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You have no idea how scarily inaccurate this statement is. Sadly, I had to find some of this information out as a part of my Puzzle Palace job. Over 24% of our force is on some sort of profile; over 15% are waist measurement only. Exception has unfortunately become the new normal, which is why so many seem to be carrying significant angst to this point.

It's all about having the right waiver authority.

There’s the glimmer of hope I was looking for

800 feet over the runway is now a waiver? Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app

Pro-tip: Avoid referencing the screen name "LoveDumpster" in your application packet.

Divided for two squadrons and it doesn’t seem so bad, right? 😅 😭

I’m arguing for equality of opportunity within military standards and reason which is what we currently have. I’m arguing that the equality of outcome that we also have is damaging us. How many diversity groups do we have to make sure are represented? Sex and skin color are the big ones. But why do we stop there? Why not regional, state, hair color, eye color, dialect, accent, parents income, type of school attended. I mean the possibilities are endless and we are making it about individual traits instead of accomplishment and effectiveness. Then claiming that when it isn’t that way there is some sort of systematic racism or sexism or religious bias when there just isn’t. Everyone isn’t a victim.

I don't think there is a right or wrong. But we have people arguing for both "equality" and "diversity" when, in some cases, they are logically incompatible. If diversity is recognizing the differences in groups of people and putting a positive value on those differences, how do you achieve "equality" when you give "diversity" special status and privileges above everyone else? Choose one. Diversity is feelings, Equality is logic.

At least when they stand up Space Academy, space cadet will finally be an official term.

Hey yall adding another number to this. Previous score from 2016: 88 Current score taken last week: 92 (no increase in flying hour bracket) and hypothetical 95 with 201+ hours Would have probably done even better had I not borked a few questions on the UAV section but having practiced and played a bunch of video games with inverted axis controls helped me do significantly better on the tracking and multitasking sections. Would recommend everyone retake who can and just practice, practice, practice beforehand. Thanks to everyone who encouraged me to roll the dice on this one.

No actual changes yet. still in contract negotiations. the proposals are all in addition to current 16% DC. and the proposals are: -increase to 25% DC -create an optional market based cash balance plan for when you hit IRS limits on 401k —tax deferred. —in your name. —not managed by ALPA nor delta. —guaranteed principle protection (at the cost of low returns). the rub is the proposed “minimum balance” for everyone for the MBCBP. So if you retire soon, delta has to throw a bunch of $$ into your MBCBP account to get you to the min balance. If you’re young, you’d likely get your min balance from DC overages going into the MBCBP. Opinions vary wildly. And this section hasn’t been negotiated yet. I doubt the plan survives first contact at the table in its current form.

If only there was someone in charge of a unit that could determine if it's reasonable or not based on the unique mission of the unit and make allowances for the circumstances at hand in conjunction with general guidance from the HAF, instead of having an inflexible blanket policy for the entire Air Force... I've worked plenty of weekends/holidays where I was told by the scheduler that I was doing it because I was single and it didn't matter if I was home or not. Happy to do my duty I signed up for, but when I get tagged three weekends in a row for a weekend duty that's supposed to rotate across everyone in the squadron just because I don't have kids, or told I'm on the holiday trip because it doesn't matter if I'm home, it sucks. On the flip side, I've generally been able to take (non-chargeable) time off when I needed it. Things like taking the car in for service, leaving work early for a personal errand/event, etc when the mission allowed. That's not something that's universal across the military service, and I'm grateful that most of my commanders have been lenient on office hours.

Exactly. Not working on Saturdays (for Jews) or Sundays (for some Christians) doesn't really pass the reasonable accommodation test. What kind of hat you wear walking from your car to the office does. As a side note, I think hats of any variety should be optional in uniform, and a well trimmed beard should be fine regardless of your religion. I'm just not in charge so I don't get to make those decisions.

Totally with you for applying across the board. But! If for some dumb reason we’re unable to do that, I think it is better to accommodate (and consider headgear and hair ‘reasonable’) than not to in the name of “standards”; we’re (mostly) all saying allowing those things wouldn’t detract from the mission in and of themselves as we argue for allowing them across the board. That argument means it isn’t the beard that’s the problem. Somebody not working on the sabbath may be reasonable; it may not. For the same person it may be reasonable at some times and not at others. Depends on the situation. Same for beards. Reasonable accommodation is the name of the game, and I don’t think fear of the masses complaining renders something unreasonable. That’s just a leadership challenge.

"The Air Force says it will not divest its fleet of U-2 Dragon Lady planes in fiscal 2025, despite language to the contrary in the service’s 2021 budget request."

I feel lucky that I flew on these for awhile. The Fulton pickups were a hoot even though i didn't do any live ones.

I’m from the south so I can’t really put into words well what I’m trying to say. I think if anyone makes us a better fighting force then we need to make a way for them the be a part of the team. If they need exceptions to make that happen then we need to look at the reg and ask “why was this an issue to not wear headgear or have beards?” If we come to the conclusion that it was just a rule we made up for the sake of uniformity, maybe we just eliminate the rule altogether. Then woila, no exception is needed because now a well groomed beard is uniformly acceptable (i.e. the German military). But the military is not a social experiment and if it comes to the conclusion that someone being in the military is not in the military’s best interest (a paraplegic fighter pilot), then I would say, thank you for your offer of service, let’s find somewhere better suited for that service. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app

All the Sikhs I’ve worked with on international exercises are badass. They are a warrior class. I would be honored to have more of them working directly on the US side. We need a little more warrior, little less snowflake marshmallow as a crew force. Removing a religious barrier to get these guys working with us is a win. And if others get beards down the road, also neat. Not expected tho.

You can view it however you want man. I've personally never felt my "esprit de corp" hurt by when a woman runs faster, slower or in the same time as me. That might say more about you than the force as a whole. People wrapped up on this, just like people wrapped up on turbans and beards, have shown a really hollow adherence to a very clouded and artificial concept (esprit de corp) that honestly doesn't have a whole lot of backing for how you can measure it or it's contribution to combat power.

@AnotherPenguin I echo many of the sentiments already expressed here: stay focused, work hard, give yourself credit when it's due, fly GA, apply to UPT, etc, etc. However, like @Danger41 suggested, I recommend you reach out to someone -- an unbiased and objective third party -- who can help you work through your feelings of unhappiness and disappointment. Call MilitaryOneSource (800-342-9647). They offer free non-medical counseling -- 12 sessions, no questions asked. No cost, no strings and no one will know, unless you tell them. As a pilot, I was afraid it would impact my ability to fly, but that is not the case. They'll hook you up with a local professional, unaffiliated with the military. Call me a triggered snowflake, but I'll join you in saying, it is very hard to suffer the pain of an indifferent, or worse, taunting family -- both as a child and an adult. Being the best RPA pilot you can be might assuage you for a bit, and we can regale you with the merits of your mission, but at the end of the day, your dad and brother -- two people whom you look to for approval -- will still dismiss your work. I had everything I'd ever wanted, but was seriously dissatisfied until I realized, happiness is a personal choice and no sort of achievement would ever make my parents more interested in my life. It's tough -- and I hope if and when you have kids you'll love and support them -- but I think you'll feel better when you look for validation from people who can and want to give it. If anything, it's therapeutic to bitch to someone who is trained to listen, regardless of the subject. There are also a ton of great bros in the AF. We've all been in your spot at one time or another. Lean on them.

Most people know how the test was designed. This does not support your argument that we have the "same" standard. We have different standards, literally generated by discriminating based on gender averages. As long as a woman can score an "excellent" for a run time that would end a man's career, we are damaging esprit de corp. But, sure, we have bigger problems.

I say if they let them wear beards, we should all be allowed to wear beards. I also believe in one standard PFT for men and women. Special jobs can set their own standards that fit with their requirements. Blanket minimum standard across the service. No more catering to special interest groups, either it meets standards or not. If the standards aren’t applicable anymore then don’t make exceptions to policy, just change the fcvking standard. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app

Some retirees care because they’re orienting around a stake they drove at the height of their glory days. Others keep driving new stakes.

I haven’t seen this personally but I honestly don’t know why people (especially retirees) have such a problem with this. I know the military is different but Freedom of Religion is protected under the First Amendment. These are some of the questions that should be asked about these people: Are they loyal to the USAF and the USA? Are they hard workers? Are they doing the job to the best of their ability? If the answers are yes, then I don’t have a problem with them wearing turbans or having beards. —————————————————————— Also, beards DO NOT affect the seal on a gas mask or O2 mask....

Pile-on kudos for Jon and the Trident team. I've used them for: Purchase Jul '18, Refinance Dec '19, Pending purchase this spring We're moving to SLC area and due to home prices wanted to take advantage of the new VA rules this year for no max loan limit. Therefore had to get out of both of my VA loans. Jon helped me refinance my investment property in SC to a conventional and we're working through selling my current home and purchasing the new one. All this in the couple months post transfer to the Reserves and start at Delta, which I feared would made the income piece trickier. Jon and the team made it no issue. As stated in multiple posts, can't beat their rates and the process has been seamless as usual. Won't go anywhere else for my mortgage needs!

It is what happens when you press DIR on your FMS...

Ridiculous. Next you will tell me that they aren’t teaching fix-to-fix in UPT anymore. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app

Shit, he picked the throwaway COA.