General Discussion

Looks like the new dorms at the Deid are open https://www.afcent.af.mil/Units/379thAirExpeditionaryWing/News/Display/tabid/298/Article/583408/bpc-phase-ii-dorm-facilities-open.aspx Only took like 3 years, so does this mean the CC is closed, or are they still going to use them for tanker dudes? Anyone there with insight?

Trying to decipher DoD regs regarding Time-in-Grade (Lt Col) and retirement. Lets say I have 20 years, been an 05 for two years, and I put in paperwork to retire. Lt Col TIG requires 3 years to retire as a Lt Col...what does that mean? I understand that I can't wear a retired Lt Col hat to the BX but does it drastically effect benefits? Or...can I not even apply to retire until I hit 3-years TIG? As I read it, under the high-3 retirement, they average out your highest 36 months of service...so if you have 1-year of 04 pay and 2-years of 05 pay...thats the average, right? Not quite as much money as getting 3-years TIG...but better than never having been paye…

Long article but interesting (only perused some sections) - enjoy. Trends in Air to Air Combat Implications for Air Superiority John Stillion

The HF phone patch net handles official (commercial or DSN) and morale patches as well as radio checks for DOD stations worldwide with good propagation conditions. Cost of the phone calls are covered by the individual member. The MARS Phone Patch Net website has been redesigned for easier viewing and includes an article on net procedures and operation. There is a training video available as well as a flyer that can be posted to provide information to aircrews. Questions or requests like access to the FOUO video and current frequencies can be made through the contact form. The request should include a .mil email address. The website is at https://marsphonepatch.…

Hi there, Curious how long it's taken folks to receive AFOQT scores. I took the new T version of the test March 27 so it's been basically 4 weeks at this point. My recruiter doesn't have any contacts to check in on this but he said he's seen it take 3 weeks in the past. On the other hand, a helpful guy from my PCSM testing center (I took the AFOQT and PCSM at separate locations) said he'd check in with folks at Randolph but has not called me back. How long did it take to get your scores? Is this unusually long? Thanks

https://www.acc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123445666&source=GovD 4/20/2015 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force have directed the realignment of the Air Force's B-1 bomber fleets and Long Range Strike-Bomber program from Air Combat Command to Air Force Global Strike Command, effective Oct. 1. The move will realign the Air Force's core mission of global strike and all of the service's bombers under a unified command responsible for organizing, training and equipping Airmen to perform this mission. "This realignment places all three Air Forces bombers under one command and brings the LRS-B program with it," said Secretary of the…

Are any of you flying in there in a military aircraft for static display?

https://www.airforcemag.com/DRArchive/Pages/2015/April%202015/April%2024%202015/Not-So-Stealthy-Son-of-A-10.aspx Ok so if they're seriously considering this, then it makes me wonder; just how expensive would it be to reset/SLE/update the existing A-10 fleet, since to me that should end up being far cheaper. Especially when you consider all the logistics and training involved in implementing a new air frame program. I mean, are the A-10 air frames just to old to work with at all? I think someone said in another thread here that someone (Boeing I think) basically has a modernized A-10 design that could be built new. Not the scorpion or anything, basically the A-10, …

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3060026/US-Air-Force-refuelling-aircraft-falls-radar-English-Channel.html?ito=social-facebook Just saw this on the internet. I hope there is more to this story and they landed safely after losing some of their avionics or something. Anybody know anything else?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3060026/US-Air-Force-refuelling-aircraft-falls-radar-English-Channel.html Anyone know anything about this? I couldn't find any other articles. Thoughts and prays with the crew.

Just saw the news that 19th Air Force Commander was fired (resigned, lol) for inappropriate comments made in an Air Force forum. Anyone know what he said? https://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/2015/04/30/19th-air-force-commander-steps-down/26632917/

I am in need of the IBM Forms version of a travel voucher. E-Pubs has removed the form as has every other outlet I know of to push people to DTS, but my unit still uses paper. Does anyone by chance have a copy saved they could send me? It would be much appreciated. Thanks.

I finally read about the conspiracy theory on this exercise, other than imposing martial law on Texas to pave the way for theft of precious bodily fluids and prepare the population for mass brainwashing, what's the big deal? OPSEC considered, is anybody here going to support this LFE? Ok, Wolverines...

Very interesting talk from a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute. 35 minutes of where we're at in terms of cyber security + 20 minutes of Q&A.

Anyone got the skinny on this program? I've got plenty of articles from google that speak of the program's greatness but these all have that Public Affairs flavor (spouting the company line). I was "unofficially" notified that I've been selected. 90% leaning towards 3-day opting out.

Serious question. How do you pilots deal with serious problems at home while deployed or on duty (for lack of a better term). Serious problems such as terminally sick relatives or perhaps idiot family members who are always in trouble or perhaps financial trouble or other relatives who are going through hard times? Does it add to the stress? How do you deal with it exactly? I guess I'm one of those guys who likes to be in control and I get frustrated when bad things happen that I have absolutely no control over. I kind of wonder how an Air Force pilot would deal with this.

https://www.militarytimes.com/story/veterans/2015/05/21/fighter-aces-awarded-congressional-gold-medal/27702791/ I went to DC for this, and ended up flying two Navy Aces to the event. It was an incredible 3 days. The stories were fantastic. And a few of them stayed in the bar late with me. Every penny of my bar tab was well spent.

I've been lurking here for years, so feel free to roast me based on my post count for this question, won't hurt my feelings. Does anyone know why the F-16 Blk 30 went with the SADL radio vs a Link-16 terminal? I assume it was partially because of the cost difference and partially because of the Air-Ground mission set, similar to the A-10s reasoning. Does anyone have any facts about how this acquisition took place or the reasons for the choice made? TG btw, a search for SADL didn't turn up too many viable posts on this forum..I checked.

This is somewhat Reserve/Guard-centric, but I thought it was worthy of general discussion. Over the last 10 years, I have watched with horror as the ANG has tried harder and harder to become like the active duty. Our leadership has yelled from the rooftops "We're just like active duty! We're an operational reserve, not strategic! Give us new equipment! Deploy us more!" Meanwhile.... The standard ANG AEF deployment has gone from 45 days to 180. ANG units are now being routinely tasked for non-voluntary, non-combat 90-120 day TSP deployments. And now it looks like the reserve component deploy to dwell ratio is in question. For many years, the RC's deploy to dwell ratio …

Please read the following article, and any links necessary if you are interested. I find it interesting that CMSAF would answer questions based on an Reddit.com AMA, but I'm glad this might actually be looked at through the appropriate light. https://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/2015/06/02/air-force-reviewing-if-airmen-overlooked-for-medal-of-honor/28371279/ I ran into this type of mindset throughout my time in the military and I was always dumbfounded when leadership would squash a medal nomination for one of my guys. The leadership's misguided logic was that if someone received an achievement medal, then it would look bad if they received another one…

Ladies & Gents, A few of the guys from the 48th at Lakenheath recommeded I put a few snaps up here for you good folk to see. So I just wanted to say 'Hey' and if you're ever in the UK on TDY or PCS'ing to Lakenheath, hit me up and I'll shoot you some pics. All with my compliments, discretion and respect assured. Lots of USAF aircrew character references available! Cheers! Morley morley.lester@gmail.com MLL_7576 Head on 1024 by Morley Lester, on Flickr IMG_3167 GR4 Flckr by Morley Lester, on Flickr MLL_0059 F15E Morley Lester Link Flckr by Morley Lester, on Flickr MLL_7340 Flckr by Morley Lester, on Flickr MLL_1771 1024…

no workie

https://www.jqpublicblog.com/curbing-wrongful-termination-in-the-air-force-four-common-sense-reforms/ I've been hearing a lot more lately about a lot of the toxic leadership problems in the Air Force and a few victims of wrongful firings. Thoughts on the content of the post and topic? Has anyone seen or hear about this happening to someone they know?

Big Blue needs you to present a PowerPoint to a deployed location, even if you are needed at your current unit: https://www.jqpublicblog.com/leaked-memo-shows-depth-of-air-force-manpower-crisis/ Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

Decade forecast from Stratfor, sounds plausible, world somewhat FUBAR somewhat functional. https://www.stratfor.com/forecast/decade-forecast-2015-2025 Here's the Jack Ryan part: It is unlikely that the Russian Federation will survive in its current form. Russia's failure to transform its energy revenue into a self-sustaining economy makes it vulnerable to price fluctuations. It has no defense against these market forces. Given the organization of the federation, with revenue flowing to Moscow before being distributed directly or via regional governments, the flow of resources will also vary dramatically. This will lead to a repeat of the Soviet Union's experi…