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Sincerely doubt there would be any change to the status quo. By considering stop loss, leadership is signaling that they don't really want to solve the underlying problems. It seems logical to me that if they really can't fill cockpits and "put warheads on foreheads", before they stop loss they should cancel all in residence schools, scrub all staff positions for non mission critical slots, audit all deployed air assets and remove anything extraneous, bring home anyone currently on an exchange, truly eliminate all non mission related duties, etc. All that stuff is hard. It's much easier just to yell "STOP LOSS" and call the problem fixed.

I'm not planning my immediate exit...but if I were and the AF stop-lossed me, they would see a sudden and dramatic decline in the quality of my office work.

Oh boy, you want to talk about killing the ARC force. Many of our guys are just barely hanging on as it is. Before we start talking mobilization of the ARC, lets talk about cutting bullshit deployments. Many of the Guard fighter squadrons are being "deployed" to locations to sit and do NOTHING. Our guys are more than willing to go to the AOR and do the jobs we're trained to do, but keep sending us to bs TSPs, and you'll see guys start bailing...it's already started. I know quite a few that have moved onto UAVs, non-flying gig or just gotten out over this. Dudes are quickly losing their will to go sit in some "deployed" location and fly CT lines, all the while taking a GIANT pay cut from their civilian jobs. They're starting to ask themselves WTF are we doing here and why am I away from my family for this shit?

They hang at the mall because the only contact they have with their grandchildren is the obligatory mass-produced Christmas card/photo they get from their now estranged adult children once a year. See, years ago mama left the service member while he was deployed (again) and got full custody of the kids. Convinced by her bitch also divorced friends that it’s in the kid’s best interest, and to make the adjustment as smooth as possible, that they have minimal/no contact with their bio-father. Then, now-divorced mom meets and marries a nice guy with a “regular” job. You know; 40-hour week, home each night at a reasonable time for dinner and able to go to soccer games/school picnics/dance recitals, etc… and this guy is now defacto dad because “he was there” during those developmental years when the kids “needed” a father figure in their lives. All these vets have is the mall, war stories, flat cheap beer at the VFW and of course, a handle of Military Special Whiskey in the new improved non-breakable plastic bottle from the local Class VI. All this and only half his retirement check cause she got that too.

Perhaps that was a bit much. Fixed it.

Read the last line again. Are you seriously going to bitch about curly vs straight apostrophes then click send with a mistake like that in your out-line?

http://www.heritage.org/defense/event/rebuilding-air-force-readiness Former management interviews current management. Takeaways: "Readiness" and lack of flying is why people are leaving. Stop-loss was just an answer to a question about tools available to the AF- doesn't mean the AF will use it. Would love to have heard that call between CSAF and Everhart. CSAF wants to reduce additional duties, but doesn't provide any specifics. He wants Wg/CCs to make that happen on their own. Barely able to hide his joy at being able to speak to his idol, Venable says 15 Spangdahlem fighter pilots will stay for one more assignment because they trust CSAF so much. CSAF thinks people should stay in because the AF takes care of your family while you're always deployed (it does?), and your civilian employer doesn't ever ask about your family, or something. He goes to the mall and sees geriatric vets and they're telling war stories instead of talking about their grand kids, so people should stay in so they can be geriatric vets at the mall telling war stories too. Lots of dancing around questions. A textbook politician.

Kind of hard to hide, now, if the Chief is actually considering it a card to be played at some point. Cat's out of the bag. And if it really isn't on the table, as the article implies, it seems that Everhart wanted to win the scare tactics game by going straight to the nuclear option, to prove that he and his friends mean business. Or at the very least, to test the waters to see if outright bullying actually works. And on another note, comments like these are appearing in almost every article about pilot retention I've read thus far: "As part of its effort to improve quality of service, the Air Force is also reducing additional duties and non-mission essential training required for pilots, and outsourcing routine administrative jobs in squadrons to allow them to fly more." Yeah, I've seen the SECAF memos, and the jobs/duties that are being cut, but I hadn't heard of nearly half of the them. And none of them seem to equate to flying more or less. We still fly the same amount of hours as we did before. Squadron Website Manager? That's a thing? I had no idea until my buddy told me he actually was the squadron's website manager. Had been for over a year. When I asked him about it, he smiled, and said "we don't have a website."

I guarantee that General "I mention StopLoss" got a thorough tongue lashing by the CSAF, followed by Grosso being sent in to pick up the pieces. I wonder what the %increase in separation applications happened this past couple days? I talked to a Lt Col who at 18 years says he is getting out now and gonna try and get retirement the hard way. It was just too risky to be forced to stay past 20. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

All options are always on the table for the USAF, whatever is in the organization's interest will be considered, maybe not voiced externally, but considered. The crux lay in the signaling, messaging, and advertising (the political parts). Now two different Generals are messaging and staging something different. It's unmistakable retention-messaging is being staged, how it's staged and finally presented matters for a multitude of reasons. They control the narrative, the comm-outflow of AF, not the numbers (i.e. after an individual reaches free agency) or indivual's choices. Who else here thinks/knows that we are a focus group?! We feed input/feedback into their narrative through this forum, don't doubt it. Concerning to me is Gen Goldfein's statement along the lines of getting to what does right look like between pilots, airlines, and Air Force. What is "right"!? (Standby for quote...searching)

That email has to a joke, especially starting out with some E-9-esque phrase "XXXX Heroes" Edit: If it was Queep Heroes, I'll allow it.

You alright bro?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Traditional deployments for ARC used to come in AEF cycles and were mostly filled on a volunteer basis. As we know, the AEF concept went down the shitter over a decade ago so now most of us "rainbow" for continuous ops. Most of us have a crew or two in CENTCOM on a continuous basis. Fighter units are more AEF centric, but the tanker world right now fills a rainbow. After 9/11 many tanker units were activated and sent to CENTCOM for OEF. These days, individual wings are given mobilization authority at the WG/CC level so if the whole unit says, "Screw you! We're not going!", the Wing King has authority to mobilize crews to fill the tasking. Most of us still volunteer as it means doing a 30 day rotation vs. a 60 day one. Some people like getting mobilized because of USERRA and the associated protection they receive with mob orders. Not so shockingly enough, there are some employers out there giving reservists/guardsmen shit for volunteering. It does the ARC no good volunteering, but we're damned if we do and damned if we don't. Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

What does it take for inactive reservists to get activated? Is it done at the same time as a regular activation, or is it a different and more difficult process for the USAF? I ask because if stop loss combined with ARC activation is in the future, it may be time to hang up the spurs. Getting activated to fight for our country is one thing; getting activated due to perpetual personnel mismanagement is methinks a bridge too far.

Apparently.

The big problem is now they won't be able to entice people to do a return to active duty. Who would do that knowing that stop loss is looming, and would probably nullify any terms negotiated in their return for 'need of the air force'?

The final epic collapse of integrity brought to you by the senior leadership of the United States Air Force. Out of one side of their pie holes they proclaim to "care" and want to address the issues that are causing people to leave. Out of the other side they go behind your back to Congress to change the 1500 hour rule and threaten the Airlines with Stop Loss. Goldfein, Rand, Everhart and the others have abdicated any shred of integrity that remained...I am truly disgusted to say I know them and trusted them. They can't Stop Loss you forever (the will certainly try), get out NOW! Don't waste a day if you have the option, this is not going to get better anytime soon.

Sounds like the Air Force, playing the part of the exwife, is going back to court for an increase in alimony

For your friend, fare well heading west...

Let me repeat myself - it's all of the bullshit, instability, bad leadership, and life priorities changing that drive people out. It is VERY rare in my experience that people get out because of the aircraft type/mission. I know a SHIT TON of fighter pilots getting out, and I don't know a single one who is getting out because of anything to do with flying fighters, the fighter "lifestyle," etc. They would be getting out regardless if they flew tankers, helos, C-17s, etc. I know one guy who got out because he didn't like the C-17 lifestyle...he is literally the only one I know who partially got out because of a specific MDS (and that was a minor part, the first stuff mentioned was the majority of the reason). Again, no MDS has the market cornered on bad leadership, green dot training, constant TDY/deployments, more queep/less flying, etc. All the thing mentioned in my first sentence apply to ALL aircraft/missions. You can't avoid them, so you might as well go for the mission you think you'll enjoy the most for however many years you spend in the AF.

Your chances are HIGH of getting selected I was selected in 2016 with 3.7 GPA and an 86 PCSM. Flying hours towards your PCSM score are maxed at 200 so get at least that many. Read up on the pilot shortage, it is not expected to be fixed for at least 3-4 years out. When you start the process I would not be shy about second guessing what the recruiter tells you do your homework and double check paperwork. They tried to tell me to "list all 4 rated jobs because it shows I am a team player and will give me a better chance at a pilot slot"??? I listed pilot only and was selected. I was also told there was no way to study for the TBAS because it was "just an aptitude test" however you can practice on a flight sim with an inverted stick, find flash cards for the directional orientation task online, play multitasking games. Bottom line don't take no for an answer and take control of your own destiny, good luck.

Why the screen name change Scoobs? Why would you want to separate yourself from your previous posts? Just to refresh yourself... My guess is none. Some interesting Scoobs quotes: http://www.flyingsquadron.com/forums/topic/9139-regional-pilot-or-ad-pilot/?page=2#comment-105108 "Here is my plan.My parents will never get to retire because lack of planning and luck.I don't want to end up in there shoes so here is my plan.After college join the Guard/Reserves in the area I like.After UPT bum around and build my flight time.Once I reach the mins for the regional airlines or charter I will decide if I want to jump ship or stay bumming.My goal is to fly corporate aircraft so I would check the airports and make connections.Once I reach a couple thousand hours apply for that dream job and get it.Then when I turn 60 I will have 30 years in the reserves and at least 20 years for a corporation.And if you decide to fly Pt 91 like me there is no age you have to retire.Hope this helps." http://www.flyingsquadron.com/forums/topic/8292-questions-about-bumming/#comment-97390 "Thanks for the post.Right now I am looking at joining a C-17 unit as a loadmaster.Its not just because I want a pilot slot or college tution.I plan on finishing my degree online so I could fly as much as possible.I was just seeing if I would have to get another part time job or if I could swing it.Thanks for the help." http://www.flyingsquadron.com/forums/topic/4058-online-degrees/#comment-58889 "Can anybody recommend any schools online?University of Phoenix is just to expensive." http://www.flyingsquadron.com/forums/topic/8481-afrotc-vs-guardreserve/#comment-97936 "AirG how many hours are possible a month to as a bum on the C-17?I'm still a year away before I can apply.Hopefully I will get picked up by March ARB." http://www.flyingsquadron.com/forums/topic/414-hueys/#comment-6184 "Cool,just looking at my options. The Guard/Reserve looks good but its just part time. Plus there are not to many helo units and there locations aren't to good. I would have to live in my car at Moffett or freeze my tail off and deal with crazy Eskimos in Alaska. Thanks again." http://www.flyingsquadron.com/forums/topic/11864-st-george-or-kanab-ut/#comment-137685 "If you read my post I didn't say Orem or Provo were in Salt Lake County. And why are you giving me a history leason. I was raised LDS and in SLC so I know. Oh and Salt Lake County is changing and their freaking out. As far as college I got tired of Utah and moved to Phx and then back to San Diego. I'm not paying out of state resident fees. I already owe to much in student loans" http://www.flyingsquadron.com/forums/topic/21313-march-arb/#comment-399942 "Riverside is boring. You're driving distance to the beach, mountains, and desert though. Riverside has some nice areas. Woodcrest, Canyoncrest, or Orangecrest. Those would be the closest to March. Redlands is the nicest city but definitely a commute. You could go south and look at Temecula or Murrieta. My first choice would be Canyon Lake. It's a gated community with a lake for fishing or wake boarding. The 215 and 91 are pretty awful. The location is nice to get out of town." So Scoobs is/was a hopeful ARC applicant, who moved to SoCal, appears to not have been hired anywhere (based on him/her asking about ARC units for more than a decade), may or may not have finished an online degree, and likes to bash the airlines. He/she is apparently really into military and civilian aviation, and posts with more or less the same agenda over on APC as "gilligan13". Personally, it's great to have Scoobs around- he/she always provides a good chuckle, and it's obvious that he/she is full of shit with every opinion Scoobs posts. 0" Scoobs/Casey/Gilligan/whatever you decide to call yourself today, let me know if you need help getting hired by an ARC unit as a loadmaster or something. I'm guessing you're too old by now to be hired for an ARC UPT position or via OTS, but I'm hearing stories of age waivers, so you never know. I'd be happy to help- I have lots of friends in lots of units, and I'm sure you're eager to get in the fight, given your preponderance for chugging the active duty koolaid all of these years. Despite being a nobody loser from Utah/Arizona/SoCal with a bizarre obsession with military aviators, I'm sure we can find you a place in this jobs program- and you never know, maybe you can avoid working on weekends and holidays!

OSI has stepped up their game. Reminds me of a time when I was deployed and saw a no $hit 9 walk into the chow hall (a 1 for those that use binary) in those tight little booty shorts they sell at the clothing store and a circulation killing PT shirt. No reflective belt (should have been my first red flag). Give her the obligatory hey how ya doing and go about my day. Next day getting chow hall getting ready to fly and same chick walks in with the grandma PT shorts and a baggy PT shirt with a nice green reflective belt that said... SARC. They are everywhere boys, guard your corn holes. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

My condolences. Leaking stuff after a breakup is a b!tch move, though. Just nail all of her hot friends like a normal person.

I've heard that before but it's interesting to revisit it again. The thing that blows my mind (from an F-15C perspective) is the guy doing most of the talking is the backseater(RIO) in the lead aircraft. Thank goodness for single seat fighters. A few observations: "AB" (whoever that is, puts them on weapons hold). The backseater then directs a series of 30 degree offsets to assess the bogies intentions. Bogey heading remains steady at 330-340 through the the intercept. First he goes left and then goes back right across their nose. Any of us who have done any intercepts know how little the geometry of the intercept is going to change out at 50-60 miles after the initial offset of 30 degrees. If he stayed left, it might have worked. Going back right just heated the intercept back up and put the F-14s back on the bogey's nose. Any "jinking back into me" by the bogies that was perceived by the lead RIO was really just a result of the intercept geometry he created and a tendency of the F-14 radar to display erratic heading information on track-while-scan targets under ownship maneuvering. All they did was basically zig-zag across the MiG's noses while they drove on a steady north-northwesterly heading. The lead pilot tries to call AB when they arm hot since they are still under weapons hold. "Uh, wait a minute..... AB from 207". Shortly after that, the lead RIO takes the first AIM-7 shot (can you imagine having weapons coming off your jet without your consent as PIC?). The pilot had no idea the shot was coming until it left the jet, hence his "Aw Jesus" exclamation. Talk about the tail wagging the dog. First AIM-7 doesn't guide due to switch error (I think it was an F model that wasn't tuned properly). They have to follow up with another at close range pre-merge. The second F-14 pilot, who gets the AIM-9 kill, can't get a tone because..... wait for it.... He doesn't have AIM-9 selected. So, big surprise, no tone. When he finally does get the weapon he wants to shoot selected, his 9L works like a charm. Score two for the good guys, but what a cluster. They're lucky the political climate lent itself to bitch slapping Gaddafi at every opportunity.

You guys want to know the opinion of someone who is not in the military? Those female marines and sailors only have themselves to blame. Two generations ago making videos of sexual acts was simply not something that you did and to be honest if they never wanted others to see their nasty then they should of never allowed themselves to be filmed, taken the pictures themselves (selfies and sending them around), etc. Basically they want to be a sloot and then wonder why the man didn't respect them. No man respects a sloot, we dont wife sloots and certainly don't bring them home. That's why the pics were shared on a private FB group. End of the day the V is the more valuable commodity and they have an obligation to protect it. It's called PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. The only ones responsible are the women who shared the pics expecting that they would never be seen by another soul, that's stupid and that's not human nature. Especially when you're not with that crazy chick anymore and you show your buddies how much of a freak she was for a laugh. They want to take what makes a man a man. The sooner the military stands up to these crusading feminist and just say what needs to be said to them, "take responsibility for yourselves!" The better. I honestly don't know why the DoD (including USMC, AF, and USN) wants to turn it's house upside down to placate a bunch of raging feminist because some sloots made a bj video or send snaps of her snaps. It's so STUPID!