. (I hadn't even realized that it was going to expire.) "Good deal," I thought, "I'll have to look for that in a few weeks." As I was walking past the CPO to start work today I figured I might as well stop on by...on the off chance it's already there. Sure enough! Hand the secretary my old card, put the new one on my lanyard. Done. Wait! No forms to sign? No new picture required? No waiting? And this gets me into some of the most strictly secured infrastructure in the world? Yep, have a good day! (Big smile.) Pay: far better Flying: far more Time at work: far less Overall life stress and frustration: lower, beyond compare This job doesn't suck.”