Capt Malinda Hammond IS My Hero!

[capt4fans]

2

[Guest Hueypilot812]

Here are some examples that point out things that are wrong with our Air Force today:

--We got an email recently that reminded us that the morale computers, although utilizing a commercial internet provider, are government-supplied computers. As such, pornography is forbidden to be downloaded, viewed or created, the only exceptions being AFN and public affairs.

Uh, ok...so we can watch porn on AFN now? And the PA guys can make porn?

--We were reminded via email lately that the AFIs clearly state we must brush our teeth in a bathroom facility, that brushing teeth anywhere else is a violation of that AFI.

--We were also reminded via email that it is against AFIs to exercise in any exercise facilities, including the fitness center basketball, volleyball courts, etc, unless we are wearing appropriate AFPTU clothing. Exercising or participating in exercise activities in uniform or civilian clothes (even if you're one of those allowed to do so) is against AFIs and violators will be dealt with.

--We were recently told that spitting outdoors is now banned, because it's "unprofessional". Hope you don't accidentally have one of these Iraqi attack flies fly into your mouth...

--One of our pilots was forbidden to shower while the base played war....he was on his way to shower prior to showing for a real-world combat airlift mission (we train Iraqis on the Herk), when they told him he had to get into the nearest bunker and play along...he told the guys that he was still in crew rest and preparing to show for a real-world mission...the answer he got was "no, you're going to play war today, Captain", so he threw his hands up and went to a bunker for an hour...and the flight was late taking off. Nice job, guys. Sorry crew, I was late for my real combat mission because the homos next door felt like pretending they are in combat.

--Not too long back I saw an email promoting the latest scheme...come on over and have your picture taken with your IBA, helmet and a rifle...if you don't have a rifle, we'll loan it to you for the photo...get your picture taken by the up-armored Humvee so you can show your friends and family back home what a great war hero you are, despite the fact that you spend all day handing out linen at billeting, or typing behind a desk at PERSCO, or handing out basketballs at the gym...come on guys, put on your war face!!!

Interestingly, I didn't see any of the OSI guys that go outside the wire, or any of our aircrew, standing in line.

[Skitzo]

--One of our pilots was forbidden to shower while the base played war....he was on his way to shower prior to showing for a real-world combat airlift mission (we train Iraqis on the Herk), when they told him he had to get into the nearest bunker and play along...he told the guys that he was still in crew rest and preparing to show for a real-world mission...the answer he got was "no, you're going to play war today, Captain", so he threw his hands up and went to a bunker for an hour...and the flight was late taking off. Nice job, guys. Sorry crew, I was late for my real combat mission because the homos next door felt like pretending they are in combat.

Absolutely UNSAT, maybe if crew dogs felt like their supervisors/commander's had their back's they would confront SSgt Bagadonuts, instead guys are so afraid of pissing off everyone they comply with completely insane orders.

How could the person in charge not understand the following: I understand you are having an exercise, I have a real-world mission, exercises are not supposed to impede real world missions. By making me play along you are impacting a real world mission. I am proceeding to take a shower, if you have any further problems please contact my supervisor/commander.

[Guest Hueypilot812]

Absolutely UNSAT, maybe if crew dogs felt like their supervisors/commander's had their back's they would confront SSgt Bagadonuts, instead guys are so afraid of pissing off everyone they comply with completely insane orders.

How could the person in charge not understand the following: I understand you are having an exercise, I have a real-world mission, exercises are not supposed to impede real world missions. By making me play along you are impacting a real world mission. I am proceeding to take a shower, if you have any further problems please contact my supervisor/commander.

That was tried, but it failed to sway them. It also failed to sway the SFS folks from romping through our tent yelling for everyone to evacuate, despite the one guy who was awake telling them that most of us were in crew rest to fly or in crew rest for BRAVO alert.

[Skitzo]

That was tried, but it failed to sway them. It also failed to sway the SFS folks from romping through our tent yelling for everyone to evacuate, despite the one guy who was awake telling them that most of us were in crew rest to fly or in crew rest for BRAVO alert.

Stooopid. If they would have stood up to them they would have been the ones in trouble too. I think the REMFs are actually driving the mission. At some point this stuff needs to stop.

I really think it speaks to a lack of confidence in leadership. I don't know how the above situation didn't generate O-5s exchanging kicks to the groin.

IMHO the right way to deal with this would have been to have an actual understanding between support and OPS. That is the only way anything is going to get fixed. Maybe you can take up with what some other people have suggested and that would be fostering that understanding by inviting people down to your squadron OPS.

I don't think that people are harassing crew dogs for any other reason than they are ignorant. I don't think they are ignorant on purpose but in this day and age when everyone is a warrior down to the base finance people they think that they are just as important as everyone else and it's simply not true.

Barring that, a cancelled or delayed sortie should royally piss off the commanders and not pissed off with the crew for not playing along but pissed off at the other party for screwing up the schedule.

[Guest Hueypilot812]

The problem is we live on their base, but we don't belong to them. We fall under MNTSC-I, while the base is your typical AEG with a bunch of AEF guys running the place. The really sad part though, is the O-6 that commanded the base when the incidents above occurred is a pilot. Our O-5 fought the issue after the SFS and other REMFs that complained about our participation (or lack thereof) told on us. Unfortunately, the AEG/CC, despite being a pilot, sided with the shoes, and stated that his people's stupid wargames trumped our real-world mission. The guys further up our chain seemed reluctant to engage in what seemed to be a minor pissing match, and simply told our O-5 to play ball with the guys who own the base we live on.

On another note, shortly after that incident, I walked up to the chow hall on my day off, and was told I couldn't enter because on that day, they were doing an "arming exercise", and everyone on base had to eat chow with their weapon. That was the exercise...to bring your weapon with you to lunch. I explained that I was a CAFTT guy, and I eat lunch with my weapon every day (because we work on an Iraqi base, and we're required to have a weapon). Didn't matter...I had to go back and get my weapon so I could eat.

I asked the guys checking IDs what was the training value of eating while wearing a weapon...I was told that it was to remind us that we are airmen at war, and to allow us airmen to check our weapons out of the armory, clean them and practice accounting for it. They were shocked when I told them I wear mine every day, and have done so for six months, and I don't keep it in the armory, I keep it in my gun box in my tent.

And people wonder why I'm tired of hearing all these morons running around talking about being warriors...I'm not a warrior, I'll admit that. I'm a C-130 pilot, and I support the warriors by taking them into combat, and resupplying them. Why can't these people figure that out, that counting towels at the gym does not make you a warrior...that clicking the counter at the entrance of the DFAC does not make you a warrior...that sitting outside a cadillac in the middle of the damn VBC, checking for untucked shirts and people brushing their teeth in the wrong place, does not make you a warrior?

[SocialD]

--One of our pilots was forbidden to shower while the base played war....he was on his way to shower prior to showing for a real-world combat airlift mission (we train Iraqis on the Herk), when they told him he had to get into the nearest bunker and play along...he told the guys that he was still in crew rest and preparing to show for a real-world mission...the answer he got was "no, you're going to play war today, Captain", so he threw his hands up and went to a bunker for an hour...and the flight was late taking off. Nice job, guys. Sorry crew, I was late for my real combat mission because the homos next door felt like pretending they are in combat.

Total BS! War GAMES are more important than real world....I have heard it all now! Listen man, either arrest me or get out of my way I'm going to the shower! Here is my commander and his phone number, take it up with him. I could see the SF commander trying to explain to an Army commander that his air support was late due to the base "PLAYING" war games, that should go over real well!

Edited December 12, 2008 by SocialD

[Stiffler]

I almost cant read this stuff anymore. We need to create a dossier, with all these complaints compiled, and start passing them to commanders and elected leaders.

[Guest r6pilot]

As someone just getting started in the AF, I can't even fathom some of this stuff you guys are posting about (PT uniforms, no showers during games, etc). I've been in the "real world" (i.e. out of college and working a career) since 2002 and can only imagine what I'd say to some of these pricks if they tried to pull this shit on me.

I'm going to have to start changing my mindset NOW.

[Champ Kind]

Unless the guy "ordering" me to the bunker on my way to shower during crew-rest was above my rank, I would have told him to "fuck off", and then referred him to my CC.

As far as the cops coming in while you guys are crew resting/sitting alert: why not just post a sign with big red letters that says "COMBAT AIRLIFT CREWS IN CREW REST BEFORE A COMBAT MISSION - DO NOT ENTER" (or, "FUCK OFF", whichever you prefer) with the applicable pages of the Vol 3 outside the door with the sections relating to alerts/crew rest highlighted?

My....God.

[check6]

Unless the guy "ordering" me to the bunker on my way to shower during crew-rest was above my rank, I would have told him to "###### off", and then referred him to my CC.

Exactly. Never been there, but how do not just CRUSH SrA Happypants when he says this shit? Will leadership really not back you when you tell them to get lost? I think only in the AF would you have these people trying to order around groups of pilots, Marine officers would NEVER be questioned by lower ranking enlisted.

[capt4fans]

OK I hate to be the one to call it, but this thread is being hijacked and totally taken off target. Most of the last posts can be directed to the thread "Leadership at the 'Deid". I realize not all of you are at the Deid, but that thread follows along with most of the last 6 or so posts in this thread.

Rant off....back to your regular scheduled thread.

Edited December 13, 2008 by capt4fans

[MadMac]

to that retired MSgt at Randolph...oh wait that's me!

Thanks for eBeers!

[discus]

to that retired MSgt at Randolph...oh wait that's me!

Thanks for eBeers!

We are glad to do it! It has become quite clear we need to bring back everyone who was in the USAF during the 70's and 80's as consultants. The first step for you guys would be to have a sit down with anyone wearing two stripes or less, or two bars or less. This sit down would be done with a "Wack'in stick in hand. The next thing you guys would do is sit down with everyone 7 stripes or more, and one star and up. Same wack'in stick, same goal: Beat some f'ing sense into today's USAF!

Thanks again, Mac!

[MadMac]

If I could, I would beat some sense into the whole Air Force.

[M2]

Mac

There are a few of us on here who feel the same...

By the way, were you a 111X0, or did you work the defensive systems on the BUFF?

Cheers! M2

[MadMac]

111X0 Defensive Aerial Gunner

Fox 4, 1200 yards...have a nice walk home.

[Guest FUBAR]

To MadMac, M2, Prozac, Bob and everyone else for that matter...thanks. Who ever thought one little patch would be so much fun?

[Jenkspaz]

To MadMac, M2, Prozac, Bob and everyone else for that matter...thanks. Who ever thought one little patch would be so much fun?

Could this actually be... I mean... is it possible that this actually is... damnit, I'm too nervous to say it...

[Duck]

Exactly. Never been there, but how do not just CRUSH SrA Happypants when he says this shit? Will leadership really not back you when you tell them to get lost? I think only in the AF would you have these people trying to order around groups of pilots, Marine officers would NEVER be questioned by lower ranking enlisted.

Late reply to this, but my Dad as a Marine Colonel, harrier pilot and SQ/CC, had a harrier crash in his squadron and the pilot didn't get out. He opened the access gate on HIS SQUADRON's property so that they could do recovery and some other stuff. Some Lance Corporal MP tries to arrest my Dad and his Capt for opening the gate. So my Dad told him that they had a casualty and he can pound sand. The Marine persists so my Dad says "Do you see who's name is on that building? That is my name, which means you can do whatever you want, but you aren't arresting me or my Marines. If you want to shoot me, go ahead, I just hope you have a damn good explanation to the Group Commander as to why you shot one of his SQ/CC." The MP sent in a formal complaint to his boss and my Dad's boss.

The difference between the AF and the Marines: The leadership backed my Dad for his actions and didn't monday morning quarterback what he did. The MP was told to STFU and do his job.

[Alpharatz]

It is obvious that I am hopelessly out of the loop....but WHY would a Marine Col. hesitate to order a Lance Corporal into instant physical restraint for not only DISOBEYING him....but threatening HIM with arrest at the scene of a fatal military crash no less?

Herr Gott!!!!!

...........................................Peckers pointed North? Apparently not.....................

[Duck]

It is obvious that I am hopelessly out of the loop....but WHY would a Marine Col. hesitate to order a Lance Corporal into instant physical restraint for not only DISOBEYING him....but threatening HIM with arrest at the scene of a fatal military crash no less?

Herr Gott!!!!!

The MPs in the Marine Corps are just as bad if not worse than the SF of the Air Force. Imagine an 18 year old with a badge, a car, an M-16 and a sense of authority. All in all, it worked out. I doubt anyone wanted to get into a tussle with a dude pointing an M-16 at their head. You aren't going to physically restrain him. He did order him to leave them alone and to bring it up with his commander. Besides that, what would you have done?

Edited January 30, 2009 by leadeagle05

[Flare]

Why is it worse in the Marines? Compared to the SF, the MP is in shape to kick your ass, and he knows how to use his gun.

[ol-IEWO]

My new hero

This nineteen year old ex-cheerleader (now an Air Force Security Forces Sniper) was watching a road that led to a NATO military base when she observed a man digging by the road. She engaged the target (I.e., she shot him). Turned out he was a bomb maker for the Taliban and he was burying an IED that was to be detonated when a US patrol walked by 30 minutes later. It would have certainly killed and wounded several soldiers.

The interesting fact of this story is the shot was measured at 725 yards. She shot him as he was bent over burying the bomb. The shot went through his butt and into the bomb which detonated; he was blown to pieces.

[uhhello]

Not a cheerleader but still a good shot :)

https://www.snopes.com/photos/military/cheerleader.asp