[American Express - Platinum Card]

Yeah I was referring to the $200.  Definitely not letting that $200 go to waste. 

[American Express - Platinum Card]

Free cards for family, excellent extended warranty/accident protection and no international transaction fees are some additional perks. Has been my go-to card for a few years now. Bought $200 in United gift certificates the past two years. Never paid any interest or fee on the card.

Looking to do the same thing this year. How long did it take to get reimbursed from AMEX?

[RPA School at Holloman]

Can anyone provide an update on the 9s course, is it similar to URT hours 8-4? I'm trying to figure out if I need to make arrangements outside normal preschool hours for my daughter.

[18X Pipeline Q & A]

So my best understanding of training is:

IFS - 7 weeks

IRQ/RFC - 4 months (at Randolph)

FTU - 5 months (at Holloman)

Is it true that you can get Reapers straight out of school now?

[Info on Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS/UAV/RPA)]

Will URT be similar to UPT - PCS to Randolph and TDY to IFS, then come back for RIQ and Fundamentals course? My wife is a Physicians Assistant, trying to decide if its worth moving her and the kids to Randolph.

[Info on Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS/UAV/RPA)]

Published: 1 January 2009 Air & Space Power Journal (Excerpt)

One of the many reasons for the success of these weapon systems is their overall utility to the ground commander. Unlike some Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles (UAVs) that simply transmit the video or still picture signal from their sensor to one location on the ground, USAF CONOPs for Predator/Reaper UAS employ Remote Split Operations (RSO) in which a very small forward-deployed Launch-Recovery Element (LRE) is responsible for launch, recovery, and maintenance of the aircraft on the ground in the AOR. Once the aircraft is launched and its systems are functioning, it is handed off to one of several units in the Continental US (CONUS), currently either the 432 AEW, 27 Special Operations Wing, 163 RW, 119 Wing, 147 RW, or 214 Reconnaissance Group to employ it for the next 20-22 hours of its mission. Using ACC, Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Force Reserve Command, and ANG units for these missions is truly a Total Force success story. Once handed off, the LRE then either launches another aircraft for another CONUS squadron or recovers one that is waiting to be handed off to it for landing. The LRE repeats this cycle continuously in their forward location, again making maximum use of people and equipment forward. This RSO concept results in a much more efficient use of equipment and personnel resources than deploying the entire unit forward to fly locally. Only the LRE rotates in and out of the AOR on an Air Expeditionary Force cycle. The vast majority of personnel remain at their CONUS base, flying continuous combat operations without the need to reconstitute after deployment, retrain in tactics, or work up for their next deployment. The GCSs and other equipment are much more efficiently used as well, since they are in continuous use, flying whatever aircraft are assigned by the Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) in theater, under the command and control of the Combined Force Air Component Commander through the 432 AEW. For instance, if weather is bad in Iraq, or an operation in Afghanistan requires the additional sorties that day, more aircraft can be launched in Afghanistan, creating more missions for ground commanders there. The crews simply arrive on shift in the CONUS for a mission brief, are informed that on that day they will fly in Afghanistan, and proceed from there. The inherent flexibility of RSO is impressive. If the crews and equipment were located in theater and dedicated to one local area in the above scenario, they would simply go unused. But with RSO, the USAF puts more assets into the fight.

Excellent info HiFlyer, this is exactly what I need.

[Info on Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS/UAV/RPA)]

Can someone explain the purpose of an LRE and why we need it? I am writing a paper for school and need general info. Thanks

[Ulnar Nerve]

I was exiting an aircraft several years ago and hit my left elbow on the step. It caused me severe pain and partial numbness in my arm. Long story short, I ended up having to have surgery – a decompression of my left ulnar nerve. It did some good, but it has been 3 years since the surgery and still have problems with it. I would recommend getting it looked at by a neurologist. CB84 gave the best advice to prevent further irritation.

[ROTC crosstown/commute questions]

Hey guys, I'm currently finishing up my sophomore year at a university without AFROTC, however we are a crosstown affiliate with the host university being about 1.5 hours away. I just found out about this, and up until now have been planning on applying for OTS. Is it too late to do AFROTC considering I'll be a junior in the fall?

Most likely you would have to extend your graduation another year. If your goal is to be an officer, then do ROTC because OTS is a big gamble these days. If you have questions about it PM, I have extended my graduation for 2 years so that I could do ROTC.

[Info on Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS/UAV/RPA)]

Can some of the current RPA pilots provide quality of life info - work hours, deployment schedules, what are the aspects you like/dislike? I am considering going for an RPA spot next year in ROTC but want accurate information to base my decision on. Also, how easy/hard would it be to end up at Creech?

[UAV (RPA) 2011 Grads]

I think there are several reasons to want RPAs for some people. Low/no deployment rate, upcoming technology, some people arent medically qualified for pilot, etc. Does is suck for those guys who wanted to be a pilot and ended up with RPAs, yeah - but show me one person in the military who hasnt taken in up the ass at some point in their career. If you want things your way, go to Burger King, DONT JOIN THE MILITARY!

Hopefully from here on out those who want to be pilots will be given the opportunity, and those who want to fly RPAs will also.