slackline

I love how they're even entertaining the idea of converting it to Afghan standards if they give it back. If we waste any more money on this we're less intelligent than we already think. Just walk away. Don't even waste the money to demolish it. Some might say it gives potential insurgents an operating base, but just point a couple of 105mm's at it without hiding that fact. We need to get out of there already...

I have a sincere question. What happens when you're just a run of the mill, average pilot? From reading these posts it would seem to be inferred that you're all a bunch of golden hands! I am an average pilot. I can do everything in my mission set safely. Are there people that do it worse? Yep. Are there people that do it better? You bet. I know my mission, and I'm very good in the 3-1 dept because that's something in my control, but is the fact that I'm not Chuck Yeager a disqualifying factor in me being a good leader? I'm honestly curious because a young pup reading these posts might just think, "well, that's it, I'll never do anything important because I'm not the best out there." I fly a crew aircraft. I fly in some pretty gnarly situations, and I'll be the first to admit that I was just not as blessed as some in the "hands" department. I'm a great instructor, and I'm always safe. I've been lucky enough to get lucky in some of the worst situations. I have always busted my arse working hard, and been trusted by my crews and leadership. AAD's are something I've always avoided like the plague, I had to do SOS on a waiver because of deployments, TDY's etc not permitting me to go before, and I've done ACSC in correspondence because I was basically told "or else". Rescue continues, in my very biased opinion, to be one area where we've had excellent leadership the majority of the time. My current assignment has pulled me away from USAF Rescue for the last three years, so maybe that's changed, but I doubt it. Long winded way to say that IMO, being the best pilot isn't the only important thing. I acknowledge that most of you aren't saying it is, but I just want to clear that up for young guys. You should never stop trying to be better, but realize that, like I always tell my 10 yr old son, there's always someone better. Being a great "real" officer is more important than being a great pilot. I think a lot of you are saying it, but I'll just spell it out. Being a great officer in the Air Force doesn't always mean you'll be the best pilot, but it does mean you'll never stop trying. And, just to be clear, in today's climate being a great officer doesn't mean you'll get promoted. I think it'll be rare that the truly great ones get passed over, but it happens, and that's what you have to be prepared for. Sometimes being a great officer means pissing off your boss, and that has ramifications. I hope that made sense. Long day, it's hot, and I actually got to fly. Time for bed. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Say what you want about his posts, but this paragraph, to me, is golden. A little bit of the high horse in there, but it's a very solid point. I did start out simply for the service, and flying, and somewhere along the way I got bitter. The Air Force, on its own fixed it for me without too much finagling on my part. I've been upfront with every boss I've ever had on my attitude towards AADs. I wasn't an idiot, and I didn't burn bridges, but I always told them I'd never do it. Mission and family (self, if not married) always came first. Bros are included in those two options. I am not so naive as to think it will work out for most, but I was willing to accept the results I basically earned by not doing the garbage degree, at all. Don't get me wrong, there's still a lot of crap wrong with Big Blue, but I'm, at this point, willing to stick it out to see what else I can do. Hopefully, that's effect change for the positive.

Curious if you think that the same training and money that got sunk in a 6 year commitment is equivalent to the training sunk into an 8 or 10 year commitment? Even with inflation taken into account, UPT costs come at an enormous bargain for a 10 year commitment. Not saying we aren't accountable for what we sign, but if you're going to use a cost argument to disallow Palace Chase, you're off base. The Air Force is coming out on top of that contract. Guys nowadays are doing the same training that guys did 15 years ago, but getting stuck with a much longer commitment, and a much rougher work environment. It feels as if upper level leadership is forgetting where it came from. My $.02.

Relax there, Turbo. No one is trying to hurt feelings. If you don't think that people are learning from the back and forth between GC and Rusty et al, then you're sorely mistaken. It's good information that they're both putting out there. At times each of them crosses some imaginary line in an attempt to squash the other one, and all I'm saying is keep it on the level. It's good he sticks to his guns, but when people go full retard and attack the person that they've created in their minds it gets silly. Nobody is defending GC. In fact if you go back and reference most of the posts people calling for civility are saying that there is actually some pretty good info he's putting out there in between the garbage he can't seem to refrain from saying. I'll never understand internet posturing... Nobody thinks anyones any tougher for having done it, so why bother. Okay, I'm done trying to be a voice of reason. Let heated rhetoric ruin the valid points that each side is making. Who cares? It's like those far right wing conservatives. Nobody can hear the valid arguments they're making sometimes because they lace everything with venom. Zero credibility instantly. EDIT for grammar

I totally agree that he's saying some stuff that just doesn't add up. I'm just saying don't engage him on that level. Is he demonstrating horrible leadership? Yep, but this is the Internet, take that with a grain of salt. A lot is left open to interpretation here, and people don't always come across they mean to. I'm not defending him, just saying don't engage on the personal crap. You have to admit that even with some of the garbage he's throwing up, he's also giving a couple nuggets of solid info even if it's hard to hear. Take it for what it's worth.

Guys, attack the arguments he makes, not this person everyone is inventing. He makes some very good points, but then fails to back up some other hard to believe points. You don't impress anyone by picking some Internet fight. Just saying... Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

2!

Tenant unit, but yes. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Don't get me wrong, but that was the kind of comment that virtually everyone on here would have cheered until a senior leader showed up. I pretty much agree that that attitude is bad overall, but I find it funny that a bunch of people who three days ago were super cynical are now jumping all over themselves to appear in agreement with a guy who claims to be in a high level position. I also believe in allowing people to change their minds when presented with a logical "other side" of the coin. I'm not saying Chang and Liquid aren't the real deal, and I find the info they're putting out there very, to be redundant, informative. I do remember though, that this is an Internet forum. I'll take the nuggets they're giving us, apply some common sense, pass it through my AF propaganda filter, and try to then make educated decisions based on what passes those litmus tests. Some things they're saying pass muster, some seem like leadership that still just doesn't want to admit just how bad their predecessors let the situation get. I hope everything their saying is on target. I don't believe they'd lie to us. Not intentionally anyway.

I'm glad somebody else posted this. I am curious if our communities are just too small to be noticed or what. I mean, I know there will never be an 11H running the show or making it very far up the chain, but our guys have been taking it on the chin for about 10 years straight. Really, I'm just looking for insight into what is seen out there for 11H/S because we get lost behind the massive 11F/M communities. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

You sound like someone failing at trying to be funny by saying something that doesn't apply. Who was whining about facts? It's not a big deal, it's just life. Don't worry though, you sounded much tougher though. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Just asking, were you around when we were AFSOC? If you think we are inadequately supported under ACC, it was worse with AFSOC. This is just one reason why this is yet another stupid decision. Helicopters will never be truly supported as other airframes are in a fixed-wing Air Force. That's just my opinion. The Army hates that we have any Helos at all, and I would say that the AF is not far behind. We're a far cry better than 10 years ago, but there are still people in the AF that don't even know of the existence. I'd say that's not representative anymore, but it exists. As far of everything else you say, meh. You're very optimistic of the Osprey's caps. IMHO too much so, but that's your right, and I won't disrespect that. I'll stick with my pros and cons statement, and that the 60 has more pros than does an Osprey in a CSAR environment. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

This! We've been down this road before. AFSOC couldn't care less about CSAR or saving money, and that's why this experiment failed the first time. They're shooting for a way to gain the iron and money. We may be a red headed stepchild in ACC's fighter world, but at least they respect the capability and mission we bring to the fight. We're a necessary evil if you will... Let's not even start down the road of a CV-22 being capable of the rescue mission. I was there when they got their first "rescue" in the Osprey. They were in a neat orbit overhead while an HH-60G landed at 11,000'. Hilarious the next day as the Air Force propaganda machine went nuts touting the CV-22 in the papers, and barely mentioned the fact that due to service ceiling limitations (worse than a Pavehawk, and that's bad!) prevented from actually doing anything... Yeah, let's take that machine. It will get to the zone ASAP, then do a cool orbit overhead. It has its pros and cons like every machine, but too many cons for the mission the Air Force wants to force it into. Square peg, round hole. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Yeah, I apologize. My intent was not to sing my own praises. I was simply trying to point out that occasionally you do find good leaders that do look out for you, or your bros that put you in for awards when deployed. I am incredibly grateful for the leaders that have given me the chances I've been given, and fully recognize that I'm no better than anyone else. Promise won't bring it up again. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Okay, this time with less venom. I have been extremely lucky, as I've stated before, and I had good bros and bosses looking out for me in terms of ranking, awards, opr's, etc. I do not have an AAD or even Bac+. Still somehow got picked up for school. I stayed late when staying late was required, I took my share of bad deal tdy's, last second deployments, etc. When that crap wasn't required, I was out of there the earliest possible opportunity I could be. In fact, in my previous assignment, my boss was a real good dude. He always told us that if the work was done, and we could manage to stay ahead of things, we could clear our shops out as long as it was never abused. I, to the dismay of some one here, was running the biggest shop in the sqd, and I kicked my guys home to be with the family, work on CCAF, PT, etc as often as I possibly could. Big picture focus truly kept our sqdn running smoothly. Boss told us he would worry about big picture, and leave little picture crap to us as long as the little picture crap got done. Best dude I ever worked for! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

WTF? You have serious reading comprehension issues! I had two kids before finishing UPT. My point was the exact opposite of what your applying to me. I was acknowledging that family is a choice as well, and you're a moron if you think it isn't. Nobody forced you to knock up the Mrs... Family is a choice, but that doesn't mean it's going to take a back seat to anything at my house. Here's some new advice for you: go re-read my posts, and re-think about what it says. I'm with you. My family is with me for the long haul, and vice-versa. Okay, back to the discussion. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

No kidding! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Totally sincere question here, no grammar nazi'ing here, but isn't this "granted" not "grant it"? I've always seen it with the -ed not the it, but I see enough of you guys on here saying -it that I'm beginning to doubt. I'll have to google it, but I'm here now, so Google later... Edit: okay, I'm too OCD to wait. I googled it. It's granted. Back to your regularly scheduled discussion. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Seriously? You have really partaken of the cool-aid my friend. Venom? Get over yourself. I've been pretty calm about everything I've said on here. I used the word disgusted once, that's about as serious as things ever got. If that's venom to you, how did you ever survive this mean spirited military? You're right, if they ever make the mistake of giving me a squadron I will tell my guys straight up that I couldn't care less about AADs. I will be upfront with them in regards to it potentially hurting them, so it remains their choice. It will never factor into a rack/stack I do, and I will fight tooth and nail for the guys I rank my #1, etc with my bosses. If that's going to get me fired, so be it. They should have never put me in charge in the first place. My guys will know where they stand with me, and if the mission isn't their number one priority then they won't make the mark. Simplistic? Probably, but I'm not alone in that mentality. CCAF is a different monster, and the E side of the house is another animal altogether, so I won't pretend to tackle that in here. You brought it up, I believe we were talking about young LTs and Capts, but whatever. Throw whatever you want in to back up your argument. This was on an iPhone, so it probably is all jacked up. Sorry.

There are far too many people that are convinced they need to sacrifice their families or sanity for their career. I'll stick with "exceptions" because a real degree, from a real university isn't something you can just do a little here and there of. It takes serious time and energy to do that. So does our job as well as being a good husband and father. Again, maybe I'm just old fashioned, but I believe that a family is more important than anything else we'll ever do. That doesn't mean you screw over your buddies to never take the bad deal TDYs because when everybody shares the pain it's bearable, and the family can handle those interruptions. What it. Can't handle, and divorce statistics back me up, is the hard charger who puts his career above all else. I know a family is a choice, but you'd be hard pressed to find enough people to fill Amy volunteer military without family men/women. That has to be taken into account. And, above all, family being a choice, doesn't change the fact that the AF is doing it wrong on AADs. For SOS and poor writing skills... I don't know what rock you've been hiding under, but no diploma mill degree is going to fix that, so don't pretend like a fake master's is going to somehow fix an idiot's inability to logically write a paper. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

I think what's missing here is the fact that for a Capt it shouldn't be a requirement. Can you do it? Yep, painfully obvious that anyone can make it happen. I wasn't willing to make that time sacrifice though. My wife and I talked about it, and we accepted the fact that it could bite us, and we moved on. I got extremely lucky. It can be done, but I maintain that it is still a sacrifice well above and beyond what should be asked of a Capt or young LT. I'm willing to give up a ton of family time in the name of the mission, and even PME because if it worked it should make me a better officer. A ridiculous AAD from a diploma mill, though easy, is a waste of govt money, and whatever time of mine it would have taken. A real degree is a time consumer I wasn't willing to undertake while I was also giving up so much already. I rolled the dice and won. I always said that if the AF wanted me to have a degree they'd send me, and somehow, I am going on the AF's dime as my job. I had bosses that took care of me because I did my job well. We need more officers in leadership positions willing to go to bat for guys that have the right priorities. You may not agree with me, but your family (if you have one, if not, your sanity takes that place) has to be near the top, if not the top of that list right after the mission. It makes me sick that guys defend the institution on the basis that "if you manage your time well, you can get a real degree" when in all reality, if you manage your time well enough you can do the job at a level of excellence no other military can produce, and still keep you family happy. You can't get a real degree, be excellent in your job, and keep your family happy. I'm sure there are exceptions to that rule. I respect guys like Liquid because he doesn't hide his agenda or thoughts, but at the same time his blatant ignoring of the fact that the AF has screwed up their priorities makes me wish that whoever takes his place has the balls to stand up to the O-7+ that he works for and say "things need to change." I think everyone recognizes that an AAD is possible, but it shouldn't be required at the level it currently is. The boards probably promote a majority of the right people, but IMHO, if even a few of the really good ones are slipping through the cracks because of this asinine AAD requirement, then it's time to change it for good. Anytime I've worked with our sister services that is one of the things that stand out. If they're going to get an AAD, they go as an assignment for the most part. Okay, I'm tired and that was long. Too long. If there are grammatical errors I apologize. While an iPad is better than an iPhone, it still isn't a real keyboard. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

This! I just got my first new flight suits since 2008, and I absolutely hate them. The zippers stick, the material is way thicker, and they're some weird green color. I'd wash them a billion times, but my wife got mad at me for wasting water!

How on earth did I get a school slot without it? I will tell you that for the most part, Rescue, takes care of its people. There are always exceptions, but we don't eat our own like we used to. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

I must just be a complete retard because I've read all the instructions 6-9 times, and read every single post in the discussion multiple times. Still not getting it. If you honestly want to tell me that this stuff is clearly explained, then I just need get out right this second because if I can't figure this crap out, I don't belong at the controls of a multi-million dollar aircraft, or teaching young guys, or in combat... Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD