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drewpey

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Posts posted by drewpey

    Wisdom Teeth?

    in Aviation Medicine

    Posted

    ok, so I've had enough beers to bitch enough about this...so here we go.

    A few times ago I got my teeth cleaned, and was sitting patiently in my seat awaiting the simple cleaning. A dude comes in (not quite what i was expecting, but whatev) and I ask this dude about the 105mm and 40mm casings on the windowsill. Turns out this dude was once a gunner on a gunship before his knee blew out, and is now a dental hygenist. Yeah. By the time I walked out of the office, I felt like someone flossed all my teeth with a chainsaw. No offense to him, he didn't really want to be a hygenist, but was rather what was "given" to him. Yeah, not fun.

    Next time I go in to a dental doc. He points out a "shadow" in my xrays. This has been there for years, and has been a "problem" area for cavities, and they have been watching it for years to make sure it doesn't get worse. The AF doc decides to drill the "cavity". Turns out a few weeks later, a simple hypothetical "lets be safe" cavity has turned into a complete capping of a tooth, and not a ceramic (see above) but instead a gold tooth (bling bling). Yeah, I was talking to the dentist who was in the AF for 15 years and pretty much had no idea of anything going on in the air force beyond his examination chair. Pretty disappointing.

    I was told that dentists track their numbers for when they transfer to the civ side of things. IE "700 wisdom teeth removed" and "XXX root canals done" so undoubtedly, they always err on the side of caution in order to boost their numbers. I wouldn't doubt this, considering what I've seen, as far as guys who never had a problem with wisdom teeth all the sudden finding themselves under the knife. Again, civilian without a doubt man.

    Wisdom Teeth?

    in Aviation Medicine

    Posted

    Two of my wisdom teeth are impacted (top) and the bottom two are normal. However, my civilian dentist recommended I get them pulled but I never got around to it. Well, I'm at my UPT base now and had a dental exam/cleaning and they recommended getting them pulled out as well. I'm still on casual with many (6+) months left until I start so no worries there. My question is, if it were you, would you rather get them done by an oral surgeon or let the base dentist pull them (any experience with them)? Do most civilian oral surgens take Tricare? I'm a bit hesitent to do it on base since they don't knock you out and it's a dentist versus an oral surgeon who probably has a lot more experience with it. Last thing I want is for them to fracture my jaw (which apparently is a risk) or mess up a nerve and end up talking like 50 Cent for the rest of my life.

    If you have the option, I would rather have an oral surgeon do it. I have had some miserable luck with military dentists.

    A civilian sees you as a customer, who will come back for future business, so they will likely treat you with more care. A military dentist doesn't care about return business, because it doesn't affect his pay. Plus I've noticed when I go to see military dentists, they are overbooked and overworked, which shifts their focus away from the "customer" and more towards numbers. Not good!

    Plus you can either chat it up with enlisted hotties (cool) or civilian hotties (even better). Your choice.

    CBT Gouge

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by drewpey

    I really didn't want a PhD in CBRNE, so does anyone have any decent gouge?

    That or if there is a "blank" certificate running around, or someone good with photoshop...beers on me.

    Fighting Flamingos

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted

    I about pissed my pants when I read this:

    ...said Jory Vandenburg, 435th ABW historian. “And as many well know, there are lots of flamingos in Florida.”

    No sh*t?! Thanks for the update Jeff Corwin...

    you know what else there's a lot of in Miami Florida?

    cosmopolitan-guinness.jpg

    well...I guess it could be worse...the flamingo's hand could be in a metal gauntlet, grasping some lightning bolts and an olive branch...

    USAA

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Thread Revival...

    I spent the last half hour reading this thread in its entirety and couldn't help but notice the downward trend of the experiences with USAA. I've had USAA for the last two years and have all my checking/savings/investments/IRA/insurances with them, and so far have been pretty pleased.

    I'm about to PCS back home after UPT and am looking to buy a house. USAA's rates are currently around 4.75% for a 30 yr fixed, which seems like a pretty good deal, but they do have pretty high closing costs. I'm wondering if I am correct in thinking that USAA might be more inclined to loan a person like me (perfect credit, but high student loan burden) because they understand the military pay structure better than, lets say, B of A. B of A does no closing cost, no point mortgages, but I think would be more skeptical of my financial picture than USAA, which might make it worth it for me to go with them despite the high closing costs. Anybody had any experiences like this?

    Also, anyone have recent experience with the Mover's Advantage Program? Any recent experiences with their homeowners insurance?

    Thanks!

    ~NH

    The mover's advantage program is ok, and I would suggest it. You will get "assigned" a realtor, which USAA claims is hand-selected. After talking to the realtor, it was more like USAA offered to direct it's customers to certain realtors as long as they agreed to give up a % of their commission. It was a take-it-or-leave-it kind of offer for them. In the end, you could get money back. If you don't like your realtor, find another. While my realtor wasn't the best, and I had to corner him to get him to answer questions, I eventually ran him around enough and found a house I liked, and got a big check. Just remember to be very specific and directful when dealing with realtors.

    As far as your loan eligibility, talk to USAA, they will be pretty helpful about it. You will probably be able to get the loan if you have the downpayment, but if you don't have much cash up front look into the VA loan.

    Pirate Boomtown - thoughts?

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted

    http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/11/20...alia/index.html

    (CNN) -- Russia will send additional ships to the Horn of Africa in an effort to crack down on the recent wave of hijackings by Somalia-based pirates, its navy chief said Thursday.

    The Russian frigate Neustrashimy is already in the region and has helped repel pirate attacks on at least two ships. Adm. Vladimir Vysotsky told the official news agency Ria Novosti that more ships would be joining it soon.

    "After Neustrashimy, Russia will be sending warships from other fleets to this region," Vysotsky said. No additional details were provided.

    A NATO-led international fleet has attempted to crack down on the attacks. An Indian frigate battled a pirate ship in the Gulf of Aden on Tuesday, leaving the ship ablaze and likely sunk, the country's defense ministry reported.

    In September, Vysotsky said Russian ships would be operating on their own. But the crews of the Neustrashimy and the British frigate HMS Cumberland teamed up to chase off pirates who attacked a Danish ship in the gulf earlier this month.

    More than 90 ships have been attacked off eastern Africa so far this year, according to the International Maritime Bureau, which monitors piracy. The pirates, who operate from largely lawless Somalia, still hold 17 vessels -- including the Saudi-owned supertanker Sirius Star, the largest ship captured to date.

    The pirates typically hold the ships and their crews for ransom, and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal said Wednesday that the tanker's owners were in talks with the hijackers.

    "We do not like to negotiate with either terrorists or hijackers, but the owners of the tanker are the owners of the tanker and they are the final arbiters of what happens there."

    Two of the 25 crew members aboard the Sirius Star are Britons, Peter French and James Grady. The British Foreign Office released a statement on their families' behalf Thursday, saying they "greatly appreciate the concern that has been expressed."

    "They hope that Peter and James will be home safely to their families very soon," the statement said.

    Friday Patches

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted

    How common is it for squadrons to have Friday patches? Is this a thing of the past, or is the "tradition" carried on still today?

    Our sq currently does not have anything of the sort, but I'd like to get something started. I know it's not supposed to be "official", so how does one go about "unofficially" getting the ball rolling on such a visible issue?

    Anyone ever faced the same issues? Does your sq have a friday patch? If so, is it recognized by leadership? Do you wear it out of the sq, off base, etc.?

    Many thanks!

    Active Duty Questions

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    1. What are steps that we should be taking now in order to prepare for our transition into the Air Force after graduation?

    Make sure your shit is in order. This means your financial situations, family, etc. There will be a lot of fires to put out your first month or two trying to figure out wtf is going on, and the easier things are back home, the easier it will be to deal with work, inprocessing, finance, etc.

    Before you leave college I would purchase like 3-4 sealed copies of your transcripts, or a copy or two of your diploma, as well as things such as a birth certificate with an official seal on it. Any immunization records, medical records, etc. You will find that keeping multiple copies of these things in your back pocket will help out immensely when your records don't make the transition to the "paperless" airforce websites. Buy a filing cabinet and keep copies of EVERYTHING!

    Other than that, enjoy your time as a civilian/college student. Skip classes and sleep in, because it will likely be a looong time before you can do that stuff.

    2. Are there any websites or helpful resources that we can use to research bases and other information on our own?

    If you are looking for flying info, this site is great. I'm not sure about other career fields though. Your best bet is to get ahold of a contact at your gaining base and/or a local base and see if you can get a new LT to give you the scoop of what to expect.

    3. Will we receive a mentor/sponsor once on base or are we on our own to figure out what we need to do?

    Most squadrons have mentor programs, and some are more active than others, so it all depends. You should have someone of similar rank, background, job and living situation (single, married, kids, etc) to answer any questions you have. If not, be proactive and call the sq and ask around.

    4. When do you report in, on the day your orders say, when you get there. etc? Also, how do you ensure the person who you're reporting into will be there?

    Typically your orders will be rather specific on your EAD date, which is the day you are officially Active duty, and can start your travel to base. You will have a RNLT to your gaining base, and can report anytime on or before that date. Best bet is to be a day or so ahead of the RNLT in case something goes wrong (car troubles, lost uniform items, etc.) There will always be someone there to welcome you, whether it's the duty desk, a "green flight" or the CC secretary.

    5. What about sports on base. Do they have flag football and baseball and etc?

    Most bases have intramural leagues for lots of sports. It all depends on how active the MWR folks are. Once you get settled in, visit the gym, read up on the boards there, and sign up for the CGOC letter and you will likely be getting more info about MWR events than you ever wanted.

    6. Any details about ASBC and what to expect?

    There's plenty of info here about ASBC, but I would expect/try to go. Everyone bitches about it, but it's 6 weeks paid TDY where you aren't sitting at a desk filing papers, writing OPRs, or doing CBTs. Enjoy it, one day you will wish you got more chances to get away from the desk.

    7. What are the family/spouse opportunities or organizations on base that they are able to get involved with?

    I don't know much about this, but I know there are a few spouses here that can answer this to great detail.

    8. Who do we report in to? What uniform do we wear? How soon do we report in (as soon as we get on base or during the next work day)?

    This is where your sponsor should help you out. They should meet you prior to your first day and kind of walk you through the procedure of what you need to bring, who you need to see, and where you need to go. Each sq will have different procedures on how this is done. Bottom line is expect to be greeted by a fellow CGO, and they will take you around to fill out basic paperwork and perhaps schedule an appt with the CC, and then you can file your permissive househunting TDY, and settle in for the next few weeks. Before you leave get ahold of the LPA to hang out and fill you in on the who's who in the sq.

    9. What is some advice, tips, etc that you would give a 2Lt that is about to enter active duty and how to handle our first assignment?

    Learn to be sarcastic, laugh at yourself, ask lots of questions, don't offer your opinion unless it's asked, and ask lots of questions. Seriously though, taking an interest in what others around you are doing and getting a bigger picture will get you far. 5 minutes of work on your end may save a co-worker 30 minutes on their end. Also never present a problem without a solution.

    10. What would a typical first day for a 2Lt be like and what would we be expected to do?

    Like above, you will report in, talk to a few people, and answer lots of questions about who you are, where you are from, etc. You will be introduced to a lot of people, and probably be given a checklist of stuff that needs to be completed within the first few weeks. File for your househunting TDY (and take all of it...familiarize yourself with the area, traffic, base, etc.) and go get settled in. Get with your sponsor for the gouge.

    CV-22 Osprey info

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    thread revival!

    Any Osprey guys care to elaborate on what life is like currently?

    Just looking for basic info on where the AF is headed with it. Are they planning on modifying the aircraft to meet the mission or modifying the mission to meet the aircraft? I know people have talked about the supposed shortcomings of the -22 on filling the shoes of the -53, and just wondered now that you guys have been around a bit, if you had heard anything about where it's mission is headed, or even dispelled any myths regarding the preconcieved notions with the aircraft.

    What's it like flying the Osprey? What did you fly prior to the -22, and how does it compare? Would you suggest it as a career path?

    Do you think the lack of a heavy lift helo is a sign that AFSOC is slowly moving away from that sort of mission or role and leaving it to the Army? Or perhaps they are waiting out to buy some of the new CSAR-X birds in hopes they might be a heavy lift platform capable of modding for SpecOps?

    Always liked Helos, and liked SpecOps, but just wondering where AFSOC is headed with it's helo fleet.

    Air Battle Manager (ABM) info

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Me, I like to believe it's the officer not his rating that makes the rank.

    QFE.

    Here's the thing...if you look at the actual statistics of how many pilots actually made leadership positions (IE sq. CC and above) the number is minimal...as it is for any crew position. True, it's more statistically probable as a pilot, but that doesn't mean you will be better/worse as one.

    Don't choose a job based on it's projected future, choose a job in which you will enjoy yourself and determine your own future.

    Jesus, I sound like a rucking fecruiter. One more bartender!

    Blues on Monday

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Also . . . how is AFSOC implementing this? Given the "subdued EVERTHING" culture at Hurby, I don't see blues being too popular at any level of leadership.

    CH? Anything?

    Leadership has been quiet on the issue, so the official guidance still stands. Unofficially, we shall see.

    Combat Systems Officer (CSO) info; Nav, EWO, WSO

    in Combat Systems Officer (CSO)

    Posted

    are traditional Navs going to be a almost a thing of the past soon?

    Yes. The nav career field is dieing. This is why they are shifting it towards the CSO concept, which is going to be around for a long while. It's less specific, because the jobs vary vastly from platform to platform. No new planes will have a "nav" or "ewo" requirement, but rather a CSO. CSOs will find themselves doing less and less navigation and more specific duties tied with the role of the aircraft (IE airdrops, working sensors, communication) or whatever else the copilot pushes onto you. Yeah, no one likes the CSO term, and for right now it doesn't really fit, but in the near future it will be a lot more applicable.

    Also, anyone know why the cultural difference exists between AF Navs (WSOs, EWOs, etc) and Navy NFOs? In terms of how the Navy treats NFOs as akin to co-pilots, whereas the AF doesn't?

    I'm not sure what you mean, could you elaborate? As far as the AF side of the house goes, nav/ewo treatment varies greatly between platforms, so drawing a generalization about how they are treated vs the navy might be a stretch.

    Are there still differences in how Navs are seen vis a vis command opportunities

    As a nav, command opportunities are not too common. If you dig around on the AFPC website it has graphs of the exact numbers. It's possible, and should you get picked for the opportunity, it will most likely be of a non-operational squadron. Nav-type CCs are all around, but usually in the places you least expect them. At the end of the day, it's still a command, if that's what you are looking for.

    Is Celestial still being taught?

    No. They stopped a few years ago. There is a group of retired crusties around Randolph that offer to teach it to the willing, if nothing more than a nod to the past, but it's not well advertised around the schoolhouse, so no one really knows about it.

    As a (soon-to-be) rated officer I'd tell anyone who says I'm in a "support" role to eat it

    Don't have that type of attitude. Support isn't a 4-letter word. We are the Air Force, and that's our job, to support. We keep the skies safe, and ground clear, and the troops on the ground well fed so they can get the real mission done. Too many people running around the AF today thinking they are the mission, and the "tip of the spear". You're just another cog in one huge ass-kicking machine. You might not have meant it the way you said it, however even saying things like that give people (IE ground pounders) the wrong impression of how we view our j-o-b.

    Airframes you can get as a nav: slick C-130, AC-130, EC-130, HC-130, RC-135, B-52, AWACS, JSTARS, KC-135, U-28

    Airframes you can get as a EWO: AC-130, EC-130, RC-135, B-52, U-28

    one left...evidently still the best kept secret at nav school...

    you mentioned navs being dropped for U-28s. What will their job be?

    click

    Hurlburt info

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Bahahaha! AJ's is a whole lot better than Seville or anything else Pensacola has to offer.

    As far as the original question, it's pretty simple. If you're single and renting, don't live in Navarre. It's a pain driving to Destin and the work commute is frustrating during peak times, especially during the school year. Also, on US-98 people pull out in front of you on without even looking. I wouldn't drive a bike on there.

    You can find some sweet places on the bay or close to the beach in FWB and you'll be a lot closer to work and restaurants. As far as buying opportunities, Navarre is a good one and is going to expand, it's just a matter of when.

    AJs is ok, but Pensacola beach is better. Yeah, Seville quarter is cool for about 30 seconds, until you feel like you're on the set of Top Gun and the place is packed full of uniform chasers.

    As far as the commutes go, get out and drive to the communities during rush hours. I was told things were "bad", but based on previous experiences living elsewhere, it wasn't that bad at all.

    If looking to rent, don't rule out houses. There are a lot of people who can't afford to sell their house and are looking to rent for a good price. Look around or even talk to a realtor about any rentals they have.

    Also, check with your squadron, there's always a crusty or two sitting around with that beach house on navarre beach looking to find renters.

    Hurlburt info

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Just crunch the numbers, and come up with a figure of what you can afford, and then look at the houses in that range in Destin, Ft Walton, and Navarre. You will see a VAST difference.

    I really wanted to live in Destin too, until I found out it's a shit hole, unless you live in a half a million dollar condo.

    If you want to go out, go to Pensacola. It's got more to offer for entertainment, and isn't the asspain destin is with all the tourists.

    Rationalize it though. Unless you go out to the bars drinking every night, why go through the pain of living in destin?

    Also, everyone says the commute to Navarre is bad, but it's not. 15 miles for me, 20 min in, 30 minutes out, unless there's an accident, and that can/will happen anywhere on 98.

    Hydro?

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted

    Hydro lost it--turned in his wings. You guys are number one. But you remember one thing: if you screw up, just this much, you'll be flying a cargo plane full of rubber dog shit gym equipment out of Hong Kong the Died!

    Hong Kong is too cool. fixed.

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