Hacker

Yes...depending on how the patch cord is wired, you can either hear just intercomm or intercomm and radio. It plugs directly into the "mic" plug in the camera, a 1/4" jack. This isn't something you do every day, mind you. I certainly don't do it on the 0.7s and 0.8s I'm flying in the Smurf, but on pond crossings, ONE sorties, deployments to Nellis, and other long boring flights that I did in the Eagle, it was a nice thing to have.

It is probably a controlled 3-year tour (just a guess). The F-16 TX course is probably somewhere on the order of a month to 6 weeks.

8,000 feet for the T-38

If by "you" you mean the MAJCOM CCs who are issuing the medal to everyone, then yes, I think that's exactly what they're saying. I'm in favor of giving it to those it was intended to go to...and *not* to everyone, as has happened. 123abc, I'm the furthest thing from a "ribbon chaser"...read my post where I talk about being concerned about having participation in ONE operations on the *service record*, and notice I don't mention anything about what is worn on the chest of your mess dress or class As.

The fine art of avoiding use of the words "box" and "head", at least, greatly pre-date Tailhook. I had a neighbor growing up who had been an A-6 driver in Vietnam, and he jokingly used the "alternate" terminology as a matter of habit. Can't speak for the other word games, though. Light Gray Eagle guys are gonna have to ditch the whole "blivet" thing soon, heh heh.

No, not in the same ballpark at all. When you look at someone's service record, deployments to -- and service in -- specific combat operations are reflected by campaign medals. This is the exact reason that GWOT-E is going to be supplemented by Afghanistan and Iraq Campaign Medals. There are a lot of guys who have spent a metric sh*t-ton of time flying in circles above US cities with live missiles and intercepting general aviation pilots. It was time-consuming, draining on proficiency, and for those who did it in the days after 9/11, scary as hell because of the possibilities. This is not marked as "combat" time in the AFARMS logs, nor is it currently denoted by any kind of campaign ribbon. I know a lot of fighter pilots who missed out on Afghanistan and Iraq because their squadrons were tasked with ONE (my squadron missed out on OEF because of it, for one...). They were at least being recognized with GWOT-S, which sucked to begin with but was at least some way to make their records different than Airman Snuffy. Now there is nothing.

So, I return from my 4-ship to the range today and read on my email that the AETC/CC has authorized the GWOT-S medal for *everyone in AETC* regardless if they have or have not directly participated in the Global War On Terror. WTF??? That is a slap in the face to those of us who have spent hours and hours flying CAPs for Operation NOBLE EAGLE. As if it wasn't bad enough that the GWOT-S was the only recognition ONE flyers are going to get...now it's pretty much just being given to *everyone*.

The Aggressors are pilots who are professional bandits for Red Flag and other exercises out at Nellis. Currently they fly F-16s... https://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/200...s/22298943.html

I had a UPT journal back before they were vogue, and I caught a metric sh*t-load of stuff like this for my website, too. I never understood a couple of things; First, why were people who were *all ready* USAF pilots unwilling to help those of us who wanted to become one? Second, once I started putting up a journal website *specifically intended* to help people (wanna-bes like me) out, why did guys who were all ready USAF pilots give me a load of crap about it? For some reason, some pilots get pretty high on their horse once they're 'in the club', and it makes them feel better trying to squash the little guy. I guess these people have forgotten why we refer to each other as 'bros' in the first place. Personally, I say go for it. As always, I'll add in my public service announcement to remind people that if you put yourself out there, you have to be prepared to take what comes with the territory. Not only do you put a target on yourself for petty criticism like you saw linked, but also (in my case) an OSI/IG investigation and even attempts to be contacted by foreign intelligence agents. Be smart about whatever you do.

June 8-11th, 2006 I'll be there.

Class ranking is based on flight commander ranking (what the IPs think of you), daily flying scores, checkride scores, and academics.

That's it, really -- just a lot of firepower. I remember one particular occasion when I checked in on a FAC frequency. As I switched channels, I could hear another formation checking in (and I assume it was a Viper or Hornet). "...on station with two JDAMs, two CBU-103, 1,000 rounds of 20 mike-mike, and 20 minutes of playtime." I had to laugh when I checked in for my two ship with, "Warhawk, Gundog 55's on station with *eighteen* GBU-12s, 1,000 rounds of 20 mike-mike, and 45 minutes of playtime." It was such a contrast...although I don't think the FAC particularly cared who was delivering the iron, so long as it was there and ready to rain down on bad guys.

Oh BIGTIME. With 9 GBUs, 2 600-gallon tanks, pods, and 2 AMRAAMs, we had to have one motor in 'burner just to take on gas at 310 knots! Of course, with 33,000 pounds of gas on board the jet is freakin' heavy even without the weight of the ordnance. PIIIIIIIGS IIIIIIIIIN SPAAAAAAAAACE! Here's a shot of my favorite loadout, BTW... [ 17. March 2005, 19:39: Message edited by: Hacker ]

Iiiiiinteresting. I can't say I've ever seen that loadout, especially using 2 and 8 for 500-pounders. I've carried six '82s on one conformal, four 12s on the other, and a GBU-10 on station 5. My favorite is still the wall-to-wall 9 x GBU-12 load.

Since AD operational squadrons have a complete turn-over of personnel about every 2-3 years, you'll find the reputation/atmosphere of particular squadrons differ constantly. What's good now may suck by the time you get there, or the opposite may be true and what is considered a bunch of dirtbags may be heroes.

What jet are you flying that carries a load like that?

F-15Es are as well.

Well, I did ONW and OSW, and I thought they were a joke compared to OIF in March/April '03, where there *was* significant SAM and AAA fire. From what I hear, current OIF sorties (for fighter guys, at least) are just like ONW/OSW...or, better yet, Noble Eagle with bombs.

At Moody there are limitations on where IPs are allowed to fly on weekend CT cross-countries (thanks to the buffoonery of our T-6 bretheren who showed appalling lack of judgment last year).

That billboard was about 5 miles from my house where I grew up in Seattle. Of course, I was way too young to get the joke when it was there.

At IFF that's something IP flight leads will occasionally do...give #2 the lead on RTB, for instance, to test his SA on the profile and NAVAID setup. IFF students are actually required to lead an RTB a couple times during the course.

Strippers in the bar was also a common tradition in Vietnam...

All the Flight Commanders at Moody had a meeting yesterday with a group of AETC staffers who are "fact finding" regarding cheating for the AETC/CC and CV. I am confident, after talking with these officers (two pilots, one JAG) that AETC has the proper perspective on the difference between gouge and cheating.

At Seymour the 335th and 336th share the same building. There is lots of interaction between the squadrons. I was in the 336th, and flew with the 335th on many occasions when they needed a pilot, and we "hired" guys from their squadron when we needed people. We have a similar situation at Moody with the two IFF squadrons, too.

It is fiction, but it was based directly on Anderson's UPT experience. I agree--this is the best book out there about the UPT experience as a student. It is a little out of date, here in the SUPT/T-6/T-38C age, but it still is really informative.