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Too bad they couldn't get a better announcer, though. They got some no name local.

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You never know until you try.

He's playing the media like a fiddle. The major DNC, er, media sources are losing their minds of the "classified" stuff he may or may not have let go. Play it out for a little while, hire a new FBI director and drop the bomb on Hillary that she is back under investigation for mishandling classified. The media will be stuck in the corner over what they said prior it will be fun to watch, kind of like the Comey firing.

DOD IG Hotline is how to file direct with DOD. https://www.dodig.mil/Hotline/hotlinecomplaint.html or 1-800-424-9098. Click on the big Online Hotline Complaint Form in the middle. Letter to Congress will generate a congressional, which will likely get referred to the IG. If you file with your local IG, the form is an AF 102 (note: check yes in block 8 to make sure they can maximize help to you). They will take the complaint, do a quick sanity check of the information to ensure it's not frivolous, assist if they can, and transfer to the IG of the organization against which the complaint is filed if they can't help immediately.

Washington Post, swiftly picked by the mob, reports via anonymous sources, that Trump revealed sources/methods when meeting with Russian PM and ambassador. The only Americans in the room besides POTUS were SecState, NSC Director Lt Gen McMasters, and another senior NSC staffer. All three have made on the record statements that it didn't happen. Hmmm, anonymous sources who physically weren't in the meeting room or on the record statements by the senior USG officals. But they are in the Trump administration so it's gotta be the anonymous sources that are correct, right?

Valid point about current BS metrics. It is not a stand-alone solution, but revising DOPMA and up-or-out is certainly a part of any real solution. Sent from my iPad using Baseops Network Forums

How about instead of a flat out time standard (3 years TIG, minimum by DOPMA, waived for BPZ), you have a performance-based one? Pick a key qualification or upgrade (or set thereof) that you have to meet before you're eligible...could be as simple as "Pilot" rating for Captain, "Senior Pilot" for Major, and "Command Pilot" for Lt Col. Could be something else. Similar to how the enlisted have to have a certain skill-level at a certain grade. That way, you balance experience with quality. Probably have to figure out something similar for maintenance and mission support, but the possibility is there.

B/I/APZ is all a stupid holdover of an antiquated system of "paying your dues." Everyone should always be eligible to compete for the next higher grade, regardless of time in rank. That's where the cream is able to rise to the top. The best talent often get frustrated at the prospect of having to wait 20 years to be in a position to make any real changes and move on long before then. Tim Kane wrote a great book about it..."Bleeding Talent." I think the moment one pins on Capt, he/she should be eligible to compete for Maj the next year, and so on. You keep competing until you get out. Everyone is ITZ all the time. ETA : And yes, I'm aware of DOPMA. Doesn't make it any less stupid. Sent from my iPad using Baseops Network Forums

"Fake news" was a term coined by Facebook for what, I think, was their attempt to provide an explanation/excuse as to why Clinton lost "bigly" even though polls showed her with double digit margins over Trump. Personally, I only use it ironically, usually to dismiss views I don't agree with. What sources do I believe? I guess I "believe" most of them, even though most news nowadays is just the same regurgitated crap that is more speculative opinion than actual information... So I definitely don't arrive at the same conclusion as the author does due to his/her obvious bias. For example, when Comey was fired, McCabe said he believed the FBI had all the information they needed to finish the probe into possible collusion between Russia and the Trump Campaign, and that the investigation would be unaffected by the firing since Comey played more of a supervisory role in the investigation. MSM's version: McCabe "vows" not to let Comey firing deter the FBI's investigation of collusion between Russia and the Trump Campaign. Leading the reader to believe that Trump fired Comey, the "lead investigator" (actual quote from the media), to "cover-up" (again, actual words used by media sources) the investigation... And now Trump might wage a war on McCabe and the rest of the FBI if it weren't for the fact that McCabe's righteous beacon of justice can't be dimmed by the communist dictator Trump and his brutal, tyrannical suppression of freedom and truth! Vive la République!

I agree that eventually you will likely need to get your Sq/CC involved at a minimum, if not Congressman and/or IG. It's been a while (thankfully) but I used to have pretty good luck on AD going to finance and pretty much standing on their desks saying over and over, "I am not moving until I talk to an officer in your chain of command. Or all of the officers in your chain of command." A couple of times I ended up talking to Lt's, then eventually on to a Captain (I was a Captain at the time) but more often than not, some E-7 or E-8 would come out of the woodwork and voila! my problem was solved almost immediately. YMMV.

XL 18-02 Track 7 T-38 (1 International) 1 TH-1H 12 T-1

I would add that, if this becomes the norm, this could help ease career pressures, and maybe even make the AF a better place. It attacks one of the fundemental problems where everything is done by year groups. This seems like the first step in making year groups matter less, and would provide a bigger pool of experience to select commanders from, so the AF wins (no longer has to pick from the best of what's left in a year group for command, and hopefully screen out toxic officers from taking command by virtue of just not getting out). But the average officer wins as well: less pressure to check boxes on an artificially short timeline to meet what in the past was essentially a one shot at promotion (where APZ really did seem like correcting for a margin of error), and time to learn a job and make a difference. Maybe there would be less pressure for commanders to cycle people through jobs every six months to make them look good on paper, and allow people to acquire some semblance of depth of knowledge and experience. And once there are people with actual knowledge and experience in jobs, maybe they can start to fix a broken system (vs now, when, by the time someone is knowledgeable enough to start to fix problems in their shop, they are moved out elsewhere, so nothing ever really gets fixed, or no meaningful changes are ever enacted). Or they could choose to just fly the line for a few years, but not completely close the door to promotion later down the line. Or just fly the line under continuation. It gives us career options again, and I think that's a good thing. Maybe I'm just trying to be (cautiously) optimistic about the AF, despite all the problems I've seen/experienced. I don't really get mad at the AF anymore, just disappointed that what the AF says it values and what it values doesn't always line up. I think increasing APZ rates is a step in the right direction though. In full disclosure, I was APZ to major. My commanders were shocked when I got passed over, and happy the AF "righted a wrong" about 7 months later. I had decided if I want picked up APZ that I'd decline continuation, primarily because there was no real career path for a continued Capt (also, I remember how AMC treats anyone not on the golden path, especially the passed over guys). That being said, once I came to that conclusion, I had an incredible amount of freedom to say no to stupid stuff (what are you going to do, kick me out? My airline apps are just waiting for an availability date, and I hear there's a hiring wave going on). It's amazing how good life gets when you don't feel like you have to play the game anymore.

What are you, new?

Alright, not trying to be a dick, but you have the wrong attitude. Is the A-10 your #1 choice of airframe? If so, why the hell would you even consider not applying? They're probably going to ask you what you would do if they switch to a heavy/C-130/RPA/F-16/whatever.... Be thinking about what you would actually do for each of those cases and answer accordingly. Imagine saying that during an interview weekend. Hey guys, thanks for inviting me out here, answering all my questions, telling me some great stories, giving me invaluable advice on pilot training and the AF in general, and giving me a preview of your unit and its culture... I had such a great time, and I'm so glad "A-10 units are not as competitive as the other fighter units." Do you think you'd get the job? My guess is that, if you were invited for an interview, you would rather receive a swift kick to the nuts than to utter that phrase. You're on the right track with being upfront about your desire to fly the A-10. I don't know of any cases where love for a platform has killed someone's chance. Stick with that attitude, and kill any and all thoughts that don't align with that attitude.

What stuck out to me wasn't her strategy...getting 360-degree feedback is great (although I'm not sure about the sample that reddit provides). What stuck out to me was that she did feel unprepared both personally, and, by her statement regarding "a week of training and some speechifying...", by the Air Force. Whereas other services (and some communities within the AF) spend 10-15 years preparing and grooming someone for command, that does not seem to be the case with this particular individual. I find the whole thing interesting and revealing.

That is a legitimate concern. I interviewed at an A-10 unit a few years ago that was sequestered and shut down like a month after I interviewed. I was given the opportunity to fly UAV's which I respectfully declined and probably 90% of the pilots bailed for other manned units. Other A-10 units have switched to MC-12's I believe. Both are cool options if that is what you are interested in, but just be aware of the possible outcomes if you do manage to get hired by an A-10 unit. It will still be super competitive regardless. Kiloalpha's advice is on point, by the way.

How much of that profit would be soaked up in new infrastructure and lawsuits?

Every. RTB. ...had to find entertainment where you could.

Both channels, you are one of the lucky ones that has 2 squadron commanders, ANG and AD.

If the problem really is a DFAS (and not a screw-up by local finance), then the IG will likely only be able to make inquiries or refer you to the DFAS IG. Sometimes inquiries work...just the phrase "I'm with the IG" can get stuff moving. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be hopeful: I had an issue once where I was getting paid too much. After almost of dealing with local finance and DFAS, the only way it got resolved was I had a random casual conversation with a guy who happened for the Air Force Audit Agency who had enough clout to make a phone call and get them to take money from me...it was ridiculous.

Not hard at all. Inside tip, when writing your cover letter... always mention Rep. Martha McSally and say that she's someone you look up to. She's HUGE in the A-10 world.

Personally, I think it's a shit bag move. You are totally using them and I would hope they see right thru it. I see it from your side as it getting you to where you want to be. But, I wouldn't hire you since you it doesn't benefit the unit. Now, my view may change if you were to hang around for a year or so. That way it would at least benefit the unit, as well as you. But, we all know you would be gone in the first chance you could. And I would never hire you back into the AGR position after you bailed. ETA: if the unit is offering you the AGR position after knowing you are planning on jumping, then I retract the above statements. That is on the unit and they get what they ask for. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

17-11 4 x B-52 WSO 1 x B-52 EWO 2 x RC-135 Nav 4 x RC-135 EWO 1 x AC-130W CSO Cannon 1 x AC-130J CSO (only the second time this has dropped, other was 17-01) 4 x F-15E WSO 1 x B-1 WSO 2 x LC-130 Nav NY Guard 1 x MC-12 CSO OK Guard 1 x HC-130J CSO AK Guard

Squadron commander. Should solve this with one phone call. If not, he/she needs to make one more to: Then Wing. Ditto. Then State Adjutant General. Along with IG and congresscritters.

IG Complaint then Don't write, Call your congressman...better yet walk into their office with all the data.

At my base, aircrew are now required to operate the high lift trucks instead of AFE. That means I have to get pilots and navs to take a course on how to drive the stupid truck, and then have them take it on as an additional duty. It means when I have a TDY departing or arriving on weekend, someone has to come in just to drive the damn truck. Also, I had to assign a young copilot to watch other chicks piss in cups for a solid week, 0700-1600. I get sitting SOF (kind of). I get sitting Sup. But what in the bloody hell are we doing? Aside from the insanity of having a pilot, who has millions of dollars invested in their training, not fly in order to drive a truck or watch people urinate... this kind of crap just kills morale. My Lt copilots are all jaded. How can you blame them? It's about unmet expectations. They worked and sacrificed more than their peers to become military pilots. Then we have them do things an E-1 should be doing. The Air Force is insane. What they are doing with additional duties is like having a neurosurgeon do less surgeries so he can help the janitors (who get paid the same as the neurosurgeons).

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

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

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.

Comey was a tool and firing him would look bad....until yesterday, when Clapper said over and over under oath there was no collusion between Trump and Russia. That gave Trump the breathing room to fire him, Obama should have fired him. And Ns, love ya man but Russia didn't hack the election, they hacked the DNC and did it help? It certainly didn't hurt, but Hillary was a terrible candidate that nobody trusted. Bernie had a better chance I think, at least he's honest about his views, I like him for that, but his views would take us down the road of Venezuela. Trump wasn't my guy, I liked Rubio or Cruz, but I like most of what he says and is doing, all be it with the Trump flair which I find entertaining. This whole thing is just to delegitimize Trump so it is partisan, but we don't have to hate each other. The BIG story everyone is missing is who ordered the unmasking, that would be bigger than WaterGate.

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.

False comparison - an A-10 may be / is currently tasked with missions that Scorpion if it is acquired will do but there are no plans to use Scorpion for the BAI in a contested environment that an A-10 is by doctrine / strategy tasked to Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

EFB = Electronic Flight Bag? When we went East we were issued tablets from our Intel shop every morning prior to the brief, and they had 1) All of our aircraft pubs, 2) all the pertinent nav stuff, and 3) Killswitch. 1) When you're 1,000 miles from home and your duty office on the radio, and have an issue, it's nice to be able to really delve into the issue. 2) In a tight cockpit that's full of water, food, and other miscellaneous gear that you hope to not have to use, it's awesome saving space. 3) Game changer. The ability to record 9-lines, plot, conduct talk-ons, and correlate on a device the size of a kneeboard vice having pages and pages of maps and notes... I cannot speak highly enough about how much of a force multiplier in the cockpit possessing a tablet is. And then we get back home and they're taken away. Standard.

AFGSC is full up EFB for their T-38s. We recently started using iPads at Beale but they're not labeled as EFBs, we still have to carry paper. ACC is working on a command wide EFB program, it falls into the "I'll believe it when I see it category" but at least they're finally on the right track. iPad and Stratus puck is now part of my personal MEL.

Big blue disagrees.

A word of caution to the uninitiated: F-15 shaped openers will only work on bottles of Zima and wine coolers.

85% promotion rate this year 65% in the zone. The remainder comes from below and above the zone and equates numerically to roughly 20% of the in the zone eligibles.