General Discussion

Is the Coast Guard still part of the actual military? I met a guy the other day who claimed to be a commander in the CG and got furious when I asked him about them being under the DHS and not DOD. He rambled on about how they are still military and blah blah. So do we actually salute higher ranking coasties? I'm not trying to insult the CG. There are a lot of organizations who are not military that do some tough work (CIA, DEA, FBI, etc). I'm just trying to figure out if they are still considered military and why. They protect the homeland, but they don't take the fight to the bad guys like the four main branches.

Looks like Redux 2.0 to me... From the article: "A cost-saving option might be to offer active-duty troops full retirement benefits only after 30 years’ service with mandatory retirement at 40 years." Right and if the same high year tenure rules apply. A lot less officers and NCOs will be making it to full retirement... Here is how I think this will go... the DOD insitute the change and it will remain in effect for about 8-10 years - then whole "classes"or year groups of officers and NCOs will depart taking their valuable experience wit...h them. As a result, these classes will become so small that once again, the 20 yewar retirement will be reinstated, c…

https://medium.com/war-is-boring/ff4662469f95 Ambiguous strategic effect? I'm going to go out on a limb and say the bombing of Honshu (Japan's main island) and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki had a very large strategic effect...as in ending WWII. A short google search shows that this guy has written numerous papers about the Navy. (https://www.uky.edu/~rmfarl2/Farleycv.htm) Including "The Future of US Naval Power" (is that bias I smell?)

Interesting - Maj. Gen. Steven Kwast said, responsible for the USAF portion of the QDR is giving a more balanced view of the USAF's tech future. In what might be seen as a challenge to the USAF Chief Scientist's report, Gen Kwast argues against placing all of the USAF's "eggs" into the RPA basket. In essence, he sites the the immature nature of the technology and the need to develop achievable operational and technical capabilities. Good points all... Further he denies any rumours of F-35 cancellation, calling it an important part of the overall concept of operations. Note that this is just the USAF point of view, and that once the QDR starts many pre-concieved no…

I have a few questions for anyone that has been issued this jacket for the AOR. 1. Was it a huge improvement over the standard issue one regarding survivality? 2. Was it comfortable to wear in the cockpit (pointy nose types)? 3. Did you get the pants as well? Thanks.

Holy crap...as far as I can tell, this is actually a pretty damn good idea. Base gyms to be open 24/7 Summary: On commander approval, gyms will stay open 24/7, with access via CAC and security cameras in place. Surely, something or somebody will f*** this up.

In the report, called “Global Horizons: United States Air Force Global Science and Technology Vision,” USAF Chief Scientist Maybury said that the Air Force’s manned air fleet is likely to shrink slightly by 2027. This is primarily due to increases in technology coupled with reduced costs for RPA development world-wide. During Allied Force in 1999 I sat in on a meeting at the CAOC then in Vicenza where the subject of equipping 1 RQ-1 Predator with a laser range finder had all the fighter pilots in the room up in arms. Gen Short the JFACC, told the group the laser range finder was only there to collect coordinates and not for target designation. Moreover, he said UA…

https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/us-military-helicopter-crashes-inside-base-on-japan-s-okinawa-1.233850#.Uf9_r2ajVjw.facebook Really hoping they find the last guy ok. Not a good way to start the week.

https://www.wjla.com/...sion-92215.html Glad he got out ok.

Precursor to Stop Loss…any other 11F's get an email today that they're being recalled from their whitejet gig (after a year on station) for an F-16 TX course in Nov??? Evidently there's a surplus of cockpits and lack of volunteers. Who would have guessed? C44

Glad it turned out ok. https://www.jbsa.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123357604

I saw they put out new force management opportunities for FY '14. I'm an ATC officer and have been considering getting out to jump over to the FAA and this seems like an opportunity which may finalize that decision if the terms are correct. I know this is an ops forum but I was hoping that someone might have more SA. If I apply for this program under the Limited Active Duty Service Commitment (LADSC), does that entitle me to separation pay or is the "benefit" merely the reduction of your required service commitment? If there is no separation pay I'd probably just wait out my PCS ADSC which ends late next year anyways. Thanks

I was wondering if anybody has any first hand information on flying for the US Marshall Service (Justice Prisoner & Alien Transportation System) other than the typical Google search? I have an interview with them next month to fly with them out of Oklahoma City and have done extensive research on them but was just hoping that somebody had first hand knowledge b/c of course, the internet doesn't lie. Thanks. https://www.usmarshals.gov/jpats/

Is anybody else able to use the e4l webmail right now? https://web.mail.us.af.mil/owa or https://scottapc.mail.us.af.mil/owa/

George Sr., at 89 along with his protective detail, shave their heads in solidarity with Patrick, a two year old Leukemia patient. Thank you Mr. President, and those that serve around you. Pic of his team: Website set up by the SS folks: https://www.patrickspals.org/ FM

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 signed a 3 year ADSC in order to get back into the cockpit before retirement. I hit 20 years in May of 2015. My ADSC commits me through Dec of 2015. Is it possible that an 11B can get a waiver to retire at 20 (6-7 months short of my ADSC)? If so, what's the process? Thanks. Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk HD

About time too - lots of questions about this mission... https://thehill.com/homenews/house/313039-congress-to-probe-lethal-seal-crash

Gentlemen (and ladies). 13-13 drop just came out not too long ago and we've got 2 days to turn in dream sheets. I've done about as much online research as I can (including this site), as well as spoken to quite a few C-17/KC-10 pilots in my squadron (there are no FREDs in my drop). The general consensus I'm getting is that KC-10s are, overall, the way to go regardless of what base you go to. Right now my top 4 are: 1. KC-10 : Travis 2. KC-10 : McGuire 3. C-17 : Charleston 4. C-17 : McChord Like I said, there are no C-5s and those are the only two C-17 bases available. Thoughts/comments/suggestions on C-17 v KC-10 and how to order the bases (I'm particul…

Split from Track Select thread so as to not have it be buried, with update on the article. Best part of the night was the student who got cancer....pulled from training for 15 months...beat cancer...came back, kicked ass, got a Raptor. Fucking awesome.

Happened today - looks like the wind got it, no further details.

Gents-- Approaching a decision in a few short years and wanted to get the correct answers without derailing other threads. I've looked through the separations AFI, and the best I can make of that nightmare of tables and notes is 12 months max time from telling big blue no on an assignment or TDY. I keep hearing about sanctuary at 18 yrs. how does it work? What is the reference/source document? (since if it becomes an issue I will undoubtedly have to learn how to do a personnelist's job in intimate detail)

https://www.newschann...ews-unconfirmed https://www.timesreco...ner=yahoo_feeds Glad they got out alright.

My unit is only allowing us to do UTAs and FTPs on our furlough days, and then only with prior approval by an 0-6! This is incredibly lame, and just wondering how other states and the reserves are handling this?

Bummer when your cover blows up. Link https://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123356118