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Gonna hang it up next year and make it an even 30. 23 years AD and 7 in the Reserves. I've always said that when the bullshit outweighs the benefits, I'd vote with my feet. Apparently I have a higher tolerance for the bullshit than I ever imagined. Like some have said, it all comes down to what right looks like for you. It wasn't right for me to take a pay-cut and alot of time away from home for a couple of years to get the ultimate benefits that the airlines offer. I loved what I did-- flying the A-10 and being in a position to teach young pilots has always appealed to me. I executed my career MY way, to the detriment of promotions on AD-- did a great staff gig in Europe but refused to go to ACC or the Pentagon. Got passed over for O-6 on AD but picked up immediately once I joined the Reserves-- best thing that ever happened to me. I would have been tossed around like a barracks bunny on a Saturday night as a full-bird on AD. Had to wait to pin-on with the Reserves, but got a great opportunity out of it that worked out well for my family. Through it all, I was able to do what I loved and provided great opportunities for my family. And now my beautiful bride has decided that she doesn't want to leave our current location and so that means it's time to hang it up. Assuming I don't get myself fired in the next 8 months, I'll have had a chance in this seat for far longer than is normal for a command tour. I enjoy being in the trenches and leading from the front, and I found a way to do that. It cost me some opportunities, but kept me true to what I valued most career-wise. I deployed six times, flew on some pretty high-end real-world missions, earned a WIC patch, got to command a couple of outstanding organizations, fly the A-10 longer than the eleven-year old version of me who started this dream could have ever imagined, but most importantly, got to coach my kids' sports teams for 12 years and help my wife start a number of successful businesses. But I never felt like I had to sacrifice who I was and what I truly believed in to further my career. Maybe that's why I tolerated more BS than I thought I could. Hell, it's only a lot of work if you do it. Turns out you can still be a fighter pilot in today's Air Force. Then again, I've joked that I'm not really in the military-- I'm in the AF. And I'm not really in the AF, I'm a Hog Driver. Don't use these stories as a recipe or a map-- what worked for me and others won't necessarily work for you. There's nothing wrong with getting out-- if you're doing it for the right reasons. And there's nothing wrong with staying in-- if you're doing it for the right reasons. Just make sure the right reasons are still with you when you hang up that smart-looking uniform for the last time. Now the hard part: I have to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.

Not enough drones to target all of pilot social media influencers

Dibs!

Sort of. I don't know where this would otherwise fit (sts), but its just too cool not to share. https://www.twz.com/air/f-4-phantoms-sought-by-private-space-launch-company

I was dead set on getting out as a Captain. WIC was a huge goal for me and I went later in my career despite adding a year to my ADSC. Afterwords, serving as a patch and feeling like I was making an impact on the next generation was a turning point for me. I loved serving, leading, and having a sense of fulfillment. So I stayed…jury is out whether it was the right decision but I’m essentially locked in to retirement. I love flying, and while airlines were tempting, the job wasn’t for me. I’ll likely buy an airplane when I retire to scratch the itch. There is a lot that is wrong and frustrating with the Air Force; but focusing on what is right (the dudes in the squadron doing the mission) and honing in on that pushed me to stay and try to make it a little bit better.

During the height of the Cold War the Soviet war plan with Sweden was to send in Speznaz teams to kill Swedish fighter pilots!

I left active duty after my initial commitment, but flew another 21 years in the Reserves. I loved the Air Force, but I had a charmed life, in that I flew all 28 years. I never got caught up in the desk jobs, climbing the promotion ladder. Also, as it turned out I showed up at McGuire in 1987, and retired with a lot of my original squadron buds from active duty. Like a big family and I loved putting on a bag to go flying. Airline life is good, but it doesn’t compare.

The more democrats open their mouths, in the media, government, and even here, the dumber they sound.

It ain’t Friday and this dude was Army, but he tells some good stories. Enjoy a brief glimpse of WWII. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16C4ZWyzAx/?mibextid=wwXIfr

I hope the US Air Force is paying attention to this and has countermeasures in place. If the PRC attacks Taiwan and doesn't do the same thing here in CONUS, they would be fools. Doubtless there are already PRC agents in place given our lax border security and student visa program.

Reminds me of this article from Air and Space Smithsonian magazine from 10 years ago. What Couldn’t the F-4 Phantom Do? Specifically the below. At the time, thought I knew most of the lore about the Phantom, but had never heard they chased Titan rockets with it.

Early today Ukraine Special Forces working with FPV drones launched a massive attack on the Russian Air Force. Early reports indicate as many as 40 Russian bombers have been hit, many of them TU95s. The destroyed aircraft include Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 bombers, and at least one A-50 airborne early For context, prior to this attack Russia had an estimated total force of 60 TU95s, 27 TU-22M3s (30 more in long-term modernization status), and 6-10 A-50s. Bomber2.mp4

I always sigh when I hear Jan 6th. The day was 1000% WRONG but as you very correctly point out it was not an insurrection. I get the dictionary definition but I have always viewed an insurrection as trying to overthrow the government, QAnon Shaman with his headdress and American flag were never a threat to our government, no one tried to seize power. A lot of left wing sites even call it a attempted coup. Does anyone truly think control of the American Government was ever in doubt or danger? That being said, a bunch of morons running around the Capital Building is wrong and makes us look like a banana republic. Also, as bad as that day was only three people died that day and none of them were killed by the protesters. Ashli Babbitt: An Air Force veteran who was shot through a door by a Capitol Police officer while trying to enter the House chamber. Kevin Greeson: Died of a heart attack on the sidewalk west of the Capitol. Rosanne Boyland: Died from an accidental overdose The really ironic thing, and any of you who spend time on the Hill will know...ANYONE can enter the Capital. If you fly to DC tomorrow, you are free to go through security and enter the People's House...wander the halls and go to the office of ANY elected representative. It is important to note the Capital was closed on Jan 6th at the request of Democrats because they saw large numbers of Pro-Trump supporters "walking around". Kind of rich given Crazy Aunt Nancy turned down the offer of extra security in the form of the National Guard. Obviously you can't enter the capital after hours or when it is closed and you MOST certainly can't push past police, enter restricted areas and commit acts of vandalism. I take both sides with a giant grain of salt but clearly with the Biden Administration in control in charge of the Justice Department we never got all the answers about what really happened and I think we the American people DESERVE to know the truth. I still have a lot of questions about the actions of the FBI, several agents and numerous confidential informants. Will Kash Patel get to the truth without bias remains to be seen but there are some KEY facts that are known to be true As matters of fact from the Jan 6th report - there were a total of 26 confidential human sources in the crowd outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, but only four of them were assigned by the FBI to be there. One of the four confidential human sources tasked by the FBI to attend the rally entered the Capitol building, while the other two entered the restricted area around the Capitol. Did they play a part in inciting the acts that happened? It was a dark day for our country and I hope it never happens again, one of the best was to prevent another occurrence is to FULLY understand the truth about what happened.