Everything posted by Lord Ratner
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Drone Pilots: We Don’t Get No Respect
So do the functionals who assign them.
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Army can't track spending on $4.3b system to track spending, IG finds (not duffel blog)
Details?
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Aviation Continuation Pay (ACP - The Bonus)
Yup. My mistake
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Aviation Continuation Pay (ACP - The Bonus)
I don't think he meant it that way. 365s aren't targeted based on ADSC, but even so, the assignment eventually hits someone who can't 7-day opt, whereas without the bonus it wouldn't, and more people could 7-day opt before finding a taker. It's this reason specifically that when my time comes, I won't take the bonus, even though I plan to stay in.
- WTF? (**NSFW**)
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Pilot watches
Pricing? Availability? EDIT: Nevermind. $ 2,795
- WTF? (**NSFW**)
- WTF? (**NSFW**)
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Equating military service with Heroism.
What exactly makes "the people" great? Most people would cite our actions during the great wars as the primary evidence, but the "greatest generation" was subject to a draft. There are plenty of other compulsory things that make America great. You say we have become less great over the past decades, but those decades are the ones following the elimination of the draft. The evidence just doesn't support the claim. Rome is another great example of compulsory service making a nation strong. The truth is that liberty (or the absolute liberty you speak of) is an illusion. Nature doesn't believe in it, no matter how much we want to. The cave man didn't have to deal with jury duty or selective service; his oppression came in the form of wild predators and rival tribes. Still not free.
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Equating military service with Heroism.
Got it... you think it would have just worked out. I suppose Britain just needed better recruiting posters? Considering they could barely hold together while we dithered on joining the war (with most Americans supporting conscription), you'll pardon my skepticism. The history doesn't support it. The UK, Russia and US, the countries most responsible for winning the war, all relied on conscription, and in the case of the US and UK, conscription efforts were increased when voluntary means didn't raise enough manpower. An elite unit of volunteers is not enough. You don't win wars with Navy SEALs .
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Equating military service with Heroism.
How would WW1 and WW2 have gone in your mind?
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Non-Availibility lodging/letter
Correct. But your options are limited. There are a few inns in the local area, but they are not what you're used to in the states. But it could be worth it for the per diem.
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Equating military service with Heroism.
Most everything you are taking issue with is a result of the all volunteer force. I don't care nearly enough to spend the next hour typing for a bunch of anonymous forum browsers, but you can use your Google-foo and look up the research yourself. At some point America decided it was easier to have the military operated and staffed by people who actually wanted to do it. Free agents are always more expensive than forced labor. I love my job, I am not wanting for money, and I don't think military members in the all volunteer force are entitled to anything. But I am not over paid.
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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