loadsmith

Haven't been on here in some time but glad I checked back in. I am going to the allergy clinic tomorrow to have an allergy test conducted due to a reaction to a fire ant bite. I didn't have a full anaphylactic reaction but broke out in hives and had numbness in my face. I have been carrying the epipens since August and was told by the allergist that if I am found to be allergic to fire ants and start the Immunotherapy (IT) that my med records will meet a RILO, Records in Lieu Of which he explained as an internal review. He first mentioned MEB and I began to sweat so he clarified the process but I still have my fears. I am an enlisted flier, over 20 and trying to stay in my current unit for at least another 2-3 years. The allergist also said the IT would keep me from any deployments due to the shots which are given monthly for 3-5 years and the possible reaction each time. I will have to do some more reading in the above regs if it turns out I am allergic to something necessitating the IT. Best of luck to you Duck.

Your best bet would be checking out the Military Times Forums. There is a thread for your type of questions and it's 411 pages long. You may have to create an account and do some searching through the thread before posting a question. http://forums.militarytimes.com/showthread.php?1561151-Flight-Engineer-retraining&highlight=flight+engineer

Here's a link for the Safe to Fly Boot Memo: http://www.afpc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-130509-047.pdf I own the Belleville 693s and some bases have started to issue them as well. May be worth asking your supply folks if they can get something else from the list if it more suits your needs.

I have about 3 flashlights I fly with (C-130 LM) and my favorite is the Pelican 2360. It's white (LED) only so using it in a flight deck at night is probably out of the question. I am not a fan of the need to buy the Surefire batteries all the time and think anything that uses normal batteries is probably just as good. http://www.pelicanproducts.us/c.Pelican.Black.Knight.html

Navy pilots grounded after flight over Lake Tahoe SAN DIEGO - Two Navy helicopter pilots from North Island Naval Air Station were grounded over a YouTube video that allegedly showed them dipping the $33 million aircraft into Lake Tahoe. In the video taken Sept. 13, both helicopters hit the water and one seems to spin out of control and crash into the water before its pilot apparently pulls the craft back into the air. A Navy spokesman confirmed that the video was genuine footage of two MH- 60 Romeo helicopters from North Island's Helicopter Maritime Strike 41 squadron, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

First off welcome to the discussion, Secondly, spell check is your friend. If you want to come on here and gain any sort of credibility with your "shut up and color" rhetoric then I suggest you start reading this thread from the beginning. No one throughout this discussion has for one second ever discounted the sacrifices of those serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. I guarantee most if not all of us would rather be at one of the numerous bases in those 2 countries then here at the Deid. This thread is not about bitching, its about folks(leadership) losing focus when they should be figuring out how to better support and prevent the real warriors from being killed by snipers and IEDs. Spelling has been triple checked (thanks Jughead)

here is the link to the USAFCENT Awards and Decs folks. Read under "Directives and Policy." Hope this helps USAFCENT Decorations Page

I usually catch a glance of the TV at the chow hall during lunch and see the videos on continuous rotation. If you watch long enough you will see MSgt Blatchford, one of the 2 men that the BPC is named after. Out of curiosity I Googled him when I got back to work and read one of the most amazing stories. I think it should be mandatory reading at Shoeclerk University or wherever REMFs are born. Samuel N. Blatchford

Here is some more info on the one picture with the two army and one AF girl. They are all sisters, some dam good genes in that family. C-130 pilot one of two sisters in Afghanistan

We had a great idea last night to take some extra reflective belts that we had and to carry them to the chow hall with us for dinner to pass out if anyone we saw had forgotten theirs. Well we get to the DFAC and there is a big dry erase board as you enter that basically said “no belt, no service.” On one of the reflective belts I had wrote “services rental”, it was my plan to hand it out as deemed necessary. Upon seeing the giant dry erase I decided to hang it there in case someone needed it. No kidding, I was in there for a few minutes and in walked someone wearing my belt. After speaking to him later on I learned he was part of a C-17 transient crew and he had forgotten his belt, I explained my reasoning and he was thankful, even returned the belt so that it may be passed on another day. I actually saw the Services folks give someone a reflective belt so that they could eat, still puzzled as to why you need one to eat but I will continue to be a good “wingman” and help my fellow airmen out if they forget their belt.

I don't believe that wearing reflective belts and saluting is going to go away anytime soon nor do I see it as a major problem. My main problem is watching people being turned away from eating because of a lack of a reflective belt or being asked by the services folks who should be monitoring the TCNs or making sure the food is the right freaking temperature enforcing this policy. I am trying to find the legality and importance of the EFSS CC placing signs in his facilities stating that during hours of darkness "no belt, no service." This is not addressed in any reg that I know of. I have found the only 2 references I could find and unless you define "anywhere" as indoors as well then I am clueless to his logic. AL UDEID AIR BASE INSTRUCTION 91-1001 21 November 2008 Safety 15.1. All personnel will wear around their waist a reflective belt that is visible from 360 degrees any time they are outdoors during hours of darkness or reduced visibility anywhere on the installation, regardless of the uniform or civilian clothing being worn AUABI 36-2903 6.1.4. Reflective Tape, Belts, Jackets, and Arm Bands. For safety purposes, all members assigned to/transiting the installation will wear a reflective belt during all hours of darkness or reduced visibility to provide 360-degree visibility of member. When reflective belt wear is required, it must be visible at all times (not under clothing etc.).

sorry slacker, went to do some editing and deleted the dam post. Well here are the two articles that he has written during his last deployment and his current deployment. don't lose the bubble putting life in perspective 6000 miles from home

here is the email that I am sure was sent in response the "Croc incident" and now has the Services CC declaring war on all things not important: ALCON, Been getting a lot of the "I didn't know the rules changed" from our transients and new AEF personnel when correcting improper wear of the uniform etc. There really are no excuses. They're briefed at PERSCO upon arrival and at Right Start. We all need to play an active role in enforcing the Wg/CC's uniform policies. With that, personnel must be in proper attire to receive services in any EFSS facility. Would greatly appreciate any efforts to educate your folks and to help us enforce those standards when you see non-compliance around the base...

"My commander's policy does not allow me to serve you if you don't have your reflective belt during hours of darkness." I will bet my 3 drinks that his CC is the same guy from my BRA story. This guy is making friends quick.

So I am at the BRA last night to meet up with some friends who are passing through from A-Stan back to the states. One young enlisted fellow packed his sneakers in his checked baggage and was planning on wearing Crocs, they were legal last year when he served his 4 months here. He goes to the CC BX and is approached by the Services CC who asks him what the deal is with his choice of footwear. He tells the CC his story and that he will buy sneakers at the BX if that helps, CC says they don’t sell them there. Now young enlisted fellow is unaware that you can wear combat boots in PT gear which wasn’t suggested at the time by the CC but solved the situation later in the night. Well fast forward a little bit and we are drinking at the BRA. Turns out the Services CC saw him buying drinks and called him out again, after he walks out of the DEL some of our other guys are inside to hear CC tell the civilians serving drinks to call the cops if he comes back in because he has already been told twice about his Crocs. We eventually told him just to go throw on his boots which kept him from dealing with any other heartache or going to the firing squad. I love this place