General Discussion

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/11/05/hagel-says-cuts-to-pay-and-benefits-are-needed.html Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel warned Tuesday that troops and their families will be asked to sacrifice on pay and benefits to preserve readiness in an era of tighter budgets. Hagel listed politically-charged changes to compensation and personnel policy as one of his top six priorities in reforming the military following the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as the department gears up to meet new challenges. "This may be the most difficult" to achieve among his six priorities, Hagel said of proposals to trim pay increases, overhaul TRICARE and review retirement benefit…

Found this online; cannot confirm validity, but it sounds like something that should be on DuffelBlog. Edit: I found this online and I'm relaying it over here to see what your reactions and input is. This is NOT written by me,

Was curious if any folks on here have any experience with the E-4. I'm a tanker guy right now and wanted to know if there is a recommended "path" to the E-4. I'm assuming it's super competitive, but is there any other information out there? Thanks

Received this little doozy, and I thought we had a pilot shortage.... From: ######### 147 ARS/DO Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2013 11:17 AM To: 171 ARW/Operations Group Subject: Hat/Uniform wear HI All, We have been reminding you about uniform wear and hats in the parking lot over the last few weeks, but it has officially hit its limit. The Wing/CC was eating out at a local restaurant and saw another member of the Ops Group not wearing their hat when they should have been. This seems like a small issue, but it has gotten out of hand. If we truly believe we are the best KC-135 unit we need to show it on and off the base. Effective immediately if you are…

Discuss.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/11/21/boeing-747-mistakenly-lands-at-small-kansas-airport/?intcmp=latestnews "A Boeing 747 jumbo jet mistakenly landed a tiny airport in Kansas late Wednesday, raising questions about how the pilots got off course. The jet landed at Col. James Jabara Airport, about 8 miles north of its intended target, the McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita. Jabara's runway is just 6,101 feet long, much shorter than is ideal for an aircraft of that size. Roger Xanders, chief of the Wichita Airport Authority's police and fire department, told KMBC-TV that nonetheless the plane should be able to take off around noon Thursday. The plane, oper…

Thoughts? https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/china-creates-new-air-defense-zone-in-east-china-sea-amid-dispute-with-japan/2013/11/23/c415f1a8-5416-11e3-9ee6-2580086d8254_story.html

There is a topic discussing what's "Wrong with the AF?" Let's track the improvements... I recall when Welsh was nominated back in 2012, there was loud applause of pending changes that we all thought were looming -- mainly due his interaction with the CAF when he was USAFE/CC, etc. Welsh took command Aug 2012...and probably has a little over a year left until he's done. What improvements, if any, have you seen....?

Has anyone heard of the Alsalam Aircraft Company? They have offered me a position as an ISR King Air 350 Instructor Pilot for the Royal Saudi Air Force with a pretty good total compensation package north of $250K a year. I would love to hear what anyone knows about the company, working with the RSAF & living in the Kingdom with a wife & 4 small children. Please feel free to PM me if you do not want to post on an open forum. Thanks!

Always lawyer up https://www3.gazette.com/projects/project/usafa-informant-program/

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/12/04/heffron-of-wwiis-band-of-brothers-dies-at-90.html?ESRC=todayinmil.sm Greatest generation ever, few left....

Bands have been a part of military tradition and history since...forever, unlike TIB who is just a bunch of singing, dancing fags. Well done, USAF band for this performance at the Air and Space Museum. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIoSga7tZPg&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DgIoSga7tZPg&app=desktop

The old girl is completing her final combat deployment...sad to see her go, but she is tired and it is time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRsYDYnv1rg

Looks like the USAF is on the hook to support a French deployment to the Central African Republic (CAR). Currently its airlift (C-17s) burt Tankers and ISR will probably follow. Chrstmas time in Africa :-) https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/us-to-fly-african-troops-to-central-african-republic-8994230.html

https://www.cnn.com/2013/12/10/us/colorado-town-drone-ordinance/index.html?hpt=hp_t2 This is why I love 'murica.

Interesting WSJ on the downside to automation . https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304439804579204202526288042

can any LZSO types tell me if your V1/V3 or a MAJCOM sup require periodic refresher training? Or is it a one-time thing with the guidance contained in AFI 13-217?

BBC is reporting a crash in Zabul province killing 6 people, anyone have more details?

Has anyone finished the new SOS i-c? Everyone in my unit finished the old easy version years ago or hasn't even looked into starting it. How quickly can you finish it if you put a lot of focus on it?

https://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AF_SOUTH_SUDAN_US?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-12-21-07-08-38 AP Reports that it looked like an Osprey, 4 injured, one reported critical. Now they are saying a UN Helicopter was downed as well. Might have fit better under the operation deny Christmas '13 threads.

Not sure how many folks visit the Aviation Medicine section, so I am including a link here to maximize visibility. Please go to and read. Cap-10

Because it's great to know about the awesome shit that happens out there! ------------------------------------- A-10 Pilots Honored For Ground Fight Rescues In Stormy Weather: https://www.airforcetimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013312220008

Hopefully this turns out Ok and just someone going overboard with holiday 'min manning' : Quick Google search indicates they went public with this early Sat 28 Dec. Sent from my phone using Tapatalk 2

Hey all, My wife and I are both military and according to the FY14 Force Management Program I fall in the "RIF Board" category but my wife falls in the "Force Shaping Board" category (based on our year groups). Does anyone know what the difference is between being RIF'd vs being Force Shaped? From what I understand, they are both equivalent to being laid off by the military, but there has to be a difference (if there are two separate categories). Thanks in advance. ~Just a Regular Dude

New Guidance Memorandum for AFI 36-2406. New AF 910, AF 911, and AF 707 (EPR and OPR forms). All available at e-pubs ( https://www.e-publishing.af.mil ). Highlights: