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Back when I was active duty I used to have a similar perspective about police being overly-militarized. But then I went to the Guard, became a cop/detective, and the perspective changed. Its easy to look at social media and think police are out of control. Sure, every department has one or two tackleberries who love gear and guns. But everything our patrol guys carry on their person or in their vehicles has a distinct purpose. Police tools and tactics are inherently reactive to trends in greater society and the criminal element. AR-15s and similar high powered, semi-auto rifles have become more commonplace in American homes. Naturally, they have become more prevalent in barricaded gunman incidents, domestic violence incidents, active shooters, etc. A 5.56 round will go through a patrol car and a soft kevlar vest like a knife through butter. Last year one of my buddies was shot and killed by an armed fugitive despite wearing a kevlar vest. Just a few weeks ago a rookie in my area was shot and killed through a door on a domestic violence incident. I'm sorry if people get butt hurt seeing us wearing plate carriers while we respond to armed subjects...but I'd rather not go to any more funerals. I think there is alot of room for police in the US to be reformed. There are some legitimately good ideas floating around out there. But they aren't getting real traction because of the hyperbole and political agendas that benefit from casting all cops as wannabe soldiers or racist thugs.

A prediction. There are undercover federal agents in the crowds in Portland and Seattle. They are running intel and building cases on 50 - 100 people. In a few weeks, you will see raids on where these 50 - 100 people live. They will be arrested and charged with serious federal crimes such as domestic terrorism, assault on federal officers, arson etc. They will be denied bail and will face decades in federal prison. That is how these protests will end. The rest of these criminals will wonder if they are next and start to rethink their decisions.

I hear this line of stupid oddly enough from some of the very same people that vehemently defend the right of the citizenry to own spooky black plastic rifles. Saying cops should deliberately ignore a half a century of firearms technological development for the sake of “look less like the military I associate you with in my head” would be akin to saying “carry a revolver instead of a semi-auto pistol because screw actual usage and capability I want to feel better about the way you dress for work.” Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Have you ever participated in any of those training regimes? Are you just parroting the “research” of agenda reinforcing media outlets? There are in a given year ~1000 total deaths at the hands of an officer involved shooting. In that same year there are ~250 million police encounters which require an officer to go through the numbers that may result in a warning, arrest, use of force, etc. So ~.0004 percent of police interactions (most of which are responsive in nature) actually end with somebody dying at the hands of a cop. Trigger happy... right... This myth that cops somehow fancy themselves a bunch of snake eater/ranger Bn wannabes needs to go. It’s crap and the fact that they are “militarized” has nothing to do with a desire to be a military force and everything to do with needing gear that holds up to the ever expanding list of jobs we give them, having a budget that is paltry, and using the best outlet to get what you need, the military yard sale that we happily provide. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

The problem with those studs is they were hand picked to go there because they were already a level above their peers, and this program wouldn’t fail even if they were trash. The washout rate in our B course classes has been rising over the last couple years from the general population of all this change and reduced experience. They won’t all be fine, the number of students who can’t make it through PIQ is on the rise. We’ve had multiple cycles with washouts this year, which is not standard. Basic fighter admin is what drove most of it.

Well...f#%^*. That makes zero sense

I honestly don't understand why we stand on this pedestal of "we make the worlds best pilots" because of this. I mean you look at our entire history of how we teach aviation its reactive. The origin stories of AIS, IRC, CRM etc... in the military are written in blood. Its really sad. I could see this being another one on the list in 5-10 years.

What a cool conversation. I wanna thank the black guy for participating. Really adds a lot. I think the biggest part missed is that racism is human nature. If you disagree, you probably haven't spent much time in other parts of the world. It's *everywhere.* Like so many other negative elements of human nature it takes tremendous effort to overcome. We're doing that, and in fact is working. America is, systemically, no longer racist. There are no laws, organizations, or functions that discriminate based solely on skin color. But like all major societal changes, the time required to get from point A to point B isn't measured in days, months, or years, it's measured in generations. And for better or worse, we probably need one or two more generations to die off before we truly get there. But step one is to fix the system, which we largely have. There's no justice for the past. The racists and their racist acts will not be avenged, they will fade into the past. I think that's why we have such incendiary rhetoric about the evils of modern America from the experienced activists. They *know* that America has gotten better, but they're worried that if they admit it, everyone will nod approvingly and move on, without holding the perpetrators to account. They want justice for what was done to them and their families, and it's getting between them and the mission. Understandable. My fear is that the intentional misrepresentation of the systemic reality by motivated activists in America will disenfranchise the youngest generation of white kids who have no experience or attachment to the racist past. They look at their lives and experiences and see nothing like what the older generation screams about. They look around and say "what else can I do?" And it's never enough. We have to remain vigilant in keeping racism at bay, but we also need to be patient and allow the species to evolve in thinking. It's not fair, it's just life. Until then, shame the racists into oblivion, and let their kids inherit a better country.

Plate carriers and AR-15s are understandable. The issues is that they look and act like the military when then have a very different mission. Wearing black/blue/khaki would have a very different message when interacting with the populous. CBP and other federal agencies have the uniforms. Are these agents that aren't kitted up with the latest and greatest from Crye less effective in their duties?

AFFSA had any interesting article on the origins of max, relax, roll and why GA is abandoning that for relax, roll, max (or relax, max, roll). As a blown wing, constant speed prop, instant power and lift C-130 dude, I’ve found that just bumping up the throttles a bit is generally sufficient.. but I can see how trading altitude for airspeed makes sense for anything that has a spool up time. i dunno, I just have a degree in social sciences.

I emailed the POC, haven’t heard anything back yet. I will keep y’all updated.

It’s a year out, but the Swamp Foxes flying the F-16 out of SC have posted that they’re having a board in the Fall of 2021, accepting packages 6 months prior to the board date...so maybe around February of next year it’ll open up? A ways out for sure, but it’ll be here before we know it! https://www.169fw.ang.af.mil “The 169th Fighter Wing will hold an Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) Board during the Fall of 2021. We will start hosting visits and accepting resumes approximately six months prior to the board. The specific dates of the board and visit dates will be posted on this page when they are determined.”

Most pointy-nosed guys I take out for an hour in this thing find it one of the most humbling (and most fun!) stick-and-rudder experiences of their flying career.

Wait until the Space Force realizes we have all the Spice here on the Earth

The spice must flow...

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/02/world/middleeast/qassem-soleimani-iraq-iran-attack.html Sometimes removing a couple of malignant tumors require the right scalpel. Our military is ultimately here for two things. 1)Deter war if possible 2) Win the war if necessary. Good Luck OP

Wait, your edit was for punctuation? Should try again for coherence.

My waiver was approved by NGB/SG. Sure, the state surgeon may help or hinder (I’ve dealt with both), but the finally authority came from NGB. Just make sure you have your ducks in a row with paperwork, second opinions, medical reports, etc., and know what those say inside and out. If SG rejects the waiver, FIGHT! NGB f’ed up my waiver the first time around, solely for the fact that the person reviewing it was sloppy and didn’t care to read all the way through the reports.

One pilot, one engine, one tail. That describes all the greatest fighters in American history.

So Mercedes is the Harlem Globetrotters and the rest of the field are the Washington Generals... Stunning to see the pink Racing Point/bought a used Mercedes team beating Ferrari/Red Bull, etc. But good to see some changes in the traditional pecking order.

This day in age, I think it’s pretty obvious that if they didn’t get a fighter - they weren’t recommended for one.

Police Chiefs to wear business casual attire with a concealed pistol. Ditch the four star collar rank unless you happen to be a retired general..Detectives as usual..business casual with concealed pistols...LT's....ditch the military rank for the word Lieutenant..Sgt's can keep chevrons..Patrol staff to ditch the battle rattle motif except for body armour under the shirt. Sergeants may patrol with rifles. All other patrol personnel patrol with shotguns..Pistols limited to 10 round magazines....Expending a 10 round magazine to be carefully evaluated...