All Activity

Yes, I’d recruit CFIs, Army WO pilots, prior rated Es, cast a wide net but be discerning on which fish you throw in the cooler… It would be a reasonable commitment (less than a commissioned officer) but they would have the same aero rating, that’s the kicker. Now while they are instructing they wanna get a degree and at the end of their commitment apply for an ARC or AD billet, more power to them, if they wanna punch and separate, thank you for your service. There would be some commissioned IPs still flying T-6s, supervisors and such, but the bulk of the IP cadre would be WOs. This would solve some manpower issues for the AF and fix the inconsistency in instructional quality described in the UPT Next thread.

In this context, WO = warrant officer. Where exactly is the AF getting these warrants? CFIs, cross training prior-rated enlisted folks?

What is a WO? Otherwise, I'm still unconvinced that the old way (T-41/T-37/T-38) was inferior to whatever is done these days.

This is where I see WOs fitting into the Line well. WOs recruited from aviation programs and with a specific initial career track, along with others. Basic flight instruction handing off to commissioned officer instructor pilots. UPT split into three phases: Flight screening. Contract CFIs and mil check pilots, PPL with INSTM rating, military only program, contract IPs only fly mil students, focused and consistent instructions. Basic phase. USAF WO IPs instruction. T-6 syllabus then a 30 hour ME course in a T-54. Advanced phase. Commissioned IPs in the T-7, track after formation phase. Fighter/bomber on to the T-7 and IFF, Crew/heavy to a 737 type and sim course.

I so hope it's 4. (Get down to business after the mid-terms) Our politicians are largely oblivious to the fact that their negative comments are watched closely by the IRGC and like many of our conflicts since 1945 our wars are not lost on the battlefield but in the court of public opinion. Iranian oil refining/transportation infrastructure needs to start having a run of industrial accidents especially after the first week in November.

Relax, it was a post with words and some sarcasm (call MX on your detectors), not a Kelis song, which ironically, is probably how a lot of MAGA is feeling right now on Trump.

Yahoo NewsThe Latest: Pentagon asks Congress for roughly $80 billio...The Pentagon has told senators it needs roughly $80 billion, mostly to cover the cost of the U.S. war against Iran, adding to an already sizable military spending boost sought by President Donald TrumOf course

I totally get the concerns about using civilian instructors without military experience. Maybe having them collaborate with retired military pilots could blend the best of both worlds for effective training.

News TWZTurkey’s ‘Fighter Drone’ Teamed With M-346 Fighter-Traine...The demonstrations put Turkey among a small group flight-testing advanced crewed-uncrewed teaming as air forces race to field collaborative combat aircraft. The demonstrations put Turkey among a small Noteworthy IMO for the rapid progress of Turkish indigenous tech / mil industry

No amount of defense spending and rearmament will fix the political rot (is that even a strong enough word) and public distrust of governing institutions in the UK (and most of Western Europe). They need new weapons and an industrial base to match, but how much does the average Brit care about 5th Gen fighters or recapitalizing the naval fleet when their cities have quite literally been overrun with hostile foreigners?

Yeah I know, and I’m saying he’s full of shit (he does care about the midterms). We’re in agreement.

Pressure tends to focus the mind, with the US and Western Europe growing apart I think they will probably get something going. Really they have the industrial base but it’s the will and willingness to keep it realistic, focused and with enough of everyone’s core requirements met to keep it on track. This was a good pod on the matter and what went sideways, spoiler alert: the French aren’t easy to work with. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-next-for-the-luftwaffe-after-fcas-collapse/id840308131?i=1000772925372

Over/under hegseth makes it to the mid terms?

Read, boy. Read!

He literally said he didn't care about the midterms in that video.

I think its more likely that Israel convinced Trump and his Tards that this was imminently necessary right now, but maybe someone untarded enough eventually figured out that its not quite the case. And the following edits to the list items I think are likely 1. Our position of leverage was greatly overblown by Tards, or more likely, the Tards didn't have a full plan, were way out of their depth, didn't understand the adversary, and thought they could mean tweet their way to victory. 4. We’re taking a full-time, big ol fat fucking LOSS because the Tards think it will preserve the midterms, and then they'll just forget this whole Iran thing after that.

Shack. 4 definitely, 5 maybe, and 2 exacerbating the whole thing.

Considering how great the Eurofighter program went this should end up being a winner!

Sadly this is so true. Even lame duckers refuse to make the long term correct decision and just compromise for short term approval. And, we as citizens overwhelmingly respond to the shiny and glittery (hollow) instead of the substantive and enduring. Both sides of the aisle give us what we (the masses) demand instead of what would benefit us long term.

Well given that all the TDS experts on here have gone completely quiet on here since the MOU and the VP just confirmed we've lifted sanctions on Iran effective today in return for literally nothing it's certainly a combo 1, 2, and 5.

(as in calling bullshit on his statement that he doesn’t care)

Well, I just bought an EOTEC set worth well more than the rifle, nice now having a 5X magnifier. Windham Weaponry 5.56

Trump also said he doesn’t care about the midterms. https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5897526-trump-paxton-texas-victory-midterms/

100% not #1. But, 4 and 5 are the most likely cases. 2 is possible, but I think 4/5 are significantly more plausible/likely accurate. On 5, all of us said the proposed timeline was absolutely undoable; the objectives are sound and achievable, but not on the initial timeline. Trump bought the timeline sales pitch, and now I think he wants out, primarily due to the midterms. Because that’s what the US does in modern history - make war-related choices based on politics, which is asinine.

If they want a credible nuclear deterrent they need also nuclear armed TBM or cruise missiles and a secondary strike capability, a nuclear sub. Basically mirroring the Israeli nuclear capability (allegedly), 100-150 weapons. If the Euros want their own deterrent, pooling resources, agreeing to sharing technology and buying common delivery systems could make this feasible. Also keeping the requirements tight and focused, i.e. not trying to deter anyone other than regional aggressors, weapons yields and delivery ranges focused on that. All nations agreeing to a minimum capability purchase and maintenance, also declaring these capabilities are in addition not in lieu of conventional capabilities. They could probably make this work within their political and philosophical boundaries: declare no first use, no threat of first use and no deliberate targeting of civilian population centers unless their civilian populations were struck first by a WMD.