What is right with the Air Force

[MooseAg03]

Is it me or does that enlisted dude look like he has a full goatee? At the very least it’s a great ‘stache. Props.


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[SocialD]

On 5/21/2019 at 10:18 AM, Bergman said:

Maybe there is hope after all.

LOL, ya inspirational videos will fix AF issues.  How about a video showcasing the new comm system that will allow our computers to work close to 50% of the time at speed faster than more 5 year old, porn/virus laden Dell.  

[Majestik Møøse]

5 minutes ago, SocialD said:

LOL, ya inspirational videos will fix AF issues.  How about a video showcasing the new comm system that will allow our computers to work close to 50% of the time at speed faster than more 5 year old, porn/virus laden Dell.  

Are you talking about the zero/thin clients? I’ve recently experienced them on NIPR and SIPR, and they are computing cancer. They require a network connection to a central server to operate at all.  Way worse than the laptops. Every login is like the first time. The lagging keyboard and mouse inputs are screen punching bad. It’s a 100% worse Air Force comm experience, if you can believe that. If your base is talking about getting these, push back with all your might.

[SocialD]

8 minutes ago, Majestik Møøse said:

Are you talking about the zero/thin clients....

Nah, just being a cynical asshole and talking about a program that I assume is not even in the works...I could have really inserted any known issue we have going on right now.  I hadn't heard about the program you're dealing with, I'll hit up my contacts in comm to see if that's something they're expecting.  Given that they're understaffed and just got tapped to fill a 6 month to the desert (or two) I doubt they'll be rolling out such a program any time soon.  

Edited May 23, 2019 by SocialD

[pawnman]

52 minutes ago, SocialD said:

LOL, ya inspirational videos will fix AF issues.  How about a video showcasing the new comm system that will allow our computers to work close to 50% of the time at speed faster than more 5 year old, porn/virus laden Dell.  

I get what you're saying, but the video represents a shift away from "everyone is equal, everyone is a warrior" towards "aviators actually are special, and they represent the core mission of the service"

[ThreeHoler]

Until you see the heritage video for the support guys.


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[SocialD]

14 minutes ago, pawnman said:

I get what you're saying, but the video represents a shift away from "everyone is equal, everyone is a warrior" towards "aviators actually are special, and they represent the core mission of the service"

Words and platitudes don't represent shit.  I've heard all kinds of inspiring shit from CSAFs that never came to fruition.  I wouldn't stick around based on hope of what one of them says.  

[frog]

7 hours ago, ThreeHoler said:

Until you see the heritage video for the support guys.


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There is nothing wrong about a heritage video for support guys as long as it recognizes that they are in support of a larger mission. In many cases, bad support is a result of a lack of connection to the mission. I don’t think a heritage video will fix that, but it wouldn’t hurt either.

- Support Guy

 

 

[Sua Sponte]

12 hours ago, ThreeHoler said:

Until you see the heritage video for the support guys.


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That came out years ago.

 

[jice]

21 hours ago, SocialD said:

Words and platitudes don't represent shit.  I've heard all kinds of inspiring shit from CSAFs that never came to fruition.  I wouldn't stick around based on hope of what one of them says.  

True that words are cheap, but they’re also important. 

I do all the right husbandly things: don’t carouse, take care of things around the house, make it home within 24 hours of when I say I’ll be there after a night out, and almost never accidentally end up drunk, lost, and sans passport in a foreign country more than twice a quarter.

She still wants to hear: “I love you.” That and “sure, put it on my Amex, you’ll look great in it.”

[tac airlifter]

1 hour ago, jice said:

True that words are cheap, but they’re also important. 

I do all the right husbandly things: don’t carouse, take care of things around the house, make it home within 24 hours of when I say I’ll be there after a night out, and almost never accidentally end up drunk, lost, and sans passport in a foreign country more than twice a quarter.

She still wants to hear: “I love you.” That and “sure, put it on my Amex, you’ll look great in it.”

Sounds like your words are important because they represent action.  Doubt that would play well if every charge was always declined.  The USAF is talk no action regarding QOL improvements.  Don’t believe them.

[Danger41]

10 minutes ago, tac airlifter said:

Sounds like your words are important because they represent action.  Doubt that would play well if every charge was always declined.  The USAF is talk no action regarding QOL improvements.  Don’t believe them.

Instructional Fix: CSAF should read “The 5 Love Languages”.

[Shazaam]

4 hours ago, tac airlifter said:

Sounds like your words are important because they represent action.  Doubt that would play well if every charge was always declined.  The USAF is talk no action regarding QOL improvements.  Don’t believe them.

I have dudes walking into my office with family problems. I tell them I cannot execute the mission without their family affairs being in order. Your family does play a role in executing the mission. I need dudes who can delegate and punch at COB, not one minute late. If you have to leave early for your kids activities, that's okay with me too. If you are having family problems, let me know and I'll give you a day to recage with the wife especially. I should be the last person to leave the office.

I have to tell dudes to get out of the office on a Friday afternoon and go home to their families. When I see people staying late, it's for promotion purposes in my opinion. I tell those individuals I need leaders who are about efficiency, getting tasks accomplished earlier so you don't stay late, and who believe in family first. If you're a workaholic, then you are going to lead the same way.

The CC and Super determine who gets submitted for strats for enlisted. The 3 dudes who stay late I noticed, none of them were submitted. A MSgt was asking my NCOIC if there is more he can do. I heard my NCOIC telling him what I need you to do is go home to your family. 

Edited May 24, 2019 by Shazaam

[JimNtexas]

I'm an old retired fart, but I had a great Air Force Experience a couple of weeks ago.   A client of my wife found out that this couple had a kid who was all ate up about flying, flew flight sims for hours, but had never been in the cockpit of a real airplane.

So I volunteered to give the kid an incentive ride in my might Piper Warrior.    It turned out he was a junior in college, majoring in mechanical engineering.   He wanted to know all about the Air Force and wanted to hear my war stories.  Of course I cleverly managed to never get shot at, but I shared some 'peace stories' with him while we stopped for a hundred dollar hamburger.

Anyway, my Warrior is based at Austin Bergstrom (KAUS), and we get a lot of military transient airplanes.  As we were putting the Warrior back in the hanger a black T-38 showed up in the pattern and flew a couple of overheads and then landed.

As we started to walk back to the Signature terminal the Black 'BB' coded T-38 was parking right in front of us.   My pax asked me if he could take a picture of this T-38.  

Of course I knew that nobody would care if someone took a picture of a T-38, but I said 'Why don't we ask the pilots'?

So I walked over as they were climbing out of the cockpit, introduced us as 'once and future Air Force guys' and asked if we could take a picture of their jet.  It was a looker I'll say that. 

To make a long story short, the crew were two U-2 pilots.   Of course they let us take all the pictures we wanted, but more important they asked my young friend what he wanted to do in the Air Force, and he told them he wanted to be a pilot.  They spent about 15 minutes telling him about pilot training, suggesting the best paths to a commission for him, and in general talking up the fun of being in the Air Force.

I'm sure the guys were probably a bit tired, and in a hurry to get to Sixth Street, but to this young person they were heroes bordering on Living Gods.

I really appreciated the time they took and their enthusiasm for my young friends dreams.  

It reminded me how cool it is that the Air Force sometimes would give you the keys to a jet plane and a gas card, and tell you bring back in one piece next Monday! 

[matmacwc]

4 hours ago, Shazaam said:

I have dudes walking into my office with family problems. I tell them I cannot execute the mission without their family affairs being in order. Your family does play a role in executing the mission. I need dudes who can delegate and punch at COB, not one minute late. If you have to leave early for your kids activities, that's okay with me too. If you are having family problems, let me know and I'll give you a day to recage with the wife especially. I should be the last person to leave the office.

I have to tell dudes to get out of the office on a Friday afternoon and go home to their families. When I see people staying late, it's for promotion purposes in my opinion. I tell those individuals I need leaders who are about efficiency, getting tasks accomplished earlier so you don't stay late, and who believe in family first. If you're a workaholic, then you are going to lead the same way.

The CC and Super determine who gets submitted for strats for enlisted. The 3 dudes who stay late I noticed, none of them were submitted. A MSgt was asking my NCOIC if there is more he can do. I heard my NCOIC telling him what I need you to do is go home to your family. 

More of this.

[Shazaam]

9 hours ago, JimNtexas said:

So I walked over as they were climbing out of the cockpit, introduced us as 'once and future Air Force guys' and asked if we could take a picture of their jet.  It was a looker I'll say that. 

To make a long story short, the crew were two U-2 pilots.   Of course they let us take all the pictures we wanted, but more important they asked my young friend what he wanted to do in the Air Force, and he told them he wanted to be a pilot.  They spent about 15 minutes telling him about pilot training, suggesting the best paths to a commission for him, and in general talking up the fun of being in the Air Force.

Great story! One reason I came to AETC was to share my flying stories with students and  encourage them to fly. I saw my first air show at Mathis Field while attending tech school. My tech school had a booth set-up for food at the air show. Ironically, I obtained my PPL from Mathis Field. Got to take the mighty T-6 there x-country too. And I had to divert to Mathis Field in my MWS aircraft. 

I'm surprised students know what pilot wings look like because they inquire about them and so do their parents. I had a TRS/CC during a staff meeting ask me what my badge meant when I first arrived. Talking about an awkward silence in the freaking room!

Edited May 25, 2019 by Shazaam

[MechGov]

Great story! One reason I came to AETC was to share my flying stories with students and  encourage them to fly. I saw my first air show at Mathis Field while attending tech school. My tech school had a booth set-up for food at the air show. Ironically, I obtained my PPL from Mathis Field. Got to take the mighty T-6 there x-country too. And I had to divert to Mathis Field in my MWS aircraft. 
I'm surprised students know what pilot wings look like because they inquire about them and so do their parents. I had a TRS/CC during a staff meeting ask me what my badge meant when I first arrived. Talking about an awkward silence in the freaking room!

To be fair, with dark blue thread or hi-glare chrome, a lot of them look the same from 6-9 feet. I wonder if a lot of folks in career field X know any of the symbolism behind that badge. Or what weapons systems are based at their base and what they do. And more importantly: how they contribute (or detract) from getting the mission of winning our nations wars.

[MechGov]

I have dudes walking into my office with family problems. I tell them I cannot execute the mission without their family affairs being in order. Your family does play a role in executing the mission. I need dudes who can delegate and punch at COB, not one minute late. If you have to leave early for your kids activities, that's okay with me too. If you are having family problems, let me know and I'll give you a day to recage with the wife especially. I should be the last person to leave the office.
I have to tell dudes to get out of the office on a Friday afternoon and go home to their families. When I see people staying late, it's for promotion purposes in my opinion. I tell those individuals I need leaders who are about efficiency, getting tasks accomplished earlier so you don't stay late, and who believe in family first. If you're a workaholic, then you are going to lead the same way.
The CC and Super determine who gets submitted for strats for enlisted. The 3 dudes who stay late I noticed, none of them were submitted. A MSgt was asking my NCOIC if there is more he can do. I heard my NCOIC telling him what I need you to do is go home to your family. 

YMMV. That’s great if you can do it. I’ve also had bosses that loved to clear folks off at 1400 on Friday, only after a handful of 2-3 hour meetings during the week (and then wonder why work is not getting done).

Mentoring a Mx LT who was going up to be a group exec captured the dichotomy between Ops and non-Ops when it got down to leaving at the end of the day. She, for the life of her, couldn’t figure out why people would dare stay beyond 1630 (aside from career advancement). Then I explained how much work goes into a 6.5 hour night tac, or how much time is spent constantly staying green on all of your mobility requirements, GT, Big Blue AF requirements, ground jobs, etc. PME and studying your airframe? You can do that on your own time.

Face it, most of us on this forum work two jobs. When you throw in the litany of appointments and mobility requirements, or schedule a full training day of mandatory fun, there’s not much time left on the clock.

[Pancake]

https://www.fox4news.com/news/son-brings-vietnam-war-fighter-pilots-lost-remains-home-to-texas

[12xu2a3x3]

https://www.news9.com/story/40896514/sweet-guy-tinker-airman-helps-elderly-woman-walking-home-in-extreme-heat

[bfargin]

I'm hoping Jeff is still the great guy he was in UPT even as a 4 star. He was a classmate in UPT and the last time I spoke to him he was still grounded, but of course I'm not one of his troops.  I noticed the one guy calls him Harrigan instead of his actual name.

https://video.foxnews.com/v/6086258090001/#sp=show-clips

[08Dawg]

When he was the AFCENT commander, he was still CMR in the Raptor and flying combat sorties.  Kinda badass IMHO. 

[Clark Griswold]

I think @matmacwc would have liked this bit of history, this is something that was right about the AF:

The Army’s only air to air kill since WWII was done with a .50 cal in Vietnam

From the article and showing the best traditions of the Air Force:

However, two legends of USAF combat aviation in Vietnam were more than happy to initiate him- then-Colonels Robin Olds and Daniel “Chappie” James, known affectionately as “Blackman and Robin.”

“I actually knew both of them,” Lee recalled warmly. “Colonel Olds would meet me on the flight line and pick me, and only me, up and take me up to the debrief room. He would have a case of Bud iced down and I would give him targets that I had been working on in Laos the week before. So he was not a stranger. He was a very warm and personable man. I respected him and he knew it. I was not afraid to just sit and talk to him.”

Upon hearing of Lee’s hushed victory, the two Colonels demanded a celebration.

Edited April 20, 2020 by Clark Griswold

[17D_guy]

To whoever was doing acrobatics in the F35 today at 0930 at Hill: Thanks!

Was headed in to get my Retirement ID, and it was a great send-off while I waited to walk in. (I know it wasn't about me...but the timing was great.)

[di1630]

Demo practice?


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