brabus

@Waingro Cutting off the nose to spite the face is all that is. This wasn’t a refusal to go to war and do their jobs. Leaders and problem solvers don’t blindly think in black and white, but that’s exactly what this line of thought is. “Leaders” who are incapable of critical thought and just “read the teleprompter” are a bad thing.

I heard it was last night for kettles. How this likely played out… 8.0 hrs later and 69 kettles deep: “Fuck you DAK, I’m not paying 10000 WON for a 2 min ride!” (it was actually a 30 min ride, they were just passed out). One guy proceeds to swing at cabbie, who punches him right in the gut, causing him to projectile vomit; his buddy sympathetic vomits. Town patrol walks around the corner at this exact moment…and the rest is history. I need one more week in Korea before I retire, what a place!

Not done with it yet, but everyone needs to read/listen to Woke Inc. Very eye opening for anyone, regardless of your political leaning. The only people who should get cranky about this book are those who love big business and the govt buttfucking the American people and our way of life. If that’s not you, then give this book a chance and see it through - you’ll be glad you did.

Warning to the bros: You can find “alarming” info on the inter webs that does not make it OK to start contributing your knowledge on said subject outside the appropriate channels. You will get butt fucked accordingly if you fuck this up. Shouldn’t have to be said, but…

It’s extremely simple and has existed for a long time until relatively recent generations. Critical thought. It is very easy to read a headline, say “hmm, that’s an interesting topic, statement, etc.” and then proceed to put actual effort into unemotionally looking at multiple sources to derive the most accurate, well-informed assessment of said topic/statement. It’s what most of us learned growing up through primary and secondary education, but kids over the past 10 years or so have been systematically denied being taught that skill in public education. They have been taught what to think, not how to think. As for the older generations who lap up the bullshit, well they have unfortunately forgotten the lessons they were taught back in the day, and I don’t have an explanation for that. Bottom line, the solution is one that has already existed - bring back championing critical thought, teach and emphasize it to your kids and in the school system. Call people out for parroting a headline or other WOMs, call them to the carpet and ask them to provide evidence for their claims. But the fringes don’t want that, they want control of your thoughts and emotions to gain/maintain power. So what will win, a resurgence of critical thought in this country or the “thought leaders?” We all have the choice.

Sure, I’d take a few operational E-7s right meow, but not if the procurement/sustainment sucks the dollars away from better shit that’s on a similar timeline as the actual E-7 (vs. the hypothetical 6 month timeline).

That's not really a problem - the right people are more than aware, they just don't care/have already made their deals with someone else. At best, they're unwilling to adapt when new information is brought to them, at worst they're emotionally/financially involved (either now or in their perceived future) to the point any logic contrary to their made-up minds is DOA. That is the self-serving bureaucratic bullshit that puts us behind where we could be as a fighting force.

The hard part about answering that is it can’t be answered on an Internet forum. Like you, I’ve flown with E-7 in real life (and in virtual test events). I 100% agree with CH we have better alternatives on a similar timeline. I talk to GOs and CODELs about it, I get the smile/nod and obligatory “supportive statements” from them, then watch them walk away and go blow Boeing some more (and I do like some Boeing programs). The E-7 is not the solution you want, it’s just the horse “the old guys holding the purse strings” want, alternative advocacy from warfighters be damned!

Then teach them critical thought, but do not for one second create a gov organization to arbitrate truth and therefore regulate free speech. Flat earthers are retarded, but they have every right to have websites, create documentaries, stand on a street corner with a sign, etc. Free speech is not perfect and fabricated bullshit will always exist, but that is substantially better than a restricted/controlled-speech society.

Completely understand the stress of living under “what ifs.” I know a few guys who went through 1-2 airlines in a relatively short amount of time prior to landing at their #1. Sounds painful for all the training and restarts, but long term their decision probably makes sense given their personal life desires. So, even “worst case” you take the current CJO and get called 4 months into that job - fuck it, jump ship and start over at #1 if that’s best for your long term life.

IMG_1069.mov The most accurate depiction of AF decision making

@WheelsOff Anecdotal story: I submitted at DAL and UAL same time, DAL called 1.69 weeks later and I still haven’t heard a peep from UAL. Navy dude in my interview group exact opposite 5 months prior. He’s been carrying a UAL CJO for 5 months without a peep from DAL (waiting to leave AD), and then gets a DAL call a month out from separation…he’s now going DAL. How many recs (including internals) do you have at your desired company?

Are you updating your apps weekly? You should be if you’re not.

And operational 10 years ago. We are completely incapable of acquisitions that aren't total fucking disasters.

Don’t need Pilot rest for Top 3, mission planning, sims, meetings, etc. At least in my AD past, if you weren’t one of those and not scheduled to fly the next day, you’re a unicorn. So generally there was not 12 hr pilot rest for guys unless they were scheduled to fly the next day. Really loved those 4 hrs of sleep to roll into a 7am sim to start off my next 14 hr day. Go guard!

DAL just hired a 23 yr old. He seemed like a good dude who has his shit together way more than I did at 23. So this isn’t to say he’s not “qualified,” but rather to say if they’re hiring 23 yr olds with just over a year at a regional, then many of you are well in the running for jobs at majors.

Diametrically opposed desires. The deficiencies of the A-10 have been answered, it’s called the F-35 - which lacks the strengths of the A-10. The DOD needs to accept that air superiority is a requirement for CAS performance at the level we’ve all become accustomed to in the last 20 years. So what we really need in the “perfect,” but realistic, world is exactly what we have now - a community/platform(s) that provide CAS expertise in the fight that has AS, and accept a reduced/nil CAS capability in the fight that does not have AS. Bottom line, we don’t really have a CAS capability problem (except maybe new hardware to replace aging fleets), we have a problem understanding/accepting reality of AS vs. no AS.

it does come down to the PSO for that vault. But I assure you, fenixs are allowed in very high level vaults (albeit with PSOs who aren’t douches). @Standby Did you switch MAJCOMs? I’ve hit ACC, NGB, PACAF, AFSOC, other service/org, and only come across one time I had to leave my fenix outside…and it was due to that specific PSO being a typical tight ass GS. There are industry places that dont allow smart watches (again, PSO driven), but usually not an issue since civ attire is standard/people generally wear more dressed up watches in business attire.

Garmin Fenix 5/6/whatever model they’re on now. Great watch all around. Just don’t get the model with wifi.

When I turned down school on AD, and the WG/CC made me come to his office and talk with him about it, the conversation ended something like this... "Well, Brabus, I'm going to non-concur and you really have two options. Go to school, do great things, blah blah blah...or get out and go to the guard." "Well sir, I guess I'm going to the guard then" "...what? Really?" He genuinely seemed shocked at my response. Best move I made in my career...until I made an even better move by going to the airlines! And all these years later, I'm living the good life while that guy is probably a 2 star pepper grinding and getting yelled at for not having enough whip in the 4 starts mocha latte.

@Jon - Trident Home Loans Intent was not to bash VA (I’m on my 3rd VA), just to highlight this is a factor to be aware of. Did not know about the low appraisal recourse option you mentioned, great info! I still will pursue VA in the future and recommend them to people, but I’m more eyes wide open than I was in previous situations.

I should be smarter on this, but was there ever a limit on scope/number of EOs the exec branch had in years past? Regardless of party in the WH, I agree we shouldn't be seeing rule by EO. But they're needs to be some capability for the times Congress is gridlocked and accomplishing nothing (which seems most of the time these days). I don't know what the "right" scope/number is, but I do know we need less govt power immediately.

This is a very general statement and certainly not applicable to every situation, but cranium's up to people using VA loans in this market - I know some people who have lost several home deals because the VA appraiser comes in way lower than "actual" market value, and the buyers don't have the cash on hand to make up the difference between appraised value and offered price. You may be setting yourself up for stress and disappointment if you plan on doing a low % down VA financing. Recommend talk to your realtor about this and get their feelings on the local appraisers. Yes, this could also happen with conventional loans, but anecdotally seems the VA appraisers are worse, which isn't surprising considering they're your "typical" government civilian employee. Just something to think about/research in your specific area.

The financial argument I’ve heard is the sustainment cost is where the “win” is. But other than that, it was not the best move IMO…still a shitload of money for a less capable platform.

You would love the Wolfman on the charger for sure. One thing to consider is find a company you think you’ll want to generally stick with. They all have their own mounting solutions (e.g. quick connect muzzle devices), so if you buy multiple cans you can use them with one muzzle device system. Of course this is N/A if you think you’ll just match a can to each firearm you want suppressed. But, I really like that I can use one can on every firearm I care to suppress.