Leaderboard

Scary stuff when you really read between the lines. I continue to stand by the fact that the real extremism threat to this country is far left extremism packaged behind nice words like diversity, inclusion, and my absolute favorite: EQUITY. Anyone who believes in a free society should get shivers down their spine when they hear politicians, the military, private companies, etc... using the word equity.

Good link of how China (but also Russia's) sphere of influence has changed over the last 4 decades. https://www.axios.com/china-global-influence-map-us-powerful-cfe94279-2828-4364-a791-7f793e30aa0b.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=editorial&utm_content=world-chinaglobalinfluence

It’s easy, you just decrease the crew ratio until it equals the pilots you have.

That’s about as in sync with reality as I expect the AF to be.

Equity: all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2021/06/22/air-force-grapples-with-enduring-pilot-shortage-as-airlines-begin-to-rehire/ “Airlines are potentially going to expand their hiring,” Jacobson said, adding that the question is “how quickly they do it — they have folks that are furloughed, so they still have to bring those folks back.” Out to lunch comment. I don’t know who furloughed, but every major US airline is/will be hiring big numbers in 2021 and beyond. United has already run 6+ indoc classes with 30-40 pilots each, and they are increasing throughput monthly. United CEO just did an interview about how concerned he was there may not be ENOUGH military pilots to lure away (that’s good for airline pilots imo, may mean more pay). I flew with one of the hiring board pilots a couple weeks ago, he said they are hiring military guys as fast as they possibly can to try to stay ahead of other majors. I asked why, his response: we’re all running out of high time (2-3000 hrs) military pilots, tell your AF friends that now is the time to apply, they will almost certainly get an interview… If you’re on the fence about ditching active duty and moving to an airline gig to at least get a seniority number, now is quickly shaping up to be a dam good time to do it.

It was kinda the old TIB also… what a waste of congressional appropriated funds and available mission space on airlift…

The new TIB Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app

The problem is they don't really even care about how perfect equity would shake out in practice. If they truly wanted equity, their end goal should be equal representation in all fields, which we know it isn't. They obviously mean more minority/female representation in the desirable and high esteem career fields within the military (i.e. aviation), but they seem to care little about the less glamourous side. I highly doubt we'll see female applications at MEPS turned away from the personalist and medical positions they currently predominantly occupy and offered only MX or CE to even out those demographics as well.

Equity as used by the left is racism.

After my 1 APZ non-selection board, I never had another Commander tell me whether or not I got selected. The difference is that he had a DP, statistically 14N should have had a legitimate shot. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app

Still, doesn’t matter. It’s common etiquette for leadership to notify non selects, usually via 1-on-1 meeting, another failure of basic leadership in 14N Guy’s world.

Jesus, bro...your strats are better than mine when I got picked up 1 APZ. If you're ever in my area, drinks are on me.

Finally an update! Hired: Jun 2019 FC1: Jan 2020 (rescheduled) FC1: Jun 2020 FC1 Approved: Jul 2020 NGB Sent: Aug 2020 NGB Approved: Feb 2021 TFOT: Aug 2021 UPT: ???

Disagree man—if that were the case for me, then I wouldn’t have made O-5. I was a Top 1/3 graduate at SOS and was a Wing CGO/qtr, but had very few strats as a Lt and Capt (and those weren’t anything great). As a Major in a staff job I just did my normal stuff, but I guess that was enough for my O-6 to give me a couple of solid Major strats and pulled a DP on my IPZ board from the 2-star…which is what really matters to your O-5 board IMO. That and a breadth of different experiences (ie duty titles)/leadership roles. I’ve also since been a Wing DS and had a voice on the wing strat meetings…a Major can get a solid push if the bosses think they deserve it, regardless of their prior record. But I’ll also add this—competition is everything. If you’re competing with weak swimmers, it’s much easier to look good and that can be a make or break when it comes to strats, awards, and getting a P vs a DP. Sucks to hear about you and other good guys and gals getting passed over. I just wanted to add a bit of a different perspective. Good luck!

I’m in a similar boat (no progression). Didn’t chase a “future” in the AF. Did what I loved, and completely happy with my results. Being prior-E I knew early my promotion opportunities would be capped unless I wanted to give more than 20. During my airline interviews, I was never asked about any of my office jobs. I did have plenty of flying stories though.

great catch, and you are correct. I didn't have many strats at all as a Lt. and as a Jr. Capt. I DID have a lot of strats as a mid-grade Captain. As such, i was passed over for Major, and was a Capt for 4 years too long. During that time, i wasn't "allowed" to have any jobs that showed progression (as they took away from others having that opportunity). During that time i was an "Assistant Flt Commander" for an OPR and then an ADO with other Majors (but i didn't get the ADO name, i stayed an Assistant Flt/CC..... both rated on by a Capt! I also wasn't eligible for awards during that time, because i had no AF future. Seems as though they were right. I have no future. I've learned 2x lessons out of this. 1. We are ALL better than the AF and should not be defined by what the AF thinks of your promotion package. 2. It ONLY matters what you do as an Lt and young Captain. after that, its a self-licking ice cream cone in one direction or the other, and NOTHING you can do will change that momentum.

Tell me the system is still broken without telling me the system is still broken.

Your Weekend U-2 History & Triva... 20 June 1956 was the date of U-2 Mission 2003... the very first U-2 operational flight. Nine days earlier, Det A was opened at Wiesbaden Air Base near Frankfurt. Although the West Germans approved a Soviet overflight, Eisenhower wouldn't approve it because the USAF Chief of Staff was visiting Russia at the time. That would have been a bit rude... and pretty balsy. But, U-2 pilot Carl Overstreet, the 13th pilot to fly the jet, was allowed to enter East German and Czechoslovakian airspace, right where the borders of East German, West Germany, and Czechoslovakia came together, in thehops that the commie radars wouldn't pass off anything they saw. It worked! Overstreet then turned north and flew over every major city in Poland before backtracking via Prague. Success! The mission used wet film and SIGINT. The film was immediately flown back to the US and developed by Eastman Kodak in Rochester NY and the results of the new A-2 camera were impressive. It used three 24" focal length lenses to get a 36 mile wide swath of earth. Iron men, wooden ships. It was a different era, for sure.

Thanks 14N. I’m prior-E and over 20 years. I never played the game and ready to accept my fate

Me as well. WTF is the point of the board being directed, "You shall not consider # of APZ looks or Year Group....and here's a DP, Airman - congrats" then a big "GFY' from the board. Seriously?! Also looking fwd to forgetting about this downward spiral of a career choice.

Found out I was not selected. DP from the MLR as a 4x APZ. Board went against a BG(s) recommendation. It is a relief to know that I only have 24 months left in service. I am looking forward to finding an employer that actually wants me as part of the team and putting all my Air Force stuff in a box and forgetting about it. Best of luck to those still waiting to hear!

One important fact is that the police officer in this case, was in fact indicted, and sat before 12 citizens who judged him in a trial. 12 people who were vetted by both the prosecution and defense for the ability to be objective, saw ALL the evidence in the case, and heard both stories. Then, all 12 unanimously decided this officer was not guilty based on EVERYTHING we knew about the event, and acquitted him. That's a pretty big deal in my opinion.

I would need a solid 7 figure salary to deal with what the everyday cop has to deal with. Best case you're going home at the end of the day having not been involved in taking someone else's life or seeing one taken in front of you. You know all the worst cases. They can do everything right and they are still going to get grilled for a good chunk of time. Then to top it off you're dealing with the absolute worst society has to offer every day and every shift. Not good for your mental health. We at least get to go "somewhere" and deal with death/violence/you name it and then come home and not be exposed to it for the giant majority of career fields. That being said, that's no excuse for some of the folks caught on camera doing the shit they pull sometimes. I went on a binge for a couple weeks watching first amendment auditors. Some of the cops attitudes and actions exhibited didn't make them suitable for a third world mall cop let alone a cop in the USA. All too often attitude and aggression come into play and they have to be the ones to win. I don't know what the answer is but one thing I know for sure is it's not less funding. Crisis counselors and mental health frontline response instead of armed police to most of these instances where folks are shot is only going to lead to more folks hurt. Cops can't allow their fellow cops fuck up on a regular basis and not do something about it. There has to be more police accountability, not from some politician but from within. I know that's hard but lots of career fields do it without issue.

Happens a ton. I have several friends who have quit because that specific problem (spineless leadership) was overpowering. They know many who have done the same. The analogy I can think of us relative to us is being in a wing where every debrief is preceded by the wing/cc saying you are a shit pilot and fucked this sortie away royally and will be held accountable via Q3, qual pulling, etc. Now commence tapes that show you actually executed the TTP quite well...doesn’t matter, the whole base already thinks you’re the world’s worst pilot. Tomorrow it happens to one of your bros. Still want to be a pilot in that wing?

The F-102 pilots from the ‘50s called. They want their flight suit back.

I found out on Friday through unofficial channels that I was not selected. It is what it is, unfortunately.