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Thank you so much for this link. I am reading it right now. I have been meaning to give AOPA a call, and maybe I can try to do that on a business day this week. But regardless, I am 99% sure I will have to answer yes to 18v, if nothing else, due to the fact that my driver's license was suspended for 30 days for a driving offense committed when I was 14 years old, even though it involved zero alcohol nor drugs (part 3 of 18v says "even if it involves no alcohol or drugs") Not really any more than ten years, but yes, about ten. Don't feel obligated to read this, it is absolutely ridiculous and never-ending, but all these people said I probably need to do HIMS, including a super controversial, but seemingly-beloved-by-man HIMS AME named Dr. Bruce Chien (who is a former Navy flight surgeon, I believe): https://www.pilotsofamerica.com/community/threads/should-i-consider-a-consult-with-and-or-fully-undertake-the-hims-process.154058/ I'm not sure if Doctor Chien is a Seventh-day Adventist and/or Jehovah's Witness or what, and frankly it's none of my business, but I heard he is one of those affiliations. I would not think any less of him regardless of his affiliation, or piety, or lack thereof. What I have heard with more certainty is that he is a recovering alcoholic and a teetotaler, and he doesn't believe anyone should drink ever for any circumstances, purportedly. I also see him say over and over again on multiple forums "the FAA will charge you with a Class 4 Felony if you do X or Y", but Google says Federal Felony Classification classes are lettered, not numbered (I.e., supposedly Classes A, B, C, D, etc., not Numbers like 'Class 4'). Also, I've heard a lot of people report Dr. Chien has an abrasive personality, and if you offend him even by accident, he will drop you as a client mid-submittal. I am nervous, although it was very kind of him to comment on my thread. I also was told that Dr. Chien actually wrote the HIMS policies for the FAA. Although I've also heard the HIMS study is a privately owned or at least privately operated for-profit entity, and some of the people at the organization that fights and petitions the FAA were telling me some pretty sketchy things about HIMS. I won't claim to have an opinion worth any salt; I barely know anything. All I know is if I do spend thousands of dollars on HIMS, I do not have the money to fail to get it correct the first try/go-around. I definitely am unlikely to ever interact with any of those same AMEs nor anyone else in their offices again. If a medical professional or other super-educated-professional tells you basic facts, and they turn out to be incorrect, even if they have nothing to do you with the particular situation, run-for-the-hills is my opinion on the matter. I am not sure about that attorney. The firm is Ison and some people seem to allegedly say good things about the firm online. He was generous with his time, albeit I paid him some money, but still, he went over on allotted time. The attorney claimed that he has seen or had people or clients who haven't drank a drop of alcohol in years for any reason abuse or otherwise and the FAA still makes them do AA and treats them totally like an alcoholic. I asked him if I was gonna have to admit in writing that I am an alcoholic, because I am not, and he said "maybe." The lawyer advised I just don't even bother ever trying to fly but he explained what I should do if I want to. Maybe that lawyer sucks, or maybe he's 100% right; I have no idea. I will be cautious regardless. I was under the impression that 1: I should not fill out a MedXPress and do an unpaid consultation with AME(s) before I do anything (I have never met an AME in person nor had a phone call). I was under the impression that not approaching it via HIMS from the get-go could result in a denial and/or deferral that would make it more expensive in the long run. I was told that a denial can be very expensive to appeal and make your life more difficult. Regardless, I was told that not approaching it correctly, sometimes they say "okay you filled out your MedXPress, you have sixty more days to submit all these documents, and if you don't have your application complete and ready and fully submitted by day sixty, you automatically get a denial". Thank you so much

I would not waste my time with that lawyer or either of the AMEs you talked to. HIMS is for when the FAA determines you have an abuse problem, which would be hard to argue when it’s been 10+ years since those incidents. In the end, just set up an appointment with an AME for a 3rd class and see what happens. You’ll create a MedExpress account and fill out the pre-appointment questions. Read them slowly and carefully before you answer. The question that probably pertains most to this subject is 18v. Read this website before answering that question: https://pilot-protection-services.aopa.org/news/2022/april/01/the-notorious-18v If you have to answer yes to 18v, and that causes consternation with the AME and he says you need HIMS, etc., then the worst financial case is you’re out $150 or so. Don’t get sucked into paying thousands to lawyers.

The school that gave me my bachelor's degree is not a particularly prestigious institution, and my major was non-STEM. The institution is fully accredited. However, I graduated summa cum laude with a 3.92 GPA. My community-college GPA years earlier was only 2.7, so I'm not sure how pilot/commissioning boards evaluate that. I got a D in one class at the community college and have wondered whether retaking it would materially change how my academic record is viewed. Does the USAF primarily look at the bachelor's GPA, or do they calculate some sort of cumulative GPA across all institutions? Regardless, my final transcript showing the 3.92 also reflects the earlier community-college coursework (and my degree accepted some non-accredited credits as well from the USMC and study.com). As far as legal history goes, I have no adult criminal history. I have had a few minor civil traffic matters, including a recent citation related to vehicle registration/equipment issues and an older junior enlisted seatbelt citation that was ultimately dismissed. No adult substance-abuse issues of any kind. The alcohol and marijuana use was limited to my teenage years before age 18. No, I do have other medical issues. I've discussed the full story in other forums, but it's lengthy. Remember when I mentioned malpractice earlier? That's part of it; there are lots of lawyers involved. I'd tell you the whole story if you want. It's all potentially waiverable but it's a headache (and there is the issue of a stranger's record being mixed in with mine when they pull it up on Genesis, and we had to get BUMED (US Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and a Marine Corps General to do a report to prove I wasn't fraudulently hiding my medical history - part of it was someone ELSE's medical history!). My understanding is that it's probably that none of the issues are necessarily permanent disqualifiers, but they would likely require significant review and potentially waivers. I've spoken with a couple FAA Aviation Medical Examiner offices, and they have generally told me that the FAA side may be what sounds even considerably more complicated than the military side. I've also spoken with an aviation attorney, who felt there could be substantial challenges to obtaining a first-time-initial FAA medical certificate, and it could cost me tens of thousands of dollars to get an initial medical certificate, or it may not even be possible, but he can't guess until I pay him thousands of dollars more to read all the documents. Two of the medical examiner offices I've talked to seem pretty clownish; I posted some of their redacted words, and I talked to some pro bono people, who said the one Aviation Medical Examiner was dead wrong, so I am steering clear of anyone who is confirmed to have told me anything untrue. One thing literally everyone agrees on, because supposedly in the last few years, the Federal Air Surgeon has tightened FAA rules, is that I would presumably have to do months of alcohol and drug testing, and Alcoholics Anonymous, because I drank some alcohol and smoked some weed when I was 15 and 16. And of course I have to pay for all that The biggest immediate issue in my unique situation may actually be FAA medical certification rather than military standards. At the same time, even if everything is technically waiverable for USAF and/or military purposes, I don't know whether a squadron would want to take on a complicated applicant when there are plenty of applicants who require little or no waiver work. I'm trying to spend extensive time trying to find appropriate competent FAA aviation medical examiners because even if I can't fly in the military, I want to put myself on the trajectory to do so, and critically, the medical certificate is step one

The worst part is this sheriff has zero skin in the game - there will be no accountability when his decree gets destroyed in court. There needs to be real penalties for public “servants” decreeing wildly anti-constitutional bullshit with reckless abandon. They’re like monkeys throwing shit at the wall constantly to see what sticks.

@17D_guy I doubt this MOU goes anywhere, including an actual deal. But if somehow a deal is reached, and it looks anything like this MOU, it’ll certainly negatively impact our standing in the region and in the world (like you mentioned - NK, etc.) This is a big fail for Trump currently, and I hope any deal reached doesn’t look like this MOU.

I’m not defending anybody so calm down. I was asking for a specific example where he extended his executive power further than others have. You gave an example of a court action, but many administrations have sued to get thing done or undone. I didn’t like the whole $1.8 billion fund either so chill out. You spun up pretty fast for just being asked for clarification.

How does this impact our relationships with the other Arab countries? Is our "defensive shield" worth anything to Saudi, UAE or Qatar? They took the vast brunt of the damage outside of Iran. Thinking that those relationships maintain through this MOU (doubly so with Israel fucking things up) is naive at best IMO. Will this require additional treasure in the region to hold this status quo? Iran has proven their strategic capability to control a vital resource and not surrender to the most advanced military in the world. Who gets froggy next with the "winning?" North Korea? China?

The 1911 takes two actions, initially. 😉 And tactical lights help prevent shooting at the wrong thing. My dot is green, so I'm good. Seriously, someone will file suit and lawyers will spend citizen money because, dumbassery.

Best superhero move ever!

Sure. Let me check Fox News... standby... I don't think Obama or Biden sued their own government for $10B (thats billion with a B) then ordered their own DOJ to settle the case before a judge ever got a proper proceeding going. I think thats a first. And when a D pulls that shit in the future, I'll be standing by for your outrage. PS. Its only a matter of time before Pres OJ Man is hunting strawberries and his staff gets the autopen warmed up.... IMO.

I know there are relatively recent posts about what I’m about to ask, but is there any updated gauge on the -46, -17, MC/HC-130? I drop within the next few months and would love any updated information on how these communities have reacted to all the stuff going on with Iran (particularly the rescue community with all the stuff that happened in getting the 15 bros back home). Thanks in advance.

Meins!! 🤗🤗

How do you say dibs in German?

The scale of rot in the governing quarters of the UK staggers the mind https://notthebee.com/article/op-ed-the-sentence-that-should-shame-a-nation?from_social=twitter The grooming gang report was released and the royal family releases this, they really need something to happen there, sometimes you have to abandon the approach, it’s too f’d up and just go around https://notthebee.com/article/the-royal-family-is-touting-its-efforts-to-curb-sexual-violence-in-africa-and-the-middle-east-the-comment-section-is-approaching-regicide?from_social=twitter Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ahhh California where a local sheriff has decided on his own that he can ban legal concel carry permit holders from carrying the following items: 1. Pistols equipped with red dots. 2. Pistols equipped with tactical lights. 3. Single action weapons to include the 1911. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdQ6q2W9kLU

Military TimesNot just a ‘flawed design’: Charting a new course for the...Opinion: A GWOT Memorial Foundation founder argues in this op-ed that concerns over the proposed memorial extend beyond design and into organizational priorities.

This would be on the AD side, its the same waiver authority for everyone (AF Surgeon Gen), the key difference being whether or not a Guard/Res unit would be willing to push a package up for you. Like I said before the more chips you can stack in your favor, the higher the chance a unit would be willing to put in for a waiver or an ETP if you needed it. I have a friend in the USMC who got an ETP because she was shit hot and beyond persistent and had backings of some very high level people including a 3-star and a Senator.

Disgrunt, Can you give examples that weren’t done by Obama or The Auto Pen? Those two used all kinds of executive power, they just had the media, social elites, and their own party backing them with/in complete compliance.

Dogs, starting at about 5

My sincere apologies. When I opened it, it showed the Fairchild crash. There was certainly no disrespect intended.

@Lord Farquaad I re-read the medical part - confirm the only medical thing you’re worried about is alcohol and pot use as a minor (and you haven’t done illegal stuff like that in many years)? If that’s correct, then I think you’re actually fine to get a FAA medical and likely will not even require a special issuance. With the medical “problem” not actually a problem, the next part is timeline… You have to knock out the AFOQT and do very well (how is your college GPA?) It behooves you to get a PPL, or at least start knocking out flight hours. You have to get your application package together for each squadron you want to apply for. If you’re hustling hard on these things, it’ll take you a year or so. Most people spend another couple years rushing units before getting hired. Then, you have approximately 2 years for the process to work before you start UPT. So, without a big medical issue, I think you can make it before age waiver territory. It will be easier by a good margin to get hired by a heavy unit.

Bud, if anyone has revealed the true strength of power, its Trump. His unrestrained push against governing norms has rewritten the playback on how far an exec can push and still get away with it. When Dems do it Trump style, you shouldn't be surprised. Many here cheered Trump on, rah rah rah, "but his policies" and all, and now that the other side is pulling the same plays for their side, you're upset? Ironic, huh.