Cooter
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Posts posted by Cooter
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3 hours ago, Tank said:
Looks like Mag Aerospace and Orbital ATK are now in the mix...
https://www.foxnews.com/tech/us-special-operations-arms-surveillance-aircraft-for-precision-attack
Having worked with both companies and flown the AC-208 for a while this is pretty interesting. Lack of pressurization is a factor depending on where you operate. I would say 8x -114s or 28x APKWS would be extreme, would cut way into fuel. We were putting 14x unguided on with three guys and could only do about 1400 lbs of gas, still about 3 hours play time but APKWS are about 10 lbs heavier. Mission system would need a complete overhaul too, it’s killing people with DOS.
If they take a multi platform approach I could definitely see a -208 at the low end. Cheap, simple and flexible. Problem with APKWS is lack of hard target Cape unless you throw a penetrator on there (Never used it but willing to try!). Will be interesting to see where this goes.
Cooter
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On 12/29/2019 at 5:07 PM, Lawman said:
The second you put a pod or ball on it you will cease to have it as an option for airlift.
There is no limit to the thirst for FMV from manned platforms. Honestly the only way to protect an airlift platform is to make sure it can’t be used as a jack of all trades crappy substitute for GOCO C-12s or U-28s.
Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkWhether organic or for partners there is utility in having a similar platform for that conduct a variety of missions (lift/airdrop/ISR/strike/etc.). Especially for partner nations when you start talking small fleet dynamics. Your run into the "jack of all, master of none" issue but makes for easier fleet/aircrew management. Not to mention the systems being employed, I can train pretty much anyone to do either fairly quickly to a basic level. I have guys right now doing all to one degree or another, the flexibility is awesome. And makes for easier integration i.e. AC-208 escort/armed overwatch for C-208 airdrop that can the roll into ISR/armed overwatch for a ground unit.
Cooter
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9 hours ago, BashiChuni said:
not on my watch, and why you're at it throw out those salomon boots #notFlightRated - unnamed AFSOC GO
Wait...didn't we go through this a few years back?
Unnamed AFSOC GO...riiiiiiiiiight.
I'd rather have gasoline soaked shoes than flame resistant lead weights on my feet.
Cooter
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Imagine for a moment if you will...USAF pilots on staff around the world that would jump at the opportunity to fly anything. COCOMs/TSOCs solve their little intra-theater airlift problem and pilots still get to fly.
Think of the possibilities...
Even more frustrating is having that capability (plus airdrop) and seeing it pissed away for one reason or another.
Cooter
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OR...spend your hard earned money how you want...then ask her to pick you up from said establishment!
Cooter
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Went to CGSC...took away a couple of nuggets that have really helped me understand my successive Joint (spelled A-R-M-Y) assignments But overall a huge waste of time, although the DLI program, the electives and the SOF branch-off after holiday break were pretty good. In-Res IDE might put you in the ballpark (on someone's command list) for SQ/CC but no guarantees. I was a draft pick to be named later so I went out and found myself a job.
Just remember, there is no "ONE" path and timing is everything (Life Rule #1).
Cooter
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4 hours ago, torqued said:
I'm in a Guard unit that my be tagged for an AFG air advisor tasking in 2019. I'm having a hard time understanding your post because I don't know what positions your speaking from or about. I may be wrong, but your post and Homestar's post seem to be defending the assignment.
Are you saying it's a good deal for a guard guy, or bad, but not that bad...?
Like Tac said, not defending just presenting the facts. It's a war, there's some risk, there's risk getting out of bed in the morning. If you are interested in FW/RW partnered advisor positions you can PM me as well with a .mil.
Cooter
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On 12/31/2018 at 1:09 AM, Homestar said:
Oooooooooorrrrr... maybe he know what he’s talking about and is tired of the “sky is falling” self-fellating this board is famous for.
I have one of my squadrons that flies 99.9% of their sorties AFG unilateral and the others are just as capable, we partner as needed but usually for dynamic mission sets not safety related. Green on blue is always a concern but that doesn't mean people are walking around jocked up all the time (mostly).
As stated, it's better to have the facts from people in the know instead or running around screaming fire.
Cooter
P.S. I've got FW/RW positions open if anyone is interested!
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On 12/13/2018 at 7:10 PM, M2 said:
While I tend to agree, I can also see the flip side of the coin whereas the constant rotation of personnel causes equal issues...
The better solution is actually having an end game to this ridiculous and endless "conflicts" we've been engaged in for the past 17+ years. At this point we are just throwing fuel on the flames and not actually working to a solution to put the fire out.
I know that's grossly simplified, but until that happens, there will be no "fixing" the USAF or any other services...There is a flip side. There are absoloutely jobs below the O-6 level that require -365s. Whether they are being employed properly is a separate discussion. Most can get by with -179 but some of them take 30-60 days to get into a groove.
End game...pshhhhh! This thing is a cash cow that no one wants to turn off.
Cooter
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We had a guy show two weeks after the rest of us because that's when he was notified and a friend of mine found out a week or so before RNLTD. Bottom line, all bets are off. I've told guys the last couple years , "if you're an alternate, plan to go last minute." There seems to be a trend of exhausting the alternate list as of late (weird...).
Be careful what you wish for. After two months of school taught by wannabe Gen Patton's, and then to follow it up with 2 years of Joint tour (that's a post in of itself)? More instances in my career of, "just do [insert USAF paid advertisement] and you'll be set up."
That's how I find myself back in the AFG, best choice I've made in 4 years is stick with what I love doing [J-O-B].
Personal anecdote so take it for what it's worth.
Cooter
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12 hours ago, FLEA said:
Apologies, not sensitive about it. Just that when you claim to be a combat aviator and throw a term like "play fighting" to describe a mission set your credibility is in question.
But play fighting sounds like something the mother of a snowflake drama student would use to describe his weekend LARP club, and I think we are all above that. "Henry, are you done with your play-fighting? Its time to come in for dinner!"
For what its worth I'll agree the CAA's don't really seem to have a lot going right now outside of guchi vacation deployments and cool training opportunities. But there was an era (thinking Nam, Loas, Cambodia, Cuba, Thailand) in which that shit was really important and extremely kinetic.
Tac is not speaking from a position of ignorance, nor I, and I tend to agree with how he put it. There are non-6 SOS advisors with a fraction of their training (a couple weeks at most) doing partnered missions almost everyday. To say they are in harm's way is putting it mildly. As someone who was in the process of applying for the 6th, I will tell you my perception and reality were very different, which is why I did not go through with it. Flying combat missions is my jam and that was not the place to do it. Not knocking the 6th, valuable asset in high-demand but not what I was expecting from Combat Aviation Advising.
If you want fully partnered combat ops advisor positions, they are out there, you just have to look for them and be ready to sacrifice a year or more of your time. Rewarding and frustrating at the same time. But hell of a lot better than spending time an effort to train and advise folks to only wave at them as they head off to get after it.
Cooter
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9 hours ago, BashiChuni said:
as an addicted gambler i want in this somehow
Bashi I'm with you and have an expanded proposal...
Participants allocate $$$ toward a fine bottle of scotch (more players the better the bottle!)...
Although FY vs CY needs to be clarified. Propose closeout by FY21 since the decision is based fiscally.
I'm rooting for LAA...but I LOVE scotch.
Cooter
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5 hours ago, Seadogs said:
Super thread revival. I agree with Most of the things here that make someone a SNAP but what about a dude who doesn't want to go to strip clubs because that shit would make him want to cheat on the wife?
Marry a stripper...problem solved!
Cooter
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On 10/22/2018 at 4:47 AM, Orbit said:
Why can' t we bring some heritage back.
Jimmy keeping it real...proves you can be an actor and NOT have to be an ass clown!
Cooter
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15 hours ago, Standby said:
I am being selfish, but I would prefer the SOF LA program to be in a shitty geographic location. I think it would separate the people who think it’s a fun gig with a great NW FL
Nailed it! Hitters ONLY apply. I want the guys who want it for the mission not because it sounds cool or the location is great. I'd prefer there be no focus other than building a sustainable cadre for the future of the program. The last thing you want to happen with this program is it gets turned into some kind of goddamn flying club and screws the pooch for being a sustainable program well into the future.
In a perfect world you'd put it at an austere location (outfield of Eglin...WAY out) and build a bunch of steely eyed killers to carry the reputation well into the future.
Who knows...
Cooter
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Only just recently come in contact with some of these individuals...NOT impressed. I feel like they are individuals who either could not hack it in their communities or had the personality of a door stop. I'm judging from a rather small sample size I know but JeeeezUS.
Cooter
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5 hours ago, pawnman said:
I'm just happy they finally expanded the 12X bonus to all the dudes left out over the years. Every older WSO I know is jumping on that thing with both hands...but as we often comment here, they were already planning to stay until retirement.
2! I was planning on staying beyond 20 anyways so it was an easy kill for me. Little extra jangle in the pocket never hurts.
Cooter
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16 hours ago, sixpack said:
Our OG keeps a tracker for 179/365's. Last I looked the previous month i was in the lower 50% for 179s and in the bottom 10% for 365s out of 30ish folks eligible. With 8 deployments, over 3 years overseas TDY/deployed and a STRD of 2012 i'm still scratching my head how i'm short man on the totem pole.
Whoa..that is a bit bizarre. Last I heard for -365s (O-5) they were starting with guys with dates of '03 (which I don't know how that's possible) so it sounds like yours at the local level. If it's a flying AA gig there are worse jobs from what I here. I'm headed out at end of the month so I'll know more after that I guess! Good luck.
Cooter
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1 hour ago, sixpack said:
I'd rather separate and get an airline gig and hope to get hired on with a guard unit to finish my 20 than to waste away in the desert for another 7 months. YMMV but i've done enough deployments in my time to know when it's worth it and it's not.
If you’ve done enough deployments how are you getting tagged?
different strokes for different folks, I sought mine out. Granted, not a pilot so my situation is different?
Cooter
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Anyone know if you take your 50% while deployed, is it tax free?
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1 hour ago, DirkDiggler said:
Manchester: What if they asked you sign an agreement stating you get 4 years of raging followed by a mandatory CoS tour at a certain jt command?......
Why you gotta put that evil on me....?
Cooter
PS Still totally worth it
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14 hours ago, nsplayr said:
Exactly.
...There are definitely a bunch of Majors and more than a few Lt. Cols that would love to hop in a jet and rage again,..l
PREACH...I’m hoping a year or so from now I’m one of those Lt Col’s. I’ll sign whatever they want and stay until they throw me out kicking and screaming!
Cooter
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PSDM is up on myPers
Cooter
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On 5/25/2018 at 7:00 AM, tac airlifter said:
There is a lot of misunderstanding about joint jobs. They are mostly bad for a career in the AF unless timing and luck are on your side. Unless you’re a BTZ on your way to higher rank, I encourage folks to stay away from joint billets as O4/O5s (exception- if there’s a really cool job you want, go do it).
Totally agree, There are multiple 11X/12X in critically manned career fields at my current job. Very little what we are doing involves air at all and in most cases NOTHING to do with it. Not one of us here can come with a plausible reason for us to be here given the current aviator retention issue. YOu have a higher probability of getting forgotten about in critical windows than you do anything else.
Cooter
AF Light Air Support Aircraft
in General Discussion
Posted
😉 Having flown both...great for partners and lots of capes. Not enough for us...