herkbum

Got the brief today from the 559 and 560. PA is still an option, but not used very often. And when it is, it may only cut-off 1 or 2 weeks at the most.

Only greener in certain aspects. We are struggling thru a mission change now that takes our airplanes away which blows, but the PME situation is definitely better.

We wouldn't argue with that!

Looks like Schwartz has been taking Arthur Murray lessons

We do, that is why we made the choice.

From today's Early Bird. I thought the highlighted section was a bad choice of words by Schwartz. http://ebird.osd.mil/ebfiles/e20120306873845.html Oklahoma City Oklahoman March 6, 2012 Top Air Force Commander, Oklahoma Senator Defend Views On U.S. Defense Cuts By Steve Lackmeyer Oklahoma's military installations are well-positioned to survive upcoming defense cuts, though pain is almost inevitable, Oklahoma City and state civic leaders were advised Monday. At the same time, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, warned that cuts proposed by President Barack Obama go too far and are crippling the nation's ability to fend off potential future threats. Inhofe was joined by Gen. Norton Schwartz, U.S. Air Force chief of staff, along with Gov. Mary Fallin and Maj. Gen. Bruce Litchfield, commander at Tinker Air Force Base, in providing a report about changes faced by the aerospace defense industry. The sold-out luncheon, hosted by the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, follows an Air Force budget proposal released last month that proposes cutting $487 billion in spending in the next decade. The cuts, if approved by Congress, would include elimination of the C-130 Avionics Modernization Program, which in turn would jeopardize about half of 550 jobs being transferred to Oklahoma City from Boeing's operation in Long Beach, Calif. Schwartz said the C-130 is an example of weapons systems that must be cut if the Air Force is to become more efficient moving forward. The presentation began with an attack by Inhofe on the budget proposal and military spending under Obama's watch. Inhofe argued Obama's cuts have left the United States in a weakened position against its enemies, specifically Iran. "We have a real serious problem," Inhofe said. "I know the military can't talk about this, but what's happening to the military right now is unconscionable." Inhofe added he is for cutting federal spending -- except for infrastructure and defense. "That's what we're supposed to be doing," Inhofe said. He added the federal debt has more than doubled under Obama's watch. "Where is it going? Everywhere but defense and infrastructure," he said. "We can't sit around and be nice and act like it's not going on. It is going on." Schwartz called out the C-130 program as an example of aircraft that need to be phased out because they are either less capable than other aircraft for the intended mission or more expensive to maintain. "We favored multi-role systems over those that are more specialized," Schwartz said. "We emphasized more common configurations among assets we retained. We sought to retire aircraft types where possible." Schwartz also dismissed a complaint by an audience member over the planned phasing out of the F-22 fighters. "The U.S. Air Force invested an enormous amount of capital to keep that weapons system going," Schwartz said. "It sucked up all the oxygen for other things the Air Force needed to do." Schwartz called Tinker Air Force Base a critical component to the nation's defense and said he believes the military can meet its objective of maintaining preparedness with a "smaller force." "We hold no illusions -- the road ahead will be in no way easy," Schwartz said. "This is a period for best efforts. This is a period for heavy lifting. This is a period for all of us to work together."

I have never heard the discussion in my squadron of needing a Master's degree for promotion. A few folks have them (I would guess less than half), but it has never been an issue that anyone has talked about.

2 Everytime I wrote a paper or responded to a DQ under the influence, my scores went up. It got to be habit to write whatever had to be written after a "social event". This made the entire program so much smoother and I thank God that it is over. What sucks now is that I have started AWC.

All flying positions in my unit are Major positions. I am willing to bet that is pretty much true for most Guard units. So you will make Major unless you totally screw the pooch. SOS is supposed to be required, but I know a few that made it without. A few made O-5 without ACSC.

Great company he hangs around with

My goal is to travel home on a regular basis, so it sounds like the schedule may be conducive.

Is that Rob Blogoevich on the right?

Do tell

-9

Without getting into specifics, what is the basic schedule like during the 4 month school at Holloman? Particularly looking for the average duty day/class length. Thanks.

Not a comprehensive list. Doesn't mention the 8 C-17's to Memphis or Nashville losing the Herk and gaining Reapers.

Today's announcement is the first time I have heard this. Are both operated within the same squadron? I thought they were two different quals? Can you be dual qualed?

I think they hire rated Lts that no longer have a plane to fly.

Ouch

For all of the airdroppers out there, here's a USA Today article about precision airdrops, http://www.usatoday....rops/52902982/1. I was in the Tactics shop in Bagram back in 2006 when this was introduced into Afghanistan. Good to see it is still successful and getting the guys the stuff they need to kick ass and survive!

From only "10" completions, just like the Commandments!

Focus totally lost! F*** them and the high horse they rode in on. Just call him Chief, like every other E-9 out there.

Touche. Just needed to vent and you were the easy target. You can keep your job, can't say that for any senators.

When are you guys going to finally pass a budget? Is that something you can update on a message board?

Actually, it is ROPMA.