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Dupe

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Posts posted by Dupe

  1. I don't know how other organizations work, but I've never seen an exec picked for secretarial experience. In my experience, squadrons typically nominate quality people for execdom. I know that's not the case everywhere, but damn people sure are cynical about execs around here.

    A really good WG/CC told me this about how he picks his exec:

    "I solicit for volunteers and I ask the SQ/CCs who they think should be sent up. I then ignore all that crap and interview the top 3-5 guys on the rack and stack. I find the best exec is usually someone who didn't volunteer and a guy who the SQ/CC was trying to hide from exec duty. I always give my exec a 1, 2, or 3 strat."

  2. It's funny: most retired 4-stars go on to become board members at defense firms, lobbyists for the defense industry, etc. This guy was fired as president from Mississippi State College after not long in the position. I think many retired GOs and defense execs know about his shenanigans, but don't have any gain in saying so publicly.

  3. Probably just call it the "Fogle Song" in order to not actually say his name. Then, in the 3rd verse, they realize that they've been saying his name all along. the 4th verse describes the destruction caused by repeating his name and summoning him forward.

    This is like writing about a stone that got passed 10 years ago. It wasn't any fun then and I don't want to relive it now.

    • Upvote 2
  4. 1. Help more Service members save for retirement earlier in their careers, leverage the retention power of traditional Uniformed Service retirement, and give the Services greater flexibility to retain quality people in demanding career fields

    Number one for a reason. I'm glad the study recognized the immense retention power of the active duty retirement. Additionally, retaining those in demanding career fields will be come a big issue... not just for pilots. I have no idea how we're going to keep cyber operators (the 17D A-shreds or whatever they're called now). Those types easily command $150K+ in very nice places to live.

  5. My experience with contract MX: it's tough for the contractors to get a solid workforce in the areas where we have contract MX at (rural training bases). Figure out which contractors are at which bases, and you may have luck.

  6. Second, the patches thing is a big deal. We've got the Sq shirts now, and they're great. The Wing CC picks a unit for the Friday and rolls around base in that. Very cool. But the lack of patches and ability to be part of a group that has a distinct identity really sucks. Especially when we used to have it.

    The ability to feel like you're part of a group is a big deal. It doesn't matter if its a letter for varsity athletes, a lab coat for med students, or fighter dudes cutting off the pencil tab from their bag -there's been numerous studies in the psychology/organizational behavior areas that show that making members feel like they are part of a group improves performance.

    The Army ACUs may not be the best uniform ever, but the idea of having the division patch from your current division and the one you went on your first deployment with is a good one.

    • Upvote 1
  7. Probably SAF or DOD IG if determined to fall within 10 USC 1034. If so then only IG can investigate.

    (a) Restricting Communications With Members of Congress and Inspector General Prohibited.—

    (1) No person may restrict a member of the armed forces in communicating with a Member of Congress or an Inspector General.

    (2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to a communication that is unlawful.

    Though Gen Post certainly said the wrong thing, there isn't any evidence that he's actually restricted any member's communications with Congress.

  8. Is this true for the military with our pension system?

    For some, I think so. A good example are fighter and RPA pilots. Pipelines are maxed: a loss of a person early costs far more than the $1M-$2M outlay we'd face for the pension.

    Word of mouth is the best way to attract/lose customers/employees as well. Personal recommendations from clients are worth millions in advertising. The way current Airmen convey their service in the Air Force to the outside world directly impacts the composition of the Air Force going forward. If we project a shitty product, the quality of our Airmen will fall. The smart ones will choose to do something else, because they can.

    Agree 100%. It's more than just officers as well. I have no idea how we are going to attract smart IT or cybersecurity engineers into civilian government service with the AF.

  9. I'm guessing a lot of commenters don't actually know what aggressors squadrons do, should do, and used to do. The red air aspect is only a small part of the overall job. Damn near anyone can fly red air to varying degrees of effectiveness. Aggressor squadrons are different for a reason.

    Besides adding CGO & FGO numbers to support strats of WIC instructors, 422 dudes, and T-birds, I'm not sure I understand why aggressors must be military. Contracting out, creating more technician spots, or making GS positions all seem like valid ways to fill the aggressor need while mitigating the very real 11F manpower problem.

  10. I think the "underwhelming" part is that the best contractor-provided red air I'd going to be an A-4 with a few gee-whiz upgrades.

    My impression of the article was that this was GOCO: Government-owned, contractor operated. A contractor would operate AF-owned F-16s over a two week period.

    Here's what came out of ACC:

    Head Quarters Air Combat Command desires a ROM to acquire commercial air services adversary air support training ("Red Air" or Dissimilar Aircraft Combat Training) from 4th generation fighter aircraft capable of Mach 1.0+ and equipped with: Radar, Radar Warning Receivers (RWR), and Electronic Attack (EA) systems.

    Desired level of support:

    - 10x8 support for a two week period (10 flying days) (180 sorties) at Nellis AFB

    - 1.5 planned ASD sorties to support a 45 minute vulnerability window

    - Ability to flex flying window to support AF requirements not to exceed a 12 hour daily flying window.

    - All aircrew must have a minimum Secret clearance and current SSBI investigation

    - Provide necessary personnel, transportation, maintenance support, and supplies

    I don't see how industry would spin-up for a two week push, then spin down again. There needs to be the promise of on-going work.

  11. Agreed. My question, though, is how this would save money. Save 11F bodies to fill other billets, sure--but save money? I doubt it, at least not in anything less than a complete actuarial sense--and probably not even then....

    I think it would. Every mil that you flip over to a contractor means less base-support needed. Let the contractor handle dental plans, flight records, HR, etc. Not only are our long-term costs expensive, the AF's "overhead rate" is wildly expensive.

    The real problem comes in the colors of money. We'll be asking ACC to pay up as part of their operations bill as opposed to having some of the costs hidden deep in the MilPers fund or base operating support costs. The funding levers just don't shift that easily, so likely ACC is eating it somewhere else.

    *This conversation is a sign that I've been in the AF for way too long....

  12. If I remember the story correctly, he left AD for the airlines before 9/11 then got furloughed, found an ARC job then managed to get back on AD as a speech writer at the pentagon. Someone else can link his bio…

    Scary thought: he could still be on a furlough list somewhere and be well ahead of some of y'all in seniority if he decides to go back. Sorry for ruining your Sunday.

  13. He was a douche and had it out for pilots. I wouldn't be surprised if people have hidden medical issues from him due to lack of trust.

    Back on topic, there are some really good docs who do their job well and try their hardest to keep pilots flying. There are also some good docs that stay in the military to avoid the private bs, but now those will be inclined to leave because of too much military bs. Which is a problem.

    I think there's a fair number who stay because the military BS may actually be less than the BS of running an office, dealing with insurance, and trying to grind out 14-16 hour days to make a profit. There are many good physicians who like the military because it offers decent pay while having reasonable hours.

  14. There are so many problems with the AMP-I'm sure there's got to be a thread dedicated to that. But this has turned into a boondoggle with zero chance of the Herk ending up compliant with CNS-ATM.

    But there's a 100% chance that some of the good people of Missouri will continue to be employed.

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