M2

I include my military ID to explain why I have a Florida license and tag (well, if there was a tag on the bike), but a Texas insurance card. Yes, it has the secondary effect of showing I am also a public servant and professional, and I do expect to be treated with more respect than some yahoo 18-year-old unemployed punk, I think that 20+ years in uniform has earned me that much. I was almost going to argue the safety issue when I got pulled over a week ago…for one, I was wearing full leathers and a helmet in a state where half of the motorcyclists ride around with just a bandana on their head. Secondly, I have had risk assessment and management hammered into my head for my entire career, I know how to balance it. Three, I have been riding motorcycles for over 30 years, and have had one pretty much my entire adult life. I have completed several MSF and AF safety courses. Fourthly, I have a brand new litre-class sportbike, engineered to operate at higher speeds a lot safer than the 30-yr-old rusting F150 with retread tires I passed ten minutes earlier. Last, I am 42, married with two kids, I am not out to kill myself. I may be having fun on the edge of the spectrum, but I am not suicidal and I know the difference. But, I passed as I didn’t think it would help my cause. The odd thing is yesterday afternoon I was at the local police station getting some unrelated paperwork taken care of, and I had a hour-long discussion with an officer on sportbikes. He was telling me the safest places to speed, and where not to, and pretty much admitted that he was a wheelie fanatic and had owned several sportbikes in the past. It just goes to show you that cops are people just like us, and just like us you will have your heroes and assholes. Hopefully you will encounter more of the former, and less of the latter! Cheers! M2 p.s. war007afa, thanks for the info, I don't know if it is true or not (I hope so), and as it was actually cheaper to go the defensive driving course route, I thought it was the wiser move.

HD Same techniques I used the weekend before last when I got pulled on the motorcycle. Another good tip is to ensure you and the cop are safely off the road when you pull over. I pointed to a parking lot just up the road from where we were, the DPS officer driving nodded it was OK to move to that location. I still was cited (I thought I should only have gotten a warning, but it isn't uncommon for bike to race around the Texas Hill Country), but if you look at the pic in my profile, you will see that I look like I am speeding even when I am not! By the way, I was speeding, and I was told I was doing 84 in a 70 (I never said anything and was wondering how fast they clocked me). I may have been going that fast, or even faster; but I find it more important to keep my eyes on the road and not my speedo! The funniest part of it all was that my license plate had fallen off earlier in the day (the dealership that put it on didn't do a good job, and I hadn't noticed it had come off!), and the DPS officers never said a thing about it! I don't know if that was part of the reason I got a ticket instead of a warning (think about it, I had no tag); but you would have thought they would have said something! I didn't notice it until I got home and parked the bike in the garage... I am taking a defensive driving course on-line to negate the ticket, so all is well and good. Still costing me $141 for court costs and the course fee, but that beats getting points on my license! Cheers! M2

Obviously, we don't know, so once again I advocate asking those who do... Cheers! M2

SV83--Special Survival Training (S-V-83-A). Follow-on SERE training for selected units. (source: AFI11-2RC-135V1 2) Cheers! M2

Cheers! M2

That's the same link I posted, I just know the secret to posting URLs! :rolleyes: So, who was it? Cheers! M2

Scoobs Since it is on the open domain... AF bios I hope it wasn't "Doc!" :eek: Cheers! M2

And before anyone mentions it, I am fully aware that we've had a similar discussion before in the thread titled Huh? (a.k.a. Eurofighter a shooting star in clash with US jets)... Cheers! M2

Just to keep everyone abreast on these topics, the following story and pics on the Eurofighter/Typhoon in the US are making the rounds in the UK mil aviation forums I frequent. By the way, I just noticed the title of that article and the article itself conflict, but I think the title was in error, it should have read 'Eurofighter Radars Spot F/A-22s'... The answers are obvious, but the discussion is quite interesting! Just some food for thought here... Cheers! M2 [ 04. October 2005, 09:19: Message edited by: MajorMadMax ]

Wow, did you get those from The Hun?? Cheers! M2

I'm in no rush to replace the rear signals, and the Graves is a nice, clean design that retains the original bodywork. A lot of guys just clamp their tags on under the pipe or behind the wheel, it's just another reason for the LEOs to pull you over. However, I do want to minimize that monstrosity that Honda put on the back of the CBR... And the Graves is cheap compared to all the other eliminators I have seen. Cheers! M2

All it took was a simple Google search... And for your further info... Don't expect any changes, but it is interesting that the Marines are taking so many top positions in our military. Former Commandant Gen James Jones is the Supreme Commander Allied Powers Europe (SACEUR), and was the first Marine to assume that postion as well. Oddly enough, Jones was my old boss, and my current boss is a USMC Colonel... Cheers! M2

NSFW Just ordered the Graves Eliminator. I have already put a Puig screen on it and got the rear cowl last night. She's coming along... Cheers! M2

AFI 36-2903 (Dress and Appearance) (right click and 'save as') AFI Table 2.5. Body Physical Appearance Modification Standards. Item 2 Also, just FYI, Table 2.5 Cheers! M2

Honestly, that is probably closer to the correct solution than most of the suggestions I've seen. **** this SNAP shit, even as a butter bar you are an officer and you have to learn how to deal with that kind of shit. Grow a pair and tell the TSgt you don't appreciate his attitude, and if he acts like that again you are gonna b*tch slap him. And be serious, look him straight in the eye and don't flinch. If you don't have the cojones to do that, then you really should be in another line of work. Maybe it is because I was a prior-service NCO, but I would never put up with that kind of shit from anyone, especially a subordinate, unless I deserved it. Despite all the BS about a second lieutenant being the lowest form of life in the AF, don't believe it. You are expected to be and act like an officer from day one, and if four years of AFROTC or the Academy, or however long OTS is nowadays, hasn't taught you how to do that, then maybe aren't deserving of of the commission appointed to you. This "I'm a UPT stud" crap is asinine. The only shit you have to eat is from your IPs! Cheers! M2

Yes it is OK to have a tattoo when it comes to getting your clearance. I have clearances out the wazzo and never has anyone asked about a tattoo. The SF86, the Security Clearance Questionaire, does not ask about tattoos. Air Force Instruction 36-2903 only prohibits tattoos/brands anywhere on the body that are obscene, advocate sexual, racial, ethnic, or religious discrimination are prohibited in and out of uniform. Tattoos/brands that are prejudicial to good order and discipline, or of a nature that tends to bring discredit upon the Air Force are prohibited in and out of uniform. Excessive tattoos/brands will not be exposed or visible (includes visible through the uniform) while in uniform. Full gouge here, or let me know if you need a softcopy of the AFI. Hope that helps... Cheers! M2

OK, I'll admit it, I'm the friggin' spy on this site! Seriously, the last thing we need is another OPSEC brief. If anyone has any questions concerning OPSEC, I will gladly steer them to the OPSEC office where I work. These are the same guys that dig through my trash looking for classified documents. If you are interested in some really scary stuff you can find out on-line, PM me with a .MIL address. If you don't have one, don't bother. As for the price of JP-8, it's $0.903020/gal at Bargam AB, Afghanistan. Next time try using Google. Cheers! M2

Jackshit from Rita, not a cloud in the sky and a record high temp today... Cheers! M2

Big evac going on in Texas, winds 111+ MPH expected and everyone is heading north and west. SAT is expecting heavy rain throughout the weekend. Bummer... Cheers! M2

GSXR6 Have you ever ridden dirt bikes? I think your last comment on concentrating on UPT is the best idea, you'll be having enough fun that you won't really miss the riding. Of course if you need a place to keep your track bike, I've still got some room in my garage... AG Yep, I fell in love with that Repsol paint scheme and was lucky enough to find one at a great price. It was destiny, I tell ya! It is a great bike and I had planned to do some Hill Country riding this weekend, but Rita has other plans. She's a Cat 5 and inbound! At least my sod will get watered (if it doesn't wash away!) Cheers! M2

I am sure if they had a mentorship program here in Texas I would end up with some guy on a Fat Boy (it's a Harley for those uninitiated). I am sure it would be fun trying to go slow enough on my 1000RR to let him show me how to "ride" I know a few guys who do track days up north of here, I'd love to go but the fear of scratching my Repsol bodywork is too great! Cheers! M2

Wxpunk First and foremost, I hope your son is doing well! You've got a Guard slot, right? As such, EFMP doesn't apply. Unless your son is enrolled in the program, I would leave it out of the equation. His medical condition is enough to justify your family staying behind, if you bring up EMFP and they find out he isn't in the program (they may contact the FSP to check), it will only complicate things. But, having said all that, if you do go AD be sure to get the EMFP stuff taken care of first thing. My youngest in enrolled for his autism, and it does help when we need to get him to a developmental pediatrician or some other similar appointments. I am very familiar with what the program can and cannot do, I was the Special Needs Committee Chairmain at my last assignment. Cheers! M2

UCF, you'll probably have to take it again, unless you can find your course completion card. I am still using my MSF card from 1993 (it is almost exactly 12 years old...I was going through the course this week), and no one has ever said I need to repeat it. I really didn't gain much from the Advanced course when I took it back then... Cheers! M2

Just be prepared to catch shit from people who a) think motorcycles are death toys, or B) think you are trying to be Maverick from Top Gun. But more importantly, be sure to complete a MSF course (available at most bases) and have the right gear IAW AFI 91-207: Cheers! M2