General Discussion

So I read this the other day: The U.S. was supposed to leave Afghanistan by 2017. Now it might take decades. and since the forum has been active on Afghanistan related subjects, namely AFPAK Hands, and the basically universal consensus that it is a waste of time, I wanted to start a discussion on whether or not it is time to leave and if so how? Leaving gets misinterpreted with defeat in battle, not so. Leaving means the completion of our military training mission, determination that our rebuilding & stabilization mission has run its course and that it is time to redeploy our forces & people to the northern part of the country, former Northern Alli…

For those who have recently retired, how long did it take to get your DD-214? I am still on terminal leave, but applied for my DD-214 several months ago and have heard or seen anything.

Anyone got eyes on the new JTR? Any big picture changes?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/theaviationist.com/2019/12/02/u-s-air-force-f-16-crashes-while-attempting-to-land-at-kunsan-air-base-south-korea-pilot-ejected/amp/ sounds like good news for the pilot this time

I'm skeptical this will happen or if there is really a need but there is a good bit of research going into this... https://www.bbc.com/future/story/20161220-the-aerial-tankers-that-helped-shrink-the-globe https://www.google.com/patents/US20030136874 https://www.range-unlimited.com/ https://theconversation.com/in-flight-refuelling-for-airliners-will-see-non-stop-services-shrink-the-globe-39931 Reading this and thinking about my own time flying the mighty 135, the only way I could see this happening and being profitable/logistically sensible is if you could synchronize the tankers and receivers by a reciprocative schedule/flight plan or rendezvous .…

https://taskandpurpose.com/marine-aircraft-crash-off-japan/ Haven’t seen anyone post this yet. No words on the crew but a total of 7 to be involved. Hope they all made it. 🍺

Saw this posted on a different forum, felt it was worth sharing here... Cheers! M2

With all of these programs to build the pilot population and pilot training cranking out high numbers of pilots yet we are still looking for more pilots, why doesn’t the Air Force reinstitute aero clubs at bases? I know there are a few remaining. But they are the exception. Thoughts?

I need advice since my deployment to Afghanistan was 2011/2012. I recall that our squadron had more cookies, candy, toothbrushes, shampoo, etc... than we could shake a stick at. I also recall the military telling people that airlift and sealift was at a premium and their stuff was on a space available basis. My questions: - with the reduced presence now, are Care Packages still desired? Or are they still the unneeded/unnecessary pain in the ass that they were when I was there? - what do you advise people to send in a Care Package? I ask because people at church are going to send Care Packages. And if they are, I at least want to guide them…

All this talk about Delta, United, AA, Southwest just makes me sick. Where is the love for the other major airlines? FRONTIER anyone? SPIRIT anyone? It's like they don't exist to you people.

Which company provides the best quality custom helmet bags and visor covers? The bag I have has great embroidery, but the bag's nylon and zipper won't last. Also, my visor cover needs replacing.

Hello, I fly a jet equipped with an ejection seat. During a deployment, I started developing neck, back, and hamstring pain. I notified my flight doc and she attributed my pain to muscle soreness and suggested I wait to see if it heals on its own. Two months later, I woke up with excruciating pain. MRI results concluded that a cervical disc tore and my nerves are being “severely” pinched (annular tear, spinal stenosis, cervical radiculopathy are the medical terms). My lumbar spine has the same condition at a “moderate” level (which explains the hamstring pain). In addition, my pectoral and tricep muscles are not responding and are atrophying. The flight doc suggested…

Gents, found out my wife had been having two affairs over the past 5 months. One while I was deployed. I got video/picture evidence of the affair through legal means. Tried to get her to work it out through marriage counseling but she just served me papers this week. We have 3 kids. I am currently an ANG dude part timer and start at a major airline here in April. Got any advice? Currently living in Florida. Mostly worried about her going after a huge chunk of my measly first year pay and my VA Disability. Fighting for 50/50 with the kids even though she is a terrible mother, but now the kids are just pawns. Thanks bros.

This sounds promising for those of you still toiling away at Human Trafficking and Sexual Harrassment CBTs... "Defense Secretary Jim Mattis wants to overhaul military education and training to “regain” the art of warfighting following complaints by thousands of servicemembers that their time is being wasted by hours of mandatory training...The training that is the subject of complaints covers everything from alcohol use to active shooters to sexual harassment to stress management." https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/07/25/mattis-moves-to-refocus-military-training-on-warfighting-after-complaints-on-senseless-exercises.html

Can anyone point to a specific audio cable to record ics/radios for GoPro video? Specifically looking for the C17. I’ve found a few “military/helo” cables, but not sure if those are synonymous with high impedance of the C17. Cheers

https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-military/2019/10/11/f-15s-air-defense-systems-and-thousands-of-us-troops-heading-to-saudi-arabia/ Cliffs: An Air Expeditionary Wing, 2 Fighter Squadrons, 2 Patriot Batteries, and a THAAD battery. Got to make some more 179s/365s/2 year accompanied requirements

Not a very exciting thread I'm sure! What do folks get their family members when they retire? Everyone does flowers at the ceremony and I'm guessing it is like a funeral at the house with many sets of flowers for all the woman-folk... I know it is not typically a time to celebrate them, but I'd like to make this as much of a day for at least my immediate family as I feel they have put up with a lot of sacrifices along the way. Thoughts? Obviously jewelry, but is there something that is a bit unique? Anything besides jewelry? Kids are nearing or in teenage years. Thanks!

Is Chuck broke or does he really have a case against Airbus? https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/international-business/article-the-wrong-stuff-chuck-yeager-who-broke-sound-barrier-sues-airbus/?fbclid=IwAR1nqqAaKdOr09sYfypdvv-tK7ccHkyFUjl6D3UihDDOSHdtnWeg2CokfzU

For those of you who train, I am curious if there are any good places that some folks may recommend to train at during UPT? Or are there any academies/training facilities on the bases?

Which of the single-pilot airframes have ADS-B now? T-38C? T-6? Any fighters? If not, what are the plans? Separate question: If the T-6 doesn't have ADS-B, does it have some sort system to identify squawking traffic?

Taking a hint from rumblefish, what are the best spots you've been deployed to? This can be anywhere. A certain base that hosts the 380th AEW is mine. You can go off base to some great spots, the base itself rocked, with a smoothie shop within walking distance of tent city. Base life was pretty cool; not as much of the @sspain of Al Udeid or (I'm told) P-sab. And best of all, schwarma night which happened to coincide with bingo night and KC-10 rotators. Granted, it was alot better before 9-11 and khobar, but it was still great during and after OIF (excluding hornitschek's rein-O-$hit of the refueling sqdn). What is yours, and why? Edited: For possible OPSEC buff…

https://www.wsj.com/articles/fedex-pilot-detained-by-police-in-southern-china-sources-11568906801 This whole situation really smells bad. Best wishes for Col Hohn and his family. I fear he is being used as a political pawn of convenience.

I want to port our paper ORM worksheet into the digital world and dont have a lot of coding skills. Looking for a single product that allows pilots to quickly complete ORM with a database back-end for safety data analysis. Anybody currently use this process in their unit or have files they could send me to poach from?

I’m a reservist and I don’t know where to look... What was the FY 2018 Aviator Continuation Pay (pilot bonus) take rate? Is the take rate broken down by MAF, CAF, AFSOC, etc? Thanks, Merle