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Maybe it's on a sliding scale but one that is not linear, we know when the curve goes exponential and I suspect they do too. Single digits and killed in an indirect fire incident will probably not get Kharg Island or Tehran turned to rubble but it will get something destroyed of value with the intention of killing Iranians in the process, both sides know that this is a function not equation. As to consensus, yes required for major, on going actions; responding in kind or some multiple of it to punish, dissuade, preserve honor and reestablish deterrence, no. Congress is necessary in the overall scheme of things but not where the direct action needs to happen. The pax on the jet can tell the pilot about the ride but ultimately the pilot is in control, duly noted. Now when the jet the lands the pax don't have to buy another ticket and without that the jet doesn't go, they have an input just not at every moment. LOAC does not prevent destroying civilian infrastructure if said infrastructure is used in war making / supporting activities, for the attacker it is a matter of how many degrees of separation from said war making activities you believe are required before you consider it off limits. Mosques used to shield fighters are legitimate targets, hospitals with AAA guns on them are legitimate targets. POL facilities that support directly or indirectly war efforts of an enemy (state or non-state) are legitimate targets if you trace the economic output of them to the enemy inside of the range of separation you deem appropriate for military action. Will respectfully part company with you on rando chest thumping on the internet, you approach the problem from the angle as you wish it to be rather than what it really is. You've mentioned on BO that you sit on the left side of the isle, fine you're choice but the problem with the Western left is that it incorrectly believes everyone else in the world in charge of other non-Western countries wants the same things for their people, has some common values with the West or can be reasoned with based on what will bring them material gain. None of those things is inherently true. There are vast swaths of the world that don't want their people to live to well, that are not interested in peace or normal relations with the rest of the world as they need external enemies to distract their populations from the incompetence and corruption of their rule and do not in anyway respect or want to live in the "rules based order" that the West thinks is/has to be ascendant across the globe. These people respect power and act on fear. Fear they will lose their power and/or lives. Occasionally kicking the shit out of them when they get too frisky is just an unpleasant fact of life if we wish to have a presence in their area of the world and or keep them from getting leverage over too much. You're right we do have lots of options as a superpower but make no mistake, no one respects a strong dithering pussy. A big strong guy that allows a weaker, aggressive, loud bully to push him around doesn't actually have anyone's secret respect, they (the crowd watching) are just waiting to see what happens and to go with the winning team. I'm not saying to just willy nilly throw power around and act like an ass around the world, but when it is time, just do it and state it was in our interest to resolve the matter favorably to our interests. No apologies, no over analyzing it. Victory is a rationalizing force all it's own.

You actually read nsplayr's posts?!? 🤣🤣🤣

I submitted the PC and it’s going up thru the wickets. I have an intent to hire letter from the attached reserve sq. Im hoping whoever sees the PC package sees that they’re not really “losing” me, but gaining me in a different capacity.

Probably not particularly helpful, but I remember vividly the briefing for my one and only ejection-seat equipped jet (the mighty AT-38B) from 20 years ago given by my utterly disinterested charioteer: "Don't touch nothin'. If, after this briefing, you hear the word "eject," pull those two handles up and squeeze the triggers. If, after the third "eject" you have not done so, you may start logging solo time. Questions?" Concise and obviously memorable.

I don’t have a picture of it but I was sent to Beijing when I was refragged after show time and had to deal with a high level pax. Of course the J model is not GPS approved in China so now I’m the only aircraft shooting the non GPS arrival and it is about 15 step down segments in meters switching between headings, multiple VORs and NDBs and various speed restrictions. It was a little chaotic. Add to that gusty winds so I’m supposed to fly a 144kt approach speed, but I overspeed my flaps at 145kt. Most of the time it’s when you are going into a field with no radar service using procedural deconfliction, probably some place like Africa or the Balkans, and you look at the approach plate and even after years of flying think what the hell is this. Luckily you usually can look over the approaches the night before but not always, and ATC seems to be good at getting you to join the arrival/approach in the one way you weren’t expecting. The more experienced you get the less this happens and the more you laugh at/teach the young guy struggling, but as the young guy going into some interesting fields in the middle of no where at mins, it’s everything to keep your SA up. I’ve shot multiple circling NDBs at mins after I was told in pilot training NDBs were going away and I’d probably never have to shoot a real one. I’m sure there are plenty of other guys on the forum that have had some ridiculous foreign approach sprung on them at the last second.

Yesterday's resolution by the House is Congress not wanting to buy another ticket unless the pilot tells them where they are going. The passivity of Congress with respect to the Executive's ever expanding justification to use military force over the last 19 years has drastically changed the paradigm for the worse. The "all associated forces" blurb was never in the 2001 AUMF, however Congress' lack of enforcement has condemned us to an endless series of conflicts. Congress' attempts to reign in the AUMF have been met with accusations of wanting the terrorists to win or not protecting America. ISIS in Libya is not going to attack the US anytime soon, why do we continue to spend treasure to play whack-a-mole?

The Reserves and UFT boards for AD are a separate process. WeatherLion is talking about the civilian OTS boards. It seems that some recruiters are pushing for folks who got selected for jobs other than pilot to be able to decline their offer and reapply to the next one. Unfortunately my recruiter is claiming the active duty Air Force will "blackball" you (their words not mine) from reapplying to future civilian to OTS active duty boards. As a background I'm in a similar situation to WeatherLion where I was selected for backseater and I asked about declining the offer and trying again for pilot. Did not get good feedback but I have not found any concrete AFI or memo that states an applicant cannot apply again. Think it may be the recruiters just trying to intimidate people into taking whatever offer they give you.

I was texting with some friends who were happy that our TSP was doing well this past year. Here's a few articles I've found the past few days: Over 1700 announced of possible 12,000 expected major retail stores closing in 2020 https://www.businessinsider.com/stores-closing-in-2020-list-2020-1 2019 Auto Sales lowest in 5 years https://www.pymnts.com/news/retail/2020/us-2019-auto-sales-were-lowest-in-five-years/ Auto Sales supported by sub-prime lending while delinquencies rise https://seekingalpha.com/article/4315102-auto-sector-will-continue-to-decline-2020s Auto Dealers falsifying buyer’s income on car-loan applications https://www.wsj.com/articles/an-809-car-payment-a-660-income-how-dealers-make-the-math-work-11576924201?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=3 Baltic Dry Index largest drop since 2008 https://capital.com/baltic-dry-suffers-largest-drop-since-2008 ISM Manufacturing Index 10 year low https://finance.yahoo.com/news/etfs-suffer-ism-index-drops-210709628.html US Rail Traffic down %5.1% since last year https://www.freightwaves.com/news/us-rail-traffic-starts-off-new-year-in-a-slump Nine States are experiencing a contracting economy https://www.philadelphiafed.org/research-and-data/regional-economy/indexes/leading So why is the Market going up? Lots of reasons, but here is one biggie: The Federal Reserve bank has been pumping (printing) hundreds of billions into the repo market since September as posted about earlier. More announced just a few days ago. The four biggest primary lenders (JP Morgan, Citi, B of A, and Wells Fargo) need that cash to keep hedge funds afloat. These massive hedge funds are borrowing money to buy equities, which drives the market up. Hedge fund purchases and corporate buybacks are masking the real business values. If hedge funds have trouble making these loan payments, they stop buying. If they don’t keep buying, stock prices stagnate. If they liquidate to make payments, prices decline. In short, the US government is printing money for the purpose of allowing banks and hedge funds to gamble borrowed money in a rigged game, and you are assuming the risk. The Market is following the increasing Fed Balance Sheet and little else. We can’t print money indefinitely while the government runs a $1 Trillion dollar per year deficit. So, when we stop printing, no repo market funds, hedge funds liquidate to pay bills, stocks decline, a panic and rush for the exit ensues. Wall street will be the first to the exit and they’ll be taking the bulk of the cash with them. Passive investors like you and I will be at the back of the line. Don’t fall in love with your TSP gains and I feel bad for anyone signed up with BRS. Keep an eye on this link: https://www.newyorkfed.org/markets/domestic-market-operations/monetary-policy-implementation/repo-reverse-repo-agreements/repurchase-agreement-operational-details#monthly-summary

Duck, it’s now a “should” and not a “will.” Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app

That’s probably your best shot. If I recall, the reg says they have to have you home around 30-60 days before your final out (don’t quote me). I would stockpile leave and also use terminal leave to fence you in even more. I believe you can apply for separation up to 1 year out. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app

You can’t 7 day opt a 180. However, having a PC application already pending may deflect it to someone else in the Ops Group. In the MAF, the 180s were handed down by the OG. If you get approved while on said deployment, they would have to task someone else. AFI 36-3205 has a restriction against sending applicants TDY without coordinating with AFPC/DPSOS (1.4.13), however it does not apply to aircrew members. I’m not sure if that would include 180 day ground deployments. My belief is that is to allow a crew member to be sent on short term missions while awaiting application (makes sense). However, you can bet someone will use that to their advantage and still try to send you on a deployment. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Too bad only those who would never go postal on their co-workers and/or stage an attack on Offutt will follow his rules. This gutless “leadership” is why I left AD at the earliest opportunity. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I was out riding around Tucson today and happened to see a four ship that looked like they were setting up for a missing man formation (or maybe it was my imagination) and I thought of this thread and Pyro, even though I never met the man. That moment had me thinking about this military aviation family, and all the things society fights about that don't mean anything. It was a sort of Zen moment, I'm grateful for it, and I'm damn lucky to be in this family. Life is too short to not live it. Him, Him.

Which jives with the last rated retention report. Nearly a third of those pilots who separated did so as a result of being passed over (either via the system or exploitation). This “fixing the glitch” will equate to around 6-9% change in rated retention (at least for a few years). Now your 5th look to O-5 will take you within spitting distance to retirement. May the odds ever be in your favor.