Here was the breakdown at CAFB tonight for the 07-10 track select:

5 T-38s

3 T-44s

1 UH-1

13 T-1s (I think)

I'm not sure how many ANG/AFRC slots were given out, so if anybody has the lowdown...please share.

Fusion

375th WG/CC fired

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2017/12/12/wing-commander-at-scott-air-force-base-fired-after-5-months-on-the-job/

WS/CC fired

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2017/09/26/air-force-squadron-commander-was-fired-after-allegedly-drinking-on-duty/

This dude was screwing around with an E-4... on the surface it seems he deserved it.

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2017/05/02/squadron-commander-at-moron-air-base-relieved-of-duty/

Thunderbirds

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2017/11/29/air-force-thunderbirds-commander-relieved/

Intel GP/CC.. alcohol related, but he was over the German limit by ~.001, and under our .08 limit.

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2017/09/22/air-force-intel-group-commander-relieved-of-command/

Macdill WG/CC

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2017/10/09/wing-commander-at-macdill-was-relieved-in-july/

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2017/11/14/air-force-security-forces-commander-at-nellis-creech-relieved/

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2017/10/07/maintenance-group-commander-at-eglin-air-force-base-fired/

I've worked with or know a couple of these guys along with another one or two not listed who were fired this year.. all (that I knew) were great guys and highly respected.  Shitty to see their career hit a brick wall.

When I was at SOS and they brought the War College guys in for Capt/Col discussion. I will never forget after taking quesitons from a bunch of angry, know-it-all Captains for the better part of an hour, the Colonel simply told us "YOU have to allow YOUR Air Force to make mistakes."

I agreed with him at the time, but how many mistakes is enough? Would we as individuals have been cut the same amount of slack if we spent SIX years trying to figure out force shaping initiatives? How about the idiocy with uniforms? Reflective belts? What about one of the most expensive airframes ever being grounded for five months?

Having said that what is OUR problem? If there was one thing (or a few things) that could turn crap around what would it be?

I have my theories...leaders not allowed to be leaders is probably the biggest one...but I don't any earth shattering answers but maybe someone else does.

MARSRADIO is an Air Force MARS operation authorized under DoDI 4650.02, providing HF communications support to DoD aircraft and units worldwide as an additional backup to HFGCS. Air Force aircraft are consistent users of the service, but we also routinely support Navy, Marine Corps, and Army aviation. Most of the traffic we handle is real-world operational support, not exercises or training.

So far this year, MARSRADIO operators have provided nearly 14,000 man-hours guarding our calling frequencies and supporting DoD aircrews. That has included more than 330 official phone patches, 80 METAR/TAF weather requests, and nearly 2,300 radio and SELCAL checks, in addition to morale patches and other operational support.

The official traffic can be as routine as passing an ETA or arranging customs, fuel, parking, maintenance, or ground transportation. At other times, crews have used us for diversions, aircraft system problems, severe weather, medical situations, command post coordination, and troubleshooting SATCOM or digital communications.

The real value is having another communications path when the expected one isn't working. We have had many situations where an aircraft could not establish its normal SATCOM or data link, but an HF phone patch through MARSRADIO allowed the crew and ground personnel to troubleshoot the problem, coordinate what was needed, and continue the mission. That is where MARSRADIO fits into P.A.C.E. planning—not as a replacement for existing systems, but as another path available when needed.

The net operates nearly 24/7, and there is no need to coordinate ahead of time. Crews don't need to wait until something goes wrong to use us. A routine radio check, SELCAL check, weather request, phone patch, or pre-arrival call gives the crew familiarity with MARSRADIO before the day comes when the primary communications path isn't available.

For aircrews unfamiliar with MARSRADIO, information on frequencies, calling procedures, and available services is available at MARSRADIO Global.

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/07/07/immigration-crisis-tuberculosis-spreading-at-camps/

Not for a iron fist response, a lot of them are young kids in a very vulnerable spot but this is a turning point - we're going to control who comes in and stays or not.

This latest crisis makes me think we don't need a pivot to Asia but a pivot to Central America.

C-130H - Little Rock (AR), Yokota (Japan), Cheyenne (WY), Peterson (CO); Active force inventory: 186
C-17 - Altus (OK), McChord (WA), Charleston (SC), McGuire (NJ), Dover (DE), Hickam (HI), Elmendorf (AK), Travis (CA); Active force inventory: 134
C-5 - Kelly/Lackland (TX), Travis (CA), Dover (DE); Active force inventory: 70
C-21 - Keesler (MS), Peterson (CO), Scott (IL), Andrews (MD), Ramstein (Germany); Active force inventory: 35
KC-10 - Travis (CA), McGuire (NJ) ; Active force inventory: 59
KC-135 - Altus (OK), Fairchild (WA), McConnell (KS), Grand Forks (ND), MacDill (FL), Seymour Johnson (NC), Pease (NH), Birmingham (AL), Scott (IL), March (CA), Kadena (Japan) and Mildenhall (UK); Active force inventory: 195
RC-135 - Offutt (NE) ; Active force inventory: 16
E-3 - Tinker (OK), Kadena (Japan), Elmendorf (AK); Active force inventory: 33
E-4 - Offutt (NE); Active force inventory: 4
E-8 - Robbins (GA); Active force inventory: 17
CV-22 - Kirtland (NM), Cannon (NM), Hurlburt (FL), Mildenhall (UK); Active force inventory: 50 (planned)
HH-60 - Kirtland (NM), Nellis (NV), Davis Monthan (AZ), Moody (GA), Kadena (Japan), Lakenheath (UK); Active force inventory: 64
UH-1 - Kirtland (NM), Andrews (MD), Yokota (Japan), Fairchild (WA), FE Warren (WY), Malmstrom (MT), Minot (ND); Active force inventory: 62
U-28 - Hurlburt (FL); Cannon (NM) Active force inventory: 6
MC-12 - Beale (CA), Active force inventory: ?
NSA - Cannon (NM); Hurlburt (FL); Active force inventory: ?
MQ-1B - Creech (NV), Cannon (NM); Active force inventory: ?
MQ-9 - Creech (NV), Cannon (NM); Active force inventory: ?


ANG/AFRC bases and aircraft (ANG, AFRC)
A-10: Ft Smith AR, Ft Wayne IN, Baltimore MD, Boise ID, Selfride MI, Bradley CT (103rd), Moody
C5: Westover MA (439th), NY (105th)
C-17: March, Memphis, Jackson MS
C-21: Bradley CT, Fargo ND, Battle Creek MI
C-130: 109th NY, 107th NY
F-15C: Great Falls MT, Portland OR, Klamath Falls OR, New Orleans LA, Jacksonville FL, Barnes MA
F-15E: Seymour Johnson
F-16: Homestead ARB, Sioux Falls SD, Des Moines IA, Madison WI, Tuscon AZ, Freson CA, Tulsa OK, Toledo OH, Andrews DC, Atlantic City NJ, Burlington VT, Buckley CO, Duluth MN. South Carolina, Burlington VT (158th), , Springfield OH, Lackland TX (FTU), NY (174th)
F-22: Hickam, HI (199FS)
HH-60: Patrick, Davis Monthan, Moffett CA, Kulis AK, Gabreski NY
KC-135: Seymour Johnson, March ARB, Pease NH (157th), Bangor ME (101st), Scott, Birmingham
Predator: Fargo ND

Trends in Air to Air Combat

Implications for Air Superiority

John Stillion

I will be eligible for involuntary separation pay (ISP) if I'm not offered continuation. Does anyone know a way to avoid getting offered continuation?

And prayers for his family.

https://www.ktnv.com/news/one-dead-after-aircraft-crashes-during-training-mission

https://www.youcaring.com/julieschultz-943161

I personally have had two encounters in the last year:

1. About six months ago I was flying from the PCola area down to Boca in my airplane. Passing just north of Tyndall I encountered a medium-sized drone mostly stationary north of the base at about 5000'. A friend was with me and she saw it first. No ADSB and not talking to anyone. I called approach and they did not have it on radar, a plane in trail of me reported it as well.

2. About 8 months ago departed Charleston Exec Runway 9. Approach turned turned me north then west and climbed me through the Class C. Passing 5000' My passenger and I both saw very large drone 1000' below us and clearly inside the Charleston Class C. It clearly had a gimbal payload. I called and they were not tracking it...they clearly got very worked up.

Whether it is hobbyist or something more nefarious, there does seem to be an increase and it seems like a easy asymmetric attack vector towards the airline industry.

What are you airline folks seeing out there?

If you are currently flying one of these airframes or have flown them in the past, could you provide current feedback and opinion on the following subjects? Honest rants and praise on these platforms much appreciated.

1.  Ops Tempo/Deployment

      2.  Lifestyle/ Family Stability

      3. Community morale

      4. Advancements & Future of the airframe

      5. Preferred PCS locations 

--------------

F-15E

F-15C

F-16

A-10

F-22

F-35

B-2

B-1

B-52

EC-130H 

MC-130H

MC-130P 

AC-130W 

HC-130 

AC-130U

AC-130H 

C-130J

C-17 

C-5

C-21

KC-10 

KC-135

RC-135 

E-3

E-4

E-8

CV-22

HH-60

UH-1

        U-28

I'm just glad they didn't go for "Liberator II" or some other rehashed name.

Anyone having fun with the change in policy about the USB hard drives?

Air & Space Forces Magazine

CENTCOM reporting other aircraft landed safely.

It’s the brain child of Matt Leard the AETC/A5/8.

https://www.aetc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4024636/us-air-force-partners-with-academia-industry-to-test-future-pilot-production-mo/

oh and the T-7 is still a dumpster fire.

https://www.airandspaceforces.com/usaf-rejiggers-t-7-plan/

I went to Beale today and got a ride in the chase-car for the U2 (along w/ some sqdnmates) while he was doing some pattern work.

It was AWESOME!

One of the coolest things I've done in a LONG time. (I guess I don't get out enough...)

It was very cool rolling down the RWY at 120 (in a GTO), right behind the U2.

I've had the opportunity to do it for several years now, but never bothered. Now I wish I'd have done it sooner.

If any of you ever get the chance to do it, do it.

You won't be disappointed.

I heard about 6 or 7 absolutely outlandish stories. Can they really be true?

Apparently this fellow got angry because he had ordered his commercial to be played every 45 minutes on AFRTS. While watching TV one day, he realized it had gone longer than 45 minutes with no commercial. He went nuclear and demanded to know why. Well, PA tracked it down and informed him it wasn't on the Euro AFRTS channel, but rather the Pacific AFRTS channel. He then instructed PA to contact PACOM and get them to air his commercial. Apparently the general at PACOM refused and he went through the roof.

Also heard he blew through execs every 90 to 120 days. 20 hour days for the execs as he wanted his computer screen configured in a certain manner each morning with the topics he would have to review that day and he wouldn't leave until 10PM at night. The execs would then have to arrange his computer for the next day prior to his arrival at 5AM.

Truth? Fiction?

In context with the UK defense minister's warning/resignment, it's going to be interesting in the coming years; to what degree will the European rearmament include nuclear weapons?