General Discussion

Glasses, shirts, stickers, mandatory fun, matching panties, etc... How much cash is UPT going to require? Just a curiousity. Every school I've been to thus far has hit me up for something or the other.

I'm enlisted in the Navy right now but applying for the next OTS board in May. I know that it's a long standing tradition in the Navy that when an Ensign (O-1) gets their butter bars, they give a silver dollar to the first enlisted member to render a salute. I've read that they have to "buy" their first salute and every one after is supposed to be earned. Anyway, I'm just wondering for those of you that have gone the OTS route, is this something the Air Force does? If you've seen the movie "Officer and A Gentleman", you'll know what I'm talking about. Thanks in advance. CSpearsFly

How much leeway does the student have in deciding where to go on a cross country at pilot training? Does the IP assign a destination or can the student have input? I know it probably depends on the IP and what phase or track you're in, but I'm wondering if the student can plan a XC to somewhere they want to go (within reason).

I found an interesting article that shows the poor funding US has ran into for the fundings of the F-35 and F-22. It touches on how the F-16 and F-15's are in some situations not usable for battle and more than the "ok" amount would be lost. I find it interesting how it talks about we will fall below the estimated "safe" amount of fighter jets to have on hand around 2013. It also touches on how are goal of over 200 F-22's a year was cut short by the Bush administration because of the wars in the middle east. Idk... just check it out. Post your opinion. I'm interested on some outside opinions rather then of those in the article. https://www.airforce-magazine.com…

How cool is it that the very first jet there was also the same jet to fly the fini-flight? For once the AF gets it right!

I'm interested in knowing how many of you out there run a side business while being a Mil member whether it as small as rental property to something much more extensive like a franchise. My plan is to buy houses and rent them out while on active duty and with the wife's help maybe something more. So those of you who are on active duty, Guard or Reserves please chime in and share your experience with us.

Finally, justice has prevailed... Now, can we get Fogelman back? Cheers! M2

Herk bros, We just started the MPD/MAD FTU here. It is a major shift from the previous methods. Any feedback so far??? H2NAV [ 15. March 2006, 23:01: Message edited by: H2Nav ]

Just a curiosity item - I know it's been discussed before, but we were told a few weeks ago that the CAF has basically had its fighter pipeline shutdown. Story is that the 16 schoolhouse has a minimum 12-13 month wait for the forseeable future. Does anyone else have the latest word on A-10s, 15Cs, etc? I know a few 10s dropped across the bases last time around and I've been told that there are about 30 dudes chilling at Tyndall as we speak still waiting to start Eagle RTU. A few of us were just wondering if we should just expect more of the same out of 38s in the next few months as we've been seeing.

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Do you have to be married to your significant other in order for them to recognized by the Air Force, and also so that they can live with you on base if you so decide? I did a search, but couldn't find much on this. Thanks!

The GAO report (https://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08388.pdf) on the F-35 program that came out this month is hitting more headlines as people start doing some simple math. $300 billion (The GAO total cost figure that they think is more realistic) divided by the expected total buy of 2,458 aircraft comes out to around $122 million per copy. A Defense Acquisition Board meets today to give it the go ahead for low rate initial production 2. Should we be surprised if they give a pause until the program office recalculates its projected cost with more up to date and realistic numbers like the GAO report recommends? And would the following affect their decision? - Cost p…

Does anyone know the method behind the number designations of air forces, wings, groups, etc? There have been wing, such as the 3800th Air Base Wing, that have very large number designations. Where the heck do they come from?

Word just now flowing on CNN. No details on which base (Eglin or Tyndall).

Leadville, Colorado has the highest field elevation in the United States and the third highest in the world. It sits at 9927' MSL. I am thinking of taking an OST (off station trainer) there in mid march. I am curious if anyone here has been to the airfeild. I tried a search but turned up nothing. The webiste for the airport has some interesting info, but I'm looking for firsthand military experience. Thanks!

About 4 years ago at Ramstein I was in the O club eating lunch. The waiter asked me and my bud if we wanted a beer. Naturally I said I wanted one but since it was the middle of the duty day and I was in a public-ish restaurant, I'd pass. As only a dedicated German would, he actually tracked down some reg that stated I was allowed to consume 2-8 ounce beers per day during duty hours. I was obviously very pleased and shocked, and then enjoyed a couple of Bitburgers. The best part was when a penis major rolled up on us and asked if we thought it was profesional to be drinking during the work day. We asked the waiter to cite the reg, which he happily did, and the major …

It is with great sadness to tell you that we have lost a Special Tactics Warrior deployed from 21 STS yesterday in Afghanistan. TSgt William Jefferson (WJ) was killed when the vehicle in which he was riding was struck by an IED. TSgt Jefferson is survived by his wife Kristy and daughter, Tyler. I ask you to join all of us here at Hurlburt and our deployed locations as we come together to provide support and love for the families, friends and teammates of our fallen warrior. Will was a great CCT and true Patriot. Blue Skies.....

All-female -135 crew Sounds like 4 empty kitchens to me! Kidding, of course. Seriously though, Saudi controllers treat everyone that way...not just because you are a female.

https://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Nov28/0,4...ceCrash,00.html Air Force Jets Collide, but Crews Safe SHUQUALAK, Miss. — Two Air Force jets collided Wednesday during training flights over eastern Mississippi and crashed, but all four crew members ejected safely, an Air Force spokesman said. The T-6 Texan 2 primary trainers collided around midday and crashed near a Columbus Air Force Base auxiliary airfield in Shuqualak, a wooded area about 10 miles from the Alabama line, said 2nd Lt. Craig Rasley, a base spokesman. Air Force investigators are probing the cause of the crash, Rasley said.

I was doing contractor ground testing on an Army RC-12Q over at Eglin J-PRIMES on Thursday and what a base! First time for me there, but it was awesome. Near the ocean, everything is very clean, grass nicely cut, and the staff was great. F-15s and F-16s flying over my head the whole day - it never got old. Saw one A-10 as well. Met a couple Army pilots while there - real nice crew. I had a chance to ask them about my color deficiency and they all said to pursue it more. Go see a private doctor and then push for a re-test and ignore what the recruiter said... I guess I kind of have my hopes up again, so I'll be looking into it some more. ~F Johnny.

https://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123090557 Way to go, big blue.... More change, just for the sake of change. I wonder how much the total cost will be to ditch all of the existing "CENTAF" patches and produce the new "AFCENT" patch. At least all the shoe clerks will have another uniform discrepancy to gripe about as you come into the chow hall with the "old" patch.

Interesting link: https://www.otbeach.com/news/airlines-and-a...world--418.html

While I certainly agree that OPSEC is tremendously important, the MilitaryTimes article cited as reference seems to indicate that LtCol Shower did nothing wrong. Further, take a look at the (very long) reply to the original article here: Defense for Dozer You have to scroll down past the original article. To add one further....we received a 2nd briefing today at work that seems to back up some of the comments in the article. Namely, that the briefing wasn't a multi-agency investigation, as the shield emblems on the front of the brief suggest, and that OSI might have violated a number of their own rules in releasing a brief that publicly identified an active …

Saw this for sale on eBay............... https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1973-T-43-7...tem170201044910

Any of my fellow FAIPs here can assure you: Becoming a FAIP means a few extra kicks to the gonads. It's a fact of life. "Ah...2Lt Xxxxxx...you're going to need another 'fuge ride before you can become a T-3X IP...since you're not a MWS guy..." "Ah...2Lt Xxxxxx...we don't have any SERE slots available right now...so you'll have to wait until one opens up..." "Ah...1Lt Xxxxxx...still no SERE slots available in the near future...so maybe you'll just have to go at the completion of your FAIP tour." "Ah...Capt Xxxxxx...we finally have a SERE slot for you! Aren't you happy now?" "Ah...Capt Xxxxxx...are you ready for your THIRD 'fuge ride? This one will be fun…