M2

Normally, I would someone for asking a question without searching, but I see the search mechanism did not return anything for 'LPA.' So, to answer your question ... LPA = Lieutenant Protection Association. Cheers! M2

It's almost like his kid is giving the camera that "Fuck you if you don't like my daddy's LPA patch!" look! Cheers! M2

She's no longer listed...wasn't she "medically retired?" Cheers! M2

From AFA... The six airmen killed in the July 21, 2008 crash of a B-52 off the coast of Guam were (l to r): Andersen AFB, Guam Col. George Martin, 36th Medical Group deputy commander and flight surgeon 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, La. Maj. Christopher M. Cooper, aircraft commander Maj. Brent D. Williams, navigator Capt. Michael K. Dodson, co-pilot 1st Lt. Joshua D. Shepherd, navigator 1st Lt. Robert D. Gerren, electronic warfare officer Godspeed, gentlemen! Cheers! M2

Because it is so damn cool! Cheers! M2

Guys Let's not post any details on here until they become public...for the sake of the crewmembers and their families... (This in reference to the two posts--that were deleted--concerning the tail number of the B-52) Thanks! M2

Sorry, it goes along the lines of "how can I trust a mechanic to work on an aircraft if he can't shine his shoes" mentality. The best maintainers I ever met looked like Cooter from the Dukes of Hazzard; but damn if they couldn't fix an airplane! I am all for decreasing complacency; but I don't think putting a uniform nazis at the door of the DFAC is gonna keep the insurgents from running the gates. Instead, give the motherfucker a goddamn M-16 and put his ass on the fence! Cheers! M2

Doh! Math in public is never a good thing... Cheers! M2

According to Aviation Week... Including the C-130 in Iraq to the franchise's list, that still is only 19. Aviation Week claims 22, what were the other three? Cheers! M2

I guess the reg nazis are gonna bust on this guy as well...what's he know about being a warrior?!? Airman Receives DFC with Valor: Capt. Brian Erickson, an A-10 pilot with the 75th Fighter Squadron at Moody AFB, Ga., received the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor on July 11. He earned the honor for providing close air support under hazardous conditions--working without a forward air controller--to help save the lives of six members of a German provincial reconstruction team that came under intense insurgent attack in a Hindu-Kush mountain range valley of Afghanistan on Oct. 16, 2006. "It's a great honor to be recognized," said Erickson, who was deployed to Bagram Air Base at the time. "But the real reward was returning those six coalition soldiers safely to the village they were working at." The DFC recognizes heroism or extraordinary achievement while flying in combat operations. (Full Story: Moody report by A1C Spencer Gallien) Seriously, well done, SHFING! Cheers! M2

There is more info in the CSAF Ops Update on SIPRNET...can't be shared here. Cheers! M2

RJ Sorry, just saw your post. Thanks for checking for me, I am not surprised that it went quickly, as that is a good price on a hard-to-find handgun! Cheers! M2

A week? Shit! That's not enough! I've already told her that I was buying the brews if/when she ever makes it down to San Antonio! Same should apply wherever she goes! That girl has guts! God bless 'er! Cheers! M2

Out-fucking-standing! You can never tell from these Airman articles. I hope she has received a significantly greater amount of support than criticism like the douchebag at Offutt! The Air Force was born out of defiance, and I am glad to see some people continue the tradition! I have changed the title of this thread to now read: Capt Malinda Hammond IS My Hero! God bless her! Cheers! M2

That does not surprise me one bit. Gone seem to be the days when a Chief was a hard-talking, ass-kicking, heavy-smoking, fast-drinking, ass-kicking (yes, I know I said that twice) Son of a Bitch! Nowadays they sport SuperCut hairdos and play the PC game as well as the career-focused shoeclerk officers. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I saw a Chief with a high-and-tight flattop and who could make Curtis LeMay blush...no wonder a lot of junior airmen are missing the they need... Cheers! M2

Holy shit, his sleeves are rolled up and he has his sunglasses hanging around his neck! The shoeclerks would shit themselves if they saw this pic! Doesn't he know what a warrior is suppose to look like?!?! I have a pic with the SecDef and Gen Eric Shinseki (COMSFOR at the time) with a handlebar mustache from ten years ago...one of the best pics I have in uniform! Cheers! M2

SMSgt Kost needs to apply a little professionalism to himself, he hasn't updated his entry in the global as it shows him still at Osan! Plus, his office symbol in Korea was DPM, which means he's a personnel specialist. I think the guy that complained about the door gunner that was pictured in Airman a few years back who was not clean-shaven was also a personnel specialist. I guess they don't know what a 15+ hour duty day is like, or being deployed... Cheers! M2

FUBAR = Ops normal in a lot of places! As for the morale patch, they aren't authorized because morale isn't authorized! Doesn't stop our former CSAF from wearing his! And as to why she can wear one, she's a Reservist. They've got their own rules! Cheers! M2

In the May/June issue of Airman magazine (pg 13), Capt Malinda Hammond, a Reservist with the 136 AW currently assigned to the 455 AEW, is pictured in a sanitized flightsuit with only a US flag and small 'FUBAR' morale patch on! (this is the scanned pic from the magazine) Now the question is, did she know she had it on or was she the victim of some shenanigans? By the way, in the online version of that pic, the morale patch was Photoshopped out! Also, it really shows the professionalism of the USAF/PA in that the "current" issue of Airman on their official web site is from March/April, and it is mid-July! And before anyone screams about my publishing her name, the Airman article not only did that, but added her unit, hometown, deployed unit and location, as well as pretty much her whole life story! All of it was on their web version of the article as well... Cheers! M2

I haven't shot one, but the PT1911 seems popular. Try M1911.org or XD Talk M1911 Forum for some good info. I am surprised that you find a 1911 "gigantic" but the M9 comfortable, for most it is the opposite. For a 9mm, the Beretta is huge. I love the ergos of the 1911, but still prefer the XD due to its lighter weight and increased capacity. I could never stand the M9... Cheers! M2

That beats the local shops that wanted over a grand for a new one that already has a few small fine scratches in it; but are you sure they are the Target version with the adjustable sights? There is a Combat model (PX9154LP) that has fixed sights that is a little cheaper... And what kind of shape is the used one in? Any idea of how many rounds have been through it? Any wear marks on it? These usually are not carry guns, mostly range or display guns, so there shouldn't be any holster marks on them... Cheers! M2

By the way, if anyone comes across one of these at a decent price, let me know... It's a Springfield Armory Loaded Target in black stainless (model PX9152L), and I can't find one for under a grand at local shops... There is a gun show this coming weekend in San Antonio, but I went to one two weeks ago and didn't find one. Maybe my luck will be better during this show... Cheers! M2

I went to the range with a couple of buds yesterday and got a chance to shoot a HK USP45 and a Glock 21 (I’ve shoot the Glock before but it’s been a while). I liked the HK but for the price I would rather have a nice 1911. The Glock was also nice but compared to my XD45 the grip was much larger. The cant differences in the grip wasn’t as noticeable as I thought (the XD is more 1911-like); buy the diameter difference was very noticeable! My buds shot both my XD and SA GI 1911 and were very impressed. I tout the XD every chance I get as I think it is the best handgun to carry. I love 1911s but the single-stack limits the capacity (but greatly improves the grip, nice and narrow and easy to control) and I prefer polymer weapons for carrying. But as shooters they are excellent guns, and I hope to own several during my lifetime. But you can’t beat the ergonomics, capacity and performance of the XD45! Springfield (well, the Croatians actually) got this one right! Cheers! M2

From AFA...