M2

***JET*** Don't worry about your mother; it's your future wife that you should worry about! Seriously, as an old guy, I kinda understand your mother's point-of-view. My kids are still pretty young, and I worry about them all the time. Just watching my older son, who is 10, try some new skateboard trick puts a knot in my stomach. The kid already has already banged himself up pretty back on several occasions, which is exactly the same way I was at his age, so I know that is only gonna get worse as he gets older. But that is the payback that is life. When I think about the things I did as a teenager and later an adult, I never thought about how my parents must've worried. So, despite the claims to "grow a pair," I think your concern is OK. Despite the macho responses, it is OK to be concerned over how you mother will take you career. The difference is how it will effect your decision...if you let it stop you from doing something you want, then it is wrong. What you have to do is talk with her, explain your desires, and reassure her that you will do everything in your power not to get hurt or killed. Not that it can't happen, and the odds do go up in this line of work; but if you convince her you will be smart about it, it may calm her fears a bit. Bottom line, take it from a guy who jumped out of Mi-2 HOPLITES with the Slovak Special Forces, it is OK to be a bit worried. It is whether that fear stops you from jumping that is the difference. Don't let it, address it and move forward with your dreams. Good luck! M2

In a rare moment, I am totally speechless... Cheers! M2

OK, serious answer now. We did a little research on this a while back and what I can share with you is that the technique is called Optical Camouflage Using Retro-reflective Projection Technology and there are some good demonstrations on how it works (the stills of which are in the linked document). It has potential but to make it work requires apparatus that at this time would not be practical in the battlefield. Also, other factors may negate its effectiveness. However, at this point it can be considered a viable concept that has been demosntrated but must be further developed, which is what our Brit buds are looking into... Cheers! M2

What's the old joke? Or something like that. It's been a long day and I can't think straight. I should be drinking (more)... Cheers! M2

These are now out for Loads, so if anyone wants one let me know... Cheers! M2

to a man who stuck to his convictions and did his duty! Godspeed! M2

Bluto Are you talking about the Frio Canyon Motorcycle Stop in Leakey? We usually stop there after breakfast, but I wasn't out last Sunday. However, there is a guy on an 07 Repsol that also have black Alpinestar leathers who it may have been. I rode the Sunday prior and was out in the Jeep last Sunday. Let me know if you plan on showing, I don't go every Sunday but the same crowd will be out there. Numbers fluctuate, especially after a track day, but someone will show up. Cheers! M2

That's nothing, the USAF is trying to make people disappear left and right! Cheers! M2

Bluto Hook up with us one Sunday morning at the Exxon station in Helotes off of Bandera Road (not the one as you immediatley leave 1604, the one about a mile or so in). Kickstands up at 0730, so get there beforehand to fuel up and meet everybody before the mad dash to the OST... And 335 north of Camp Wood and Barksdale is the best of the best (take 337 all the way west). It runs along the Neuces River and the road hugs the cliffside. It is literally a rollercoaster of a ride... Toasty Same for you, we've got a guy on a 1200 Sportster and everybody rides at their own pace. Run what ya brung! Cheers! M2

Third from the left! Those old photos weren't necessary just for kicks, they can give you some ideas if you use your imagination. Doing what everybody else is doing is weak... Cheers! M2

Sputnik's spot on, we used to catch rides with the Hueys out of Tipton Army Airfield all the time. The crews were always happy to allow us to pin the doors back and they'd drop down low and show us anything "interesting" when they could. Heck, they even offered to land in the middle of nowhere so I could take a leak; but knowing these guys pretty well, I strongly suspected they would have great chuckle as they took off while I was peeing. Luckily, I could tie it in a knot until we landed someplace civilized. The Chinooks were fun as well, but as they were C models they tended to break a lot, minimizing the "detours" we could take. The Blackhawks in Bosnia were like Cadillacs in comparison... Cheers! M2

1-800 I won't re-spew what I already said about motorcycles in this thread, just go back and read my comments about gear and all that. Enjoy that CBR, it is a great bike; have fun but don't do anything stupid on it! Cheers! M2

I thought you were talking old school... Or even older school... Cheers! M2

There are tons fo great roads around Ramstein, and any trip to the Alps is gonna be a lifetime experience that you have to do! Plus you can guess what it is like riding on the autobahns. Also did a ride from Belgium to the Thuringen Wald (former East Germany) for a rally. But yes, the only thing that sucks is that the season is short, but when you can ride it is great! Cheers! M2

First and foremost, outstanding job using the search forum! Having just left some of the best riding in the US (the Texas Hill Country), you may be a bit disappointed to find there isn't as much to offer in the Redneck Riviera. I believe if you go north you might find some nice roads, but nothing like the infamous 33's (335, 336, 337). If you'd join before leaving San Antonio, I would've offered to have you come out and do a Bandera Breakfast Run with us one Sunday morning. Always a blast, and the grub at the Old Spanish Trail alone is worth getting up in the morning. But the ride out to Leakey and beyond tops the cake! Hope you find some good roads out there! Cheers! M2

No, there has been a lot of media coverage of Pace's last day as CJCS. Not to spoil the ending, but he went to the Vietnam Memorial and left some 3x5 cards for several of the fallen Marines from his platoon when he was a lieutenant. For those who don't read the AF TImes, you can read the story here and see the pics here. If I am not mistaken, the Smithsonian Institution collects all items left at the Wall and archives them. Cheers! M2

Great analysis from STRATFOR... Cheers! M2

Ditto on Hacker's comments, unless you have valid authority to carry weapons onto base, it isn't worth the risk. Yes, it is a pain, and the mere concept that weapons aren't allowed on a military base is almost beyond belief; but it is illegal to carry weapons on any Federal property, to include the Post Office, even if you do have a concealed permit from the state you are in... So unless you want to go to Federal-Pound-Me-In-The-Ass-Prison, or you get the authorization to do so, you'd better leave your guns at home or locked up somewhere safe! Cheers! M2

Good one! Cheers! M2

Box Although I didn't explicitly state it, that is exactly the route I did. Four years enlisted, went to college and joined AFROTC (plus did a year and a half of Reserves until I signed my contract), then graduated and got commissioned. However, that was a very long time ago so I can't share any insights on the competitiveness of AFROTC nowadays. The ANG suggestion is a good one, if you can swing it. It may not be a fulltime gig, and if you need money, that may be a problem. But for getting your foot in the door there is probably no better route, especially if you get with a unit flying what you want to eventually fly. Had an AFROTC bud from college do that, he was having problems in school so he switched to another college and joined a FANG unit in the same town. He made a good name for himself at the squadron, so once he completed his degree he was pretty much a shoe-in for a UPT slot. It was a sweet gig, first he got to fly Vipers and later the squadron converted to Eagles. Who knows what he would've got had he stayed in AFROTC and later went to UPT... Cheers! M2

AR I would have never made it through college had I gone after high school. I was only lucky in that I realized that, and I decided that instead of being a buttboy for Winn Dixie for the rest of my life, I instead walked into an Air Force recruiter's office and signed on the dotted line. My financial situation wasn't bad, I just wasn't mature enough for college at the time. There was a community college within a stone's throw of where I went to high school, I guess 75% of my graduating class went there and 95% of them flunked out. I was lucky enough (I like to call it smart enough, be to be honest it was more luck than brains!) to go the USAF route instead of following all the sheep. Getting a degree and a commission is a longterm goal, and it is obtainable but you have to have patience and persistance. The biggest thing holding you back is yourself. Enlisting for four years until you get yourself on track is a good idea. I highly value my enlisted time, and I like to think I was a better officer because of it. I did my four years and ended up doing another year and a half in the Reserves when I went to college. Technically, I never left the service from my first day of basic training (26 years ago this Friday) until I retired in 2006; and I can honestly say that despite the tons of BS that may have come and gone during that time, I wouldn't trade one second of it for the world. As for jobs, the ones you listed are good if you can get into them. Aircraft maintenance is another good field you may consider. Not the most glamorous, but you get hands-on experience that will serve you well when you later go to fly them. Best of luck to you whatever you do! Cheers! M2

Sorry guys, but I disagree. It doesn't sound like AceRascal (and I would change that name, sounds too much like "AssRascal") doesn't know what he wants in life ("I need an extra push and some motivation in my life right now, things aren't going great"). Sounds very familiar as it is exactly how I was after graduating high school. After a few weeks of stocking grocery stores at night, I knew I needed to get the hell out of Dodge and bee-lined it to the USAF recruiter's office. I didn't even get a guaranteed job just so I could get on active duty quicker. After four years I grew up enough that I knew what I needed to do to get through college. I also knew I wanted to get back in the USAF. It was a tremendous advantage when I started college, and I knew a lot of people who bailed simply because they had no clue about their lives. Getting commissioned while enlisted is tough, but I believe the majority of OTSers are prior guys and gals. Someone call pull the stats from AFPC, I am not bothered. But if you are truly unsure of what you want to do with your life, the four years you dedicate to your country while enlisted will never be time not well spent, even if you decide the USAF is not the career path for you. And if it is, you will have a definite leg up on all your AFROTC brethren. As long as time isn't running against you (e.g. you won't get commissioned without requiring an age waiver), I think enlisted may just be your best option. It beats flunking out of collage and AFROTC, which will be a lot harder to recover from. Plus, take advantage of the educational opportunities being offered to get a jump start on your degree! Cheers! M2

Speaking of warbirds, here are a few pics of the P-51s and P-40 that were on the flightline at Randolph yesterday for Tex Hill's fly-by, which unfortunately could not be completed due to wx... Cheers! M2

Same here, I was looking for some posts on the F-22 and F-35 and got the same results as Barney and Toro...something is broke! Cheers! M2

Are you fucking shitting me? This is an issue because some spolied musicians spew about it? Who do they think they are...Bono?? I prefer my music by guys who get drunk, screw roadies, destroy hotel rooms and drive their Rolls Royces into swimming pools. I was pretty much put off of musicians with a cause when I was sitting in RFK stadium in the pouring rain listening to Bono rant on about how we need to feed the poor. Fucking hypocrite, first they charge me $75 a ticket for seats where I was closer to God than the stage, then the guy that has more money than a majority of third world nation's GNP says I have to do something to feed the hungry? Fuck him, The Who kick U2's ass any day of the week! Cheers! M2