Everything posted by Lord Ratner
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Equating military service with Heroism.
My god, you're such a bitter-pants. Who hurt you?
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What to do/not do as a new LT (aka how not to be "that LT")
Or at least make sure it can't be replicated...
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Promotion and PRF Information
The absolute biggest factor I've seen driving "fast-burners" to surprise everyone and quit are 365s (or other similar bad-deals), or the expectation of getting one soon.
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American Flag Shoulder Patch Out of Regs?!?!
Not only that, we wear the Air Force patch of a country that isn't even America! OMGWTFBBQ!1
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With Russia's $650 billion rearmament plan, the bear sharpens its teeth
Totally as good as Reagan's speech
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With Russia's $650 billion rearmament plan, the bear sharpens its teeth
https://youtu.be/1sxtdWZzWnE
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With Russia's $650 billion rearmament plan, the bear sharpens its teeth
https://youtu.be/1sxtdWZzWnE
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Checkride Scoring
After UPT is over you get a disc with everything in it, including the MASS breakout. You can see your flight commander ranking there. No idea if they still do this though, I was 09-15.
- Border crisis
- WTF? (**NSFW**)
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RAF Lakenheath/Mildenhall info
My recommendation, don't do it. You'll have to get some small modifications done to the car, mostly the headlights and getting a fog light added to the rear bumper. Depending on the shop you take your car to this can be done very poorly or in an okay fashion. The real problem is that your steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car in a country where the roads are already not exactly laid out to optimize visibility. Keep in mind also the people in Europe do not view their cars as importantly as people in America do. If someone dings your car or bumps into it when parking, don't expect them to do anything about it. That's not to say they're all sh*t bags, they just don't care as much. So if you really like your car and want it to look perfect, I wouldn't bring it to Europe, personally. That said, there are plenty of people stationed here who have American spec cars, and they seem to do just fine. I personally am happy to not have to think about whether or not my cars going to be damaged, because we just bought two used cars when we got here. Size is also an important consideration, as you mentioned with parking. You don't need to drive a Smart car to find a parking spot out here, but it helps. There're some people out here who have pick up trucks, and personally I don't how they do it. If you have any other questions about England feel free to shoot me a private message. Or ask here, it doesn't really matter.
- Asiana 777 Crash at SFO
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Checkride Scoring
I never had one question an item grade, or a hooked ride for that matter.
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Altus DUI punishment
No, it's the logical extension of it. If everyone is a winner and individual achievement unfairly demoralizes lower performers by ignoring their contributions to the winner's feat, then individual failure is merely a symptom of a group failure to support the failing individual. From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.
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Altus DUI punishment
You're not a victim, you're a survivor.
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FY 14 Force Management Program (RIF, VSP, TERA)
I respectfully disagree. The only way they're going to learn their lesson is if they're forced to stick to the original plan. Going DNIF forces them to use the people who are staying (people like me), making it more likely they'll realize the s*** storm they put us in. Letting them deploy you after VSP is no different than staying late to get ready for an inspection you were told "you don't need to get ready for". Sure you're helping out the bros, but you're allowing the Air Force to kick the can further down the road.
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The Altitude Chamber
It's not.
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SRO (Senior Ranking Officer) at UPT
Cool dude. Since we don't do that in KC-135s, you can put your fighter boner back in your pants. Unless Azimuth recently started instructing at the B course, that is... But I doubt it.
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SRO (Senior Ranking Officer) at UPT
It would be a boring thread for your FTU. You get put into a transition class with 2-4 people, and every sim and flight is 90% talking about different bases/assignments, and 10% being told "you already know this stuff, you were a FAIP/C-17/F-15/MC-12/C-5/whateverelse pilot before."
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SRO (Senior Ranking Officer) at UPT
Background - prior T-6 FAIP at Columbus AFB. UPT isn't new. You aren't needed for anything, because the system is designed to accommodate terrible SROs. I'm going to disagree with a few people here, but some of this is more AF-general advice (for a low level superior) than UPT specific. Leave and special events - It's not your job to approve/disapprove leave, it's the Flight/CC's. If they don't make the policy clear in the first week (most will), you can ask for the overall policy and relay to the class. You won't get in trouble for asking if you do it with the required respect, so always ask. Good deals don't often go to those who don't ask. Think of yourself as a union rep, at best. It's always your job to advocate for your class, and never to limit them. The IPs will be more than happy to take care of the dream crushing. Make sure you are the one asking though. As union rep, it should all be funneled through you. SNACKO - The squadron should have an actual SNACKO, your class will be the slave labor. Do what you're told. Not much to say about this, really. EPQs, GK, Stand-up - The program is run by the USEM. Don't cheat. That's the standard disclaimer. There is a history of cheating, but the tolerance for such activities is unpredictable. Make study guides, or if you have someone in the flight who is a study-holic, see if they will make them. Arrange for study groups, practice sessions, etc. The weak students won't always seek help (shame), and some will not like being singled out, so create group opportunities that your class can take advantage of (union rep). Don't force anyone. UPT is an individual challenge in a group setting. Here's the most important thing you can do as SRO - Make sure everyone is where they need to be on time. Most of the time you can't have people showing early or staying late for crew rest reasons (you'll be taught all of this), so you have to be vigilant. Tardiness is an easy kill, so stomp it out. If your class is always lined up in the flight room when the door is kicked, with the correct uniform, patches, briefing built, and chores completed, you'll be in great shape. Oh, and a good offering won't hurt. Not sure if it's the same everywhere, but at CBM the studs would normally build a pyramid of import beers at the back of the room on day 1. It's also a great first AF lesson in identifying the "not-required" things you should do anyways.
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Mass urinalysis at Dover AFB
Valid, but the stats for both are scary.
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Mass urinalysis at Dover AFB
I'm not trying to compare the military demographic to DC, but if you want a shocking look at just how common aids is, take a gander at how many cases there are in the capitol city.
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What's wrong with the Air Force?
Haha, I would die if they put the rotating, flaming email gif on the portal
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What's wrong with the Air Force?
I know it varies by base, but many have www.gmail.com blocked, but mail.google.com is not. You know, because I'm sure Google is less secure than our cracker jack assembly of 1990s-era websites.
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Information on PCS/moves/moving (DITY, TMO, DLA, storage)
Be advised, JFTR 5116d prohibits personally procuring tickets for trans oceanic PCS. you may get away with it, but if they know the regs, you'll eat the cost. Bottom line, 11-217, 11-202, 11-2X-### vol 3, JFTR. Know them all.