General Discussion

Here's a discussion that started at my work and I want to offer up for discussion. My crew was broken at base X in the desert and a C-17 was parked next to us doing some lengthy stop. Curious, the loads and I went over for a look (we'd never toured Budda before). After a look around the back, I asked the loads were the pilots were and he pointed to the cockpit. I thought this rather strange seeing they were shut down. I walked upstairs to find 3 pilots sitting with the AC blasting, just shooting the breeze. I asked them if they ever helped with the reconfigs and/or helped the loads out. One of them told me, "That's the loads job. Our place is up here." …

In light of the other discussion, this dude warrants his own thread. And possibly a statue cast in bronze. A warrior in every sense of the word. https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2012/04/air-force-blinded-airman-awarded-bronze-star-040612w/

https://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/11/19/marine-corps-forms-squadron-to-fly-new-next-generation-strike-fighter-jet/?test=latestnews The Marines just broke ground on their first F-35 squadron at Yuma with flights planned before the end of the year. After all the ass-pain of the VSTOL variant, I'm curious if there as any real tactical viability (or even need) to operate from "unimproved surfaces at austere bases" and special amphibious landing ships (although I've heard the Marines are going to have to operate some C models because of their fleet commitments to the Navy). After 30 years with the Harrier has this tactical need shown itself enough to go through…

https://www.defenseone.com/business/2022/09/l3harris-convert-embraer-kc-390s-aerial-refueling/377313/ Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Looking for the AFI (or the like) containing the definition of AF tail number formats. Any help would be appreciated! Something along the lines of this, Globemaster link or Globalsecurity.org link, but official.

Is/was there any rhyme or reason behind the tailcodes on jets...I mean, why the hell is Kadena "ZZ"?? Also, why don't heavies have the traditional two-letter tailcode? The only time I've ever seen it was an SJ on a KC-10, and ZZ on a KC-135...always been curious.

Recently, I had an interesting discussion with a future OG regarding the future of the Air Force, in general. It should be known that this guy is a career fighter pilot. His philosophy is this: in order to take back our Air Force, we have to be willing to play it's game. He argues that too many aviators are shying away from staff jobs that will help them become the generals of the future. He sees too many current senior officers taking non-rated dudes on their staffs because the SO can't get any aviators to join the staff. The future OG notes that one indication of the aviator losing his foothold in command positions is the creation of the maintenance group. Soon,…

Has anyone tried taking an FAA test at the Advanced Instrument School in Oklahoma City? I'm trying to take my Military Comp test for commercial license and heard it's free to take it through the USAF. Looking to save a hundred bucks or so, and the POC listed hasn't returned/answered my calls.

Do most bases offer language courses? If not, are there any options for officers to learn a 'high value' language besides on their own time? Thanks

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

Anyone heard more than what was printed in AF times or online about TAMI 21? Im a B-52 copilot elgible to fill one of the 200 some slots. From what Ive heard it is going to be mostly UAVs with very few actual AFSOC flying jobs. What kind of deployment or ops tempo is going on in the MC-130 or the U28? Trying to decide if it is worth volunteering or not for a flying job, or if you know about UAV positives/negatives that would be good too. Thanks. Maxwell

We keep hearing RUMINT of a possible upcoming TAMI-21 for WSO's. I don't know if there is any truth at all to this but just wondering if anyone else has heard of it. Thanks!

As part of my graduate capstone project, I have decided to analyze part of the USAF's broken personnel management system. Specifically, I am exploring the potential long-term effects of TAMI-21 (being a victim of this dirty whore myself) on pilot retention. Below, are links to surveymonkey.com for either RPA TAMI dudes or AFSOC TAMI dudes. The survey is one page and should take less than 2 minutes. Most of the TAMI guys that I know are in AFSOC and have already completed the survey. I am really seeking more surveys from the RPA community. Any help that you guys can provide in either completing the survey, or forwarding it to TAMI victims will be much appreciated. Afte…

Had this passed to me by my father-in-law. Did a quick search to try to avoid any duplication and didn't see it. Wanted to share. Tango Mike Mike Green Beret in Vietnam who came to the aid of a surrounded and wounded team with a knife and a med kit. Shot 7 times, two grenade wounds, broken jaw, and bayonet wounds in both arms. Fought off the enemy calling in air strikes and getting a helo to take the wounded out. After that was shot down while all were on board he did the same thing until he could call in another. "...when the doctor tried to zip up the body bag he spit in the doctor's face..." An amazing story and an even more amazing soldier. Ego

Does anyone know where I can find a comprehensive unit of all Air Refueling Squadrons with contact info (preferably DOS, OSF/OSS, or the DO)? Any help would be much appreciated.

Can anyone point me to a regulation or reference that mandates that the tanker and receiver exchange tail #s during AR? I understand why we do this (mostly accounting, scheduling, but also in the event that bad gas gets passed), but i need to find some place where it is written down for instructional purposes.

I know some have talked about a crossflow for bomber to fighter, but is there a crossflow for heavies to bomber/fighters??

What's up y'all. had a question about tattoos and the regulations. I did a search and did find a thread back In 05 and was wondering if they're still the same. my situation: been hoping to get a tattoo for awhile, but wanted to wait till after BMT to get it. Long story short, I was DQ'd at MEPS for the most menial thing ever a few weeks ago and have been waiting to get my waiver approved. I also was hoping to get shipped off after the Hollidays so I can have family time and finish up my 1st semester of college. this gives me about a 2 month window to get a tattoo and let it heal. When going through the medical process I was quite frequently asked if I had tatto…

I am an enlisted Marine Corps C-130 Nav. I have a couple (not excessive) tattoos. One is prominent on my forearm. I am a couple of months shy of my B.S. and working on my private pilots license. Would this prohibit me from becoming an Officer or of getting a pilot slot in the ANG, AFRES, or as an Army reserve WO? Any thoughts on which would be the best route to take? Appreciate any help. *BTW wutz up Riddler

Finace Guy (or any expert) quick question on the reg about combat zone tax exclusion. the first part of the reg says if you are flying in the designated area (say the persion gulf) you are eligible, the next line says in direct support of combat missions. does this mean that if i am say giving gas to a bomber airborne, but not in the designated combat zone, or a ground guy (again not in a designated combat zone) who loads bombs on a bomber which flies a combat mission, am i eligible for the tax break?

So my time has come to an end over in England unfortunately and I head back to the states in a couple weeks...hopefully the BAA has figured out wtf is up with their airport security...and I've got a question for you guys that were stationed over in USAFE in the past. I bought a "tax-free" car over here and will be taking it back with me. Is it a huge ass pain to register/title your car? I have a feeling I'm going to get stuck paying tax on it. Texas, where I'm a resident, wants 6.25% and Missouri where I'm going has all sorts of stipulations. People keep mentioning the 3-way split, wtf is that all about? Thanks. EDIT: I'm too lazy to do a search for this topic.…

Beginning January 16, 2006, TurboTax is being made available at no cost to servicemembers by the Department of Defense at the Military OneSource website at https://www.militaryonesource.com/. It requires a login, but supposedly the download is free for anybody interested.

Is scratch paper given to you at the test? Taking it tomorrow.

Taking the TBAS next week and doing some studying, I have the orientation section down pretty good when the yellow arrow is pointing towards a cardinal direction, but I’m confused when it gets diagonal. Anyone have any info? Links to articles or videos work too. Want to get it down cold. Any other TBAS tips appreciated.

I am looking for some help on the TBAS flashcards. I understand the concept and am able to get the correct answers when it shows the direction I am heading on the compass, but when it shows it on the map like in these two images I cannot figure out what direction I am heading. Based on what I see, the top of the map is North, so the it looks I would be heading East and North in the two images respectively. However, I know this is wrong but I can't figure out why. What am I missing that shows I would be heading West and South?