Leaderboard

This is the part that I find so funny. People act like these programs have existed for thousands of years and are the sole reason why humanity has survived. Who gives a shit if we over correct? If the alternative is fixing nothing, I would rather zero the budget out entirely and rebuild from scratch then guarantee my children and my grandchildren will live in a financially collapsing empire. People all over the world are living in much worse conditions than we are. We can survive a reduction in government provided quality of life, for a decade or so.

So you're saying that to prevent our pic in the base paper, all we need to do is have a "gay" sign somewhere in the background? Damn, are they going to delete all the Navy pics?

Middle class people aren't getting shit from the government. Lower class people don't need 2 TVs and iPhones. And overwhelmingly our money is being spent on keeping old people alive for longer than we should, giving poor people the most inefficient healthcare possible, and rewarding retirees for not saving for their retirement. These things are not needed to live prosperous, dignified lives, and they are directly stealing from future generations who *will* suffer if we don't control our debt accumulation. The financial handicapping of the youngest generation has nothing to do with a lack of government support. It's the boomers using the printing press to inflate their assets and compensate for their failed retirement preparation, making everything too expensive for young people to afford. *More* spending is not the solution to problems created by too much spending.

Let's not act like either side has the market cornered on "honor," both sides do bullshit that makes their cronies rich. Why do you think one side is so petulant right now...their babies are in danger of being thrown out with the bath water. There would likely be a similar reaction if the roles were reversed, though maybe not to the extent we saw in the Trumps speech this week. The problem with spending cuts is that everyone thinks their program is the lynchpin holding the US together. Cut deep and walk it back as needed. I'm all for looking at cutting tax loopholes that making business owners ultrawealthy, but first lets trim the fat that we've all seen with our own eyes (so clearly there is MUCH more) and stop blowing taxpayer money on bullshit. Also, figure out social security in a way that doesn't force us/future generations to be taxed even more. If that means sunsetting it, so be it, just do it in a way that allows people to plan for it. I'm already expecting to not get anything, or at the very least, a severely reduced benefit.

the irony is musk is trying to let you keep more of YOUR money...the amount of government waste and fraud they are uncovering is wild...why anyone thinks taxes should be higher after the BULLSHIT spending musk is highlighting is beyond retarded but keep telling yourself that you're not the thick-skulled one around here...

Sigh. Okay, I'll pretend you guys are as dumb as you're pretending to be. Right. So, from the article posted: This is what we call "lying." The official knows damn well that the database hasn't been finalized, because everyone (yes, including you) knows that pictures of the Enola Gay aren't going to be deleted (intentionally). However, a stupid person might not engage their frontal lobe and realize that if you are on a quest to purge the DOD of a decade or so of intersectional nonsense, and you were going to do it in 2025 when you have this neat technology called a "search engine," you would probably search for key words that are heavily associated with DEI initiatives, collect the results into a "database," then go through the database to pick the content that will in fact be deleted. A military officer with the cognitive capacity of a rhesus monkey would realize that the people in charge of this process would definitely search for the word "gay" and get a bunch of DEI nonsense, with, you guessed it, some pictures of the Enola GAY mixed in. But of course, "the official said it’s not clear if the database has been finalized," so until the Enola Gay is actually deleted from the DOD history books, why don't you guys stop acting even dumber than you are and just chill the fuck out. Nah babygirl, you're just so lost in the media-induced desolation over the surprise-domination of the Trump candidacy that you are clinging to anything that feeds your intense desire to have your fears justified. And what would be a more justified fear than watching the history of WWII erased? But just like the Russian pee tape, the not-a-chinese-lab origin of COVID, the Hunter's-laptop-is-fake story, and so many other too-good-to-be-true progressive fever dreams, this one was obviously a nonsense story put out by a desperate journalist feeling completely helpless to stop the erasure of the last 20 years of progressive change. You aren't out, and we both know it. You need this place because you need somewhere to scream into the abyss, but you don't want anyone to know it's you when you do it. It's not a coincidence that all the progressives/liberals/never-trumpers are coming back now that the Boogey Man is back in office.

If you only read those articles you referenced, I see how you take it as overwhelming evidence of western involvement and therefore the "coup" happened only because the west directed it. Yet, a few issues with these... First article: Its an opinion piece written by Seumas Milne. Among many questionable views he has is this beauty from 2006: In a 2006 Guardian article, Milne argued: "For all its brutalities and failures, communism in the Soviet Union, eastern Europe and elsewhere delivered rapid industrialisation, mass education, job security and huge advances in social and gender equality. It encompassed genuine idealism and commitment ... Its existence helped to drive up welfare standards in the west, boosted the anticolonial movement and provided a powerful counterweight to western global domination. I dunno, but I might disagree with this author's take on world events. If you agree with his take, then the downfall of the Soviet Union was a net negative for the US and Reagan was wrong to tell Gorby to tear down his wall. Second article: no proof in that that the US/West directed the "coup". Third article: this one was more thought provoking but yet still leaves doubts as to the ground truth of who really made the "coup" happen. For example, per the Rand study here, Putin immediately started the Crimean operation within days of the "coup". What are the chances the Russian military (so famous for its centralized control, decentralized execution...I kid) was able to pull that off within days without a whole lot of planning? Lessons from Russia's Operations in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine | RAND Guess we can agree to disagree on the 2014 "coup" in Ukraine. From the article I referenced: But the truth underlying the events of February 2014 is far more interesting: The preponderance of evidence suggests that it was Moscow itself that triggered Yanukovych’s departure in order to launch a pre-arranged Plan B—the invasion of Crimea and an engineered “uprising” in eastern Ukraine—after Moscow’s Plan A—a new treaty with a pliant government in Kyiv that placed it under Russia’s de facto control—was about to fail. Indeed, the timeline shows that preparations for Plan B were well underway before Yanukovych’s removal from office. All this, in turn, demonstrates that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s plans for Ukraine were far more predatory all along than merely preventing the country’s drift toward NATO, as many of Russia’s Western apologists contend. You can call this spin but I'm going with it as more than likely what actually happened especially seeing as how Putin has operated over the last few decades. Not to mention the famous quote of his that the fall of the Soviet Union was the worst geopolitical disaster in the history of the world. With that mindset, his main driving force is to recreate it and he can always use the threat of NATO to rally his people to get behind his efforts toward that effect. With that said, going to leave this argument at that from my end. Onto what the future holds: More solid analysis from the ISW on what's going on in Putin's nugget. Sure doesn't look like he wants Peace. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 6, 2025 | Institute for the Study of War

Death Chamber? Sorry amigo, your arguments simply aren't interesting/thoughtful enough to spend more time on.

Yeah Bud, compared to your non-stop emotional hyperventilating, I'm the love child of Gandhi and Buddha. I doubt I'd like you, but I am worried about you lately. Hospice is great. Fully on board. Dialysis for a 95 year old who can barely move? Cancer treatments that cost hundreds of thousands for octogenarians? Pretty much everything you write indicates you have no practical experience, but I've watched loved ones rot away under the endless generosity of the American taxpayer. There's nothing dignified about an industry that revolves around collecting more government dollars if they can justify more "life prolonging" care. Go sit in an emergency room for a day and watch. Or better yet, go to the emergency room next time you need some after hours care and watch how much your insurance charges you for the ridiculously expensive doctor's visit where you don't even see a real doctor. You might notice that everyone else in the emergency room is poor or homeless, and not even remotely in a life-threatening situation. Yet because Medicare indiscriminately pays for these emergency room visits, there's no incentive to seek more affordable, practical care. If people with insurance and jobs have to be discriminate about where they seek medical attention, it's not too much to expect the poor and unemployed to do the same. This is cute. So the boomers thought their kids would take care of them, yet as a generation they didn't have enough kids to fund the social security system that they are relying on. That was part of the deal and they failed, so I don't have much sympathy for them expecting that we will continue to fund a program that they did not concern themselves with at all until it mattered to them. Once again, just seems like an area that you just don't have any practical experience with. I have multiple family members who haven't saved a dime their entire life specifically because they believed that social security would just take care of them. The ones who are still living have drawn so much more from the system that they ever put in it would make your head spin. But of course if you ask them, they believe they earned it. Hell my own father honestly believed that he paid in more in social security taxes than he's drawing, even though he literally didn't pay taxes for a decade and ended up settling with the IRS to never pay them. Behavior is influenced, and creating a retirement system that was mathematically impossible decades ago only prevented people from preparing for their own future. Brother I don't have to help you Google what happens to countries when they're sovereign debt is no longer accepted by the rest of the world. If you don't understand that basic and repeated fundamental of history, it explains why so much of the drivel you post here makes no sense.

"We," says the major airline pilot. Yes, I'm sure you can. Unfortunately, most middle- to lower-middle-class people cannot.

Not on that level but I do the same thing so I can keep more of my money. I claim everything I possibly can. New tractor, yep, barn repair, yep, tools, yep, and more, all legal. I guess I'm skirting taxes, using loopholes. I guess since your'e honorable, you don't use any so called loopholes? Don't claim anything? Pay as much as you can?

Yeah, and to be fair to them, the GOP hasn't been the party of small government in a long time. They're like the party of different big government. I mean we might get some wins amongst the poop sandwich that is the trump administration, but it ain't gonna be roses the whole way down.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Damn, glad for you dude @Baer. Pensacola is a good time

Ngl I was debating turning down ABM. Very glad I didn't after being offered the CSO slot. Things work out in the end!

Holy f’ing shit…that poor dude in the blue bread truck! “Boom goes the dynamite”

Well, sadly there are big government types on here who believe more government is better…even after having been in the military and seeing how horrible and inefficient government can be. But oh well. I’m supporting Trump in wanting to reduce the overall size and scope of government and allow people to keep more of their money (yes, even those evil billionaires). Since we have a foundational difference in opinions and values, it’s silly to go back and forth with the progressives on here, at least on this issue. Maybe you guys will get what you want in 2 or 4 years.

"You see brue roof?" "Yes, I see 1000 blue roofs." "Ughhhh....brue roof not your targhet."

Is anyone surprised the organization that made people take photos of their wives off of desks would also over-react here? The DoD only knows bang-bang control logic.

Why do cuts need to be made to VA care to fund a Trump tax cut? Back atcha.

Firing VA workers that were hired to right the ship doesn't sound hunky dory either. I easily admit that the VA system still need improvements, but it takes people to do those changes. Side bar anecdote, the Mrs often talks to a certain govt agency for her job. That agency has multiple data systems, offices that don't answer the phone, relies upon the fax system, and on. You think doge can just waltz in, wave their chainsaw, and merge those data systems, fire someone so that there's less people answering the phone, and magically transform their data systems off the fax system? I'm told stuff like that takes people, like IT pros, and probably even legislation (fax system). My plan to fix the deficit? Lets see how the Trump plan plays out. I hear he's going to make every other country pay for our budget, paraphrasing, after he goes slash and burn to the govt worker, and then goes more deficit for tax cuts. That's the plan you want because that's what you voted for, assuming of course, based on your avatar and words for the last 200 posts, that you voted for the guy. And there you go again, the thinly veiled tag of calling me, or anyone, a big government type because I go counter to the Trump plan of cutting VA staff, which probably wasn't even thought out. They just came up with a number.

Boomer is a cunt, go figure. 😆🤣

Thanks forgot about that as well. Had a buddy that took it, but he was done and is making a ton doing cyber stuff outside. I guess that's why I have such a visceral reaction to the other stuff going on, this time period sucked so much. Don't forget PRF's for Capt. Was a ton of fun working joint and the Squids getting pissy because I didn't know how the promotion system worked. As always, fuck the Navy.

The meme factory is running three shifts

Bullshit. It’s just utter stupidity phishing to waste millions of people’s time. Like every bad manager in the AF that steals time for total nonsense.

For 20 years, I have copied & pasted 10 bullets from my friends' OPRs -- modified them to make it not too obvious; and then made creative use of punctuation to fill in the white-space. If five lines for Elon is too much, you need to find a new line of work.

If you can make a pork barrel contract out of it in someone’s district, there’s definitely some lobbying for it somewhere.

Not a huge fan but the one thing I respected about John McCain is that he would publicly roast the Air Force for their incompetence. The famous video of McCain giving it to Welsh over the A-10 retirement debacle is priceless; as a result we still have the A-10. Kinzinger, take notes, find your sack and hold people accountable.

Here's a tip: don't be a d!ck on the flight deck. I've been instructing for a long time at the FTU and rarely ever yelled at students...and the times I did, I was yelling for them to let go of the flight controls because they were trying to kill me. I've seen lots of great instructors who take the time to explain to their studs what's going on and why they are doing what they are doing. And I've seen some real a$$holes who think it's cool to yell at the kids and make them auger in (grade-wise) on a ride...I don't get it. You're an INSTRUCTOR pilot. Even as an evaluator, I just sit there, be a good copilot, and if they are starting to go off the ranch I'll ask the dreaded "so, what should we be doing now" phrase. But I don't yell at people unless there's a very good reason to. Oh, and FWIW, dudes who don't yell at their studs later in life weren't necessarily "weak in UPT". Nice argument, though (sarcasm alert). Break, break... And for the OP...I generally agree that UPT will teach you what you need to know. Plenty of zero-timers have walked through the doors and graduated with their wings just fine. That being said, I arrived at UPT having already been a rated pilot (Army helo pilot), and I knew how to fly on instruments. It was still a lot of work (lots of local area procedures, etc), but while I was focusing on the details, my fellow classmates were still trying to figure out how to fly basic instrument procedures (ie, climbing turns on instruments, etc). I already had that stuff down pat, and I cruised through the instrument portion. Each person's mileage may vary -there were regional airline FOs at UPT that struggled with every aspect of the program- but IF you have the money, it probably wouldn't hurt to practice doing some basic instrument flying. I don't mean flying an ILS or a STAR, but I mean learning how to fly straight and level, doing climbs, descents, turns and eventually climbing turns on instruments. Having some of that experience in your back pocket might not seal the DG (Distinguished Graduate) award for you, but it might make life just slightly easier for you and increase your confidence flying IFR. I'll add that if you do decide to get some IMC flying experience, find a CFI that's been an ex-airline guy or ex-military...they tend to be more regimented which is what you need to prepare you for military flying.

Instrument flying is instrument flying, no matter what size airplane you fly or how fast you fly it. The FARAIM stuff is the same as the 11-217 which is (mostly) the same as the ICAO stuff. Knowing how to read an approach plate and how to use the radio under instrument flight will help you when you get to instruments. The USAF doesn't do it any differently than anyone else except you aren't supposed to vomit all over the radio with stuff like "center uhh we're uhh level at flight level 230, real smooth ride up here." It's "callsign, position, altitude." Brevity matters. It should make you feel good to make a perfect radio call and shame the airline dorks or airline dork wannabes with their trucker comm. That will pay dividends if you end up in a fighter and make a perfect 3-1 radio call during an LFE when everyone and their mom is trying to get a dec or call their shot during that single freq war that the viper strikers demanded. I digress. Anyway... Remember that IFS/UPT is designed to take a dude who has never sat in an airplane and make him a "safe" multi-engine, commercially rated, USAF pilot. As long as you're willing to put in the work required you can succeed without prior stuff like aerobatic or instrument flying. Once you start UPT it'll be continuous grundle punching (with just enough intermittently-reinforced awesomeness to keep you wanting more) no matter what jet you end up in, so enjoy your down time while you can. 3 axioms of UPT: Life isn't fair1. Work hard 2, but realize timing and luck matter as much or more than anything else. Be a good bro 3. 1) You'll probably feel like the schedulers are always screwing you over with the hammer check pilot, douche FAIP, or that you're not flying as much as the golden-boy thoroughbred guy in your class. Realize everyone else feels the same way, and there is not favoritism and you're not special. Execute consistently well regardless of your feelings of entitlement to special dispensation, and don't expect special dispensation...because you're not special; you're just another idiot Stan trying to kill your instructors en route to wings. 2) "Work hard" means study what you're told to study, be prepared for every sortie (chair flying, memorizing radio calls, VFR pattern references, entry parameters, and local procedures). That way the IPs can give you their techniques on accomplishing the procedures you already know rather than teaching you the procedures you should've studied. 3) Be a good bro means honestly help your dudes out as much as you can. Yes, it's a competition, but it's not you against each other, it's you against the USAF to earn your wings. The rack and stack is going to happen, but if your only focus is on how you can beat everyone else you're a douchebag and I don't want to fly with you. If your focus is improving yourself and helping others improve themselves, you're on the right track. Now go drink some beer and go on vacation or something before pilot training starts so you have some fond memories to look back upon during the difficult parts of UPT.

To the OP, try to enjoy the nice break before IFS/UPT/career flying. Go on a cruise, sit on a beach, go fly some acro, spend more than a few days with family. If you can't stop yourself from doing something to prepare, here's a few options. You can find anything with an AFI or AFM at the beginning at www.e-publishing.af.mil with the search bar on the right side. 1. Boldface/ops limits - as stated, start working on them about a month before, to the point where you can write and say them perfectly and without hesitation. 2. AFI 11-202V3 - Browse, but don't study too deeply. The things in there that will be important later involve when you can or cannot fly due to you, your situation, or the weather. 3. AFMAN 11-217V1 - Again, browse, but don't study. Look for bold italicized stuff. 4. Do some fun flying at your local airport in a variety of planes and gliders. Get exposed to different systems, avionics, and techniques. Don't do it to build hours or qualify for something specific. Do it to make yourself a better and more adaptable aviator. If you're not having fun, you're doing something wrong. Don't forget that all of these things are a secondary priority to taking care of your family and yourself. You're about to start an interesting journey where your own priorities will often be secondary to the needs of the nation, the Air Force, and your many bosses. Good luck

I like your enthusiasm for wanting to better prepare for UPT/wanting to be a good aviator. Nothing wrong with that. For instrument flying, the basic rulebook is AFMAN 11-217. If you take on flipping through that booger, please don't try to memorize it. Use it to gain familiarity. And I think that what most here are saying, gain awareness and don't try to teach yourself. The good ol folks teaching UPT will show you what you need to know. Move out on your own and you risk going down the wrong path. What you will find is that once you are in the program, any headstart you gained by reading ahead is gone quickly. There are some UPT blogs out in the net that can show you a day in the life (if you can get past all the individual awesomeness spew). Enjoy puking on your first ride, Out

Well, sadly there are Trump can do no wrong types on here who believe he is honorable and will do what is in the best interests of the nation...even after seeing him do wrong things. But oh well. I'm not supporting the dishonorable Trump in his burn it to the ground effort to change government and continue to allow billionaires to skirt taxes because they hire awesome lawyers and create clever ways to get around taxes and allow Musk to keep more of your money via his tax breaks for EVs (I had to continue the para to keep it in theme with your post. How am I doing?) Since we have a foundational difference of opinions and values (like honor), it's silly for this non liberal, non progressive, independent to go back and forth with the thick-skulled MAGAs on here, on this and other issues. Maybe you guys will get what you want. Maybe you'll regret it. Maybe you won't care. PS (you like these), in 2 years? Ha! Dems ain't got shit in one bag, let alone a bag. It will have to come from within the R party. But whenever one tries to show a little spine, they are truly revealed as weak ass lemmings.

sounds like the BP was much better at apprehending people under Biden 💅