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Done. Be prepared for an epic thread revival on 01 Jan 2033 when I collect.

I think the largest threat here is the general attitude of our up and coming service members. The majority of my students now have already started planning on their exit from the Air Force, to include FAIPs looking to bail at the earliest opportunity. I try (in vain) to explain to them while its great to keep their options open it won't help them much getting so Jaded with so much ADSC remaining to serve. It was not a whole lot better at UPT with students already choosing assignments based on how attractive it would make them for Airline jobs later in life, while not a bad thing to think about it was a much higher focus than I've ever seen. General cynicism will reign supreme and even good leaders/commanders are going to face a unenviable position. HAF/A3 seems to think our goal in life should be to want to be a flying squadron commander, and while maybe at one time I thought that would be cool, the way it is now it sounds about as inviting as a dick punch.

There are only those who don't understand socialism, and those who profit from it. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

That would be awesome. No crappy layovers. No droning on autopilot while listening to a Captain's sob story about his 3rd divorce. No dealing with the entitled cattle in the back. Just show up, fly a few takeoffs and landings, and go home to your super model wife and Cadillac-a-month paycheck. Where do I sign up?

I totally disagree, I don't think RPA airline ops are anywhere feasible within the next 30 years. We still have humans with flashlights backing airliners out of parking, driving baggage carts and pushing drink carts down the aisle.

I'd still go back and fly the U-2, in peacetime. Unfortunately, if things escalated (wartime) to the point where they needed me back even more, I have zero faith that the fucking AFPC bureaucracy could make it happen... even if the squadron was BEGGING for pilots. Honestly, AFPC simply couldn't get through the mountains of paperwork and levels of coordination. You'd be back in your Viper and I'd be back in the Deuce after it was all said and done. I think Maj Gen Poore is still the AFPC/CC. If so, she and the Executive Director need to be thrown out personally by Gen Goldfein. AFPC has failed, and how they do business needs to be re-thought. edit: I looked and the E.D. is fairly new, so I'd give her another 9 months to prove her worth before I shitcanned her.

Can't wait for their plan to increase UPT output...

How to leave Afghanistan? As quickly as possible.

Updated today on mypers...public release for CY17A O-5 LAF board is 23 May.

It will be ugly but not in the ways we assume, some people are staying and they will most certainly be overworked. This will be yet another opportunity for non-pilots to rise to positions of influence (Space/Cyber/Intel), and we will see a further erosion of morale and our core competencies of employing airpower as they seek to further agendas and secure tribal position and power. I fear this will ultimately result in a non-warrior leading the USAF or a GCC. Plans are in motion to dramatically increase the UPT pipeline so we will likely see an Air Force with a glut of younger far less experienced aviators and in IMHO that will manifest itself in a much higher accident rate. Also, look for increased incidents of battlefield "mistakes" and fratricide. If there is a major conflict in the middle of this...scholars will write books for a 100 years on the death of a once great power.

For what it's worth, I hope this helps someone, and maybe someone more experienced can shed some knowledge on me. I was recently hired by the Guard to fly A-10s, and I definitely couldn't be happier, but my background is as an Army Infantry Officer. I found it really difficult to work the transfer process while on AD, and since I was already an AD officer, the AF wouldn't take me in the pilot program. I was able to talk to a bunch of units, but taking leave to go visit was nearly impossible because I was stationed OCONUS. I eventually had to get out of the Army entirely after my obligation was up, and go through the process from there as a civilian. First, I got my PPL, which I would encourage, because the Aviation Information portion of the AFOQT seemed to be pulled almost exactly from the PPL Written exam. Then I studied my ass off for the AFOQT, focusing on the MK, IC, TR, and AI portions of the test, since they directly influence the pilot score, and then went to a part 141 flight school on the GI Bill for my instrument rating, and those extra hours brought my PCSM up high enough that I had a competitive AFOQT and PCSM score. From there, it was revising my resume, visiting the squadron, and eventually interviewing. (it might not be the best advice, but I only applied with one squadron, because they were the only squadron that really felt like a good bunch of dudes that I could fit in with) I was hired about a month ago, and now I'm going through the effort of the paperwork to send me back to MEPS and getting reinstated. The forms are all simple enough, and the only thing I'm waiting for now is my conditional release (DD368) from the IRR. My recruiter has told me that since I'm already an officer with a security clearance, I won't need to go to AMS, and since I have enough hours, I shouldn't have to go to IFS, so the pipeline should be getting sworn in, getting the flight physical, and then reporting to UPT. (God willing) It's basically just doing exactly what civilians do, but with a conditional release from the IRR. It's not the fanciest way to get out of the Army and into the Air Force, but it was the simplest for my dumb grunt mind. For those of you who were Army guys before turning Blue, were there any things that stood out as drastically different from the Army? I think going from Army Aviation to Air Force Aviation wouldn't be too much of a change of pace, but I'm just trying not to get caught off guard going from Army Infantry to Air Force Aviation. The squadron seems to be a bunch of really cool dudes, so I'm not worried about the people- just the general climate change from one organization to another. Thanks in advance, and good luck to my Army bros trying to fly in the AF!

Yup. Most interesting meeting I've ever been in that didn't involve discussion about blowing shit up. Refreshing to see a 3 button getting basically yelled at by a room full of crusty O-3s and O-4s. Some big takeaways: 1. He came into the meeting incredibly insulated from what is going on. His disconnect from reality was no fault of his own, but very clear. For example, he couldn't wrap his head around guys not wanting to be "developed" by way of ACSC and other PME. Also was unaware of some of the buffoonery going on such as Vance being dry, the elimination of additional duties memo being largely ignored, and the perception that the AF is at best incompetent in the way it handles people, and at worst malicious. It was obvious that the O-4s he is surrounded are the pickle shining types would would rather die than tell the boss bad news. We didn't have that problem, and he wasn't sure how to react. 2. "There is a plan in the work, trust us". Supposedly there is a 28 point plan of some kind floating around to address the retention issue. See point 1 for his reaction to our skepticism of it. 3. He doesn't even know that he is fed a steady diet of bullshit. He told a story of a great base visit he went on, and was dismissive when told to take everything he sees on a base visit with the biggest grain of salt he can fit on the jet he rode in on. He didn't realize that whenever guys like him show up, guys like the ones in that room get stuffed in a closet. 4. Stop loss is off the table. CSAF realizes that even IF they could get a stop loss approved (unlikely) it will permanently break any chance they have at retention. They'd get a temporary bump from locking guys down, but they know that as soon as that lockdown inevitably ends, EVERYONE leaves, not just the people who were on the fence before. So maybe we opened his eyes, but even if we did, points 1 and 3 above kinda indicate that at best he will be one more voice yelling at the brick wall. The AF is chronically averse to making the kind of changes necessary to retain pilots, and will continue to hemorrhage talent.

There is a reason why the AF calls them RPAs instead of UAVs. We couldn't even figure out how to have a pilot control multiple Predators, I don't think having a single pilot control multiple airliners will happen anytime soon. However, the profit motive is a powerful force and when it is private enterprise driving the innovation it could be developed at a much faster pace. I just hope it's after I hit 65. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You're doing to get triggered, if you care.

I think right this second you are right. Until the airlines fix the pilot shortage with drone and remotely operated options to their problem. Then we will have a pilot job crisis just like 9/11. It's coming. And if you don't think so just check out how much research is being done and funded by who. Necessity is the mother of invention. Both airlines and the Air Force need right now. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

I was notified the day before public release for both my Major's boards. Continuation was offered the day before public release as well.

Used to be day prior to public release by reg or something. Some commanders tell you early some don't.

Fortunately, I think we actually have this part covered. If a meaningful shooting match broke out, so many of the experienced bros would drop Mil Leave and be chomping at the bit to kill sh!theads for the USA. I know I would. I'm not talking about another "Operation Deny Christmas" that our inept politicians seem to seek out, but if a real shooting match happened, commercial travel would take a crap and the bros would get shit done. For this reason, I think the steady-state "peacetime" ops of the AF are actually the more complicated challenge.

AHAHAHAHA....We can't even get them to fire terrible Group Commanders and up.

Don't think they have an endgame in mind, that is a plan to fundamentally change the AF. My two cents, I think they believe this is just a normal rough patch for the AF to play thru. No, you're not naive to be optimistic but be realistic, this CSAF and the MAJCOM/CCs are not revolutionaries nor particularly reform minded from what I have observed. At best they are tinkering at the edges, it will take a boss willing to fire his/her friends to get movement at the top to enable reform. You can want to fix an organization but unless you are willing to remove those in leadership that will filter, dilute and stymie you efforts, you probably won't change anything. Do good work, argue for common sense, take advantage of opportunities, roll with the times and never drink the kool-aid - from the perspective of one individual.

Dude, PM sent. I got you 187% man. If you can pull this off all the power to you. My only real advice to you and all the other Army guys who might be reading this is: play it smarter not harder for reals this time (it's not just a passing phrase in the AF, it's something you will be judged and graded by). To answer your question: No. Literally just be your Army self and be respectful and humble. All the skills and traits you learned in the Army will suit you well in the AF because although they might not like to admit it, they are a product of the Army, and still hold true to the same values. Rock on man.

What do you think the endgame is here? It seems like things are on a steep downward trajectory and I think a certain number of candidates who do their homework here and elsewhere will decide not to subject themselves to it which will only accelerate the issue. I'd like to remain optimistic (naive?) that things could work themselves out in a few years. On a related note, it would be nice if the AF would pay out my travel voucher from 14 months ago!

Good luck everyone...

O/A-X is light attack/LAAR. A-X is A-10 replacement.

So what's the bet exactly? Because I'll bet a 20YO bottle of scotch the US is NOT fighting in AFG 15 years from now. "Still in" lacks depth of meaning, we have embassies all over the world, on purpose, so we might very well still be in AFG from that perspective. But we aren't fighting there anymore, and if we are I will mail you a bottle of Scotland's finest.

I was in pilot training in 2000, it was exactly the same. Then some goat fuckers flew airplanes into buildings.

Maybe thats the plan.

It's so weird...I remember what the Air Force was like and how people operated in the squadron say 10-12 years ago. Why is it that General officers can't seem to remember??? How do they lose touch that fast? It's not like they've been out of the AF for 50 years and suddenly come back in. Agreed that there is little hope for fixing this, absent a wholesale firing or an actual dramatic shift in policy/actions at the SecAF or CSAF levels. Having said that, give them their 28 chances. But I'd be damned sure not to let other chances/opportunities pass by while waiting for Big Blue to unfuck this. It'll take half a career. In that time a person could be half way up a seniority list somewhere...

We had a vosip phone trouble ticket submitted on Nov 4, 2016. I called one night to check in it in March and was told the trouble ticket was closed because the airman that submitted it PCSd. After I recovered from my aneurysm I had to walk in to the J6 (AF SES) deputies office the next duty day and plead for help. It got fixed but it should not take begging.

When he jumped out in front of cameras last summer and provided the list of criminal acts regarding emails by Clinton and then stated no reasonable Prosecutor would file charges based on intent which doesn't even exist in the statute, he should have been fired within 6.9 minutes. The flail that has been generated by his office is doing nothing but stirring up hate and discontent on both sides of the political spectrum. Laws should provide clarity, not confusion and he has certainly fanned the flames of the latter.

To be honest, most wing execs I know went kicking and screaming. I felt bad for them. Best advice I ever got : be good enough at your job that you get the mission done and bring your boys home safe, don't be too good that you start getting considered for HPO...I didn't know what HPO was at the time but I'm fairly convinced it's not a choice to many..

Already covered here:

100% agree.

What wrong with the Air Force? We don't focus on readiness and warfighting anymore, mainly because we are not trained or educated enough for them. Air power projection is our core mission, and we've lost sight of that. Army and Marines will project ground power, Navy projects naval power, at the end of the day we have to present air power to the combatant commanders or we are all out of a job (not denigrating cyber, space, JTAC, TACP). Let's train/educate all airmen by sending all qualified Os and Es after commissioning and BMT through some kind of basic military flight training for 3-6 months (Nav, LM, FE). Non-flight physical folks get sent to ground ops training (airfield mgmt, amxs, intel, and etc...). Yes they won't be CMR, but they will have the fundamentals and understanding of what it takes to launch a sortie. With the rated and amxs shortage, they can *potentially* fill-in when the balloons goes up, more importantly this will educate why the Air Force exists and why not all AFSCs are created equal. Instead of focusing on bake sales and party planning, let's focus on readiness and the air power projection business. Soldiers and Marines all go through infantry training regardless of MOS, the sailors get trained on sea duty operations (firefighting, navigating and etc...). All airmen should have a basic understanding of how to support air operations regardless of AFSCs. The acquisitions community comes close by sending some of their officers through non-rated ops exchange programs. The 63As return back after one ops tour with a better understanding and appreciation of operational air force, as well as street cred when making decisions of a MWS acquisitions program. Yes sex assaults are bad, lookout for each other so we don't kill ourselves (on purpose or by accident), sleep with whichever sex you want behind closed (SCIF?) doors, build a home for the poor after work if you want to, those topics are not the reasons why the taxpayers are paying for our salary. We need to get back to combat readiness and the warfighting business.

I loved this thread and it's time for the newbies to read it and have fun. It is also time for the cutting room floor stuff to come to light!

Nope, we had an AGR (on the bonus) apply to something out of state, TAG told him good luck and released him, no repercussions. He didn't get the job in the end and just remained an AGR here.

(sorry this is long but it's important. My qualifications - I am a board certified general surgeon). It would be inappropriate for me to give you my opinion re: whether or not you should do this (don't know you, your health, career goals, etc) Of course deaddebate is - no surprise - right on with the regulatory references. But I will give you some important suggestions if you choose to do it - In short, if you are going to do it; be smart about it. Of utmost importance, be sure you are being cared for by a properly qualified surgeon. Although many patients have liposuction safely every year, it is a significant operation with lots of potential complications. Of course there is no minor surgery if you are the one having the surgery, but liposuction (particularly of a big area like the abdomen to get your waist circumference down) is not a minor "nip & tuck". Unfortunately in some states there are (a few) physicians with "less than optimal" training who've hung out a shingle and do liposuction in their own office, without the appropriate procedural safeguards & medical emergency response plans/procedures. From time to time over the years, there have been a few cases with disastrous results. Some states are clamping down on this, but others are not - and since this is usually an outpatient procedure, the safety rules that apply to hospital inpatient care don't necessarily apply to a physician doing this work in his/her office. Here's how to avoid becoming one of those patients with a disastrous result: Your surgeon should be "board certified' by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and be current and participating in Maintenance of Certification (MOC). You can look up your surgeon & check that here: https://www.abplsurg.org/ModDefault.aspx?section=SurgeonSearch or here: https://www.abms.org. Beware that there are some "boards" that exist for various reasons that do not meet the appropriate quality standards, particularly in plastic surgery - again, the official board that meets the high standards of quality and safety you want for this is the American Board of Plastic Surgery (and no other). Ideally, your surgeon should also be a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). You can check that at https://www.facs.org. Every year there are also a few recently trained plastic surgeons who are in the process of being certified. In this case, the https://abplsurg.org web page will probably say "in the examination process". It's OK if this is the situation with your surgeon, as the standards to enter the exam process are very demanding and it takes at least two years of practice to become board certified after completion of a plastic surgery residency. Otherwise, if your surgeon isn't board certified and participating in MOC, you should find out why before you agree to use that surgeon. Best thing to do is just ask the surgeon. I's also a good idea to figure out if your surgeon has admitting privileges at a local hospital. I explain more below that this operation doesn't necessarily have to be done in the hospital, but getting hospital privileges at a local hospital means your surgeon has agreed to have his/her work scrutinized by his/her peers to maintain quality standards. It also means that they'll be no issues with getting someone to admit you to the hospital in the unlikely event that there is a complication & need to come in the hospital for a little while. Also know that despite the name, SmartLipo is not just a little "nip & tuck", it's a significant operation. The risk of a serious, or even a life-threatening complication is pretty low - ***BUT IT IS NOT ZERO*** - your surgeon or a member of his/her team should explain this in detail when they obtain your consent for the surgery. These days almost all of these cases are done in outpatient surgery centers or specially equipped surgeon's offices - I think this is safe as long as they have the necessary emergency equipment to take care of you if there were to be an emergency. You should also ask your surgeon about this; no reputable surgeon will have a problem with you asking about that & discussing with you. In fact, no reputable surgeon will have any problem with answering any of these questions, discussing the surgical plan, alternatives, the surgeon's experience overall and with this operation and or any other question you have about the operation (although sometimes we are pressed for time or we have to look something up & get back with you). In fact, if you end up seeing a surgeon who is just unwilling to discuss these issues with you or answer your questions about the surgery, you should get up and ***RUN*** (not walk) out of that surgeon's office and find another one. Again, no opinion from me whether or not you should do this, but I wanted you to have good info if you decide to. Also, I don't at all mean to scare you away from the operation - it's done safely thousands of times a year by surgeons who are well qualified & make sure that patient safety is the top priority - but I just wanted to be sure that you (and others who might read this under similar circumstances) know what's important to be sure you have a safe experience if you choose to. If you'd like to ask me anything else, you're welcome to reply or PM me and I'll give it a try. If your question is too patient specific, I'll probably give you a general answer & refer you to your doc for specifics. All the best to you if you decide to give it a go.

The FEB system needs an overhaul. There is an obvious lack of clarity in the reg (as noted by the ambiguity in the responses I got) for such an important event. My FEB seemed unorganized, and several parties were not clear on proceedings. The fact that the MAJCOM/CC is thoroughly briefed on what should be privileged information before making an FEB decision is a foul. AFI 11-402 allows the MAJCOM/CC to delegate that responsibility no lower than MAJCOM/A3, but doesn't require it. There needs to be someone appointed in the chain to refrain from hearing any privileged SIB info or testimony to make the call.

Heh. Good one.

Good post, and good points. I guess I just keep thinking of a legal analogy. If a jury finds you not guilty of manslaughter, the case does not automatically go to a single judge for review, who then sentences you to 20 years in prison for manslaughter. I realize this is admin versus a legal case, but the whole thing still scares me. Good advice on asking for a lawyer. So my next question - are you normally read your rights at the beginning of a safety investigation, or were you just talking about other legal stuff in general? As far as a SIB - do they just start asking questions, or do they specifically say this part is under immunity while this part is not?

If AMC is having so many problems with crews doing stupid things, the command should take a look at itself. I think there are some deep seeded problems there. There are issues with initial qualification and upgrade training. People are being upgraded to AC and IP before they are ready and for the wrong reasons. There is a lot of emphasis on non-flying related things as we all know. When I was in the command, it was not unheard of for a crewmember to open up his PME books (yes, we had books once) while in an orbit in the AOR. Leadership went through the roof when they heard about it, but couldn't seem to make the connection that their subordinates were reacting to the priorities that leadership had clearly set. AMC is reaping what it has sown WRT to emphasis on what we call queep. It continues to react with leadership by FCIF. Emphasis on REACT. The command has got to become more proactive. Instead of focusing on punishing people for their poor decision making skills, it needs to understand that it has lost focus on providing people with the tools needed to make GOOD decisions.

As I understand it he now spends his free time in theatre balconies heckling comedic bears.

I had the extreme misfortune of being under his command when he was wing CC at Columbus, when he was at Osan, when he was the 12AF CC and dealt with him when he reached the pinnacle of his insanity when he was at Ramstein. I'll save the stories of his stupidity, but suffice it to say that if I ever say his name outloud, I spit on the ground. If I had known he was at MSU, when I drove by there a year ago I would have gone into his office and punched him in the throat.

Fixed.. my apologies I was in the middle of a turn.