General Discussion

Just curious where/when all the things like saying cranium, container, so to speak, etc started? What about the whole "dead bug" thing?

Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations (AMO), is actively hiring military and civilian pilots for their Air Interdiction Agent Positions. AMO is CBP's law enforcement wing and is located along the borders, Puerto Rico, and certain urban locations.https://www.cbp.gov/careers/frontline-careers/aia I have assisted with Air Interdiction Agent recruiting and attended multiple recruiting events. Inevitably, the same questions are asked time and time again. The purpose of this thread is to provide the answers to these frequently asked questions. The position is very military friendly and offers benefits many civilian employers do not. The biggest is the ab…

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Just saw this article up on CNN.com Here's a good one... If/when pilots are walking down the aisles of airliners NOT flying and instead serving beverages and peanuts, just go ahead and kill me because that is a world I do not want to live in. https://www.cnn.com/2012/03/24/travel/autopilot-airlines/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

I'm getting ready to fill out my dream sheet here in a few weeks for the T-1 drop in early July. I know it differs from base to base, but I was wondering if anybody knew a rough estimate of the current ops tempos on the heavy side. If you could throw in specific examples (ie specific base deployment rates) that would help out a bunch. Just want to make an informed decision of what jet I put down and I have a feeling that those out there actually doing the mission could give me more accurate info than the brief we're going to receive from those who have been around the training squadron for a while. Thanks.

Anybody hear about this? Saw some email on it and it's a plane/mission/deployment I'd never heard of. Not shopping for deployments...but it's always nice to see what's out there. Sorta seems like a manned UAV but anything beats the 'Died. Unless it operates out of the 'Died of course. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battlefield_Airborne_Communications_Node Edit: I searched but couldn't find anything

https://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33678801/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/ What's going on down there?

Fox news just reported a T-38 crash at Sheppard, AFB. No details out yet, just that they saw at least one pilot eject. Hope everyone is alright.

I know it's ever-changing, but what exactly is the JSF expected to replace? (equipment, model, block, etc.) Is it expected to trickle down to the Reserve/Guard?

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…

Today is the anniversary of when Scott O Grady was shot down. It was a featured article on wikipedia today. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_O%27Grady I figured I would share. What an amazing story.

Apparently some Danish F-16s recorded this damage to the Nordstream pipeline after three underwater explosions were detected: https://www.forsvaret.dk/da/nyheder/2022/gaslakage-i-ostersoen/?fbclid=IwAR3c3zuQW7yg8FfkE4sq4HMsOT1DW-CZec4zGmOTA4ba0LCa9YAlYVKQOuE

MPF at my duty location won't pick up any of their phones. MPF here at my TDY location basically said I'm not their problem. So I'm just looking for general guidance/advice as I rethink my life plans. I got the call from my CC yesterday saying I won't be making Major. I didn't get a DUI or harass anyone or get any other type of paperwork. Just didn't make the cut. it happens. Any input on the following questions would be greatly appreciated: 1. Is there any point in requesting a records review? 2. If passed over twice, will I still have to fulfill my ADSC or will my Date of Separation be set to 6 months after the second board passes on me? 3. Will I b…

Check out this article from Air Force times. Apparently this particular FAIP thinks hand flying ability no longer matters since the T-1 students are going on to fly autopilot aircraft anyway. I am 69% certain we have a Wing Exec here....I feel bad for her poor students. https://www.airforcetimes.com/article/20130513/NEWS/305130012/Vance-AFB-pilot-instructors-take-pride-job A few of my favorite excerpts are below: During transition, the first phase of T-1 training, instructors look for “good hands,” or pure flying ability. “After that we don’t,” she said. “We know the people we’re sending on, they’re going to go to aircraft where they’re going to fly wi…

Anyone know where / when the CAF assignments are going to be published for the fall VML? The porch used to post their state of the community .pdf file on the COP along with the expected assignments for that VML. With the COP going away, it just says to look for it on AFPC - yea, good luck. Historically it would have been out by now. Anyone have some info? Edit: I can never post again - this makes 69.

Hi! So, Mildenhall might be our new home coming up this summer. Some questions to anyone who has ever been stationed there: What is base housing like? Do you get to "pick" which housing you're in? (meaning: I've heard that there are a total of three bases with housing available). Dave has seen Lakenheath housing (and liked it). His friend was stationed at Mildenhall. Thoughts/opinions? Obviously, I completely understand if Lakenheath peeps have first dibs on their housing over Mildenhall peeps. I JUST read that importing pets changed their rules (as of Jan 4th 2012!). Has anyone traveled with their pets overseas? I know the general gist of taking care of t…

Here's your chance to post your favorite airshow conversations. Mine is: Japanese guy: Can I take a picture of you and my girlfriend together? Beaver: Why yes, you can.

Saw this on FB...have heard the pictures are legit but no other info... whatever the cause, it's going to be pricey!

I would like to know the difference between Air Force rated officers vs. their non-rated counterparts. I've heard being rated gives you opportunities for command and such, as opposed to being non-rated. Does being rated unlocks things non-rated officers don't have access to? What are the benefits of being rated? Please be thorough with your responses.

I recently finished IFS in Pueblo and have been seriously contemplating not going to UPT. I am due to start at Laughlin in July but dont know if I should go. I had a good time flying but I just dont think military flying is for me. However, I do want to be in the Air Force, just not as a pilot. I have not talked about this with my commander but I just wanted to see if anyone out there would have any insights on if I would simply be forceshaped or be able to work in another AFSC. Any advice/help would be great. Cheers.

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/

Have not seen the story yet, but hearing AF Times is outing a guy named Anthony LaTorre who has falsely been claiming to be a USAF Combat Controller. Pictured below at a recognition ceremony in Florida.

Recently started collecting UPT class patches from students we support here at Vance. Would love to see how creative they get. Here is 24-05. Feel free to post an image of your class patch.

I’m currently deployed and a buddy of mine recently called crew rest/safety of flight during his alert sequence. Apparently he was unable to sleep and had already been up for approx 16 or so hours. We fly combat basic and the mission was routine, meaning there was nothing vital to move such as AE, HR, etc. However, it seems that when he called safety of flight, TACC grilled him and the amount info requested seemed to be slightly over the top. Apparently, it goes all the way to the top and a general has to be briefed. When I attended GRACC I remember TACC telling us that if safety of flight was ever an issue, call it and they would have our back. Yet when a crew m…

Is the AF getting the Harvest Hawk package like the USMC for their C-130s? It would be an added plus for the airlift fleet and bring more fight to the enemy. Tac Air isn't needed as much when the largest enemy vehicle is a Toyota 4x4 in Afgan. Let the C-130s drop the Candy and see who picks it up. If it's the bad guys, fire them up. Perhaps the CoS being an old AC-130 guy will find the funding. How much would one F-35 cost anyway? Bet you can get 5 Harvest Hawk packages for the price of one F-35. Are there any AF C-130 crews that would like to pickup that additional mission? Better than flying a RPV in getting kills.