Smokin

Could we do it today? And this

"In addition, the digital messaging system GroupMe, which was used by the squadron, was often littered with conversations containing pornographic imagery, often of male genitalia, as well as “vulgar, homophobic, and sexually suggestive statements.” At least he wasn't reinforcing any stereotypes...

Maybe someone placed a bomb in his back pocket...

Like Hindsight said, I know you're being flippant; but if there is anything young guys (even more so than the GOs) should be scared shitless about, it is a mass exodus of the experienced line IP type. I'm sure it is true of other airframes, but in a fighter squadron the line IP has a huge impact on the squadron in terms of the squadron pilots being survivable and lethal. The squadron patch is only one dude and these days it is not uncommon for him to be the ONLY patch in the squadron. It is the line IP that keeps the squadron up to the standards the patch and SQ/CC set. With so many dudes punching at the 12 year point, the AF is losing a huge amount of experience that is only gained 1.5 hours at a time over the course of multiple operational assignments. With the loss of this experience, other pilots are losing the opportunity to gain vicariously from this experience and will end up making the same (occasionally fatal) mistakes regaining some of that experience. This is the AF that you are going to inherit if you end up making it that far. When guys who know far more about the situation than you do are really worried, it is probably not the time to be the flippant SNAP saying you're glad to see the opportunity.

Every time I even hear HPO mentioned, it makes me want to go to the airlines. HPOs are not the guys you need to entice to stay in. People who actually want to become GOs are generally going to stay in because that is who they are. The people you need to convince are all the guys who want to top out at O-5, maybe O-6 if the job was right, but see the lifestyle of their commanders and DOs and don't think it sounds like something they want to be a part of. Going to wing stand up to explain to the wing commander as to why a four ship landed 20 minutes late? Getting an angry phone call from the OG because Lt X didn't properly fill out an eSSS before sending an unnecessary memo to the group? Having to tell your squadron that they are going to miss Christmas and be "deployed" for six months to a base in Korea where a third of them have already spent 12+ months because some four star wants another squadron in his command? No thanks. Fix this type of BS and the AF won't need a pilot bonus; they'll have to kick guys out because too many want to stay in. Last years change was a significant step in the right direction, but I think 2003 year group retention (or lack thereof) is going to force them to up the ante. Problem is, that would require explaining to Congress why guys who spent years getting to their dream job won't take a quarter of a million dollars to stay in that job.

Makes perfect sense. Why wouldn't the AF would fly black world jets in the middle of the afternoon over public land in the cons? And the elusive F-22? Maybe they should try meeting at a different airport.

The article was almost a complete waste of the few minutes I spent skimming it. However, the last paragraph is one that I actually agreed with: "Ironically, Brig. Gen. Robin Olds grew the mustache as a “middle finger” to leadership. Now that leadership has sanctioned this event, I have no doubt that, if General Olds were here, he would shave his mustache off in protest!" Except for the obvious fact that he didn't actually have a mustache as a BG, he shaved it off while still a full bird. I considered ignoring MM now that it is a CSAF led event. Kinda hard to have an anti-establishment morale event that is endorsed by the leader of that establishment and is AF wide. Not that I fault Gen Welsh; good on him for proving that he still has the line pilot in mind. But since the whole AF is doing it and it is a semi-official event now, I think this MM thing has run its course.

Even if it were a real gun, why would that merit calling the cops? Did he pull his tattoo out and threaten anyone with it?

A complete shame. The AF is far worse for his pre-mature departure. One of the few GOs who still had tactical relevancy; as a one star he would go fight BFM against line IPs and school them.

Anarchists and others who have been trying to overthrow the government for years. Not sure if it is still this bad, but a few years ago, if you flew into the Athens airport, you had a 50/50 shot of walking past a full up police riot bus with cops just sitting on call. They don't really care about Americans, but a car bomb doesn't discriminate. The tourist areas are safe because even anarchists want jobs, but I wouldn't chose to hang out near Greek government buildings and such. Probably similar threat level to the Basque region in Spain.

Holy hell! What kind of emergency would take $63K that you need immediately? That's more than seven months of pre-tax income for most of us. If anyone in our type of income bracket needs $63K for an emergency, items from the Gun thread would likely be of more use. I understand longer term emergencies (like getting caught using products from the above post, getting the boot from the AF, and searching for a job), but then you would also have six months to make that money liquid. Seems like you're running a huge opportunity cost to have that much money in an account that probably has a negative post-inflation yield.

And the brewery was founded by two previous Air Force guys. Gives me ideas for my retirement plan. If you like that, try their Nitro Stout or the Milk Stout.

If you are not planning on staying at lodging regardless, show up without reservations and hope for a non-A. Then, if you get a non-A, you're golden. If they have space available, you don't need any letter to stay off base, but you can only claim what it would have cost for you to stay on base. If you're going to be there for a few months, you should be able to find a place off base to rent for the $56/night that should be reimbursed regardless of any letter.

Republicans just wanted this to go through quickly and without significant media attention so everyone can keep pointing out how ObamaCare is falling on its face. Had there been another government shutdown in Jan, no one would care that Obama's signature legislation and his legacy is turning out to be a complete debacle.

Combination of factors. Weight of the DU at the very front of the helmet causes issues but it is really the the DU, or HMCS shell NVG adapter, that catches the windstream and put pressure on the neck that is not there with a 55P. So you get a worse cranium forward force during the actual ejection than an immediate reversal as the sail attached to the front of the helmet hit the windstream. That's what the AFE shop was told as the result of the sled tests anyway. Haven't seen it in writing before, so take it with a grain of salt. The cable should only cause damage if the QDC does not actually disconnect properly or it is not routed correctly. Only the latter would be a factor at night.

1 am with LORs or Art 15s for those who are caught out after curfew. I prefer the older technique of using town patrol as punishment for curfew violations. The thought of having to walk around A-town sober in uniform is bad enough. The jets are better avionics wise, but I flew more in a week in Korea back in the day than I fly now in a month. To the more important question of are we more lethal in a contested environment? Not sure.

1. Why not? I am paying 3.25% interest on that 20% downpayment on my $220K house. Historical inflation is roughly 3% meaning that the actual cost in real dollars at the end of my mortgage is .25%. You would have to be crazy to turn down a loan that costs you a .25% above inflation. The VA loan buys me the ability to put that 20% in the market and get a roughly 6.75% inflation adjusted return. Following his advice would cost me a 6.75% return on that $44K down payment, which equates to a difference of $260K at the end of my mortgage in today's dollars. If I followed his advice, it would cost me more than the value of my house. Sounds like great advice to lose money. 2. I'm happy to pay a few thousand now for the opportunity for the above math. 3. 100% false. VA or FHA interest rates are multiple points lower conventional rates.

You'd obviously have to grandfather people in. Maybe even allow people currently serving to elect which plan to take. Had I been offered a matching 401K type thing when I joined, I would have taken that over the 20 year option because that would have given me options. With that possibility, if I decide to leave at 15 years, I have more than a logbook and resume to show for it. The plus side to Uncle Sam is that all payments would be in today's money, not with unknown inflation and without committing to future payments. The downside is that I think it would be a lot tougher to retain the rated force. I haven't seen any numbers, but most of the pilots I know who have gotten out get out right at the commitment. Most who stay even a few years past see the light at the end of the retirement tunnel and stay to 20. Take away that light and you take away a major reason to stick it out even when it isn't fun anymore.

Sorry, late to the fight. Another big reason I think you're seeing with the low F-16 take rate is that of the fighters, the Vipers have been getting the pointless deployments to Korea for the past 5+ years with no hope in sight of that ending anytime soon. When a dude spends 18 months at the Kun only to be "deployed" back there six months later for another seven months is crushing. I know other fighters have not so fun "deployments" that really look more like a six+ month TDYs, but I think the Vipers have had a disproportionate amount to the worst locations. Also, don't think that just because someone is a school select that he is a sure thing for the AF. I know multiple selects who 7-day'd either school or another F-16 assignment. Guys are just simply getting burned out and only see flying less and less in their future (specifically for them and for fighters in general). The good deals cross countries/TDYs and flying CT above RAP that used to recharge guys just don't happen like they used to.

To each their own, but I have absolutely no problem paying the .16% (yes, point one six percent) for the 19.4% I've made in the last year with Vanguard and I look at it seriously about once a year. Regardless, as long as guys are in the ~1% category, it should be no issue. I think I've mentioned it here before, but if you are unsure, take the time to read The Investor's Manifesto by Bernstein. He walks through a math example of someone who pays a broker a 3% fee and the broker invests his returns in a Vanguard type .1% fee fund. By the time they both retire, the broker has made more money off the client than the client made.

I would like to see the A-10 stick around, but the arguments I've seen from most A-10 guys throwing around on here and facebook as to why it should stay are not convincing. A decade of COIN has us thinking that the Army cannot conduct ground operations without constant close air support. When we get into a real war, every time a grunt hears an AK-47, there will not be a dedicated two ship overhead within 5 minutes. Yes, it is the best airplane ever built for killing tanks. But the absolute best tank killer is..... another tank. Two target strafe against moving armor is badass, but once we finally get that anti-armor laser guided 2.75" rocket (technically a missile?), we will be able to create the same effects on the battlefield above tactical AAA and manpads from just about any airplane. Seems to me that it is only a matter of time. If I were an A-10 dude, I'd be arguing pretty hard for a low cost medium tech LAS aircraft. And this is coming from a guy who wants to see A-10s still in the CAF a decade from now. I just don't see that happening.

So the husband basically volunteered for sloppy seconds to dogs? Wow. How bad does your life have to be for that?

I actually expected that video to instantly jump from the glasses being poured to waiting in line at the gate eating an egg burger and then to waking up the next morning with the shoes still on.

We'd better get that check up front and wait a few days after cashing it to make sure the funds went through.

As has been said before, it is unfortunate that civilians are dying in the crossfire, but there are no "good guys" to take the side of here. Both sides are evil. Help the refuge camps and let the monsters continue to kill each other. No good can come of helping either side.