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The part that boggles my mind isn't about that they don't care about me or pilots, it's that they don't recognize the benefits of experienced people across AFSCs. Experience saves time, money, broken stuff, lives, increases efficiency, productivity, less people to train, etc. All of that stuff makes peoples jobs easier, and the metrics better (since that's what they care about anyways). A pilot with 10 years experience is invaluable. A NCO who does more than sit behind a desk and is an expert in their field is invaluable. We are missing a lot of technical experts across the board. How many times do we go around base only to encounter the airman who has no clue what they're doing? It's not the fault of that 20 year old. It's the fault of the NCO hiding behind the computer monitor behind them on facebook. It's a failure of the officers who care more about the promotion factory and how they can one day be the foreman. I truly believe that the current culture of the af is primarily about getting people to get that sweet 20 year pension and free healthcare than being an efficient military force. For all the value that the af places on education, and sending people to get advanced degrees, PME and the like, we have of a lot of people who are quite naive.

Shack. We are the most educated force in the history of the world, yet we’re losing wars while experienced people walk out in disgust. Our entire effort at education has failed us: every O5 has a masters yet we do the dumbest shit, repeatedly, and value the inexperienced BTZ over the experienced APZ. We've created a military force where combat experience has no value. Career success can be had without combat success, and combat success doesn’t necessarily equate to career success. WTF are we doing?

Was at a legacy airline flight training center earlier this year. EVERY current and retired pilot there was excited to have us and all exclaimed that they need good pilots; hurry up, get out of the AF and apply. We need you. On the flip side, exactly ZERO squadron, group, wing commander in the last year or two has asked what they could do get experienced pilots to stay. None has stated that they need good pilots. You'd think that someone at a local level would make at least a half assed effort to see what they can do to get guys to stay. It's been very clear that the AF organization does not value people who know what they're doing. At squadron and wing levels, sure. At the end of the day, as long as the billets are filled, the machine continues to function. Good enough, as long as the quarterly awards are turned in on time.

A pilot mentioned to the SQ/CC during a mentoring secession about an upcoming wing staff job that he wasn't sure what his 5 year AF plan was. No kidding 2 days later, that guy had a 6 month non-flying assignment dropped on him, and no wing job following. You had better bet that every pilot in the wing, from the newest Lt to crusty Major know about that one.

Let me play Devil's Advocate for a second, and this is coming from someone who is counting down the days to click submit on airline apps... Most pilots are smart. We know leaders at the Sq/Gp/Wg level have pretty much zero power to affect any kind of change with the mammoth pilot retention problem ahead of them, even on an individual basis. Let's say, hypothetically, your Wg/CC held a pilot retention forum where everyone was allowed to air their grievances and voice their opinion with no retribution. This is how it would probably go... Wg/CC: What can I do to keep you guys in? Maj #1: More money! Wg/CC: Well, now, you know I'd give you more money if I could, but I don't have that kind of power at my level. Talk to your Congressman! :laughs nervously: Maj #2: Less queep, more flying! Wg/CC: I hear you there! But we've already cut X amount of programs. Things like OPRs, decs, etc will never go away. There are things that are mandated by AFIs that we just can't stop doing. On top of that, leaders at the HAF/MAJCOM level keep dropping extra Vol 1 and training requirements that they feel are instrumental to our readiness against a near peer threat. Maj #3: More time with family! Wg/CC: I feel you bro! I haven't banged my wife in months and forgot most of my kids' names. But we're still fighting a war against terror and that won't be going away. And don't forget that just last month we hauled a small percentage of our Army to the border to fight those Mexicans coming from South America. Point being, there will always be a commitment both home and abroad. It would be a constant deflection exercise. They know they're fucked. We know they're fucked. But we all just continue to whistle and stroll past the burning wreckage. Plus, I'm not sure how it is in your community, but in mine, people are holding their cards close to their chest until the last minute then BAM. It's hard for leadership to reach out if they don't know your mind is already made up. TLDR: We're fucked

This. Again, leaders need to step up and make decisions. If the AFI is getting in the way, commanders need to have the balls to say “Ok, ignore a, b, and c for now and let’s get the mission done”. Their next phone call should be to their boss: “Sir regulation X is preventing my people from doing their jobs efficiently. I’ve directed them to ignore certain provisions. Here is my supporting documentation. Don’t like it? Feel free to replace me with a yes man. Delta is still hiring.”

Of course. What TSA employee wouldn't rather go to an airfield, impede productivity, annoy crewmembers, and hate their job for slightly better benefits?

A symptom of the deep-seated trust issues in the AF.

Easy solution: no ceremony.

USAF (# 15/17) is better than TSA (DHS # 17/17)...barely... https://bestplacestowork.org/rankings/overall/large It's science...must be true, and it's a strat!!!...the USAF understands those. This one is bottom third, aka monitor for Command!! https://bestplacestowork.org/rankings/detail/AF00

The VA is rated nine slots higher than the USAF. That should speak volumes.

LOL that remind me of our last TDY to DM. I'm leading the first 4-ship out the gate, and since we're TDY and we get last pick of airspace, it was ballz early (first t/o for the day). Controller says, bring on the the noise complaints, you're cleared takeoff... Holy crap did they ever pour in! Apparently, those north of the 10 don't like us. I think some of the complaints made it to the the base before I hit the airspace. Sadly many are retired military who, "know how them jets should be flying..." Reminds me how fortune we are that our city loves us...I'm often approached when in uniform by people who are mad that we don't fly low enough or loud enough over their houses. 🤣 Back on topic, we can carry onto base, but still have to keep it locked in the car. Argued for days with the SF shirt (buddy from my enlisted days) on this. His argument is that his guys who know who is who... I've seen your reaction time, I'm not worried about being confused by our cops as the perp...I'm more worried about the minutes before they show up.

-100 coolness and reputation, you're outside the circle of trust.

Freudian slip apparently.

Happens to me all the time!! And that's the beauty of it. If the TDY CX, do a TP (or 2) to justify that MLOA. Now you can stay at home (and here's a novel idea, go bang the wife!!). When you hit a certain age, you really have to ask the question, do I really NEED all that money. The answer is probably no.

Until you get burned a few times by having the TDY cancelled last minute by the Guard Bureau (after you've taken military leave) due to lack of funds, cancelled by the Sq due lack of interest from other crewmembers, or cancelled by MX for broken aircraft. Then you sit around the Sq all week trying to recoup a fraction of your lost airline pay by logging doubles doing CBTs and OPRs if the network is up. I sure hope I don't sound bitter.

Or... it could be all a trick and be announced sooner. Like when your parents told you, “you’re not getting any Christmas presents this year” yet you always did

Free hugs to "stay fit to fight"

So, recently became a TX resident since we bought our forever home in the Hill Country. Job on Kelly. CCW verboten. Wrote TX Senator Cornyn since Ted was in the midst of a close election and his opponent would've been anti-gun. Asked why since DoD Policy allows installation commanders the option to allow CCW on their base and other bases in Texas, i.e., Dyess do allow it, why does JBSA, led by a USAF one-star, decide differently? Got my "thank you for your interest in national defense, i.e., fcuk off" letter from JBSA. I'm familiar with them since I've written dozens of them myself back in the day regarding jet noise. I argued that the policy denied me my 2nd Amendment right to self-defense during the rural and less than great urban environment I have to drive to/from work, as well as the thousands of other JBSA personnel in similar circumstances. JBSA's response turned that argument on it's head saying, essentially, "with some 89,000 personnel affected by our policy, we have to not allow carry." So, to all you TX residents, holders of CCWs recognized in TX and stationed in the JBSA megalopolis, I encourage you to write either Senator Cornyn - so that the same drum beat gets made again and again and some staffer finally gets the clue that a lot of people are interested in the topic- or your local gun-friendly Senator/Congresscritter to ask why your 2nd Amendment rights are not worth it to one base commander as well as the effect on thousands of other law-abiding citizens who work/travel on JBSA. DoD Directive 5210.56, Section 4, allows individual installation commanders the decision to allow CCW or not. AFI 31-01, Integrated Defense, can restrict the DoD instruction, depending on how the base crafts its self-defense plan. It is this "gotcha" that JBSA is hanging its hat, saying only LEO can carry. If enough affected folks are irritating enough, maybe, probably not, but maybe, the asspain will cause a change. If not, there's some satisfaction in causing The Man to waster admin time/brainpower in responding to each Congressional inquiry received. You can make your Congressional request via e-mail/phone, etc. Takes maybe 10 minutes. Worth it to try and stir the pot.

FYSA - Pops is opening up a shop upstairs in the KMCC at Ramstein sometime Jan-Feb.

They really left no hope in the "0%". I honestly guess that's better than leaving room for interpretation. I would rather not stress myself out this week lol.......although knowing myself, I'll still be checking the forums everyday.

Classic associate with 9th Bomb Squadron (Active Duty)... Strong TFI relationship. In the past 345 BS/CC has had G-Series authority over the garrison 9 BS folks during 9 BS deployments, and on one Guam deployment the 345 BS/CC actually commanded the 9 EBS for 2-3 months. 345th has participated with other 307 BW players (93 BS/343 BS BUFFs) on a couple of EUCOM trips and I believe was also the lead squadron as the 345 EBS for a short TFI Fairford deployment in conjunction with the 9 BS and 7 OSS. Anecdotally there is (or at least has in the past been) an expectation that members either deploy for half of every 9 BS deployment or all of every other 9 BS deployment, but I think this is managed through carefully controlled mobilizations so dudes get dwell protection. YMMV based on needs of both units. At home station I know the AGR, ART, and trougher types are generally making RAP (4 sorties/month inexperienced and 3/month experienced)... Don't know about the true TRs, but I imagine it could be a crapshoot depending on aircraft availability. Anecdotally the participation expectation is at least 6 days/month, which I understand is in line with other CAF-affiliated Reserve units. I'm not smart on average sortie duration, so can't help you there. When the 9 BS is in garrison they only fly 345th-only lines (callsign CROOK) during UTAs and fly as part of rainbow crews with the 9 BS during the work week.

I have 2 great uncles that fought in the Battle of the Bulge. 1 is still alive. I went to Bastogne 10 years or so ago and took a bunch of pictures for him. Amazing to have him tell stories when he saw the pics. He heard his brother was there as well and went to find him. Found each other, shared a frozen K ration for Christmas dinner, and then went back to their units. One uncle was riding on a tank the next day and they came under German artillery fire, knocking him off the tank and unconscious. Woke up and only heard German voices. Played dead until he heard English voices again. Not sure how long he was out there. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app

I was sent this by a U-2 guy and figured I'd post it here. Interesting look back at Patton. Today, December 16, is the 74th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge. Here is a link to a related story of leadership and prayer. Enjoy. https://myvfw.org/va/dist10/uncategor...s-prayer-1944/ My uncle was caught behind lines in the Battle of the Bulge and fought his way out. Harrowing story. The era of "iron men and wooden ships".

Sounds like on opportunity to instruct young airmen on their mission in the AF, and if they didn't respond appropriately, then have a talk with the life support officer. If we can't fix broken shit in the ops building ourselves, how can we expect big blue to fix broken shit outside the ops building?

Trip was an exemplary husband, father, and bro; a truly phenomenal fighter pilot. I can only hope to emulate him. If I may take some literary liberty, "His is a dying breed, and now that he is gone, the world is a lesser place." Blue skies, brother...