General Discussion

Rumor- we are down to less than a handful of the traditional fly-away deployment ORIs. Maybe they are going virtual/telecon? Discuss/Confirm?

Not. Good. FAA orders 787 grounding until battery problem fixed

" Air Force Announces KC-46A Candidate Bases The Air Force announced today Altus Air Force Base, Okla., and McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., as candidate bases for the KC-46A formal training unit (FTU). Altus Air Force Base, Okla.; Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.; Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D.; and McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., are candidate bases for the first active-duty led KC-46A main operating base (MOB). Forbes Air Guard Station, Kan.; Joint-Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.; Pease Air Guard Station, N.H.; Pittsburgh International Airport Air Guard Station, Pa.; and Rickenbacker Air Guard Station, Ohio, are candidate bases for the fir…

I coulda SWORE there was a thread on this topic already, but TFSF is coming up dry. Anyway, They've started digging in Burma, and the initial look isn't so good. I'm hoping they find something, but even IF there were airplanes buried out there, we all know how well the jungle tends to treat metal.

I would like to know the difference between Air Force rated officers vs. their non-rated counterparts. I've heard being rated gives you opportunities for command and such, as opposed to being non-rated. Does being rated unlocks things non-rated officers don't have access to? What are the benefits of being rated? Please be thorough with your responses.

Many of these topics have been discussed here piecemeal before, but my Google-fu has failed to turn up any dedicated thread. I know we have many retirees & separatees (current or imminent), so hopefully this thread will be value-added. So, I've dropped my papers--I get promoted to "Mister" on 1 July. So far, the retirement outprocessing stuff has been a lot like a PCS, just more painful. I think I've got my brain wrapped around most of it so far, with a couple of glaring exceptions. I'm hoping some of the ORFs who have gone before me can help me work out the best answer(s) for myself & my wife. Particulars: retiring as an O-5 with 21 yrs, 8 mos; marri…

Is it possible to go from the ANG as an Air Battle Manager to Active Duty Air Force? I know AD Air Force has something called the prior service program, but does it work the same for Officers also? Any recruiters or with knowledge thereof can shed light on this?

Short interview with a former Air Force officer who's releasing a book entitled Bleeding Talent: How the U.S. Military Mismanages Great Leaders and Why It’s Time for a Revolution. It think he's spot on in many ways. Some significant quotes: "In my ideal Navy, Maverick would still be flying his Tomcat. Today, he’s either working on a spreadsheet or PowerPoint in the Pentagon basement, or he’s flying a 747 out of Hong Kong as a civilian pilot for United Airlines. and: "More to the point, Ike would have been rotated out of his role as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe in 1943 to give someone else a turn." Read more: https://nation.time.com/2013/01/21/why-cant-th…

https://www.wtsp.com/news/article/292243/8/Staff-Sgt-Emily-Clayburn-killed-in-accident-at-MacDill-Air-Force-Base Anybody hear about this? This poor girl was from my area. My base Honor Guard tended to her remains and she was buried today.

Story here. From the article:

I've been wondering when I would hit the triggers for my command wings and higher aviator pay. A simple google search showed that the wings come at at 15 years as a rated pilot and the pay at more than 14 years since my first flight. Simple enough. However, I was DNIF for 14 months and seperated for 21 months before joining the guard. ARMS is telling me that the non-flying months due to my DNIF and seperation don't count towards the gates and I am not elibile for the pay and wings for a while longer. Everything I've read reinforces the gates I've listed above and don't mention non-flying months counting against me. I've never heard of a non-flying staff tour delayi…

Does anybody have a T-38 Dash 1 from prior to 2008? I'm looking for the before takeoff portion of the checklist to compare against the current checklist. If you have a copy and can scan that portion, please PM me.

Search and rescue effort underway for missing aircraft Posted 1/28/2013 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs 1/28/2013 - AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- Search efforts are underway after Aviano Air Base lost contact with one of its F-16 fighter jets at approximately 8 p.m. this evening. The aircraft was performing a training mission over the Adriatic Sea with one person on board. The pilot's condition is unknown at this time. More information will be released as it becomes available.

Whats everyones take on the new scoring system going into effect February 13th? https://access.afpc.af.mil/pcsmdmz/faq2_0.html#THREE I am curious to see how everyones scores will be affected.

I know AFI 36-2903 leaves the wearing of scarves up to MAJCOM. By why are they no more? I think It was back in 2008 AETC brought the hammer down but I can't find any other restrictions that apply to ground duties?!

According to the River Rats, Ed passed 30 Jan. His wife requests privacy. Cheers to one of the greats. (Also posted in the bar. My bad)

Just curious, what would everybody prefer to fly the Galaxy or Globemaster? (I only ask because I saw a program comparing the two heavy lifters) I know the C-17 is to replace many of the C-5's but let's say that they were both equally wanted/needed. And to spice things up, let's say the C-5 'rarely' breaks down. Anybody have time in both? Thanks

Saw this video origially on military.com and was wondering if a C-5 guy knew if this plane was damaged from this amphibious takeoff? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUx5wTV4XVk

https://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/50749586/ $1 billion wasted on Air Force computer system The Expeditionary Combat Support System, designed to save money by combining hundreds of existing computer systems, has been deemed a failure. Sen. John McCain described it as ‘one of the most egregious examples of mismanagement in recent memory.’ NBC’s Lisa Myers reports.

I know there is a 15 page thread on overall AF seq. that has been discussed ad nauseam. Not talking about all of that. I'm just looking at SUPT ops and it's possible suspension. Below's diatribe is on the AETC web site as of friday (just read it today). I hadn't heard anything this specific. Concentrating on "suspending advanced and instructor training on 1 Apr." It sounds like they are referring to RTU and PIT. That would be huge. Anyone read it differently or has anyone heard/been briefed on this? Any unit plans in the making if this really happens? "2/8/2013 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- Cuts to flying and technical training, Professional Mi…

Co-pilots coming to legacy herks are being re-routed to RPA/AFSOC and C-130H will become integrated with total force, any more info?

Disclaimer: I only know what is posted in the article. https://rt.com/news/meteorite-crash-urals-chelyabinsk-283/ The article claims that Russian air defenses shot down at least one meteor. If so, this would be impressive considering the speed the object was probably traveling at and the very short (presumably) window that would exist to identify, track, and engage it. The article doesn't say what weapon was used to hit it either. IF this proves to be true, this poses some interesting questions about Russian capability to destroy targets coming from space at high speeds (MIRVs).

Apparently they took a little sight seeing trip around Guam. Nice little "show of force." I have a hard time believing they were armed with "nuclear tipped" missiles though. https://www.foxnews.c...territory-guam/ The Air Force confirms that two Russian bombers on Tuesday circled the U.S. island territory of Guam, prompting U.S. jets to scramble and respond. Two U.S. Air Force F-15 fighter aircraft, operating out of Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, intercepted the Russian Tu-95 bomber aircrafts, which left in a northbound direction, said military spokeswoman Capt. Kim Bender. Bender said no further action was taken but declined to give more details, citin…

Hey guys/gals, I'm trying to get a handle on the terminology with respect to 'boards." I just got a C5 slot at my home base, and I am a civilian applicant. The next pilot boards are in June or July I believe, so pending good news there, I should expect dates for OTS some time after that. I have read a lot, and hear the term OTS boards/applicant. I that term just used for AD guys? If not, are the biannual pilot boards the same thing? Thanks!

Got a buddy flying the Hawg out in Korea who needs a hand with his Masters. Following survey needs inputs, esp from the heavy world. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Aircrew_Sim_Satisfaction