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drewpey

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Posts posted by drewpey

  1. 9 hours ago, matmacwc said:

    Aren’t Nellis jobs usually 16 hours of work shoved into a 12 hour day?  Yuck.

    Not this one.  8-4 days, long-range work...no constantly putting out fires.  It's a good deal in terms of family life otherwise I wouldn't be posting it here.  For career progression and filling an OPR it can be challenging, hence the reaching out to other Nellis units to help out part time.

  2. If anyone is interested in a VLPAD opportunity in Las Vegas I know a unit with several open billets.  Fighters, bombers, RPA, C-17, 12R, Space, Info Ops, etc.  Patches preferred, but not required.  Desk jobs with opportunity to fly, choose-your-own-adventure TDY schedule, and possibility to get your hands into your typical Nellis work (aggressors, WEPTAC, RF, USAFWS instruction, etc.).  Hit me up for details.

  3. AFSOC already advertises a self-CSAR capability, but then pencil-whips the actual training needed to conduct the mission well.  Everyone just sees it as a series of tactical events our assets already accomplish without training for the bigger picture.  Without a doctrinal shift and a large attitude change, the HCs will be doing MC missions within a week of arriving in command, and HH-60s will be helping out the CV-22s from their current crushing ops tempo.  More meat for the grinder.

    And if you want funding in AFSOC you would need to start telling people you do ISR or strike.  We put freakin lasers on planes people...not CSAR!

    • Upvote 2
  4. 8 hours ago, panchbarnes said:

     On a related note, I understand many flyers on here just want to fly and not do staff time because it's a shitty job.  However, the "Staff" can use more the "Been There Done That" flyers to lead or guide the planning and execution of plans and strategies.  You don't want to only push HPOs or unqualified folks into certain critical staff jobs for a year and move on.  We would have no credibility in the Joint world and it would be detrimental to the fighting force.

    I completely agree. There are plenty of guys burned out from flying unit ops and are looking for predictability and to reconnect with family. Every time I had to interact with a TSOC staff there were HPO fliers without any relevant experience to help, and they were making poor decisions on our behalf out of ignorance. It would be nice to see these jobs open up for folks who haven't been designated HPO but would be solid workers for 3-4 years. Again the USAF puts too much emphasis on the job and not performance. From what I've seen in the USMC rating system it looks like they have it figured out. Weighted to prevent overrating everyone, and more emphasis on how well you did the job you were assigned. Then hopefully your have folks gravitate to the jobs they wanted to do without detriment to their career. Then after a few years remove the empty jobs no one wants to do! 

    • Like 1
  5. 1 hour ago, panchbarnes said:

    cough *stop loss* cough

    CH did warn people a while back...

     

    Edited to add:

    Snide remarks aside, it's a pretty insulting move to the people who busted their ass to progress to the next level.  Congratulations, for the majority of you folks, it doesn't matter how hard you worked to get that strat, you are no better than the person in the next cubicle over.  The few HPOs know who they are and won't be affected.  What matters is the AF will have plenty of "selects" to send to the various lower tier NAF/MAJCOM/Joint staff billets to appease the screaming commanders, who've had to hire extra contractors, and approve UFRs as stop gap solutions.  At the end, these "selects" will likely not advance to O-5 and be happy to retire as O-4s.  Air Force solves the manning problems it created and everyone is happy.

    This is just another example how you and I are just a number in the big blues' eyes.  One solution fits all, which is natural for a large bureaucracy.  It'd be interesting to see the number of people who decline the promotion opportunity and just leave the service.

    All I gotta say is the people, civilian or military, who were been involved with Force Management policies since the Debbie James days, needs to be fired immediately.  But we all know that will never happen.  Accountability is not one of our Core Values and is only a theory taught at Maxwell.

    Or maybe, they are doing this in anticipation of major event(s) happening throughout the world in the near future...but what do I know?

    CH was right all along...

    /Rambling off

     

    Is this something to be angry about?  It was already a 90% promote rate, and if you are looking to get a strat you aren't concerned about pinning on, but rather getting a school slot.  This doesn't change that.

    Higher promotion rates are better for everyone.  It gives people more flexibility in their careers without getting completely hosed because they didn't follow the expected career path.  Sure old crusties get their panties in a wad because "major used to mean something"...but the more off-ramps the USAF removes on the highway to LtCol the more likely the "flying-only" career path is for guys who just want to fly.  The checking of boxes for career progression (SOS, Masters, Flt/CC, ADO) is the epitome of kabuki theater, and the easier they make it to get promoted the less box-checking we have to deal with.

    I for one welcome more FGOs into the court martial duty pool.

    • Like 1
    • Upvote 6
  6. Hmm...I think I'll poke my head into the politics thread...

    On 8/4/2017 at 0:16 AM, brickhistory said:

    The difference is that one was aided by the legislature on both sides while one is not. 

    LMAO that's enough, I'm leaving now. :beer:

    • Upvote 2
  7. 21 hours ago, flyusaf83 said:

    I never had a stud or IP in my flight get out of control or attempt to drink and drive after a beer-light Friday. But guess what? If that would have happened, I would have been there and been able to intervene. This new policy would have made that harder if the event would have been off base somewhere where I have less ability to control the situation.

    Well congrats on looking after your folks.  This obviously isn't happening at Vance.  Additionally there is only so much "harsh" punishment you can dole out to someone who just self-identified to end their career before it barely started.

     

    21 hours ago, flyusaf83 said:

    And then he has the audacity to give the only blanket waiver to the freaking O-6 promotion party?  Are you kidding me?

    I agree the optics are bad on this one, but to be honest the exemptions were probably the official events people had already shelled out money to the club for kegs.

     

    16 hours ago, Bowser36 said:

    Dude, it is a big deal. He's taking away one of the best things about the Air Force and one of the things that differentiates us from other organizations. It may sound crazy, but hanging out in the bar with the bro's is one of the things that makes a 70 hour work week palatable. I feel bad for you if your community has lost that tradition. If all I can do is fly planes and go home, I might as well work for Delta- a lot more money and a lot less BS.

    This paragraph should be framed and put in the "Why other services think the USAF is a joke" museum.  My community loves their beer-drinking traditions just as much as the next, but we have a pretty good track record of protecting that privilege by watching out for each other.  Having fun and being responsible aren't mutually exclusive.

    • Upvote 1
  8. 2 hours ago, 08Dawg said:

    If he wants to say "No drinking in OG controlled buildings"...fine...but I wonder a) what defines an "off base...semi-official function" and b) how well that order would stand up in court?  This isn't Japan or Korea...

    In court?  LOL.  Dude this is the military...it's called an order, and it can be a lot worse, even here stateside.

    Having seen several of these memos written for similar issues, this one still allows for plenty of leeway, and isn't written to "get people". As long as you aren't sending out the invite via a .mil address, you should be fine.  If morale drops it speaks volumes for the CGO mafia there than it does for the leadership.  Coordinate house parties and make sure people don't drink and drive.  Socialize. Have fun.  It's really easy.  One day you will look back on these days and wonder why you spent so much time getting your panties in a wad over the most minor of inconveniences.

    His mission is to produce pilots for the air force, and by the sounds of it people are fucking with the mission.  Your mission is to get you and your bros through UPT with a clean record.  Do your job.

    • Upvote 8
    • Downvote 1
  9. 12 minutes ago, Homestar said:

    3-5 DUIs at a UPT base full of students? Want to be treated like adults? Then drink like adults. 

    Booze ban at work and official events for 3-5 DUIs within two months is pretty tame, but maybe I've spent too much time in Japan/Korea.

    I'm amused at the outrage.  People really love to drink on base.

    • Upvote 2
  10. Also the NASA Super Guppy is a modified KC-97

    Not necessarily "in service", but you can see the F-86, F-100, HU-16, A-37 (close enough), and Constellation still flying in private hands.

     

    Info stolen from another site:

    This photo appeared in Air Force magazine's Golden Anniversary issue, dated 5/57.

    Here is the caption:

    Nearly all the operational aircraft—for combat and support—in the US Air Force are shown in this "family portrait" made at the Air Proving Ground Command, Eglin AFB, Fla.

     

    Here's the full list:

    Sikorsky H-19 helicopter

    Cessna T-37 jet trainer

    F-86D Sabre interceptor

    Lockheed F-94C Starfire jet interceptor

    Lockheed EC-121 Super Constellation

    Boeing KC-97 tanker

    Republic F-84F Thunderstreak jet fighter

    North American F-86 Sabre jet fighter

    Convair F-102 Delta Dagger

    North American F-100 Super Sabre

    Martin B-57 Canberra

    Douglas B-66 Destroyer

    Boeing B-47 Stratojet

    Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker

    Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

    Convair B-36 Peacemaker

    Douglas C-124 Globemaster II

    Boeing KB-50

    Lockheed C-130 Hercules

    Grumman SA-16 Albratross

    Northrup F-89D Scorpion

    McDonnell RF-101 Voodoo

    • Upvote 1
  11. http://www.b-29doc.com/2016/08/06/status-update-rock-solid-performance-and-planning-for-more-flight-testing/

    It’s been three weeks since B-29 Doc flew for the first time after a 16 year restoration project and the Doc restoration crew is working to plan the historic warbird’s second flight.

    The view of Doc's first flight from the nose of the airplane. Photo credit: Brett Schauf, Visual Media Group

    The view of Doc’s first flight from the nose of the airplane. Photo credit: Brett Schauf, Visual Media Group

    “Over the past few weeks, we’ve been combing through all of the airplane’s systems and control surfaces checking to see how things behaved during first flight,” said Jim Murphy, Doc’s Friends restoration project manager. “We’ve also been reviewing gauge readings that were captured by video during flight and so far, everything has been rock-solid.”

    During first flight, an engine light related to a chip detector that monitors the presence of metal debris in the engine lit up.

    “The chip detector did its job, but it’s overly sensitive. The new radial engines on Doc take about 50 hours of flight to break in and during that time, you’re going to see tiny particles of metal…it’s just the way it is. The biggest particle we found during our inspection was about one-fourth the size of a pinhead,” Murphy said.

    Doc has eight chip detectors in all, two on each engine. Murphy says the team is working to upgrade and replace the chip detectors with ones that have new technology that will be able to distinguish between tiny particles of metal, and bigger pieces that would be detrimental to the engines in flight.

    “The new detectors include sensing screens that operate a lot like bug zappers. They can sense a tiny particle and zap it before it becomes a problem. When that happens, the chip detector light comes on, and then goes right back out, indicating the system took care of the problem. But those detectors are expensive and we likely won’t be getting those for a while.”

    Murphy says the restoration crew is nearly finished with the post-first flight inspection, and only found a few minor issues that will not delay any further flight testing. One of those minor issues included a slight hum/noise in a headset.

    “We’ll be working with the flight crew to schedule a second flight in the coming weeks. Depending upon schedules and weather, that second flight could happen before the end of August,” Murphy said.

    Flight plans and recaps will be announced via Doc’s social media channels and the Doc’s Friends website.

     

  12. 2 hours ago, brickhistory said:

    Jefferson vs. Adams I

    Jackson vs. Adams II

    Johnson vs. Goldwater

    are likely the most egregious examples of polarizing candidates that divided the country.

    We can leave the 1860 election of A. Lincoln and the resulting secession of South Carolina, et al, for another time.

    Most of us weren't around back then.  Good to see you still remember it like it was yesterday. :beer:

    • Upvote 6
  13. 7 hours ago, Spoo said:

    Not sure what your point is. If you're eligible, you're eligible. Why wouldn't you submit if you're interested?  

    My point is that the whole process is too fast.  Here you have guys who aren't Majors yet being looked at for what is basically automatic promotion to LtCol.

  14. If you can afford it I would recommend the surgery and if you really want it, try to be a pilot.

     

    That being said, if things don't work out and you end up as a CSO, don't fret as there are plenty of cool jobs and opportunities awaiting you.  Also don't let the "second class citizen" negativity get you down.  While this attitude exists in certain communities, it's not as bad as you may be lead to believe.  Speaking on behalf of AFSOC it's very common to see CSOs (FCO/NAV/EWO) in leadership positions.  Our last MAJCOM/CC (3 star) was an EWO, and current one is a Nav.  It's just a non-issue when commanders look past the wings and examine an officer's leadership potential.  Some communities haven't gotten there yet.

     

    1. Yes, you can have a full career as a CSO.

    2. You will travel, probably more than you will want to.  Locations and living conditions vary drastically between airframes, so choose wisely.

    3. These planes will be around for a while.  To add onto what Jdmuehle said:

    On 1/28/2016 at 8:13 AM, Jdmuehle said:

    ...MC in particular are not so common. If a class is lucky enough to get one to drop, it usually is literally just one.

    The MC community often pulled CSO experience from the C-130 world, which is quickly transitioning to all J models.  They will need to find guys to fill those seats.  There likely won't be a ton of them dropping, but they should become more regular.

    4. Kind of, but not related to being a CSO.  You will be marketable after a stint in the Air Force just through leadership and organizational experience.  Anything from getting hired back on as a civilian working for the military to a non-military 9-5 through a headhunting agency you should have no problem finding decent employment.  A good bachelors/masters and good squadron jobs only help improve the odds.

     

    Best of luck!

    • Upvote 1
  15. On 1/21/2016 at 6:35 PM, ihtfp06 said:

     

    I saw one too, but it was for promotion to O-3

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    6d46e2d65080abe014f8008c199140e9.jpg

    Because we all know that is an accomplishment.

     

    20 hours ago, di1630 said:

    Yeah but these are millenials...they have been celebrating "participation awards" since their pee-wee soccer days as if they were in the NFL draft.

     

    Because you guys didn't celebrate a $800 paycheck bump when you made double-first lieutenant?  You know how big of a deal it is to be mistaken for someone who might know what they are doing.

    • Upvote 1
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