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Ok, so not necessarily something that’s happened recently. So here we may have an example of where many of us talk past each other when arguing for our causes. While there certainly are people making an argument for real socialism, I don’t think that’s the mainstream progressive argument in the United States. Let’s look at why so many progressives (and I consider myself one much of the time) like to point to Scandinavia. Sweden currently has a successful capitalist economy. Yet they also have a robust social safety net, high wages, massive union participation, universal healthcare, and a government funded education system that’s considered one of the best in the world, amongst many other “socialist” leaning policies. So it’s possible to have your cake and eat it too. Now, I realize that the Swedish economy has had its struggles and that the country is currently grappling with issues as varied as immigration and pandemic response. Not perfect. I get it. But.....when you hear the “lefties” argue for “socialism” in our country, take the time to listen to what they’re actually advocating. It’s usually not literal socialism. We most definitely do not have to agree with each other (Royal ‘we’, not necessarily referring to you and I specifically), but it helps to know what the other guy’s actual position is when it comes to good, constructive debate. Fox/CNN/Facebook, etc. have been extremely unhelpful in this regard.

I’ll probably butcher this, read about it a few months ago, but Sweden went hard socialist economic policy and by the late 90s ish they made a hard course correction to a capitalist economic system because their country was in danger of collapsing. Still recovering if you will. When people point to Sweden, they’re not a socialist economic structure anymore. They’re probably on par or more strictly capitalist than the US in some ways. Ruthless capitalism in article below, but because of their error in trying to implement socialist economic structures. https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-bernie-sanders-is-wrong-about-sweden-11566596536

Dude that person needs to go eat a bag of dicks. If its on UPT base property, it's 100% fair game!

Input from a different view: I'm in a very similar boat. 17 years, O-5 (unexpectedly APZ), not hirably current (API-6) in a staff billet. I had a regional job lined up and ready when COVID hit. I could have pulled my separation papers, but chose to delay them 3 months instead. Now I'm separating in August and going to a not-FEDEX-or-UPS cargo carrier. I'll also be joining the AFRC as a traditional reservist. Not ideal or low-stress, but it's the right path for our family right now. Prayer, petition, timing, and luck will dictate a unique path for you. Had I chosen to stay, I'm sure I'd have 365 or 179 orders very soon. Our family is tired of an impersonal organization that demands loyalty, then responds by treating people like cyphers and not caring 6 pence what it does to families. I will still be gone a lot with my new job...which won't pay a lot. I will still deploy with my AFRC unit. I might even volunteer for a 179 BACN deployment or some such. But it will be on our family's terms, not AFPC's. That is worth it to us, and that's the path that we hear God sending us down, so we're stepping that way in faith. Don't let big blue paint you into the "it makes sense" corner with a bonus and 5 more years of servitude unless you WANT that road. "It makes sense" really reads "it's really helpful to have bodies that AFPC can put where ever they want" when the Air Force tells you "it makes sense" to take the bonus. Carefully weigh the cost on you and your family before you take that money. IT IS NOT FREE. It's an 'easy' road to go down. They intentionally make it so. Don't let the ease of that road influence your decision making. BL: Your path may not conform to "common sense" as found on the internet or in mentorship relationships. Tailor that path to your situation, you financial goals, your family's desires, and your own skills, calling, and goals. A 15 year O-5 is very hirable in the ANG and AFRC. Just yesterday I saw a 3-6 year AGR job open at the 601 AOC in Tyndall (1+15 hour drive from the Eglin bedroom neighborhoods) for an O-5. There are opportunities everywhere. Then again, your path may take you down a road that keeps you in...it's your path. You already know the uncertainty that comes with 5 more years about 2-3 more PCS...especially if you are a non-command O-5. Command O-5s get even more PCSs. There are VERY FEW roads as an O-5 where you get to homestead for 5 years...they exist, but they are rare. Remember this, in 5 years, you're going to very likely be done with the USAF and be starting another career...and the USAF will not care at all about you or your family then. Good luck with the decision.

An important aspect of the "Nordic model" that I don't often hear about, which is germane to the discussion about the U.S. healthcare system, is the massive disparity in medical technology and advancements. The U.S. accounts for 91% of the entire world's medical advances measured by patented devices, therapies, and procedures, as well as peer-reviewed research. That's the power of the profit-motive, for better or worse. For example, the average cost of bringing to market a generic drug (i.e.,Tylenol knockoff) is $500 million. The average cost of a brand new drug is $2 billion. These accounts for research, development, compliance, FDA protocols, and trials. The prices could be lowered, but there's a deleterious effect on safety in doing so. I'm not arguing one way or the other, just pointing out that with a single-payer, Nordic style system, profit motive is diminished if not removed since that system necessitates price controls. Now we could certainly move to that system, but we have to accept a lower level of progress in medical research breakthroughs. This is an area I research and I haven't seen a way around that trade-off. Maybe we're at a point where that's an acceptable policy; after all, medicine has come a long way and universal coverage could arguably be worth it. On the other hand, the medical breakthrough that enables us to repair a damaged spinal cord and reverse a patient's paralysis, which is maybe 10 years away, will now be about 40-50 years away. That's the trade-off, and it's kind of a crappy one to consider no matter which side you take. Medical research is a little expensive, doing it safely is REALLY expensive. Without a profit motive, those breakthroughs will slow; they just will.

Allegedly, but it was a not-well-thought-out Frankenstein; also no floor debate happened on a what, several thousand page sweeping bill? Maybe next time we should actually legislate. There’s a decent write up about how Germany and the Netherlands do their public-private healthcare in today’s WSJ. Pretty thought provoking, I think. https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-will-transform-health-insurance-as-we-know-it-11593179876?st=12zkdvi47pbisy7&reflink=article_copyURL_share

*homogenous population, I think what you meant there. Who knows what relationships the Swedes are up to, though.

Sweden, Denmark are able to do that for multiple reasons. Inherent wealth, low comparative population, and let’s not forget cultural factors as well, like a highly homogeneous** population. Easy to have a strong collective safety net when most individuals think the same. Also think about the lifestyle and health of your average Scandinavian compared to Americans, of course healthcare costs are manageable. I can’t think of many conservatives that are advocating for removing our safety nets, but a Scandinavian type of welfare/healthcare system simply wouldn’t work in America. What has proven to work is robust capitalism, free markets, individual responsibility with a safety net for those who truly cannot provide for themselves. Edit: words are hard

Recently got picked up by a fighter unit. This thread was incredibly useful during my preparation so I wanted to return the favor. Here were some of my questions: 1. Tell us about yourself. 2. Are you okay with the possibility of shooting down a civilian airliner? 3. Why should we choose you over all the other qualified applicants? 4. Convince me you wont wash out of UPT? 5. Have you ever been in a fight? 6. How will you interact with the enlisted personnel on base? (Asked by enlisted member) 7. What if you’re in UPT and failing, what would you do? 8. What is something you struggle with while flying? 9. What’s more important, being an officer or a pilot? 10. Do you have any questions or closing remarks? Biggest piece of advice I can give is to actually answer the question and relate your answer back to how you’ll succeed at UPT, flying, etc. At one of my interviews, I was so focused on deliberating that I never gave a straight answer to the question asked. Also, be yourself, be honest, and be confident even if you get pushback on some of your answers. Best of luck to everyone!

Boy is that 10000% true, at least in the IT World. The notion of showing up for a meeting you called on time with your visual aids ready and at least a vague idea of how the meeting should go is almost unheard of in the IT world!!!!!!! I've retired from IT now, which is a great second career. But geeze, there you have guys and gals with an IQ of 200 who have no concept of how to communicate efficiently with other humans. Used to drive me nuts!

That made my fucking day.

F that keep zapping shit

I look forward to acting like I know the words and mumbling incoherently in rhythm at the next official event.

Can you effectively use this weapon as a short close in fight gun... Yes.... with a buttload of training. Look I love my M1A but I’m realistic about what it is. It’s entirely too heavy to be a long walk through the woods hunting rifle, and entirely too heavy bang with low capacity to be a close in fight gun or provide rapid available firepower like an AR (especially in a caliber like 300blk). It’s a bench gun or a gun that gets stashed in a trunk until needed. And it’s need it fills is hammering rounds at a semi rapid pace in that 300-500 yard block. The Socom is basically a really complicated/poor-method at making a designated marksman style rifle and you pay more for than an Archangel stock M1A precomp. It’s only advantage is “oh look how compact I am while still weighing more than any AR platform in similar performance.” It only wins a pro/con battle when it’s limited to other older style rifles (FAL, HK91, etc). It’s a solid gun, and if you’re just getting it because its different and makes louder noises at a range than you would with an AR, go nuts. Otherwise get something else on the M1A line, and go into it understanding Springfield either makes a sub MOA gun or they don’t with every one that comes off the line. You only know for sure after you shoot a box through it. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

They also graduated their second WIC class yesterday. They’ve got people who get it in charge and being invited to the right seats at the right tables. Pay attention to Beale, and apply if you want to be part of a revolution in ISR.

9RW/CC Change of Command today. Two back-to-back U-2 pilots as the Wing Commander??!! Am I taking crazy pills?? Col Clark arrived in 2018... the first U-2 pilot to command the Wing since 1985. He got a LOT done. Great job, Andy. And now Col Fox is the Commander. Top-shelf choice. No doubt, the tradition of excellence will continue. Congrats to Hf on taking command. Thinking of applying to the U-2? They hired someone yesterday. Not for everyone... but how about you?

Same way you mandate pants usage. Sure, you can drop trou if you really want to make a statement but be prepared for some dirty looks from your fellow pax and probably an invite to not fly on that airline anymore. Yes, you can take the mask off to eat/drink. Then you put it back on. Doesn’t seem so difficult. We can argue efficacy all we want but you won’t convince me that a face covering won’t at least prevent a few people from getting sick after seeing how many people will hack their lungs up without even bothering to cover their face with their hand. Wearing a mask seems pretty easy and un-intrusive to me and I’m baffled that this is the hill so many want to defend to the death. Yeah, yeah, slippery slopes and all that. It’s a public health crisis. Just wear a freaking mask for a few months.

Pyro was my student (Cadet, ERAU ROTC Prescott) and I returned for his commissioning 23 years ago. He stood out as one of the brightest, kindest and most engaging people I'd ever known. Over the years, we stayed in touch and visited often; the last time being at his final role call at his AZ ANG unit last year. Remarkable but not surprising, the outpouring of admiration, respect and affection displayed by the standing room only crowd, many who'd traveled great distances, and included 2 General officers. An inspirational, larger-than-life type, he became a mentor to my son, taking him up in the -16 sim, giving him a tour of the flight line and ultimately guidance and advice throughout ROTC and UPT. We were able to attend the beautiful ceremony for Matt, and as expected, countless friends and fellow admirers came from all corners to pay their respects. Matt may have been a student at one point, but I probably learned more from him. Nickel on the grass

The U-2 interview they put you in a spacesuit and lock you in a closet for 8 hours to see if you’ll go nuts. The B-2 interview they put you in a closet with the OG for 48 hours straight and make you audition (jokes, stories, limericks, etc). At least that’s what I heard.

“Pot of gold” is Irish cultural appropriation.

Hey yall adding another number to this. Previous score from 2016: 88 Current score taken last week: 92 (no increase in flying hour bracket) and hypothetical 95 with 201+ hours Would have probably done even better had I not borked a few questions on the UAV section but having practiced and played a bunch of video games with inverted axis controls helped me do significantly better on the tracking and multitasking sections. Would recommend everyone retake who can and just practice, practice, practice beforehand. Thanks to everyone who encouraged me to roll the dice on this one.

Reading that made me immediately think that if he had even had any bit of humanity he would have arranged for each of you guys up front to get a joyride in the OA-37 and you would have considered him a good guy for the rest of your careers. If I had been the general I would have made sure I threw something to you guys just to say thanks and to show you the AF appreciates her human assets. It wouldn't have cost him a dime and would have had a positive impact on you guys for years!!