General Discussion

I've had one now for about 3 years, and see them all over the military. If you have one or are planning on buying one, please submit the name and brief history of the hero. Here's the history and background of Cpl John C. Keiper - who's name is engraved on my silver bracelet. ************************************************* Name: Keiper, John Charles Rank: Corporal/E-4 Branch: United States Marine Corps Unit: HAMS 16, MAG 16 Date of Birth: 18 September 1945 Home of Record: Renovo, Pennsylvania Date of Loss: 15 November 1966 Country of Loss: South Vietnam Loss Coordinates: 162535N 1074619E (ZD150045) Status: Missing In A…

I was hoping to get some input from the heavy pilots into the differences between the type of flying involved with airlift missions and air refueling missions and some pro/cons of each. Which is more interesting or fun to fly? I assume refueling is a lot of straight-and-level over long periods of time and airlift would involve a little more finessed flying but that’s just my impression as an outside observer. I’ve been submitting applications to both types trying to get a heavy slot. I’d like to know a little more about the ins-and-outs and the subtleties that people might not know about. What you like or dislike, etc. Thanks in advance!

Hey all - I've been on hold with the total force call center for 45 minutes now, so I figure it wouldn't hurt to reach out to you fine folks and see if someone here has the answer I need. I understand that if I were to transfer my benefits today, I would have to commit to another 4 years of service. I am eligible to retire in January 2021, and I was wondering if they'd make me extend my service beyond that date?

All of the talk in the PRF/promotion thread about MyVector, etc, made me start wondering about jobs at the O-4/O-5 level. I’m getting nearer to my switch over to the AF and I’m trying to get some clarity on what I can expect as I don’t have access to anything in MyVector, etc. For SA, I’m switching over to fly the 135, and my first set of orders will have me with a squadron flying like normal. After that, what options exist? For comparison, in the Navy after a senior O-4 tour with a squadron, if you don’t make squadron command there’s an almost zero percent chance of ever flyingp again. From what I understand, there’s a higher likelihood of flying in the Air Fo…

https://www.al.com/news/2019/05/former-delta-force-commander-dies-in-lawnmower-accident-at-alabama-home.html 🍺🍺 To the elite.

My wife and I are moving to Hickam on Friday, Just wondering if anyone has any last minute tips on housing/jobs. Thanks

Last Doolittle Raider Dick Cole passed away at 103 years old, IAW af.mil and other sources. Ref: https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1809760/lt-col-dick-cole-last-surviving-doolittle-raider-passes-away-at-age-103/ Thank you for your service sir. Not just the Raid, which was HUGE and I'm sure many thought was a suicide mission, but all your contributions to the war effort and beyond. 🥃

I have a general question about flight training with the military translating into the civilian world. If someone enters UPT without a license and works their way through flight school, do they earn instrument ratings, multi engine ratings, etc. just like they would in the civilian world? How would that be applied if they don’t have a PPL? Are they automatically applied to their civilian ratings or would a pilot have to sit for a written/oral/practical exam as a civilian as well? I’m assuming the knowledge is the same or very similar. Military pilots have to know how to fly instrument approaches and multi engine aircraft. As a follow-up, does a mi…

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

Attended the Travis AFB Thunderbird Airshow last weekend. I couldn't help but notice the wearing of 2 piece flight suits by more than a few AF crew members. Is the one piece flight suit being phased out? Which units are authorized in wearing the 2 piece? Is it optional or required? What are your feelings on the wearing of the 2 piece? I assume it's more functional but less appealing to me. I guess the AF is returning to its Army roots, with the OCPs and 2 piece flight suits. By the way, the female Thunderbird pilot's weekend performance was the best in the group while putting on her makeup in flight.

So I know there is an entire thread on ADSC waivers associated w/ PC. Does anyone have any data points on waivers for retiring. I currently have 1 ADSC for the GI bill which takes me 6 months passed the period at which I am eligible to retire. Looking for any information on probably, or not, if getting a waiver to retire earlier. Thanks. Bode

Question for you airliner guys. I will be starting work at an airline(big 3) as a ground guy and will need to start commuting to the east coast from the Midwest and was wondering how travel time is looked at? Based off schedules for a regular weekend drill, I would have to leave Friday afternoon and won’t be able to fly back until Monday morning non reving. Would both fri and mon count as mil leave days or do I need to take vacation? In addition, I would assume non reving would be kosher even though I’m not technically working for the military those two days? I would ask my new boss but he has already been a douche and I would like to know some background if he tries to p…

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.

Thanks for reading! I am a 10 year active duty Marine Special Operations Officer with Marine Special Operations Command. I recently hit the lottery and got hired by an Air National Guard unit to change career paths and go to flight school and fly jets for them. The day before my flight physical Wright Patterson called to let me know I can't do the physical because I have a back surgery on my record. In 2011 I was wounded twice in Afghanistan and had some minor surgeries to recover in the coming years, and one was a micro-discectomy L5-S1 and was back to full duty two months later. I have done over two years of operations since the minor back surgery and multi…

I’m not saying for sure, but it appears to be out of the Charlotte ANG.

I didn't even know this was happening. Looks like only a few others did as well. But for your scrolling pleasure - (Edit- found this buried in the ACP thread. Delete if not helpful)

What is the path from Bergstrom to a weapons system for these new pilots? https://www.aetc.af.mil/News/Article/1593411/flying-training-reimagined-as-first-ptn-class-graduates/

From what I can tell a bunch of army dudes call it home and I think some OSW assets were there back in the day. I may be calling it home for a while, anyone have some gouge on what is out there or what to expect?

Tell me everyone is OK. https://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/04/04/f-16-jet-crashes-at-nellis-air-force-base-outside-las-vegas-officials-say.html

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/visions-of-the-future/ I thought of Squadron Posters the second I saw NASA's poster art. I thought maybe Squadron Posters did some of the design... Maybe the style is just one of those viral/in vogue design things that I don't keep up with. Like Squadron Posters, I think they look cool.

I am currently a college student and I want to get a private pilots license before trying for a pilot slot with the ANG (since it will speed up the training process, and increase my likelihood of selection). However, due to my families recent financial situation, I will have to do it with my own money (which is lacking being the stereotypical college student). This summer I will have an Internship that will pay me a decent amount. If anyone has any tips on how to get a license on the budget of a college student, it would be very welcome!

Anything against building up an absurd amount of negative balance on your GTC account (by constantly overpaying it with voucher disbursement’s) and then using the ATM to withdraw $300 or over on a regular basis to do whatever you want with while TDY and away from the family? asking for a friend i know there are cash advance limits, but this isn’t really a cash advance as much as it’s using the GTC to hold money that belongs to you, and taking it out at your leisure.

Has anyone ever applied or attempted to apply for an OTS Rated slot and the Air Force Reserves for a pilot slot at the same time? A little back story, I am AD and want to apply to the rated board this November (application due in October). However, they only picked up 20 pilots this last board and I want to keep my options open as I want to fly. What are the chances of being able to apply to both? Has anyone ever done it before? Both applications are due in October and both boards are in November. Am I going to be forced to choose one or the other?

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2018/07/20/so-you-wanna-fly-air-force-pilots-can-apply-to-new-aviation-only-program/ BLUF: Majors or Major-selects with 11-13 YOS can apply starting soon. Seemed like you only fly plus work stan eval, training or tactics. PME and AAD are optional. ALso targeting 5 years at one duty station.

So my unit is taking a jet to the Travis airshow and figured this would be a good opportunity to try and help out our morale fund/booster club and sell some swag. Anyone have any advice on what actually sells? Zaps, patches, tshirts, water bottles, etc? Any big differences between civilian airshows and ones on military bases? Thanks.