Bergman

Isn't that what some of the TIBers have been doing for years? But hey, it's legal now.

Damn. Shit just got real. Run to the hills fellas! It's going to get (more) ugly. Will the last man out please bring the flag?

What we need to do is head over there with a few crowd pleasers and be done with it. I'm over it, fellas. We need to pack up our shit and GTFO. If they don't want us, why are we spending American lives, money, and time there?

Very cool. Great venue / great museum as well.

Same for -135s. Good to see that the different rule is working out well for the C-17s.

This should be mandatory reading for anyone considering USAFA. What is it the zoomies say..."BOHICA"? F*ck that place. If you're smart enough to get into the academy, you can get an ROTC scholarship at a school for normal people.

I'll add Al Udeid Air Base to the list of things that have improved. There is no reason for it to be so shitty in the first place, but that's not the point... 1) Civilian clothes allowed. Yoga pants are the best thing to ever happen to this place. 2) Threshold rule gone. If you can get it, you can hit it. 3) Flip flops and hats allowed in the chow halls. 4) Customs guys are almost polite and only take ~5 minutes. 5) AF transpo guys running trans again. Far more reliable and prompt than the old contractors. 6) No more reflective belts. 7) No more getting Chiefed, due to all of the above changes. Having said that, the civilian Caddy custodian contract got f*cked up last week, so USAF people are cleaning all the shitters right now...but that should be fixed by next week.

Holy shit! Regardless of how, when, or why...the fact (if true) that HALF of eligible fighter guys just left should be a giant clue bird that the ship is taking on water. Titanic, anyone?

Good Lord! "Giant 4241, confirm you know what airport you are at now?" $20 says they had to turn on their cell phones and use Google Maps to find out where they really were. UFB.

Makes sense. Why? With the Fairchild tankers about to have a lot more time on their hands, AD tanker unit at Hickam, Reserve tankers at March...the left coast is fairly well covered. Can't find definite info on when they started retiring them, but IIRC it was only a couple of years to retire over 250 airplanes. McChord lost their last one in April 2002 and they were gone completely from AD by 2004. A few stuck around in the ARC until spring 2006.

Ah, okay...so now it's MY fault for not running to the IG every time I hear of this type of thing happening. I'll try to do better. Have you ever seen what happens to people who make IG complaints? I'm sure you'll tell me great tales of justice being served, "having the commmanders ass" (so to speak), or getting a different job. In my experience what happens is as soon as the Sq or Gp/CC gets word of the complaint, you will find yourself instantly on every shit list...crappy flying schedule, endless SOF duty, deployed over Christmas (again), first in line for a 365, last in line for upgrade or PCS. If you make an IG complaint, you had better have your shit together because if the IG doesn't see things in your favor, your life is going to suck for a very long time. You are right, I have sat by and watched these heavy-handed "leaders" make rank. I sincerely welcome advice on how I can handle in the future. My opinion has always been, "Surely the Group/CC or Wing/CC sees what an asshole this guy is, right?"..."It'll all work out the right way when they go to get promoted." After all, I used to have a lot of faith in our senior leaders. But then I watch, year after year, as these jerks not only get promoted but get school slots and further command. I have run into two of them in the past 6 months...guys who were the very definition (in my opinion) of "worst leader ever" and come back three years later as O-6 group and/or wing leadership. Please tell me how a part-time ANG guy can fix the problems with AD leadership. I spend an inordinate amount of my time while deployed mentoring the AD kids over three beers or coffee, make a point of giving the Sq/CC a "my opinion only" out-brief before I leave, and generally try to be positive and lead by good example. What more should I be doing? Honestly.

Bratwurst, Italian sausage, tuna, etc.. The Bloodhound Gang "I wish I was queer so I could get chicks" playing in the background constantly. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MgxF_tCmzk

They can't tell them what to do, but they can and certainly do pull the "If you want your choice of next assignment, you'll do what I say" card. Agreed that it is a good thing. I would pay good money to read some of them, because Lord knows there are quite a number of senior leaders who need to be (rightfully) slaughtered on these things. This is great college graduation or SOS guest speaker material, but just doesn't cut it in today's climate. I wish it were different, and indeed I can remember the days when you could speak out respectfully and it would be welcomed by squadron (and above) leadership. The sad truth is that these days, if you disagree with leadership, "regardless of the consequences" takes on a whole new meaning. In the last 5 years I have heard several instances of CGOs literally being threatened with 365 deployments, UAV assignments, getting non-join spouse assignments, and unfavorable rankings during the "RIF". I'm talking "You didn't agree with me over the TDY crew schedule, so I had your assignment cancelled" type things. There is a difference between possibly slowing your career/upgades/office movement down over "fighting the good fight" and "I don't get to see my family for a year because I spoke up." It doesn't take too many instances of that sort of heavy-handed "leadership" to shut everyone up. The worst offenders for this sort of behavior, in my experience over the last 2-3 years, have all made O-6 or O-7. As the saying goes, "Rule #3: There is no justice". FWIW, I'm not trying to grind an axe here. I'm just a former AD, now long time ANG guy who deploys quite a bit and watches in shocked amazement when I hear these stories from my AD buddies. I'm hopeful that the doses of current reality you are getting on BODN are helpful in fighting the good fight at the puzzle palace. We really need it.

Agreed. With operations in the AOR winding down, there are going to be plenty of -135s available for coronets.

Morons. Obviously they thought they'd get away with it or they wouldn't have done it. Worth 12 years in federal pound me in the ass prison? NFW.

Not flying in my corner of the -135 world. Working on a plan to waive/extend currency requirements today actually.

Not only no, but hell no. We've got our problems but from what I've seen of the rest of the planet (albeit a relatively small sampling), we've got it made.

All kidding aside, this is exactly what we've been going for on here. The Air Force (read; Gen Welsh) is essentially trying to end "leadership by e-mail" by forcing their supervisors to (GASP) actually TALK to their people face to face. Hope it helps.

That was pretty funny. All joking aside, the SWA hiring window is in fact open again. Word from the bro's is it won't stay that way for long. swa.pilotcredentials.com

What's the deal with her sticking her tongue out constantly? Severe dehydration? Attempting to attract females?

Bragging about poor judgement? Weird. GO PACK GO On a serious note, I second the Imperial War Museum. I'm not normally a museum nerd, but it was very well done and informative. Beyond that, find a good sidewalk cafe in Leicester Square, grab a pint, and people watch.

I have no idea how you got that impression from my post. That isn't what I think at all. In my experience, very few people are in the USAF strictly for the money. Sure, no one would do it for free but financial compensation is not the driving factor. Throwing money at that type of person is ridiculous. As has been said before, the only people who will take the bonus are people who would have stayed anyway. Indeed. "A rhetorical question is a figure of speech in the form of a question that is asked in order to make a point.The question is used as a rhetorical device, posed for the sake of encouraging its listener to consider a message or viewpoint...A rhetorical question does not usually require an immediate answer, but is meant to draw attention to and start a meaningful discussion on the matter." You're right, it is my personal perspective. I could go on a lengthy diatribe, citing dozens of examples of cronyism, people being sold out/used by their commanders, using bad assignments as tools to threaten people, and the list goes on and on. No one wants to hear yet another rant, which is why I stated my opinion which has been formed from watching this behavior over several years. I actually wasn't referring to my own career; I've had a pretty good run. I'm basing this comment much more on the AD people I run across year in and year out. Watching from a somewhat detached point of view, listening to their stories, and some of my own experience serving under these guys has led me to approach nearly every commander warily. Once in a while I am surprised, but not very often. I will. Like everyone else, I crave good leadership. I WANT to follow someone who has their shit together, looks out for their people, and gets the job done. The problem is those people apparently don't exist any more. You're damn right it is. The problem is that it's not an easy fix. We have been promoting the wrong people for years, if not decades. Rewarding the wrong traits and behavior. And now we are stuck with exactly what we deserve after years of eyewash OPRs, promoting ass kissers, and misprioritization of talents (i.e. valuing someones exec ability over flying ability, or ability to write OPRs over ability to inspire confidence/leadership among their crew, etc). Like I said, not an easy fix to get some people in place who can actually lead from the front. So in lieu of that, let's throw more money at people and hope we can dupe them into sticking around despite the poor leadership, shitty assignments, and lack of loyalty from the USAF. I have read all of his posts. And your comment is exactly why I prefaced my original post with, "I've been generally opposed to the verbal beating you have taken on here," because I think he has some great points and good information. But clinging to the bonus as a truly effective leadership tool damages his credibility.

An incredible opportunity if you love money above all else. I've been generally opposed to the verbal beating you have taken on here, but even I can't stand it any more. Are you really that out of touch? The Air Force doesn't give two shits about their people! The current crop of O-5/6 clowns running the show at the squadron/group/wing would sell their troops to gypsies if they thought it would help their career. I can't remember the last time I've even HEARD about a commander "doing the right thing" or looking out for their people. What squadrons have you been in? What deployed locations? I've been around a time or two and I'm just not seeing this "leadership" and "insight" you keep talking about. Edit to add: The irony, given sequestration and a very austere budget environment, is that the solution to retention is FREE. People WANT to follow good leaders. You wouldn't have to pay them extra to do it. But since we are running low on talent, let's just throw some money at the problem for a quick, easy fix. Kinda like putting wet napkins in the cargo door to stop an air leak...it'll work for a while but not a good long term fix.

Met him several times growing up. Always a class act and a great inspiration. Sucks to lose him and Bud Day within a month.