Ram

Here's what I wrote to AFPC to get them to un-fvck their shenanigans. To save future bros like me the time, please feel free to copy/paste: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ALCON -I received this message in error. My pending flying training is a requalification course in the F-XX. Per AFI36-2107, Table 1.1, Item #16 (Advanced Flying Training), note 1 applies.According to note 1b: "All manned or unmanned pilots, navigators, and air battle managers who began aviation service after30 September 1997 will not incur any additional Advanced Flying Training (AFT)/InstructorQualification ADSCs which extend beyond 6 or 10 years as applicable, of continuous or cumulative ratedservice. Rated service begins at the completion of training and awarding of wings for the rated specialty.They will still incur Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Professional Military Education (PME), andother non-AFT related ADSCs."Note C countermands Note B in the event that basic qualification is attained through AFT. However, because was previously qualified in the F-16, my AFT course is requalification training (not basic qualification training). Thus, Note C does not apply in my case.Because I have completed my 10 year ADSC pursuant to my completion of UPT, further assignment of ADSC for AFT would be in direct conflict with the AFI as quoted above.I understand that my PCS involves an ADSC (which I accept), but I refuse the AFT ADSC proposed in this case because it would violate the AFI. NOTE: THIS IS NOT A NOTICE OF REFUSAL OF TRAINING. Thank you for your assistance with this matter.V/R,Maj Xxxxxxxxxxxx ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My experience echoes yours. I don't think we should move out of NE Asia like the isolationists like to suggest, but this region has been on the gravy train for too long. Mr. Lim is getting old, and Songtan ain't what it used to be.

Election day in the States went late into the wee hours of the morning, which put the most exciting parts at about mid-day in Korea. The atmosphere was that of a funeral. I speak often with the ROK Chief of Joint Strategic Planning at school over lunch, and he literally said to me "what the hell did you people DO?" I chuckled a little bit. The ROK is new to the whole democracy game, so don't expect them to always have a grasp on how it works. (Hell, their president is going bonkers over here if you've been keeping up with the news.) This picture also came to mind:

I'm actually unsure of the message we are sending the world. Lemmie drop some info about the Korean perspective, courtesy DLI and a year doing ROKAF ACSC: Obviously, the Koreans aren't thrilled about a Trump presidency. They're certainly nervous, as most of their news about the US is translated almost directly from what CNN and the AP pump out (watching the news cycle hit here about 6.9-36 hours after it breaks in the US is interesting). It's no surprise they think Trump a crass madman...that's what CNN told them. Thanks, CNN. So, after the Mattis announcement, I perused Korean media online. The majority of the copy does indeed focus on Mattis' experience leading troops in the middle east. However, this isn't necessarily seen as a positive here on the ROK, as local media generally view the Iraq war (and to a small degree, Afghanistan too) as a costly failure and huge strategic mistake. (I'm not here to argue this point...I'm just telling you about the Korean perspective.) The rest of the copy I've read describes Mattis as a general that's really respected by the US Military and by US Conservatives. Again...this fact also carries positive and negative baggage. I'd like to say that he's quoted well in Korean media, but that's not the case yet. The only time I've seen him quoted was a direct translation of his "it's fun to shoot people" soundbite about killing terrorists that deserve to die. But only the "fun to shoot people" part of the quote was printed...what was NOT included was his discussion about how the people he likes to shoot are all dickwads that rape women, kill kids, rape little boys, and are generally assholes. Also (and partially thanks to Mr. Trump), he's now "Mad Dog Mattis" to Korean media. Not "Chaos Mattis," which the general has been rumored to prefer. So, to readers of Korean papers and online media, you have a USMC former general who commanded in long, bloody Asian land wars, who has said "shooting people is fun," and everyone is calling him "mad dog Mattis." Koreans are, understandably (albeit incorrectly) scratching their heads and thinking "what the fvck-mida?" I'm certain that Gen Mattis will impress as soon as he starts giving speeches as our SECDEF, but he's got an uphill battle over here in Asia. What we view as a smart, seasoned, and cautious general (who really brings the pain when it's appropriate), Asia views very differently. It doesn't change MY mind about Mattis (I think he's Mr. Trump's best pick yet), but just FYSA. I just typed too fvcking much....and I just remembered that no one cares what the ROK thinks. Thanks for reading anyway. Maybe someone finds it interesting.

My favorite Mattis quote speaks heavily to his philosophy:

I just can't imagine I'd ever have a personnelist point out a pilot error on my part, and all I'll I'd say is: "You are correct, I chose to pump #3 (sts) when I should have banzai-ed. Have a great Air Force day!" I mean, maybe I'd say that. Then I'd rip off my wings and self-immolate in front of the squadron patch. Like this: I don't feel like AFPC shares my sentiment. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

AFPC is still trying their same-old tricks, so look out. They just held up my PCS orders because I didn't sign an ADSC agreement for F-16 requalification. This thread wins again.

Ho, were it anyone other than General Mattis, what you said about the pol/mil balance would give me pause. However, I'm ok with having the "warrior monk" providing a balanced pol/mil line of thought to the conversation, and I think he's a perfect candidate for a waiver.

This statement above, plus you said "get out while you can" just a few months back. Cm'on, CH...show us your cards.

So we both agree that maintaining combat capability at our current levels is critical. I'm good with that. I even think we agree with the how, but - as you said - we are talking past each other. Imagine: 1. CGOs being left to be the tactical experts they need to be. 2. FGOs making sure CGOs have the resources they need and are free of bullshit so the CGOs can do their jobs. We need both. I was focusing on the CGO side, and you're making sure we don't forget about #2. Again - I'm good with that. I think the fact that both #1 and #2 above have been mis-managed are our biggest CFs in this DFP. Pilots ARE our biggest asset, and the young guys feel like their time has been wasted by distractions that have held them back from being the tactical mofo CGOs they want to be. You said it yourself above: Masters degrees, bake sales, christmas parties...etc...that's not why guys have signed 10 years of their lives away to wear wings. They wanted wings because they want to WIN and wanted to be on a winning team. This is half of the manning problem. You're talking about the other half: Burn out. You can't change the fact that military life is hard, but treating manpower like it's some easily-replenishable resource (you know, the way A1 manages manpower...poorly) is killing us. You can't buy a CAF IP with 10 years of experience or just re-recruit one. There is a price for a CAF IP with 10 years of experience. A1 thinks that price is $25K/year for 9 years. I disagree. The price is a 10 year wait to replace that CAF IP. Our problems aren't going away until we recognize that we need to let dudes be tactical AND also be cognizant of the fact that they can find happiness elsewhere, should dissatisfaction with active duty grow too large.

There's a boring, effortless, and family-taxing way of maximizing training given the resources we have. There are also ways to keep the CAF FHP exciting, well-organized, and inclusive of innovative training opportunities without putting undue cost on the lives of the bros in the SQ. It's up to the SQ leadership to find a way to keep the training maximized while not exhausting the bros. The F-16 is a fantastic weapon system, but it is useless without an outstanding aviator sitting in that ACES-II. Call it the human weapon system, if you will. You gotta realize who I'm writing to in this thread...the thread about assignment night drops. Lots of young LTs and Capts here...moreso than the other threads. Too much negativity and doom/gloom, and they don't know how to temper it with experience. Know your audience. So yeah, I totally understand where you're coming from, and I know that your post is not a spear at me. That said, I don't understand where you got your 3 points from what I said, and I'll discuss why I disagree one by one. 1. I never said no XC, LOWAT, or 50k space rides. Everyone has instrument beans, LOWAT, and red-air sorties they need to accomplish. XC can be done. Obviously we're not talking about a squadron $100,000 hamburger party once a month, but there are good deals that can be found. I've seen it done several different ways, and here are a few: Airshow static displays, out-and-backs to other bases to verify their ability to catch/service/turn jets for contingencies, training done on the way to a TDY at an outbase for some dissimilar A/A. LOWAT is a no-brainer. And anyone who's ever been fragged for the HFF while flying red-air doesn't have a hair on their ass if they're not going to 45k+ and seeing how fast they can go (within ops limits). It can be done. Seeing yourself on the schedule for an instrument ride or red-air doesn't mean you just sigh and accept that it's going to be a boring sortie. FLs and IPs leading those rides need to be pushing their formations to ensure they're getting learning out of the sortie, instead of just being radar reflectors. Wingmen need to demand the same out of their FL and IPs. 2. In all my talk about putting KILLING AND SURVIVING as the #1 priority (and I also said that the FGOs need to screen the BS from the dudes with bars on their shoulders), I don't know how in the hell you plucked "masters/PME/bullshit events/etc" from my words. I know you're a smart man, but this was a hiccup in your reading comprehension. Effort put toward KILLING AND SURVIVING needs to be recognized. FGOs around the squadron are the ones who need to demonstrate this balance to the younger pups. Getting promoted can be important, but I'm sure my wife and kids would rather have me hit a merge as a Major and live to RTB than die as a Lt Col. All of us need to realize that our own personal lethality and survivability is gained via a finite amount of man-hours and effort. Spend it carefully. Show others how they need to spend theirs. 3. Not every day needs to feel like an episode of 24. No one can live like that long-term. Friday night pilot meetings before a roll call can be great if they're led well. We don't need to have everyone give a 36' recap of their weeks' sorties to the peanut gallery. What we NEED are regular pilot meetings with lessons learned. What we NEED are bros on upgrade rides writing down their DFPs and associated fvck-ups/attaboys so others can learn from THEIR experience. MQT/FLUG/IPUG aren't just for the upgradee...EVERYONE needs to be able to learn from the spent resources. I've seen it done really well with a book of lessons learned kept in the vault. Good patches know what I'm talking about. Finally, don't speak too soon about me becoming a DO. I'm neither an HPO or a Patch, and CAF DO jobs go to those dudes so they can get ready to be CAF SQ/CCs. Maybe there are bros out there like me, but they think that being some attached FGO somewhere means that they can't affect anything in the CAF. WRONG. The young guys will listen. Your voice might not be as loud or as frequent as the DO or the CC, but you need to be there speaking all the same. 1. Don't be invisible. Be in the vault as much as you can. Just because you're not scheduled to teach academics doesn't mean you can't be there to answer questions, grab some pens, and impart some knowledge. 2. Your AFSC says PILOT, not Wing (INSERT ATTACHED JOB HERE). Take that for what it's worth. 3. Don't suck in the jet. It's harder when you're attached, but if you need extra sim time or study opportunities, you need to take care of you. The young guys won't listen if you're not credible. That's entirely within your control.

The good ones will, because -- like me -- they will also be fvcking awesome.

Hey folks, don't confuse my sarcastic and pessimistic posts for the voice of a dude who's going to give up and watch the house burn down around him. (Although it's probably easy to think that way...which is why I'm writing again.) Take my posts and combine them with the knowledge that I took the bonus and plan to stay until 20+ to try my best to keep my little corner of the USAF as lethal and relevant as I can. I still think that we're the best airpower organization the world has ever seen, and I still think we can beat any challenger. I'm just concerned about the margins, which I see as shrinking by the second. We are a volunteer service. That means that, while you're still wearing that uniform, you have no choice but to go out and do your 100% to keep the organization successful and ensure YOUR personal corner of the USAF is lethal and relevant. You are bound by that duty, and it's the expectation of ALL of our citizens (crazy SJWs, red-hat wearing Trump fanatics, and everyone in between) that you're out there every day EARNING the right to hear "thank you for your service." The CAF is in for a hard decade...and I think it's already started. I won't question the decision of anyone who decides to stay or anyone who decides to leave...it's their choice. But those of you who decide to stand shoulder to shoulder with me and the rest of us CAF bros: We're going to have to work. Hard. 1. Every single training sortie needs to be maximized. 2. No slack for those who don't show their commitment in their daily effort. 3. Every teachable moment has to be caught, and those lessons need to be TALKED ABOUT in the squadron. 4. Guys with leaves and eagles on their shoulders need to screen the BS from those with bars. Young LTs and Capts need time in the vault/sim/jet as much as possible. Take the resources we are given, find a way forward, and work hard to produce the very best you can with those resources. That's our job. We need to keep voicing our complaints to "the Bobs" around the USAF so they know not everything is rainbows, unicorns, and sprinkles...but that's secondary to our #1 concern: KILL AND SURVIVE. Bitching on the internet, like all other forms of sport-bitching, is not only fun, it's your God-given right as servicemember. Throwing your hands in the air and yelling that the sky is falling -- if you're not giving 100%+ and working your ass off to be lethal -- is the biggest SNAP-bullshit act you could possibly commit. Those newly joining, about to join, or aspiring to join the CAF: Get ready to work. You're not the reason for this problem, but we don't have time for any bullshit. Be prepared.

It's easier to understand once you realize that A1 doesn't worry about combat capability. They have to produce "experienced" 11Fs that can fill their manning needs. If that means guys get ripped out of the cockpit the minute they're technically "experienced," so be it. A1 has bills to pay. So now you have a shortened B-course to increase RTU throughput, which means more dudes in MQT in CAF squadrons...which can be a burden to the CAF training programs. All this effort, then you gotta kick that young newly-minted 4FL out the door to go do something else and make room for the next round of LTs. No worries here, everyone. As you can clearly see, all the slides have green stop light charts. Press! Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

Holy shit - he's actually wearing his nerd wings above his pilot wings. (Yes, I know this is what the reg says to do in his case.) That's an auto $69 shack and a keg of beer in any fighter bar worldwide. YGBSM. That said, glad he's legit. Given his pedigree (FWIC IP, Viper driver, Purdue grad) I'm not surprised at all. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

Also on the short list for AG is US Representative Trey Gowdy. Whoooo boy...those in the Clinton circles should be feeling a bit worried, methinks.

My beef with that wasn't so much that mistakes were made, but it was more along the lines of ZERO accountability for those mistakes. I dunno, maybe someone got an ass-chewing, but from the outside it looked like buffoonery from A1 was tolerated (or even encouraged, given the bright tones of the too-positive press releases) with no recourse for mistakes. This only solidified the mistrust for A1 around the CAF and MAF, given similar incidents (and lack of accountability) in the past. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

Mr. Trump as president: Good or bad, we don't know yet (like any new president). Secretary Clinton permanently out of politics: We KNOW this is a VERY GOOD THING. I'll call that a win so far. I'd personally like to see an indictment against HRC on 21 January by our new Attorney General (supposedly Mayor Giuliani). I doubt we will see it. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

"Be an instructor. Don't tell everyone what...tell them WHY. Otherwise the petulant wine has no place." Fvcking SHACK. You just summed up 69.36% of what is wrong with this forum lately. SNAPS take note. EDIT: I've been here for 13 gawddamn years and I can't swear? Would some comm nerd FVCKING FIX THIS BULLSH!T??? Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

Funny, I've heard BQZip's mom say the same thing...

Let me qualify the following by mentioning that I was a T-38 FAIP. That means that my opinion - while informed on the topic - is also biased because I believe that I am fvcking awesome. Deal with it. I think we need FAIPs at UPT, and UPT would be a worse-off place without them. Sure, there are plenty of LTs walking the halls of any UPT base, and there are plenty of those LTs that can get shouldered with some bitch work around the squadron. But really, those cats are students in a challenging course, and their time needs to be protected by their flight commander and other leadership to make sure they spend their time and focus in the right place: Mastering the basic flight admin they won't have the time to learn later. So, because those LT studs definitely CANNOT be tasked with many of the things around any SQ that you'd normally give to a LT or young Capt wingman in a CAF squadron, someone has to be there to pick up the slack. This is where your young FAIPs come in, and this is also why being a FAIP has some pretty awesome and pretty not-so-awesome aspects. You can (and absolutely SHOULD) fly and instruct your fvcking ASS off as a FAIP. On the other hand, you're going to get some shit duties around the squadron, and you'll probably be working longer hours than your average fresh-from-the-CAF 4FL Viper/Eagle guy who's now flying white jets. That's ok...that CAF dude needs a little break. Now, because FAIPs end up a bit behind the power curve when they hit the CAF, they gotta be wise to this and have good leadership show them how to be prepared for later. Personal/professional goals might be easier to accomplish in that AETC assignment than later in the CAF. Developing winning habit patterns related to basic admin, study, and work ethic pay big dividends later. LISTENING WELL to the older dudes from the CAF and internalizing their lessons can be huge. These things enable a FAIP to hit IFF, RTU, MQT, and beyond with the basic skill set that will ensure success. It goes without saying that squandering that time as a FAIP will bring one to the opposite extreme. So my advice to FAIPs is this: Don't think that anyone (you, the USAF, your career as a pilot) has hit the big PAUSE button the moment you graduated UPT. While your UPT bros are off doing fun and amazing shit, don't forget that they are growing as pilots and as professional officers. YOU MUST ALSO GROW. Find ways to do that in the situation you've been given, don't slack, and always keep your scope open and set to long range search so you're prepared for the next step of your flying career. Do all that while flying your ass off and you'll be fine.

^ Good stuff right here. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums