ClearedHot

Our end strength won't drop like the other services (USA and USMC). While we are marginally over end strength, we are not looking for a mass exodus. The Air Force to a greater extent than the other services relies on highly trained people to man many key career fields, that training takes time to develop, and we are not looking to thin the heard by massive numbers. I look for the Marines to drop from 202,000 to below 176,000,....just a guess The USA will see an even larger drop. In the end if USAF does reduce it will be in much smaller numbers and if too many people try to leave I think it will take .69 seconds for them to drop Stop-Loss on critical career fields...i.e. Fighter Pilots. If these changes take place...I would strongly encourage my son NOT to join the military. If the new system becomes retro-active, I would also likely retire at the first opportunity.

Try 20....

Sorry Bra, not everyone can be a gunship pilot.

I guess I spend more time at work than you do...and I certainly won't open that thread in the office.

U.S. Air Forces Central Command Band goes viral http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBaskRZDbNA

Man Allegedly Urinates on 11-Year-Old Girl During Flight to New York

Taliban who downed helo killed in airstrike If you ain't Spectre...

FAA probing News Corp.'s use of drones

A short history of the subsystem that grounded the F-35

FW: AFPOINTS, August 2011 3. Air Force offers voluntarily-recalled officers extension. Air Force Personnel Center officials is in the process of contacting selected rated officers brought back on to active duty in 2009 as part of the Voluntary Retired Rated Officer Recall Program and the Voluntary Rated Officer Limited Period Recall Program to encourage voluntary extensions. The voluntary extension is being offered specifically to fighter pilots, and in some cases navigators filling 11F, Fighter Pilot, billets already on extended active duty. Under the current recall program, extensions to current recall contracts are capped at a maximum of 48 months for the entire length of the original contract plus the extension. For some, this may allow up to an additional 24 months of active duty service. The 2009 program voluntarily recalled pilots, navigators and air battle managers who were either in the air reserve components or retired as lieutenant colonels or below, and who were younger than 60 to come back onto active duty, said Lt. Col. Damon Menendez, AFPC Officer Accessions Branch chief. These officers were used in myriad positions including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; rated staff; and other rated functions. With the extension, recalled retired officers may now stay past 62 years of age with an approved waiver, Menendez said. The voluntary extensions are being offered despite the Air Force’s downsizing efforts to meet the congressionally-mandated end strength of 322,800 Airmen by Sept. 30, 2012. “We currently have too many people in the Air Force, but the overages are in the wrong Air Force Specialties,” Menendez said. “The Air Force regularly reviews its manpower and personnel capabilities to ensure they align with current, emerging and future Air Force missions. Today, one of our greatest needs is experienced fighter pilots. These recalled officers fill a void that would take years to cover. The skills and experience these officers possess is critical to our current and future success and their continued service to our nation is both desired and appreciated.” To submit an extension application, individuals should scan and e-mail a memorandum endorsed by the requesting member’s commander and senior rater to AFPC.DPPAES@US.AF.MIL for processing. Each extension request will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

30 more comrades in arms...what price freedom. God bless their families tonight.

Completely, 100%, unsubstantiated rumor, but still interesting... Dudes, I felt compelled to pass on some distressing news that I recently received from a friend of mine in the XXX ANG. He is a viper pilot that took an AGR spot at XXX as the MX squadron commander, but still gets to fly. I merely emailed him to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX and asked him how the guard was going. I got back some troubling news. Here are a few quotes from his email: "I literally just got the brief that the Sec of the Air Force and Penetta both want to get rid of the Air Guard all together. Best case is all the aircraft will be sent to Active Duty and all the fighters sent to the boneyard! Right now they are talking 100% cut of the Air National Guard!!! Please get the word out" "I am really bummed out right now knowing that I will see the end of fighters. BTW the Sec. also said that if he had his way, he would cut EVERY fighter!!!! He does not see a need for us!" In order to try and separate emotion from reality I asked if he had received an official brief, or if there was a quote posted somewhere of the SECAF remarks and this was his response: "It was straight from his mouth in a room of maintainers. It is amazing what is said about "us" (pilots) when we are not around. I where ABUs when I am not flying and I hear things when they forget about my wings on my chest. Sorry no cell phones allowed. Don't worry, all the intel I get I will send out to ALL THE BROS ASAP! Option 1 is to get rid of the Guard. Option 2 is combine Guard and Reserve and transfer all fighter (minus block 30, which will be in the boneyard) to the AD. Plan on all new commands and structuring (just like 1992 and the restructure of MAC, SAC, TAC). All to begin in 2013!"

I think they would look great................ on a gunship target range.

Pentagon’s Lightning Gun Sold for Scraps on eBay All of which would make for a funny little story, if that buyer didn’t discover that the multimillion dollar “Joint Improvised Explosive Device Neutralizers,” or JINs, were kluged together from third-rate commercial electronics, and controlled by open Wi-Fi signals. In other words, the Pentagon didn’t just overpay for a flawed weapon. On the off-chance the JIN ever worked, the insurgents could control it, too.

And from the look of it, a jock strap as well.

Last time I was in the Eglin Commissary I was trapped behind just such a beast...I almost chimed in with a "could please move you old fat fuck", when the dude turned sideways and I realized it was Gen Horner. Why do retirees have to shop on weekends? You are retired, please go on Tuesdays at 1400.

Another old friend of mine...jumped the shark...wow.

From: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Lt Gen MIL USAF Sent: Monday, August 01, 2011 To: Subject: Upcoming HAF Uniform Policy Change Senior leaders, I want to bring to your attention the CSAF has directed a change to the uniform of the day (UOD) for Airmen serving in Headquarters Air Force (both the Air Staff and Secretary of the Air Force Staff) who are assigned in the National Capitol Region (NCR). Essentially, this change entails phasing in the implementation of the blue uniform as the UOD throughout the week in two phases: Phase I (effective 1 Oct 11), UOD will be: - Mon: Blue uniform any combination (no change from current policy) - Tue - Fri: Blue uniform any combination is optional OR ABU/flight suit Phase II (effective 1 Jan 12), UOD will be: - Mon- Thu: Blue uniform any combination - Fri: Blue uniform any combination OR ABU/flight suit As you recall, on 4 Sep 08 the CSAF implemented a policy whereby the blue uniform would be the duty uniform worn every Monday by Airmen in appropriate career fields and environments throughout the Air Force. The revised HAF UOD policy change outlined above (ie., expanding the wear of blues for personnel assigned to the HAF in the NCR), is not intended to change the policy set forth by the CSAF in his 4 Sep 08 letter to all Air Force personnel. Moreover, Airmen assigned to units other than the HAF (in the NCR) should continue to follow the 4 Sep 08 policy letter.

LOL

Getting Bin Laden What happened that night in Abbottabad

Fail The second photograph is not from Nagasaki, but from the Kozuchi shrine in Otsuchi (Iwate prefecture) on the northeast coast of Honshu, after a tsunami struck that area in March 2011. Geographically, these two arches are on opposite sides and ends of Japan.