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I just saw this thread, and I'll share this for anyone else that bumbles across this. I have what Ratner is suggesting, running True NAS Scale for the OS and then a tailscale application to allow a very simple VPN access from on the road.  At the end of the day, I can access the shared drive on my home server from anywhere.  I can also route my internet traffic back to the house if I want to avoid sending things over the hotel wifi. It is not terrible to setup, but it's not nearly as turn key as a Synology box as an example.  TrueNAS is really a basic server OS rather than just a NAS OS.  It has virtualization options and the afore mentioned apps (containers) and a bunch of other stuff.   That said, if all you're doing is NAS stuff, you can put together a computer to run it for pretty cheap since it'll run on pretty crappy hardware.  All the server stuff will require more horsepower if that's what you're looking for though.

If I'm missing any of your point above, apologies. Nothing is 100%, granted.  But an actual war with Russia would be clubbing baby seals level, and an actual existential threat to "the Russian empire".  I think the chance Russia tosses nukes is extremely high.  Whether we throw them back is another question, but quite frankly irrelevant since Russian nukes are what will kill Americans. You seem convinced of the fourth turning.  I am not.  Without going into that, I don't think America is in decline let alone circling the drain.  The next 10-20 years will see massive growth.  But I suspect there is zero chance we'll see eye to eye on this one at all. I am not talking about appeasement at all, sending money and equipment to keep Ukraine armed and killing Russians and breaking their shit is good.  Complete economic isolation, not just sanctions.  Anyone that trades with them, isolation.  Etc. I am saying a military solution now is the jumping to the worst conclusion, one that we have historical precedent at avoiding.  The entire cold war was fought via proxy and economics.  It was not appeasement.

Not a fighter dude, but my guess is that, even thought you're not above the age-waiver land, Reserve/Guard fighters usually shy away from folks close to that range. They got burned by the oldies in the past bailing out mid-UPT and there are pieces to a fighter track that are tougher as an older person. You're playing a numbers game and betting on the longer shots by narrowing to fighters; more competition for fewer seats. If you really just want to fly anything, you really should start looking at heavies.  If you want some autonomy, start rushing heavy Reserve/Guard units. As many before have said, 96.69% of people usually enjoy wherever they end up as long as they embrace it. "Bloom where you're planted."  AD has its place...and it's life. If you want life autonomy, (more of) a choice of what you fly (depends where you're hired, obviously), and the ability to get that airline line number started years earlier, you probably are infinitely better off holding off for Guard/Reserves. You might have a "better/faster" chance flying just going AD, but you risk getting pulled by your hammer around the world. As for flying fighters, you're putting WAY more in the hands of the fates than if you get hired by a unit. Your skills, your competition...errr classmates..., available 38 slots, and the needs of the AF all dictate more than you "wanting to fly fighters." You could be a strong above average 5th in a class that gets six 38 slots or you could be a hot shit 3 in a class that gets two slots. You could get that 38 slot and they only have 2 fighters in the drop, so FAIP or bombers for you. All of that is decided by random luck and timing. Then again, some folks are in it to win it and wanna ride or die AD. It's certainly admirable and a guaranteed paycheck for 12-ish years. It really is only something you can decide.  Lastly, look into Reserves more. Guard is great and less AD-light, but it's much more disjointed in the hiring due to the inherent state by state nature. Each Guard unit has its own separate hiring apparatus with separate recruiters; Reserves can get you started (MEPS, forms, basic intro stuff) for any airframe (I think they still do Unsponsored...) and you can begin rolling as you're rushing multiple Reserve units. Whichever path you choose, 100% rush multiple times to the units you truly want. They're getting lots of hotdogs tossed their way; be a more memorable hotdog. Be a good human, put in the work to make them want to pick you, and don't stop until you've gotten the last TBNT. it's tough competition and no one is gonna just hand it to you, so don't give up.  Good luck! Signed, A happy Reserve heavy driver that started UPT 7 years above the age cutoff ***(DISCLAIMER: during a VERY different hiring environment, so not happening very often anymore)*** and has greatly enjoyed the adventure I've been fortunate enough to experience thus far. 

You think a Russian invasion of NATO is so likely that you’re willing to start war preemptively?  What evidence do you have that: 1. Russia would invade a NATO ally 2. US people support preemptive war, including a possible nuclear exchange, because of something that might happen 3. We could win Asserting the uncertain as inevitable is the logical fallacy which led us into Iraq circa 2003.  In that case, our grasp of the facts and read on Saddam himself was completely wrong; it turned out we were fed BS by liars with an agenda (Curveball among others).  If we could do that over again knowing what we now know, none of us would choose to have invaded Iraq.  You’re smart, you see where I’m going with the comparison. And the potential for a nuclear exchange should absolutely change the calculus, holy shit we’re talking about the possibility our cities get incinerated!  We need convincing answers to my 3 questions above or it would be wildly irresponsible to escalate preemptively.

He is there because WEF, Blackrock and Vanguard want him in that chair.