General Discussion

Sent on behalf of SAF/FM ALCON, After more than 46 years of service, Maj Gen Alfred Flowers is retiring on Wednesday, 16 November 2011 as the Air Force’s longest serving active duty member and the longest serving General in U.S. military history. For those unable to attend in person, the ceremony will be broadcast live via Defense Connect Online (DCO) webcast. Please join us for this historic event! Date: Wednesday, 16 November 2011 Time: 1000 EST Location: https://connect.dco.dod.mil/mgflowers When prompted for your guest name, please enter your name (First, Last, Office Symbol). Thank you!

https://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123279851&channelPageId=s6925EC1356040FB5E044080020E329A9&programId=tA1FBF31D25AE0DF20125FF41AF4B0E56 Cool stuff, 70 guys going for a camp is no joke. Wonder how surprised they were to have those bombs dropped on them, and if the bad weather was part of their plan of attack.

https://www.wtkr.com/news/military/la-fi-bunker-buster-bomb-20111117,0,7519435.story Pretty cool, but by my math that's over $15M per boom. I hope we're getting more than just 20 for our money.

And the pendulum swings again. https://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123280212

I just received notification that my US Standard Issue (Oakley's military program) account needed to be renewed. As a part of that process, I was instructed that a copy of my military ID card was required... I informed them that photocopying U.S. Government identification cards is a violation of Title 18, U.S. Code Part I, Chapter 33, Section 701 and punishable by fine and imprisonment. And asked for instructions on how to renew my account without this requirement. Then I started wondering if everyone on here--especially some of the younger crowd--was aware of this, so I am posting the info here. From what I have been told, there are exceptions f…

Interesting. Any A-10 drivers out there up for this? "The U.S. military’s veteran A-10 Thunderbolt II is built for battle: a titanium-armored cockpit protects its pilot from explosive projectile hits, and it can carry weapons like a 30-mm nose-mounted cannon to take out enemy tanks. Now the National Science Foundation (NSF) plans to arm a retired Thunderbolt not with bombs, but with scientific instruments, and use it to study the inside of violent thunderstorms—where winds, hail, and lightning would take down lesser planes. The NSF recently awarded a $10.9 million grant to the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., a to refurbish a retired Thunderbolt fo…

Anyone have the 411 on this gig?

https://www.airforcet...g-block-112111/

Fuckers!

Don't know if this is a continuation of the Libya doctrine and should therefore be posted there but here goes (if it needs to be moved, a little help mods?): So this https://dailycaller.c...tensions-flare/ combined with this https://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/11/23/un-and-turkey-increase-pressure-on-syrias-assad/ makes me think this doctrine is taking over.

So, who here knows what precipitated the FCIF from ACC regarding lack of flight dicipline?

Fucking SHAMEFUL! https://news.yahoo.com/remains-274-us-troops-dumped-landfill-report-081234306.html

Just saw it on the local nightly news. No news on any casualties. My prayers go out. -Hawk 4 killed. 2 injured. *Update

I just got a a T-6 PIT flying job - moving this summer. Looking to see if there are any folks there in San Antonio who can give me info on where to live, schools, etc - the normal stuff. Right now, we're looking to rent in the Stone Oak or Canyon Springs area, but looking for opinions. Thanks

Just thought I'd remind everyone that the new BAH rates came out today. Got a nice increase (almost $300) for my duty zip code duty station. Here's the direct link to the calculator. https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/bahCalc.cfm

Gents, I am not a flyer. I am a comm guy (that's "cyber operator" in today's Air Force...). Long story short, I am writing the AFI that addresses how you pay for gas away from your home station (e.g. AF 664s), turning in those docs when you return, and how the WRDCOs get the bills paid. I've spent lots of time talking to WRDCOs since they are the focus. I've also talked to couple of pilots, but no boom operators. I'd like down low on how/what actually happens when you have to refuel away from your home station - both on the ground and in the air. I'd also like to know what happens to the 664s and 791s when the mission is complete. The older Air Refueling …

Folks, I got the text from my work account, but be on the look out for an article running in the AF Times regarding the force management stuff included in the latest NDAA. I will try not to violate the copyright, but some of the highlights I remember -15 year retirements - VSP - Early Retirement Incentive Pay The two bits of commentary in the story stuck in my memory 1. The author mentioned that the NDAA was rolling out force management options not seen since the post Cold-war Era drawdown 2. A congressional aide was quoted (under anonymity) that law makers said that the services were not planning for large drawdowns...but it seemed quite s…

In today's AFA Daily... I didn't know the BUFF was "conceived" in a hotel room! Cheers! M2

Christmas almost came early for China... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16292244

Hey all, Heading to Shindand AB soon for an extended stay. Has anyone been there recently? I'm looking for info on living conditions, facilities available, etc. PM me and we can exchange .mil email addresses to make sure we're not crossing any OPSEC lines on an open forum. Thanks for your help. -Todd

We seem to have extras...any takers? https://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/australia-looks-overseas-for-defence-staff-20111227-1par2.html The Australian Defence Force is trying to recruit laid-off soldiers, sailors and air crew from Britain, the US and other western countries in order to fill recruitment quotas. Australia is reportedly looking for defence specialists, such as fighter pilots, submarine crews and officers and are offering fast-tracked citizenship as an incentive, The Australian reported on Tuesday. According to the newspaper the Royal Australian Navy has sent a delegation to Britain to discover how many retrenched sailors, particularly en…

This is a video the pilots in the scout platoon of the company I was in made in 1988 (B Co. 4-229th AAHR) at Ft. Hood, TX during our unit's start-up and reciept of the AH-64 Apache. It's a parody of the "Apache on the Move" video made by MD to tell the world how awesome the Apache was back then (and it really is, but after a while it got tiring to always hear about the Apache -- I mean the OH-5.8 had been around since the late 60's)! To really understand the parody, you should watch the actual "Apache on the Move" video, if you have time (about 10 mins). Here's the link: As far as the OH-58 Parody (called "Kiowa on the Move"), it's here, and is also about 10 …

37' ain't a whole lot of room. Fox News video

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