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Showing content with the highest reputation on 05/31/2017 in all areas

  1. some of you are such tools say thanks and move on
    6 points
  2. I'll have whatever you're drinking.
    3 points
  3. Obviously not easy enough since the pay hasn't changed in a generation. The bonus to 20 YAS was a good start but the DoD and AF need to address fly pay, you know, the pay you get every month to make your job comparable to non AF flying. I get that nobody wants to say they joined for the money. I joined for the money. I also joined to get a retirement at 20 years. I also love my country but I don't work for free. There is a price where the AF would stop bleeding talent. They are either unable or unwilling to pay for it. Fix the money. Then fix the rest of the stupid stuff.
    2 points
  4. So an elderly gentleman saw you in uniform and was trying to talk to you about your service but you blew him off? And HE was the rude one?
    2 points
  5. No, across the border from Chicago. Gary, the home of Michael Jackson.
    2 points
  6. I've found "Thank you for your support" works well.
    2 points
  7. Not that I need to explain any moderator actions on here, but just to get the facts straight I did not "delete" Ho Lee Fuk's post but simply hid it pending a moderator/admin review. I extended the courtesy to let him know that, and he goes fucking ballistic about it. I strongly suspect he may have been someone that has been previously banned from this forum. If not, he can join that individual (who still regularly monitors BaseOps and posts his opinions about it in his "blog") in bitching about how things are run here. I honestly couldn't care any less...
    2 points
  8. 1 point
  9. This is exactly what the "it's not about the money" line gets you. Of course it's about the money. It's also about some other stuff. So let's stop saying its not about the money.
    1 point
  10. Yeah Oakley makes videos showing the impact tests on their lenses and all their lenses exceed ANZI standards. I've seen friends hit in the face with line drive baseballs and the doctors tell them the only reason they still had their eyesight is due to their Oakley sunglasses. I get where you are coming from with the line of duty determination and my previous comment still stands since I'm never required to wear eye protection in the first place.
    1 point
  11. Not yet. Nearly every violent revolution in recent history has been a leftist movement to overthrow the rich. Some of them will start to see guns a means to enact their brand of facism.
    1 point
  12. I find it interesting everyone think's Texans are all packing heat, the Arizona gun laws are MUCH less restrictive. We don't need a permit/license to open and conceal carry at all. And I know everyone is pretty much packing.
    1 point
  13. While my situation is probably going to be far different than most, I was picked up by a fighter unit in October 2015, ran into some hurdles, reapplied to a different fighter unit, and interviewed/was hired by them in August 2016. Overall, I applied to 8 fighter units and interviewed at 6 of those. First and foremost, if there's ever a meet-and-greet or cookout hosted by the unit, go to it. I cannot stress enough how important it is to show face and prove you want to be there, much less make sure you're a good fit with the unit. Obviously, this will also let the folks in the unit see what kind of person you are outside of a "rehearsed" interview. I made an effort to talk to every pilot there during the meet-and-greets, but I never once tried to blow smoke up their butts - they will see right through it. I genuinely wanted to know how they got to where they were and any advice they might have for training. In the end, it's all about being a good and genuine dude/chick that can prove they can get the job done. PM me if you have any specific questions or want further details on anything in particular.
    1 point
  14. Bringing this back from the dead. In my last post, I was evidently given bad information, as I found out today that I was able to obtain an approved SG waiver for mild chondomalacia! Although, it did take a lot of work and persistence, but what seemed to work was having a very supportive and patient unit and also a second opinion on hand from another orthopedic surgeon saying everything was clear.
    1 point
  15. Read an article saying like 85% of millennials support the actions in Syria, but only 15% would actually join the military. I believe like 71% of our youth are ineligible to join the military. For future conflicts, we might be in trouble gentleman. I don't really keep in touch with my father side of the family. I returned home for a funeral on my mother side of the family, but my relatives on my father's side asked me where I've been? I'm like you do know we are fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan right? "Crickets" They were all silenced! I don't sit on my butt at some base. This isn't the 80s. Secondly, why would I want to come "home" so I can be shot? I have a better survival chance being deployed around insurgents than going to my old hometown. People will shoot you over looking at them the wrong way. As someone who worked his ass off to get where I am, why risk it all like some NBA or NFL players do by trying to show they can still hack it in their old neighborhoods? I stick out like a sore thumb because of how I talk, my attire, and my education level. Believe me my relatives have mentioned how I talk. As an educated man, how else do you expect me to talk? I'm proud of what the AF has done for me. My parents and I moved from my hometown in the 90s to an Army base and that probably saved my life. A military base changed my course in life. I am thankful for all those who served before me which paved the way for me to become a pilot. You guys are all highly intelligent, very talented, and the most outstanding role models I have ever served with.
    1 point
  16. I agree. I have trouble knowing how to respond when people say, "Thank you for your service." It seems like they say it to make themselves feel good while at the same time being completely disinterested in the current wars going on and utterly incapable of holding politicians accountable for years of institutional neglect and a complete lack of a cohesive strategy for the war on terror.
    1 point
  17. I got to give you credit on this one, well put and agreed. My reaction is more along the lines of commanders resorting to establishing a new rule or policy any time something goes wrong or just because. Some times the human element just screws ups, and the only required response is to make sure your people are safe and understand where the failure is. Every failure doesn't require a new squadron wide policy or power point presentation, some times that failure can just be learned from those involved.
    1 point
  18. A little later, I'll be driving out to the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery by myself to soak up the meaning of the day. I also came across a letter written by a guy who is an acquaintance who lives in north Texas, and was a pilot in the Marine Corps. Taco has is a great American, and writes very well. It's not a "feel good" letter by any stretch. But it reminds me how I felt when military people died. ----- Another Memorial Day arrives and like most weekends and holidays, I will be working . When passengers board my commercial airliner, many are confused between the two holidays, Memorial and Veterans weekend, so with my short hair and Marine Corps lanyard I hear a lot of things like “Happy Memorial Day” to which I reply “come see me on Veterans Day.” For me on Memorial Day, I usually give pause and think about the guys I knew who are now gone. The horrors of war that are tucked away, not discussed with friends or spouses. During the time I spent over in Iraq and Afghanistan , pulling the trigger against the enemy was not something I experienced. That can be a good thing but then you sometimes wish for extreme payback to an enemy who has hurt your friends through their cowardly actions using IED’s. When Iraq comes to mind, it sometimes feels like yesterday, but then I realize that it was almost seven ago which is eons to my kids who barely remember me being gone. It’s a good thing they didn’t see the tears from their mother when she found out that I had volunteered to serve over there just as thousands of others had done. A scene probably played out in many households across our nation. American’s have left for war across the world or have volunteered to serve knowing that at any minute a conflict could come up that requires them to face the very real possibility of taking another human’s life or being killed in the process. It’s not something we talk about to others or amongst ourselves. You just pray that when the time comes, God gives you the strength to do the right thing and take care of your brothers in arms. My tour in Iraq was interesting to say the least. As the Assistant Air Boss at Al Taqaddum, I was never outside the wire kicking in doors (like the young guys did), but we were around for the aftermath of their patrols most of the time. Our mission was to launch the rescue CH-46’s to pick up those who were wounded and more often than not we would end up helping the wounded in some fashion since the hospital was next door to our tower. One day in particular stands out. I had our best Sgt. on the desk one afternoon when I left for chow. It was a long hot miserable walk to the chow hall, made worse since the Colonel and I were required to carry our “Brick” radio everywhere so that we could be reached at a moments notice and this thing was huge! On the way home, the radio crackled “Sir, are you up?” Since the Colonel was on leave in the states, I knew it was me he needed. “I’m here, what’s going on Sgt. K?” The sun was burning down on me as my boots plowed through the fine dust wondering what our troublesome Lance Corporal had done this time. “Sir, we have a MASS CASS (massive causalities) on the way.” His voice very calm over the radio. He didn’t know if they were arriving by air or ground or how many so I detoured to the hospital as the call came in that they were at the North Entry Control Point inbound, but he still no idea how many. I needed to put eyeballs on the situation to cut out the confusion that usually follows. This is one of those things that will get your heart pumping, not knowing how many. It could be just a few or a ton of guys you are talking about and the exact number determines how many CH-46’s you have to launch and whether or not you need to break crew rest for more helo lift. A whole slew of considerations on getting the fastest medical evacuation service to our troops. I arrived at the side entrance, a large unloading spot to the hospital with about 12 staff members milling about smartly. They were all on hand because you really don’t know what you have until the doors open up. We heard that an Army team was ambushed in their Bradley and blown up with a particularly nasty IED mixed with a sort of napalm concoction. Everyone was pretty tense with only nervous banter being thrown about, especially from the new Sailor standing next to me. The ambulance arrived, turned around and backed up. The loud diesel engine shut off followed by the doors flying open and a silence settled over the group of us standing there. Slowly, the first of four forms materialized out of the back. He was burned beyond anything I had ever seen. The skin was dripping off him in places. His ears were gone along with his nose. Pieces of his gear melted into his body and flesh charred. His guttural cries as he moved inch by inch out of the ambulance. The young Sailor next to me vomited into the top of a small Hesco barrier that was filled with dirt when the overpowering smell of burnt flesh hit him. The nurses were trying to be gentle with them, tears in their eyes as the Doctors and orderlies assisted their movement to the ER. This was no doubt a horrible one as each Soldier looked as bad as the first. Lots of emotions flash through my mind, none of them I’m able to express without being tossed out of the Marine Corps or attacked by CAIR . This really affected everyone standing there that day. These events were barely mentioned later, because as much as you wanted them to survive, you were watching the walking dead (I fear they knew it too). We lost one there on the ER table, another on the flight to Ballad Air Base in Northern Iraq , followed by a third death over the Atlantic and the fourth Soldier; he succumbed to his injuries and passed on in San Antonio . That is what I think about when Memorial Day arrives. It’s the service members who will never return to see their families again. The young men and women who volunteered to serve their country with no thought as to their safety, all willing to pay the ultimate price with their lives. That is what this weekend is about so the rest of America can enjoy the time off Monday with friends. As you tip that cold drink, cook that steak and hang out with your friends, please remember those men and women who have served over the years to give us the freedoms we have. They paid for it with their lives. To those men and women, and the many hundreds of thousands before them who have passed, gone West and now guarding the gates of heaven, God Bless you for your duty and Godspeed. Semper Fi, Taco
    1 point
  19. He is not going to listen or be educated, and he doesn't see the difference. You're wasting your time bro. He is one of those people convinced he understands a perspective you don't, and can't comprehend a world outside his assumptions.
    1 point
  20. Tyler, scoobs, Chang, and hatedont just might be related.
    1 point
  21. Hatedont is Chang? Chang is Hatedont?
    1 point
  22. Good Leader - 0 Policy letters Bad Leader - 50 Policy letters Policy Letters are for the weak and lazy. Real commander doesn't need some letter to support their actions. Their actions speak for themselves and the validation comes with continual mission focus. Recently I had a commander come in and within his first week or so deleted every policy letter he could find from previous squadron commanders. Some of these policies had been in "place" for 4+ commanders ago and had just festered as Air Force officers we learn nothing can beat the Air Force if we just pile on more policy.... Granted at some point we found out that we were required to have certain policy letters per wing/group/AFI Guidance and adjusted accordingly, however the initial response was a win. I rather ask forgiveness than be chained down as a commander and require mental retardation with what was shown with this OSS commander. Nothing like forcing additional work for your lower level commanders to supervise, rather than trust them to lead their people. Can't teach this stuff if you hold their hand with strict requirements, how about we let people fail and learn from their mistakes and grow. My leadership experience while very limited, rarely did I go search for some written guidance to tell me how to handle a situation. I started with what made sense to me, and adjusted if I found additional information down the line if I needed too. What won me over big time once was when the decision I made was contrary to written guidance, but was in the best interest of one of my students. My commander backed me, and we essentially ignored that written guidance as it did not make sense in our specific situation. Ideally I would have known about that limitation first, and that was my sin, but I still stood by my decision and was likely more free to make it with my ignorance.
    1 point
  23. Yeah but was he a SpecOps Fighter Pilot?
    1 point
  24. that took some balls.
    1 point
  25. Told you guys. Fingers Goldfien is a Fvck Tard. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums
    -1 points
  26. Just say thank you, my pleasure? That's what I do. Some people genuinely mean it, and I don't try to dissect a basic compliment into the deeper meanings, that's what liberals do.
    -1 points
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