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It was a horrendous post. So the guy compared you to Hitler....people say crappy things all the time, act like a freaking human and have some decency. Both sides are stupid...look at the things the left said about Charlie Kirk when he was assassinated. Maybe a lesson for all of us to take a step back and act like adults.

Glad you didn't get caught! 😄

If he did, that surgeon did a helluva job.

The fact that none of those Congressional members came out of the meeting and demanded the resignation of the targeting authority that committed the engagement was telling of this being little more than a political witch hunt. They want Hegseth to resign, and they want to have the fight in the court of public opinion only because they know it doesn’t actually meet the criticism that’s been levied out of “sources.” Democratic critics will happily use the term “war crime” and water down its meaning though just like they did racist and fascist for the convenience it provides to their argument. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Addressing the OP: If you thought the USAF screwed you over, just wait until you experience an airline during contract negotiations. It sounds like outside influences have been crafted your outlook for you. It may be completely true that you were actively screwed by the system, but getting bitter only means you're letting the system win. The airlines will happily assume the role of screwing you over if you let them. I can show you a large collection of 30-year widebody captains making millions of dollars who are thoroughly convinced they've been screwed by the system. They are no fun to be around. It's all perspective. Pick your's with care. Choose gratitude instead of trying to pinpoint who's screwing you over. The answer to that question will always be "someone and/or everyone". Conversely, if you focus on what you're grateful for, you'll find a lot of good things in life. Pick one, you can't focus on both. I punched at 17 years and joined the reserves for 3 years. Now I'm at a major airline. In all three of those locations it is VERY easy to look around and wonder why the grass isn't as green as advertised. Reality is that the grass on the other side is just a different kind of grass. Once you get into a new organization, you'll see all the warts. You get to decide if it's good or bad, but if you let the system decide, it'll definitely suck. Truths: The system (usaf or corporate) doesn't owe you anything. Your hard work will be overlooked, but it will craft your reputation among your peers. Once you're gone, the system won't care. Maximize your personal gain without screwing others over, ignore the BS, do your work will, keep your integrity in tact, find a niche you can enjoy. Focus on good things, and your next career will be great. Focus on the hate, and you'll hate it. It's a DAILY choice.

I really hope this is not M2 because dibs.

As a retiree I wish I owned a pawn & gun store, Dodge dealership and tobacco/vape shop, preferably all one stop shop, outside of an active duty base(s) right now

I can’t believe states get away with laws that blatantly violate the constitution. How has every single one not been eradicated by SCOTUS cases at this point; it’s insanity.

Herk may not be pretty, but 99% of the time she'll get you there everytime!

You see it at the local levels too. People may get into it for altruistic reasons, but it doesn’t take long for most to be captivated by the attention, the feeling of power, “being someone important,” etc. Phase 1 - I’m here to make good changes and clean this mess up! Phase 2 - I like this attention and power Phase 3 - Do what I can to enrich myself and close allies while pretending I’m “just a regular Joe like all of you [suckers]!”

Pearl Harbor was 84 years ago. From the end of the Civil War to Pearl Harbor... 76 years.

An expert legal analysis; https://www.dailywire.com/news/cornell-law-professor-shreds-entirely-unconvincing-war-crime-accusation-against-hegseth

@fire4effect Lots of “credible” sources said the laptop was fake news. Lots of “credible” sources backed Russiagate. I’ve been around the block quite a bit in the terrorist killing world (as have many on here), and I’m calling complete bullshit on the whole thing. If a whole JOC watched DEVGRU execute a couple unarmed dudes who didn’t pose a threat at all, then we’ll be seeing war crimes charges and trials commencing soon. That hypothetical scenario is not something anyone (especially an E/young O) would walk away from unmolested (in the legal sense). Personally, I’ve been involved in four separate occasions where someone “credible” said something happened that was a complete lie. Thankfully every time there was data to prove them a liar and nobody got screwed.

We are interviewing again. Two students start flying this week. Interested? Here's the official message that went out through AFPC: WANTED: Exceptional pilots ready to fly, fight, and win from the stratosphere wherever and whenever America needs flexible, versatile, and survivable reconnaissance and other effects on behalf of the Joint Force. Must meet, uphold, and demand uncompromising standards in an unforgiving environment, give effort worthy of the U-2’s history, and sacrifice worthy of America’s future. Flawlessly execute the U-2’s final fight, without regret. The 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale AFB is accepting applications for a limited number of highly qualified and exceptionally motivated officers to join the selectively-manned cadre of U-2 pilots. At this time, U-2 operations are extended through FY26. Applicants must have 36 months TOS by RNLTD to be eligible to apply. Deadline to apply is 28 Feb 26. 1. PILOT APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS 1a. Minimum Flying Requirements*: • Possess at least 1200 rated hours (do not include student, civilian, or OTHER time) OR • 800 rated hours in a single-pilot type trainer aircraft such as T-6, T-34, T-37, T-38, T-45, etc OR • 500 hours in fighter type aircraft AND • At least 500 hours in fixed wing aircraft • At least 12 months or 400 hours as Pilot-in-Command (PIC), whichever is greater *** If you do not meet any of these requirements, reach out to the U-2 Recruiter and we may be able to work with you on a case-by-case basis*** 1b. Physical Requirements IAW AFI 48-123 V3: • Standing Height: 64” – 77” • Sitting Height: 34” – 40” (>38” will require cockpit fit test) • Buttocks to Knee: < 27” • IAW 1-U2RS-1 Weight: 126 – 238lbs 1c. Other Requirements: • Positive Professional Military Image/Passing PT Score • Possess a SECRET clearance • Possess or be eligible for TS/SCI clearance 1d. 9 RW/U-2S recruiting highly desires (in addition to above requirements): • MWS/AETC Instructor Pilot hours • Evaluator Pilot experience • Clean Flight Evaluation History (exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis) 2. PROCESS Act now – we’re racking and stacking applications for the next round of U-2 interviews. Before submitting an application, contact the U-2 Recruiting office at DSN 368-3010, commercial (530) 634-3010 or e-mail to U2Recruiting@us.af.mil. Prepare an application package containing the following required documents: • Letter of Recommendation from your Wing Commander or equivalent • Letter stating your PCS availability date and confirmation of assignment release by your Air Force Personnel Center functional • This is in addition to the Wing/CC letter and can be accomplished with a digitally signed e-mail from your core functional stating “You are released to apply for the U-2 Program for hire in FY 26” • Interview Package Summary of Documents • Letter: “I would like to fly the U-2 because…” (Explain why you want to fly the U-2 and why you would be an asset to this program. 1-3 paragraphs will normally suffice) • Official Photo (Torso, Color or Black and White, 5x7 or Larger) • Copies of all OPR/OPBs and any AF Form 475s (Annual performance reports and Education and Training Reports) • Individual Fitness Test Summary • 1 Page Officer SURF • Copy of AF Form 942. Highlight any Q-2 or Q-3 ratings in yellow. • Copies of all AF Form 8s to include reverse sides. Highlight all downgrades, discrepancies, re-training, failed evaluations, commendables, in yellow. • Flying History Report • MyVector/Talent Marketplace – Select 1st Choice Assignment preference Core AFSC 11R • "Anthropometric data" - Standard Form 600, or just a memo from Flight Medicine listing your: standing height, sitting height, buttocks-to-knee length Send the Application via DoD Safe: Please send documents to Maj Gray “Utah” Kaempf (gray.kaempf.1@us.af.mil), Lt Col Jeff “PESO” Monsalve (jeff.monsalve.2@us.af.mil), Vincent Lopez (vincent.lopez.8@us.af.mil). We will review your application as soon as it arrives and notify you of our decision within 2-6 weeks. If you haven’t heard something by then, please contact us. 3. SCREENING If selected for an interview you will come to Beale TDY for approximately 10-14 days. Your ability to enter the program will be assessed after Week One and after each of the three Acceptance Flights (AF). Week One: • Interviews with Squadron and Group leadership • Mission orientation • Mobile (chase car) rides • Flight physical • Egress Training • Many hours of briefing for your U-2 Sorties • U-2 full pressure suit sizing check Week Two: • AF-1 – 2.5 hour sortie consisting of flight characteristics, maneuvers, descent for an ILS and multiple patterns and landings • AF-2 – 2.5 hour sortie pattern only that consists of an instrument approach followed by normal, no-flap and simulated flame out patterns and landings • AF-3 – 2.0 hour sortie nearly identical to AF-2 however the pilot that drove the chase car on the first two sorties will fly and the pilot that flew the first two sorties will mobile. At the end of this sortie, determination will be made as to whether or not you will be offered a U-2 assignment. 4. POINTS OF CONTACT/MISCELLANEOUS POC Information: 1 RS/DOR POC: Maj Gray “UTAH” Kaempf DSN 368-3010 Commercial (530) 634-3010 U2Recruiting@us.af.mil

I am the CLIT commander!

This idea seems familiar....

Just to save everyone from having to go on Instagram...

Those pockets aren’t going to line themselves!

Notice how they keep leaving the submarine out of the photo collections of released drone footage. Almost like they want to not acknowledge what that vessel would clearly have been because they can’t “allege ” it was a fishing boat. I stand by my assertion this has nothing to do with concerns about human rights and is a political big game hunt. Anybody that can put Hegseth’s scalp on the wall affords themselves the right to claim leadership of the party, and Kelly knows it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

@Swizzle Never stopped in the CAF. Still see pretty solid names, though obvious “super non-pc” ones aren’t going to stick. Still holding out hope in the 11th hour of my career that I won’t see VBF erased from the board!

Rand Paul is full of hot air. From everything I’ve seen, including the first strike video, there wasn’t anything that remotely even touched the line. It went down like thousands of strikes we’ve conducted for decades. Anybody who’s actually done this shit knows this is a total nothing burger. And if we want to get political, I can think of several strikes I’ve seen under Obama that would apparently have our cities on fire by leftist had they known about them (except they wouldn’t care since it was Obama and not Trump). And FWIW, nothing illegal about those strikes either, but the optics are a billion times worse than this boat.

What’s your point?

No organization will ever care about you, nor will it betray you, because it can't. The people in the system are what matters and you'll find good and bad people in every system. I had far more good than bad experiences in my AF time and I would absolutely do it all again, but I know that experiences will vary. I still think that there is a higher proportion of good dudes in the AF than in the airlines (I'm at a legacy) or in most other career fields. Timing and luck play a huge part of your AF career; I knew good guys that got repeatedly shafted and I knew guys that had a great career even though they were less deserving. But by far more common were good dudes that got some good deals and some bad deals. It sucks when your commander/boss happens to be one of the guys that shouldn't be there, but that happens everywhere, including at the airlines. The only difference is at the airlines it is often easier to distance yourself. If your career really was just one bad deal after another than either you were extremely unlucky (it happens, I knew a good guy like that) or it might be your attitude. Looking back at my career, I'm thankful for all my good deals. They made great friends, memories, and stories. But I'm also thankful for most of my bad deals because they helped shape my path to be where I am now.

Never had a positive OSI experience - I feel like every single one I’ve interacted with, even in an unofficial capacity, is a total slime ball just looking to nail anybody and everybody, truth be damned. Do not trust OSI, ever.

I'm a retired old fart MSgt, got out at 21 mainly because I would never see another stripe, all my time was on the flightline, had a boss tell me all you did was deploy a bunch and do your job, never saw you at Sq parties or top 4 meetings. When I was stationed at Andrews, I was more an aircraft detailer than Crew Chief, I absolutely hated being there, hated the mission. Back in those days I could call my AFSC's manager at Randolph and ask for a PCS. He said you want Iceland, hell yes, I said just to get out of Washington DC. Guess what happened, I loved being in the USAF again. I think being in the Air Force is a lot like real estate, location, location, location. Before that I was ready to move on, get out and go home to Chicago and be a cop. I'm Sure glad I didn't do that. Now I'm semi-retired living the life in my mountain home in Colorado getting 4 checks monthly because I decided to stay in not go back to Chicago. 15 years is a bunch of years to walk away from, think really hard about it.

Yeah, Huggy said person, which excludes the need for a WSO..

Not getting caught diddling an E is a pretty low bar. Photo evidence submitted at Ratner's trial:

Beautifully done by the gents! IMG_9166 2.MOV

Strange, I couldn't find a post from you saying WTF when it was changed under Biden. Did that Secretary of State also lose a bet?

Bad cops suck.

As always, I'm sure there's more to the story is being reported. Hopefully they had bodycams on to clear this up. That being said, I'm not a fan of this new trend of law enforcement wearing facemasks. That's something thugs and third world countries do. If I'm approached in my vehicle (or worse, at my house) by guys wearing facemasks, my first reaction is not going to be thinking that everything is fine.

Paywalled. I say threaten to delete our debt to them if they cross into Taiwan.

What about Indiana!? Holy smokes I never thought I’d see Indiana football mentioned in any discussion of possible college football Champions! Anybody think they can keep it up through the playoffs?

Upside down bowling pin? https://data.irate4x4.com/video/660/660197-f280c25a4b0e73a426fdcc4d2e9b4b2e.mp4

Takeaway - never trust Red Crown, avoid as far as tactically feasible.

It was all fun and games till @Biff_T pulled out his "flying disk"!

I don't know any of this thing from the inside. But it isn't hard for me to imagine that the one person telephone game through a WaPo reporter would destroy the nuance of military decision making and org charts, especially if it's influenced by the SoW saying something chest thumping and kinda douchy in response to a CDE type of inquiry (my suspicion).

#Heaux. once a douche canoe, always a douche canoe. Cowher lays it all out. Why would a parent ever listen to anything this turd says and believe he will look out for their kid?

Well this got even more hilariously stupid. No DEVGRU on the boat executing people, just a target boat that wasn’t destroyed after the first shot (#hellfire, amirite!), so they shot it again to ensure a better F-Kill. OMG, that’s only happened hundreds of thousands of times across history. Guess many of us on here should also be convicted of war crimes. Absolute political hack job asshatery. See kids, this is why you don’t blindly believe fabricated political hit pieces masquerading as “factual news.”

Don't knock it till you try it. 😄

I was an exec in my first squadron and a laptop went missing. I got a call from OSI asking me to come over they wanted to chat. I was completely naive mainly because I didn't take the laptop and thought that was obvious. I truly thought they wanted help figuring out when it went missing. I walked in and they took me to an interrogation room where good cop bad cop immediately started. It was very apparent they wanted me to confess. The idiot even said "I know you took it, how about you explain to me why I shouldn't think you took it. I replied, "first, you already screwed up because you are recording this and never read me my rights...second, my career as a pilot is not worth a laptop and none of your horseshit is going to change my answer. He looked extremely butt hurt, then read me my rights. Asked another question and got the same answer. You can go now. It was like they were reading (poorly), off a script.

I could be pissed and resentful that the Air Force came after me for an accusation that every judge or JAG in the process saw as obviously absurd. It cost a lot of money and it put my family through quite a bit. Or I could be thankful that I made my stupid mistake in 2015 instead of 2007, when the Air Force was balls deep in the "women never lie about rape" narrative. I'd probably still be in jail if it had been in that era. I choose the latter. Most people on earth would cut off their right arm to be where I am professionally, financially, and medically. Timing is Everything It's better to be lucky than good There is no justice I wish I remember who the first person to share those rules with me was, because while they aren't a moral framework, they've always been a quick antidote to any potential pity-parties I've thrown for myself. You're never going to have men and women working together without fraternization. I know you know that too. I wasn't mad they went after me, but the mock indignation was pathetic.

Carnies. Small hands.

@disgruntledemployee Well a WaPo reporter claims DEVGRU was ordered to execute unarmed people (and did), so it must be true. You actually believe this bullshit?

Why did you enlist?