General Discussion

I've been looking on the net for a frame for my commissioning certificate. I wan't something simple with a mat and an Air Force seal, nothing extravagant, to hang next to my diploma in the home office. I've found lots of things in the 8x10 and 11x14 sizes, but nothing for the odd shape (10x14) of the commissioning certificate. Just wondering what any of you guys did with yours (I'm guessing that a lot of you guys have them in stuffed in a drawer somewhere) and if you know anybody that makes a frame specifically for the commissioning certificate. I seem to remember getting a pamphlet when I graduated OTS that had similar products, but I can't remember the name of the c…

Gents, Time to figure out my next assignment, seeking insights. First tour was as slick nav, 2nd has been in flight test. Will be moving right at my 10 year mark, 9 months or so after Major's board. Mobility mission I knew is pretty much gone. Could go to Pensacola, AFSOC, or ACC to keep flying, but I know staff is coming sooner or later. Considering option of instructing at ROTC. I think it'd be rewarding (in a different way), fun, stable, and conducive to family time & hobbies. Anyone know what happens to aviators after a tour instructing? If it means never returning to cockpit, that might be a deal breaker.

A Southwest flight bound for Branson landed at a small GA airport tonight. I'm sure the pilots experienced what the TPF C-17 crew went through when they realized they just touched down on a 3730' x 100' runway. At the end of the runway was a nice 30' drop-off onto a highway. Apparently they smashed on the brakes and stopped about 40' from the end. https://www.kspr.com/news/local/southwest-jet-bound-for-branson-lands-at-wrong-airport/-/21051620/23895590/-/n08v03/-/index.html

All of you asked for change, enjoy your 31 flavors of ice cream. https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2018/05/21/no-more-group-commanders-air-force-tests-new-wing-design-that-gives-squadron-commanders-more-leeway/?utm_source=clavis

Doesn’t sound good. https://mobile.twitter.com/71FTW/status/1197568977322549248

Reported by UK news media... https://www.itv.com/news/story/2014-01-07/helicopter-air-crash-cley-north-norfolk/

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

(Probably more of a vent than looking for solid advice from the green screen) So here I sit into my 21st year of service without any ADSCs, a position i was planning to retire from prior to COVID. Now i have been given an unexpected opportunity to attend ASAM for IDE in my third look. So now I’m super torn. On one hand, I know it comes with basically comes with a service commitment to 2025, 1-2 years of staff and 3 PCSs within 3 years. It also would give me a Masters in Operational Mgmt. It’s something I always wanted in life, to make Lt Col and hopefully become a commander. It also provides a ton of long term financial stability for my family. On the other hand th…

There is relentless discussion on this board about getting out of the military, but I don't hear a whole lot from the guys who got out and are making a buck in the civilian world (outside the airlines or guard/reserve). With that being said, I have been looking at the headhunter firms and honestly cannot determine which one, if any, is better than the other. From a completely uneducated perspective, I would think that quality of interviews is a fine balance with quantities of looks you get from companies. Does any one have any experience with Cameron Brooks, Alliance, Bradley Morris that would make you definitively say that one is better than the other?

Houthis target US fighter jet, drone with SAM missiles for first time Artcile just says "SAMS", no mention of MANPAD or something more nefarious....but they engaged an F-16 and a Reaper.

so I get that it's almost impossible to go fromheavy to fighter; but what about heavy to bomber?

So I’ve been debating with a buddy about this theory.... I am weary as to whether the US government will be able to pay the military retirement in the next 30-40 years. My concerns are led by the fact our debt is growing drastically and we continue to pass bills which we can’t pay. Numbers Govt tax revenue / spending 2021-3.86T / 4.83T (not counting the two multiple trillion dollar bills) 2020-3.71T / 6.16T 2019-3.46T / 4.448T 2018-3.33T / 4.09T We keep printing money and spending out of control. At what point do we start cutting spending in some way or form and what takes the hit? He thinks I’m overly paranoid about not having a future income or it being worthless. …

Did anybody hear about the mass piss test they did at Dover to include transit aircrews coming from overseas? Full disclosure this was beer talk at Ramstein with other aircrews so it might have been exaggerated. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

Im in love with the t-6 It seems like one sweet trainer. I was wonderin if any of yall are flying that now; and what yall think about it. Does it compare much to a cessna 152 :D

Going to be commissioning in a few years; I'll have a few years in already as a prior enlisted guy, but what can I expect as a new LT? How am I going to get messed with? What assumptions are people going to make of me? What are somethings I should definitely NOT do (besides make threads like this)?

Just saw this on CNN... Video at the link. More details...

Greetings, Anyone in or around HRT/AFSOC hear a rumor about the 1 SOW OG/CC recently putting a CV-22 into the trees about 200m short of the LZ, then throwing the copilot in his seat, jumping off the bird while the crew continues the mission, and then handing out Q3s to everyone for it all? Plus, we haven't heard anything about it at any safety meetings. Im sure I dont have all the facts but it sounds pretty lowball to me.

Check it out on the Portal. PSDM 13-74 for officers and 13-73 for enlisted (both listed as FOUO or I'd post them). Matrix that defines which AFSC's will be eligible not yet up, but I have a feeling we all know who won't be eligible! Big points: HAVE to retire by 1 Nov 13 Application window 29 July to 19 Aug ADSCs MAY be waived Not first come first serve Retirement reduced by 1% per year prior to 20 Full military retirement benefits

I know there are a lot of topics that discuss VA disability here and there, but didn't se anything specific to it.. unless I completely missed it while searching on my phone at 3am. As flyers, we document nothing. I decided 3 years ago, prior to retirement, to start documenting everything. This eventually led to me being DNIF and never flying again but also helped in getting 100% disability from the VA. My 100% was from nothing big I claimed.. just a bunch of little aches and pains that added up to 97%. When I got my notification letter, I noticed a number of items on there that are "deferred". I called the VA and asked them what that meant, what was needed …

If you weren't a pilot name a officer job in the AF that you wouldn't mind having. I know there is a huge list but sometimes it takes some working with people or knowing what the job is like/having friends to understand the full description of the job.

Final Report is out: https://afcommission.whs.mil/public/docs/AF%20Report.pdf

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

Had a question about cross flowing. I know we can go to other AMC platforms once we are in AMC, but can we cross flow to other platforms outside of AMC? Also, if we flew T-38s in UPT, are we allowed to go to a fighter or would it be easier? Get re-spun up on the -38, go to IFF, then RTU? Just curious if anyone has heard of someone doing this before. Only things that come to mind is either going to the U-2 or B-2. Thanks.

https://thediplomat.com/2014/04/us-philippines-enhanced-defense-cooperation-agreement-bolsters-pivot-to-asia/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/04/28/remarks-president-obama-filipino-and-us-armed-forces-fort-bonifacio The President (or somebody from the US government) signed the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the Philippines yesterday. I glanced through the brief 10 pages of the agreement, and it does not stipulate the number of personnel, aircraft, vessels, or locations, but that certainly will follow in the next few years. FYI for anybody with memories of Clark AB, the former installation now has some 50K residents and is a sizable inte…

I hear a lot of talk about military traffic patterns with fixes and all kinds of stuff. What does a military traffic pattern actually consist of? Is a VFR pattern more like an approach or is it just a general procedure?