ecugringo

I use to follow this site when I was going into UPT and trying to get into OTS. I still surf around and follow some conversations from time to time. There are usually some interesting perspectives here. I separated from the AF and work in Oil and Gas now and have had a great career for the past 10 years. I'll add my .02 on energy from my perspective. Keystone XL. There already is a Keystone pipeline. The XL would allow more crude to flow from Canada. Canadian Crude is heavy sulfur or sour crude. Sweet crude is more often found in the Middle East and is just below the surface. Most of the northern refineries and midwest burn Canadian crude. You need special equipment to turn products out of it. Enbridge Pipeline has several lines running across the border and even under Lake Michigan (Line 5). The benefit of Canadian is that it's dirt cheap. However, it is harder on equipment. The coastal refineries dont allow it to be processed. Their crude comes from the middle east. The US is the largest oil producer in the world. But US oil is really only profitable at around $40/barrel in most locations. Middle East crude is something under $10/barrel. I dont know how many jobs are lost if XL is cancelled. It's a stupid amount of steel though. It's push against energy in general that has me worried. There was a brain drain in the industry in the late 80's. But with the Bakken and Eagle Ford basins there was a massive demand for bodies. You can have a GED and make $100k. I have 2 reports that are Navy Vets with only a GED making over $200k. I dont think many people on the coast realize how many people make a great living in this industry and no they can't just go get windmill jobs. We have Aerospace Engineers working with us that make more on pipeline engineering than they ever did at Lockheed. This past year has been bad on the industry. I dont think Biden has a clue not just cancelling XL but putting a target on this industry how bad it could be. Also interesting note about Nuclear Plants. The largest plant is west of Phoenix, Palo Verde. They use public city waste water for cooling. Also since CA closed their plants, Palo Verde sells power into the CA grid.

Dont post here much anymore, but I visit from time to time. This looks like it could be good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xExzwSc4_eQ

Well if you have actually been there done that, you have the right to say as much or as little as you want. My buddy that pisses me off is a contractor and can walk away any minute he wants but he talks more shit than anyone I've ever met. He's there for a fairly large paycheck. He's a passenger pilot but you would think he's doing CAS from his FB page. I dont think he even flies that much and basically pets paid $200k to lift weights.

Haven't posted here in a long time but still check the site from time to time. I'm no longer in the Air Force, but I have a buddy who is a contractor in Afghanistan and Iraq who never served. His FB page is always blown up with patriotic themes and sacrifice quotes, if you didnt know any better you would think he was a SEAL, but he's just a dash-8 pilot. Anyway now this movie is out he's running his mouth about his duty and BS being a contractor and everyone should see it to see what he deals with on a daily basis for his country. Its pretty lame, I dont even want to talk to him anymore. Considering another good buddy of mine is Army SF and never says shit.

Heres a thought for the CIC....Its a regional conflict that have many different players involved. Either way, Saudi Arabia needs to step up to the plate and take a leadership role in the area supported by the US. If they dont want to take on this responsibility, a naval blockade of SA crude ships to cripple their economy all while the US and Russia can keep pumping away. The blockade is lifted when they get their heads out of the sand. I dont think the US can solve this problem on our own.

With everything going on currently in Israel, Syria, and Iraq. I recommend "Lawrence in Arabia" Great book that discusses the Arab revolt, how the colonial powers came into play, and also briefly discusses how the Saudi royal family have been paying off followers of wahhabism for over 100 yrs to practice else where.

There was a Frontline episode about 2 weeks ago on ISIS. It was pretty interesting, most has been covered here. But it said Obama pretty much wanted nothing to do with Iraq.

You serious Clark?

How do you find out if you qualify for a VA loan? I was a reservist, still in the IRR, but I have no idea if I qualify or not.

"Olympus has Fallen" looks like an "Air Force One"/"Under Siege" Combo movie of fail.

The Denver Post had a good read on the vote. It might actually be tough for the Senate to get it through. Dems hold the Senate 20-15, 18 votes needed, 2 dems are historicaly pro guns. Not all dem in congress voted for it either. www.denverpost.com

I feel safer already. It's amazing how quickly the state acts on certain issues. If only they were in such a rush to deal with the illegals, drugs, gangs, ect....

Colorado is in the process of becoming one of the most restrictive gun states. If all the laws go through, MAGPUL will be forced to move out of state and close to 700 jobs will be lost along with millions in revenue. Regretting not starting my collection sooner.

I just read the FBI agent has been removed from the case for sending shirtless pics to Jill Kelley. This is has a more interesting plot than my wife's TV shows. Anyone else think the timing of this is all a bit strange with the Benghazzi testimony this week and the "Fiscal Cliff" meetings with congress. The media will jump on a sex case and report it to death, meanwhile our taxes all will go up and what really happened in Libya will be revealed.

I have not posted here in a long time, but I do read through the threads periodicaly. But I think ties into the election thread a bit. Did anyone else notice that before the election none of the major news sources really questioned Bengazi? But now that the election is over and there is nothing to report, the news focus is back on Bengazi and the fiscal cliff? There is not a doubt in my mind that there is a connection between the resigination and Bengazi. Also I heard Hillary Clinton will not be available to testify next week either.

Anyone know what the dorms are like and what size they are? I know at Laughlin they had dishwashers.

Yeah I already filed the 101 form or whatever and let most people know that Id like to go there. I know its a long way off but my girl friend will be in chiropractor school in marieatta so thats why Id like to go there. Also Ive driven through little rock a few times. its a fine town. i guess. Also we have the H model 130 and i guess dobbins trains on those so maybe that would be good due to less transition training. anyway thanks

I will be attending UPT this June. Im in a 130 unit and I was just wondering how likely it is to get Dobbins for 130 school?

I interviewed a C-130 unit in May. Most of my questions are pretty much listed, but here is what I can remember 1. Why the C-130? 2. what was a time in your life that was really stressful that you think would be similar to UPT and how did you get through it? 3. Why do you want to Fly military? 4. Some questions about my college and degree, why I transfered from ERAU 5. where i saw myself in 5 and 10 yrs 6. what kind of beer i like? Then i interviewed with the squadron commander privately and he asked pretty similar questions thats all i can remember right now

It's defiently possible....I got hired from my local unit a few months ago. They interviewed 10 people and selected 4. Of those 4 only 1 had prior experience, and no one was an airline pilot.

Marine pilots have an 8 yr commitment for jets and turbos, 6 yrs for helos. That time starts after you get your wings which is about 2 yrs after you get commissioned. Maybe longer in some cases. You also have to go to The Basic School for 6 months after OCS. Then you go to flight school.

That Marine movie The Great Santini is good one on how to raise your kids and be a good husband.

Well I was there about 5.5 yrs ago, that was the case when it was explained to me. anyway I didn't mean to spread innacurate info. It's just how things change from time to time.

You are right that it is the individual that makes how their attitude is, and you are right on where it comes from. I dont know how the ROTC selection works....But the vast majority of the cadets wanted pilot slots and I'm pretty sure the vast majority didn't get them. And for a school with only 4500 students and have something like 400 in a ROTC unit makes for stiff competition. I know at ECU the unit was somewhere around 75 students in ROTC from a school of 25,000. And very few of those cadets were after pilot slots. I couldn't do ROTC I wish I did. The Lt Col of the Det told me if I had time to do it, and with my ratings, if I wanted it I would have no competition. That's how it was explained to me from cadets and the Lt Col. I knew a lot of cadets at ERAU that were going in teh AF and wanted to be pilots and spent a lot of money there, but were never going to fly for the AF.

There are actually several out there that have programs. Auburn, Western Michigan has a good one i hear, Middle Tenn state, Ohio State. Theres more I just can't think of right now. Before I went to ERAU I was warned by several instructers and former students that it sucks, I didn't listen and found out the hard way. But I'm not gonna totaly bash it, it does have a good program that is over priced. But I think it's safer to go to a big school near an FBO and do it that way. Another thing about ERAU is you compete with a hell of a lot more people to get a pilot slot through ROTC. AT ECU our ROTC unit gave them out to whoever wanted them. I also knew a US Air capt that went to Daniel Webster. He had a lot of good things to say about it.