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This is how beer goggles work.

Hey man, like I said, if they had approvals and those approvals were taken away, that's bullshit. Regardless of the political issue. But I also don't think it's going to matter. I remember you were convinced that the Roe v Wade ruling was going to doom Republicans forever (hyperbole), but I think I was closer with my prediction to say that the issue will largely fall by the wayside because there's no longer a unifying narrative. But this issue is the opposite. The unifying narrative will either be "I just don't care about transgenderism enough to have a strong opinion," or more likely based on the insistence by progressives that we hear about this bullshit day in and day out, "sorry but the idea that a man could be a woman is so fucking stupid that I will act against the movement *if* I am forced to act." So yeah, I don't like it one little bit if they are backing out of promises just because the service member is a tranny. But the idea that this is going to radicalize anybody against the Republicans is misguided in my estimation. I believe the vast, vast, vast majority of Democrats are quietly relieved when they see someone else speaking against nearly every facet of the transgender issue. And they will vote accordingly and never admit it to anyone else.

I’m seeing a lot of comments about PCSM and what the board looks for and etc…I do want to say that if you happen to make it to the board, you have just as equal of a chance to make it as the next person. With that being said…the more competitive you make yourself, the better chance you have of being picked up. Now if you’re already in the rated community, for example RPA it’s going to be tough, and the reason being is because of the standards at the sq/gp/wg. Each command is entitled to judge and rack and stack as they please. If they want you to have a specific PCSM before they push you then that’s their stipulation and if you want it bad enough then I know you have it in you to get the score required. Now, you could be the best in your career field….that doesn’t mean you’ll be a good manned pilot, or that doesn’t necessarily show leadership potential. Are you doing something different than what every other person is doing who is applying to this board. Are you making an impact outside of work? Are you talking about how great you’ve been in your current career field and that’s it? Remember, the Air Force is ALWAYS going to choose what’s best for the Air Force and if your desires and interests fit into what the Air Force needs AND wants, then you have a good shot at getting picked up. Lastly, I’ll say this, keep killing it and growing in whatever you are doing currently. If this path is meant for you, it’ll happen. I’m a believer in God and do believe in his will and timing. I’m applying this year and if it’s meant for me I’ll get it. And I truly believe the same for you. Whether it’s your first time applying or third…don’t get discouraged. Good luck to everyone !

TERA has been active since the "great RIF" from NDAA FY2012 following the "great VSP" in early 2010s. TERA expires EoY FY25. https://www.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2000923562/ https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/495744/tera-program-offers-enlisted-officers-early-retirement/ The authority to utilize TERA until December 31, 2025 is for force-shaping of active military forces by that NDAA by law. Doesn't mean by policy applicants will be approved for TERA.

Did anyone ever hear the rumor about that FE (I think he was a C141 guy) who flew with a bag monkey bones? In the event of a crash, he was going to yell "how did that monkey get into the cockpit?"

I keep trying to tell you, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. Not only did they have their TERA rescinded, they had their RETIREMENT ORDERS rescinded. See below. Indeed. You are making a YUGE jump here. 1. I believe Roe V Wade ruling cost the GOP the mid-terms. I think most others would agree. Trump was able to overcome that in the last election. 2. I said the left would turn this into a dog whistle issue, I don't think it will be a deal breaker, just another chip at foundation like the Epstein Files. Things the GOP doesn't need to waste energy on right now. 3. My entire point of posting actually had nothing to do with politics, more about how we are treating some service members. Whatever you and everyone else's think about transgender, these folks did step forward to serve, were told one thing by the last administration and are now being punished by this administration. As a human it sucks. Big disclaimer here - my wife is a mental health professional. In the late 90's she did a fellowship as part of her follow on residency and certification. She picked a particular facility because it had a renowned drug dependency training program. By chance it also had a division that treated people before they transitioned. Six months go by and she tells me we are going to their Christmas party. I being the typical juvenile asshole made a joke and said "I am not going." After some harsh words I relented and I went to the party. We were at a table and they were all men dressed as women...I was dying inside. The "lady" sitting next to me was a bit older and we struck up a conversation. Turns out she was retired a USAF Colonel who flew F-4s in Vietnam. She even knew my pops. She was humble unassuming and other than the dress and make up, a regular person. When I got home I looked her up, she did indeed fly in Vietnam and earned a Silver Star and 4 DFCs. It really changed my perception. Like I said previously, I think transgenders in the military are a giant distraction and asking the government to pay for the surgery was out of bounds. But to screw around and take their retirement as part of a political witch hunt is complete bullshit, we are not supposed to treat servicemen and women like that.

Turns out, when they say, "under Article 32 of the UCMJ, you have the right to remain silent.." it helps keep you from making a false official statement.

https://www.twz.com/air/crop-duster-armed-with-air-to-air-missiles-appears-in-ukraine

I just spit out my coffee.....well played

Dozens.... ooooo. TX is hardcore. Wi had like 15K and they lost. Come on TX, protest as if your livelihood depended on on. If dozens is all you got, bow out and yield. Otherwise, mobilize that base and take a stand.

By this point you have to be a clown to believe that the news is accurate, especially when it deals with something as nuanced as Air Force separations. If they applied for Tera and were approved, then after the fact had their approval denied because of their transgenderism, that's bullshit. If they applied for Tera and were denied, and there is not currently a blanket approval process in place for Tera, then they are just what, angry they aren't getting the money? If they waited to apply for Tera until after they found out they were going to be separated due to their transgenderism, then I'm not sure what the issue here is. Tera is a voluntary program meant to incentivize people to leave of their own accord, correct? Waiting until the military decides you will no longer be serving not the intent of the program. Does anybody really believe that the news is going to get that right, or that the transgender people getting kicked out are going to fairly represent that in the media? Seems unlikely.

Jesus, how many AFSC’s you have?

Baro alt variations amongst the fleet in that airspace is very interesting. This accident was going to happen no matter who was piloting at some point if it was allowed to continue.

If only there was a program in South Texas that explicitly trained low level navigation, basic herbivore formation, drop zone and crew coordination, and instrument flying in a multi-engine turboprop. Man that'd be perfect.

Ha. Figures. Herk was designed specifically for blown-lift aerodynamics - its' express design-goal was to enable a core mission. You telling me pilots cannot even accomplish, understand, and operate this basic mission which hasn't changed since ~23 Aug 1954!? Hahahaha. AF training policies are so broken and the bobs don't listen. However, the Ops-Mx slides will green up by this policy. #notwinning But seriously: energy management and constant angle theory are things that have consequences when mismanaged in landings. Maybe student pilots should be taught them...and the basic design and handling characteristics of their plane. Or perhaps I'm overthinking this...B2B anyone!? (≠born to bounce)

Well… damn it… glad regular air land is going and I hope the risk mitigation measures work for the tactical ops… This is solvable inside of the budget of the AF, from above in the thread, heavy bound students are looking at 9 month waits till FTU, use that time and just buy the training they need. I rattled off a hypothetical set of training programs, I roughly estimate at $175k a student, round it up to $250k to be conservative. I’m not sure how many heavy crew tracked students AETC produces a year but just say it is 750. That’s 131 to 187 million lo to high for all multi engine flight training, even on the high end of that it comes to 0.09% of a 188 billion AF budget, the Bobs could easily find that money. Simplified post T-6 training suggested: Multi engine fundamentals + some time & experience building in an economical twin. 40 hours. Lease 50. Figure wet leased with instructor at $1200 an hour. Figure $60k per student for all training and flying. STOL, Tac Air Land introduction in a Twin Otter. Lease 30 aircraft. 20 hours, figure $135k for all training and flying. Transport aircraft training. 737 MAX simulator, lease 8, 25 hours, figure $35k for all training. That’s $230k per student, bit of leeway. In the grand scheme of the AF, actually very affordable and from my experience flying and instructing, would train your heavy pilots without the financial burden of acquiring and owning new aircraft. Commit to this program for 10 years to get industry interested in bidding.

C-130J community is starting to limit what copilots are allowed to do.

One step closer to my longed-for perp walks... https://www.wral.com/story/attorney-general-bondi-orders-prosecutors-to-start-grand-jury-probe-into-obama-officials-over-russia-investigation/22107863/

Their mind was made up before the SGTOs even started. One of the more ironic things is hearing them refer to UPT 2.5 as ‘legacy’ UPT and it not working so they need to replace it with FUPT as if someone else other than staff came up with 2.5 and they are fixing that mistake. From the program itself, to the lack of resources, hell even the lack of housing for the influx of new students…it’s all FUPT’d up. Still unsure if they are going to attach a multi year ADSC to IPT, they certainly should. At our current graduation rate, we have AMC bound students waiting 9+ months for FTU start dates. That will only get worse. My prediction: 1. More DORs. Especially if USAFA forces grads to FUPT. 2. Significant increase in 88/89/CRs. (This is already happening with the SGTOs) 3. We won’t meet the 1500/yr goal. We’ll run our IP cadre into the ground. Retention will get even worse. 4. Q3 rates at FTUs will increase 5. Class A rates are going to increase, I already think they are, but don’t have the data to prove it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I tried finding the video where they discussed this but to no avail this morning, i think WOMBAT, was in that episode, anyway they said if you follow the current matrix it would lead to directing to a shore landing and if it was blue water ops, I think they said barrier but I will eat humble pie if wrong. Mover, WOMBAT and Gonky were all skeptical of the loss of a carrier capable trainer, same for me as I am skeptical of less flying in mil trainers with mil instructors for AF pilots during training. Just posting plane porn here: What should have replaced the T-1, Pilatus PC-24 Add a UARSSI (no plumbing, just for dry contacts) to it, NVG friendly if not fully compatible cockpit, mil radios, HUDs both sides and boom a great multi engine trainer and mobility lead in aircraft.

The fact that they're calling it "F"UPT without even a hint of irony tells you everything you need to know.

Then begin Operation Shoe Clerk Subversion Standardize the part 141 training, shift from existing ESAs to stand alone programs at aviation schools; get more training at these schools before they report to UPT, flight time in something fast (relatively) that can put on Gs to build fast thinking and high SA in a busy mil pattern, etc… basically more UPT just before they report to UPT. I don’t have any tail dragger time but after a PPL, instrument and AMEL courses, could an average student get the endorsement in about 10-15 hours then get another 20-30 hours in something like an Extra 300 (as an example) to get experience in a fast(er), maneuverable aircraft before the T-6 and would that increase the chance for success? I’d rather see UPT resurrected but that is not likely to happen so like aikido, go where the energy is going till you can direct it where you want it to go. Edit: make that a Game Bird 1, read this review and googled training in an Extra 300. Probably too much to use a 300 for initial tail wheel but a Game Bird seems like it could hit all the wickets. https://www.flyingmag.com/we-fly-gb1-gamebird/ in this phase, students first TW qual, then train for two ship form, no form acro just basic maneuvers and fly form to mil bases to train there, form arrivals, overhead pattern, etc…

T38 Commander known for being a bro who can push it up. Ends up sleeping with a student who's lady parts have had more instructors inside than the average RSU. That somehow escalates to tag-teaming said student with one of the blue-suit sim instructors, where photos are taken just in case they'd forget the gay-adjacent threesome that put three separate careers in jeopardy. Then the sim IP mistakenly emails said photos to the base's most popular barber, who had more connections than Harvey Weinstein's Hollywood fixer. She deleted them, but when OSI "interviewed" the sim IP about a rumor that his genitals were flying CT formation with a certain commander in unauthorized airspace, he went off on a rant about that "dumb bitch" barber who is always spreading lies. OSI decided they might want to talk to the barber-they-previously-knew-absolutely-nothing-about, who told them she didn't really look at the pictures in the email and it doesn't matter because she deleted them a long time ago. But OSI decided to cast a resurrection spell on her inbox with their magical subpoena crystals, and sure enough the investigators suddenly had everything they needed. If you know any of the characters in this tale, please keep it to yourself. They all went through enough, especially the spouse and children of the eventually-jailed Commander.