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Spur38

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Posts posted by Spur38

    Passports

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Vertigo et al...Speaking of Australia, any gouge on whether or not the AUS military will allow mil. dependents access to base commissaries or, more importantly, Class 6 stores? My daughter is attending a college semester in Queensland and just asking......thanks!

    WTF? (**NSFW**)

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted

    From the Fvcktard files. I swear this has to have been posted on here somewhere but I couldn't find it. HOLY crap. F'in AWACs are being used against us.....

    "The world needs ditch diggers too!" Judge Smells (Caddyshack) but they shouldn't give them access to cameras!

    WTF? (**NSFW**)

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted

    A Fort Hood soldier has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, saying he shot his friend accidentally while trying to scare away his hiccups.

    Fort Hood officials say Spc. Patrick Edward Myers of Spartanburg, S.C., was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in military prison on Thursday. He also was busted to private and will receive a bad-conduct discharge.

    Myers fatally shot Pfc. Isaac Lawrence Young in September while they were watching a football game at a Killeen apartment. Myers told police he thought the weapon had dummy rounds and was trying to scare his friend so his hiccups would stop. :bash:

    Why Can’t the U.S. Military Grow Better Leaders?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    M2 is slightly off with: "If it's an issue of leadership, then a warrant program isn't going to solve that as they are specialists that don't rise to leadership positions".

    This was true 15 years ago. However, with the approval of the CW5 rank, WOs do fulfill leadership roles and command roles. I commanded aviation task force Kuwait in 2005. Held command in an Operational Support AIrlift (OSA) C-12 position for 9 years. Same-same UCMJ authority as RLOs and the best situation was that only WOs were in the units. It was fantastic from an aviation perspective, with all WOs my lowest time guy had over 7,000 hours! Of course we were all also Guard. That's another story, Active vs. Guard....

    As CW5s we still would have to salute a butter bar, however in the Army flying world the expertise of the WO as an aviator holding the highest percentages of IP slots and are the tactical/flying profiecency experts.

    But unless flying, as is in the case of the aviator WO, is the primary focus of why you put on the suit, you should be doing something else as an "Real Live Officer"

    I always found it disturbing, as an instructor pilot, to train a newly minted LT, watch him progress because he was a shit hot stick and then have to move out to staff or command and not fly anymore except for minimums. Shame, but it's a choice and the responsibility if you want to go up in rank. By the time officers would, with very few exceptions, reach a proficiency level to become a pilot in command they would have to move along....this led to a paradigm shift a couple of years ago where the Army CoS mandated that if you were selected as an aviation commander you had to be in PC status. Up or out. This cut out some significant dead wood and helped the program but it still has its issues with the competitive nature of the business and the narrowing promotion lane as you went through your required flying gates of service. No easy fix for any of it but for my money (somewhat less than an O-6) is was worth it to keep doing what I loved to do-FLY.

    Retirement / Separation Considerations

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Congrats, good for you. I retired in 2009 and highly recommend Tri-Care Prime and Express Scripts if you or your spouse need prescriptions. We didn't take my wifes available work health insurance, some good savings there. I also recommend Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) for cheap term insurance. Additionally, if you are an aviator don't pass up the opportunity to get all of your type ratings and instructor ratings from the FAA Mil to FAA CFII etc. written test only, no practical. USAA can help you with the decision making for insurance etc, as a member. Also, as soon as practical check in with the VA hospital (If avialable) and get started with them. Its amazing how great the VA is. See the VA assistance rep. (American Legion or Your State Rep etc) in your state, not the VA for working any claims for disability if you have them. Make sure that the family is on the Tri-Care program and have their Military ID's updated. Look into your states veterans benefits. Some are good others are great for tax exemptions, vehicle licenses and educational benefits.

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