General Discussion

This is the type of innovation we need. I want to be optimistic that this will become the new AERPS, but I'll be a realist. Although it's been quite some time since I last wore AERPS, this looks much more comfortable and practical. https://www.stripes.com/news/yokota-airmen-improve-gas-mask-with-3d-printer-potentially-saving-air-force-8-million-or-more-1.531504

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.express.co.uk/news/world/990914/world-war-3-warning-donald-trump-news-nato-montenegro/amp Couldn't the same thing be said about Taiwan? Granted they never poke the Chinese and there is no NATO umbrella or an Article 5. Taiwan is equipped to fight alone according to one of their officers who spoke to us back in the AFROTC days. It was a female officer who gave us the go at it alone speech.

All, I’m an active duty Navy helo dude that has been offered an active duty KC-135 slot. I’m an O-4 and if I switch I will have a 6 year comittment that will put me right over 20 years. What I am looking for is gouge on the tanker/KC-135 mission, deployments, homeguard work, family life, preferred duty stations, etc. What are realistic possibilities of keeping flying for those six years? Is it possible in the Air Force to volunteer for a DO job to stay flying or is the DO a screened position? I’ve searched but can’t seem to find any threads newer than a few years old. I’m trying to wrap my head around the Air Force as well as the tanker life…

Part of the reason I’m able to work the transfer from the Navy to the Air Force is because of the need for pilots. Where does the Air Force plan on getting dudes to fill these squadrons? https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2018/09/17/air-force-calls-for-74-more-squadrons-to-prepare-for-possibility-of-war-against-major-power/?utm_source=clavis

https://news.clearancejobs.com/2018/10/15/dods-defense-travel-system-hacked-employee-credit-card-info-stolen/ We can add DTS to that long list of breaches. Everyone has my SSN now and a great credit score so it's okay. In June 2015, the United States Office of Personnel Management announced that it had been the target of a data breach targeting the records of as many as four million people. This story came from my Google news feed. Damn you Goolgle, your algorithms know me too well. Can your algorithms find women?

Anyone have experience with a good VA rep they can point me to? I'm in Pittsburgh, but if I need to travel somewhere to sit down with someone who knows what they're doing, I will. The one I had in Columbus, OH was pants-on-head stupid, so part of my claim was denied. I'd like someone who knows what they're doing to help me with the appeal. Thanks in advance

I need to digitally sign and save AF215 so I can send it via email, however every AF215 online and from EPUBS says I cannot save the document and it won't let me sign it despite having a cac card reader. Anyone have ideas or found a workaround as to how I can save and sign this document?

I was referred to this forum by a current active duty AF pilot. I am currently in the end process of the AF Officer application process and currently have a scheduled start date for OTS. There are a couple of things that have come up in the last couple of weeks that have raised some red flags regarding the information I have been given by my recruiter versus what I have been told by several current AF pilots as well as a flight instructor. I am wanting to fly, however my overall GPA from college is just under the 3.00 requirement (2.75). What I was told by the recruiter that I have been dealing with is that if I want to apply for a pilot slot, I would have to get in…

Is it possible? I imagine that quite a few units are bottom heavy with everyone bailing to the airlines as soon as they hit ATP mins. I'm worried about getting enough flying time when I get off seasoning days. I imagine local sorties wouldn't make much sense, but I would love to jump on a deployment since I won't be back from PIQ before my unit heads out. Also, under the new "Total Force Office Training" model, can Guard dudes go fly with a Reserve unit or even AD? Thanks!

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2020/03/06/air-mobility-command-ends-flying-only-career-track/ “The bottom line is, there just wasn’t the appetite there for the program” Seems like it was a great deal. Only have to maintain tactical proficiency with zero chance for a non-flying assignment or PME. Only two C-17 bubbas took that deal... What went wrong? Is there something we’re just not hearing about?

Just finished UPT and C-130 school. Waiting for my shipment of HHG's back to my home unit right now, in fact. My UTM / finance is saying I do not qualify for DLA moving back to home station because it's considered a "separation PCS." Can anyone chime in on this? Seems insane to deny almost $3k worth of DLA. Moving is effing expensive, especially with a wife, 2 kids and a dog... Just want to make sure I'm asking the right questions and not overlooking anything. Thanks in advance!

Has anyone requested and been approved permissive TDY to attend Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) ground and/or flight training? I'm scheduled to attend a course next month and was planning on taking leave to knock it out, but wanted to look into PTDY as an option. What is your experience and/or take on the idea? AFI36-3003 allows a commander to grant permissive TDY status "to attend meetings or seminars sponsored by non-Federal technical, scientific, professional (e.g., medical, legal, ecclesiastical, Information Technology, and mechanical) societies and organizations" as long as it has "a direct relationship to the member’s primary military duties and clearly enhance h…

As the title suggests, I’m curious how much the Sq/CCs in the various communities fly? In my part of the world, they don’t seem to fly that often. I’m wondering if it’s similar elsewhere or if they all tend to minimally fly?

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/myanmar-coup-united-nations-biden-china-russia/ They need help and it's up to us provide it. Bangkok would be the logical place to stage out of. Patpong road is open for business. Would be nice to have a little war in a place that doesn't suck.

I'm looking for a military aviation or general aviation internship, something part-time online if possible. I have already emailed multiple military aviation foundations and nonprofits but so far have not gotten a response. I am good at web design, graphics design, Microsoft Excel, etc. Does anyone know of internships that are available and remote? If not remote, I'm currently living in Phoenix AZ but willing to drive if needed. Thanks!

https://www.iranintl.com/en/202305275606 The CIA and State Department right now:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/7524?s=1&r=97 https://dav.quorum.us/campaign/50264/

People often asked me if there is anything to do at an overseas base if you could not get off-base. They were surprised that there were restaurants and clubs to go to, I guess they assumed that that it’s something like Full Metal Jacket. I joked that at Ramstein the Belgiums sole purpose in NATO was to run a night club! Apparently I’m not alone in my belief that they are the black sheep of NATO! https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2023/09/shared-threats-unequal-efforts-belgiums.html

I am a current AD 62E Officer who was lucky enough to get picked up for UPT on this year’s Active-Duty UFT Board. I am thrilled to finally be living out the dream but am seeking advice for those who have been in my shoes.....late to rate. I am a 1st Lt who, pending any drastic UPT scheduling delays, should be completing UPT right around the time I hit Capt. As someone who is currently removed from the flying community, I have all of these aspirations for making the most of my flying time, and hope to get plenty of operational experience, and even have hopes of potentially attending WIC. I also (potentially naively?) plan to retire, as I sit here at a little ov…

Is this a National Guard branch or just a catchy recruiting gimmick? Google results confused me even more. https://www.yahoo.com/news/space-force-guardian-command-mission-201854275.html

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-south-korea-tours-longer/ Would you guys have wanted to do 2 years at Osan/Kunsan? Salute to the "Juice Girls" who ruined marriages and caused a few Airmen to lose clearances by marrying them.

Military helicopter crash investigation underway in Washington state | https://www.wisn.com/article/helicopter-crash-near-joint-base-lewis-mcchord/67946788

I am a weather geek and always wondered what it would be like to be a Hurricane Hunter. For those who followed Hurricane Melissa which is the third strongest hurricane on record (892MB and still intensifying at landfall), the NOAA and USAFR Hurricane Hunters had a constant presence as the storm built and hit Jamaica and Cuba. USAFR flies a fleet of 10 WC-130Js and NOAA operates two PC-3's. One of the P-3s (named Kermit), was flying a mission during the rapid intensification. As they departed the eye and flew into the eyewall they encountered what looks to me like extreme turbulence. Ultimately they elected to depart the storm because of the turbulence ..somethi…

Beautifully done by the gents! IMG_9166 2.MOV

https://www.dodbuzz.com/2017/09/07/air-force-taps-l-3-develop-future-ec-x-compass-call-gulfstream-550/