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Upon reading a lot of the recent replies, talking with a mentor, and some self reflection I think a common theme I see is feelings of betrayal. In my own case it was really difficult learning to trust anyone or anything because I kept seeing a pattern of prioritizing optics and process over actual results. I understand there's going to be a lot of "its always been this way" in the replies but since I've been in it seems like that mindset is only getting worse.

The only reason the EX has a backseat is due to the relative ease/cost of using the already existent tooling, etc. It’s not because any non-WSOs thought there was a WSO necessity. That said, writing on the wall says the AF may go the way of the Navy/USMC - “single seat” and “dual seat” squadrons with the same basic aircraft type. It’ll be interesting to see how it all pans out while enjoying my tray table.

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.

Valid. In business school I've learned the value of adding stocks to your portfolio to minimize your risk. It holds in CFB. Fight On! Go Trojans!

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;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 goign to change me 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.

So, is it better to admit up front to hanging out with all the unsavory types on BO next time I fill out an SF-86 or try to explain it after the fact to investigators?😁 Don't forget to include your screen name as an alias. Big second on what Prosuper said. We've all had times we've been fed up but it can be a lot of money left on the table when it's all said and done.

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.

Not for us Gators!! 😁😁😁

Who would've thought Virginia would be playing Duke for the ACC title? Sounds like people in Oxford are pretty upset with Kiffin. I get it, but he's also going to be able to attract far better talent at LSU. It's also going to be pretty hard to watch FSU with them backing Norvell for another year despite his terrible performance.

Carnies. Small hands.

Mover and Gonky discussed this with the F-15EX My druthers is to provide a place for them to land that seems more logical and to retrain some for the right seat with pilot wings. F-7 & F-15EX with GIBs to control CCAs, B-21 with attached UPT program…

I know several GOs who made BPZ for doing far worse than "Mild Petting".

@Lord Ratner Yeah you did fuck up, but damn dude, what a bunch of bullshit to go through that was way beyond reasonable or warranted. Glad you got through it. Too many stories along those lines in the mil.

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:

No no, it was much more than that, but the charges were contradictory, which was my point. I see how I made it seem that way though, my bad. Short(ish) version: got wasted at a house party full of all ranks and hooked up with an E who was married. I was too. Mild petting. Really fucking dumb, I know, but pretty tame as far as the Sport of Kings™ goes. But she was married, and had been caught cheating a couple times before by her husband, so when he found out, she claimed she was raped. The investigation was... Sloppy. OSI wired my accuser to try to catch a confession, which they didn't remotely get, but for whatever reason they wrote in the summary that I confessed. So that convinced the chain of command to press charges. But then they charged me with sexual assault and fraternization, which are kinda mutually exclusive in this context. That resulted in a really disjointed prosecution that fell apart for a lot of reasons, not the least of which was the absence of rape and the lack of a confession. I'll never know for sure, but I think the judge was so pissed at the prosecution for throwing everything at the wall to see what stuck that he looked at the frat charge in a way that favored my case. Either way, I was found not guilty. Of course I admitted to drunkenly fooling around with the accuser on the stand, yet was found not guilty. So my SqCC who married an E and my WgCC who was a well known recovering alcoholic gave me an LOR for drunken fraternization; conduct unbecoming. I get it, my conduct was rather unbecoming, but it was very clear to everyone (including my next commanders) that it was sour grapes for losing the case in court. So yeah, @illusive it could be a whole lot worse. But I still had a lot of fun in the AF, so you're probably fine. Sorry, if I write any more then Boomers' hemorrhoids are going to flare up 🤣😂.

😂 same...I literally laughed in his face and said 'no thanks'

yup...should've quoted @HuggyU2 here:

What do you mean? Do you think a fighter is incapable of flying for a long time with a nuke on board? I’m genuinely confused at this statement.

So you drank alcohol with the Es? Welcome to every guard squadron. WTF.

LOL…he’s old…and I’m just happy to be still a Living Dino in Baseops. Huggy2 is just my younger Bro.

@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.

Why is Anderson Cooper shooting your gun? You can tell it's him by the hair.

Thank you for the advice. I'm not freaking out about it since I've been expecting this for a while based on my OPBs with no strats/awards. The year will pass either way so might as well do my best, I'd hate to be a quitter (no hate on people with different priorities). A lot of the boxes I'm trying to "check" (fitness, masters, IP) are personal goals anyway and it's just lucky they might make me more competitive on promotion boards. I do have about 3 years left on my ADSC so the difference in pay will run into the 5 figures, plus I'd like to say I left on my own terms rather than being forced out.