Ram

If sport-bitching were an AFSC, we could all wear the badge.

That's one award ceremony I wouldn't mind seeing, though. ...because titties.

Nerd.

Given recent trend data, I'm going to keep a tight grip on my wallet.

Back in my day at ENJJPT (almost 15 years ago, admittedly before the drop night weirdness started), the SQ/CC and Flt/CC would sit down with all studs receiving a bomber or FAIP assignment about an hour before drop night started. This was done at the option of the studs. For example, the Flt/CC would ask if anyone DIDN'T want to be notified ahead of time. As a result, I knew I was going to be a T-38 FAIP over an hour before the festivities started, giving me plenty of time to get a head start on my personal bottle of Weed (which led to many fun run-ins with the Hooters girls we had at assignment night passing out chicken wings). ...but that was a different time in a different Air Force.

In my opinion, the "early offer" of the bonus worked out well for me. For AFPC and for some potential takers, it's a win-win for everyone. AFPC gets a win if they get an early taker, as that's data they get a whole year ahead of time. Pilots can get a whole 9 years worth of $25K, which meets the intent of the bonus program without incurring an ADSC beyond retirement eligibility AND allows the full scope of the bonus to be honored without perceived AFPC trick-fuckery. One could also read into it that AFPC is serious about retaining as many as possible through 20 YAS, but let's be serious: There's much more they could/should do (for a much cheaper price, I might add) that would do a helluva lot more to positively impact retention.

Reference a post of mine a few pages back. Those with expiring ADSCs early in the fiscal year stood to lose money on a deal when the bonus wasn't offered until mid-FY. In my case, it meant an extra $12K. EDIT: Here's the link to my original post explaining it: DOUBLE EDIT: Aw, fuck it...allow myself to quote myself (to make it easier to find/read):

Mark1 is just out of his element. No need to get overly upset. I can't deny that his motivation is justified, and I know it's all well-intentioned. However, he's way out of his lane to suggest that the merits of ADS-B for the Viper outweigh already planned and pipelined developments to the F-16 avionics suite. You see, there are a couple problems that jump out at me right away when it comes to this: 1. The MMC (modular mission computer) on the Viper has been running on fumes for years. We're talking about 1980s technology attempting to process WAY more code than it was designed for, and the "brain" of the jet can barely keep up now with the level of information exchange that is supposed to happen on the battlefield. We have ALREADY overtasked that computer just to keep it "combat compliant" with what's expected of a modern pointy-nose asset. Yes, Lockheed is part of the problem, as any physical MMC upgrades are going to come at a hefty cost that we're not willing to pay. I'm sure ADS-B could be stand-alone (mostly) in the Viper, especially in the case of an "out-only" installation, but that system is still going to have to talk to the nav gear in the jet. The goddamn EGI already has issues, and I'm sure one more element in the equation ain't going to help. 2. The way a Viper is wired (literally, the fucking WIRES for components) is a complete shit-show. In the Viper, you have a 1990s era information exchange architecture that can't handle more data. Period dot. Viper CAPES might have helped this, but we won't get that because: money. 3. The Viper is a SEAD asset, and that means it carries gear that's sensitive to EM interference. This might come as a surprise to some, but you can't just slap a gizmo on a Viper (or anything) and expect it to work the way it did before unless there's a shitload of testing and reprogramming of the systems (and associated computing architecture) that are designed to listen to beeps and squeaks. Like running a vacuum cleaner on the same circuit as a cathode-ray (old school) TV, the picture ain't going to be clear. All this can be tested and adjusted for via engineers, but realize that the cost of a new piece of gear in a SEAD airplane is much more than just the per-unit cost of the electronics + labor. Thus, if 2020 is the implementation deadline, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that there's no fucking way we are anyway close to the contracting / developing / testing / implementing timeline. Especially with Lockheed Martin. And: With ADS-B not being required for aircraft operating in class E airspace below 10k', I can't think of a Viper-included mid-air (or near mid-air) in recent history where this would have helped. To whit, it's worth mentioning that the Viper isn't the only 4th generation fighter platform with these issues. I talked to some light Eagle guys who wanted to add a Sniper capability (A/A only) to their jet, but didn't have the computing power to make it happen. Last I heard, they were asking the engineers to borrow processing time from their DVR system to run the Sniper Pod. That's where we're at now w/4th generation fighters, boys.

What kinda money are we talking about here? Just curious...

Don't lump us all in with that guy. FAIPs are handpicked.... .....like a booger.

You call it a novelty, I call it the coolest goddamn fucking thing I have ever had the incredible luck to do.

SNAPs gonna SNAP, bruh.

Lockheed's lawyers are way too smart to agree to something like that.

It would be a lot easier to staff those Korea sims if they put them at Osan instead of Kunsan. Of course, no one wanted to listen to that when asked for input about the plan to build them.

SAC used to have a program where pilots flew white jets for currency (similar to B-2 program, perhaps?), but it was cancelled amid budget cuts and a relatively high accident/buffoonery rate.

Neil trap.

Dunno if anyone has seen this yet, but the AIB must have been released. (I'm out of the cockpit for a while, so I lost my AFSAS access and haven't read the SIB yet, so this is best I can do...) http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/2015/07/13/air-force-f16-crash-december-2014/30077961/

While you can't refute the facts of that memo, it is full Kool-Aid. Never go full Kool-Aid. Maybe this is why I'll never be a wing commander, as I can't see myself writing something like that without wanting to immediately walk to the parking lot to suck-start a shotgun in my car due to the cognitive dissonance. The RPA community needs bodies, and it's what our nation's leadership has deemed our new reality. That is fine. However, do we need to sell it as a good deal? Our young LTs can read between the lines of that memo a mile away. If our young pups aren't smart enough to read between the lines and spot the "company message" being spouted, do we really want them as officers in our Air Force? The fact that these questions don't have official answers is a major fucking foul on the part of A1, IMHBAO. We've only been thinking about how to fix this manning problem for...uh...almost 10 years.

Yeah, but you have to make "air quotes" with your fingers when you say they're "rated."

So, anyone up for another good ol rape song sing a long? We can just do it via live webcast on the MyVector site, right?

Well, my personal opinion was already pretty low, so... No change here.

^ This. We are all about hacking the mission and serving, but when you feel like everyone's time is being wasted at the expense of your spouse and kids, you can't help but sympathize with folks who would do anything to avoid that, including pulling the handle on a possibility of joining the check of the month club.

A special snowflake such as you needs to be immediately identified by your chain of command, so be sure to call your commander before you show up. Ask him to start working on an exemption to policy (ETP) memo for you to ensure it's ready when you arrive. That way, you can quickly eschew the dorms and move into that cushy apartment off base. After all, you're a 2nd Lt, and you deserve a nice place. Since all of your hard work has made you the high-speed guy you are, make sure to schedule an appointment with the WG/CC shortly after you arrive to discuss his discriminatory policies. There, be sure to have a multi-page report prepared that outlines your various accomplishments so far in your illustrious ROTC career (to include pictures of your ROTC ribbon rack and information about all the job experience and cadet rank you accumulated at your detachment) so he can know you're the real deal. All that should help your case and promptly get you identified as a rising star in your community. Nowadays, you can't start that process too soon, so hit the ground running!

Slow down there, sport. Some UPT bases require unmarried students to live in the dorms. It might be a good idea to talk to bros or make some phone calls.

Can someone link me the survey? For some reason, I appear to be left off the distro list...