Blue

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.

tinfoil hat on......... I foresee a future where the AF still can't keep up with the demand for drone operators. Eventually, Lockheed Martin/Boeing/General Atomics all step in to fulfil the demand for CAPs with contract pilots.

Don't want to speak for Hindsight, but here's my take: Most people think the Pentagon has one overarching mission: Provide for the security of the US on the world stage. I'd argue, the Pentagon has two missions: 1.) Provide Security 2.) Provide Jobs In addition to it's mission of providing security for the US of A, the military also has the mission of being one great big 'ol jobs program. It's arguable which mission the Pentagon has more focus on at any one time. If you look at how the Pentagon spends money (inefficient, wasteful, etc), you'd think they're not getting their money's worth, assuming you think the military's only focus is providing security. However, once you realize that the military's mission is also to be a jobs program, then it looks like the Pentagon is actually spending money in a pretty smart fashion. The more wasteful and inefficient you are, the more jobs that are created.

This.

I'm no expert, and my time in ROTC was long ago. But here's the way I remember things working. If you get picked up by an ANG or Reserve unit while still in ROTC, then it's up to ROTC as to whether or not they want to let you go. If you get picked up by an ANG or Reserve unit after commissioning, then it's up to AFPC if they'll let you go. The process to get interviewed and hired in the ANG and Reserve is kinda lengthy. If you're an AS400, then I'm guessing you have somewhere between 6-18 months before you commission (depending on if you're going to do a 5th year or not). 6 months might be kinda tight, but do able, if you start now and the interview dates line up. Back in the early 2000's, Active Duty was hard-up for people, and they weren't allowing anyone out to pursue ANG or AFR opportunities. Now a days, it seems like they're more willing to let people go. Probably something you could schedule an appointment with your Colonel and ask about.

Wait, what? Lots of difference between DG at an FTU and DG at SOS. One shows you have skills in your primary duty. The other one shows.......

From that WP article, emphasis mine: Starting to think I got into the wrong field. Being a vendor for Federal IT work seems to be where it's at. Lots of money, with an incredibly low bar for success.

Full NTSB Report here. Hadn't seen this before. A tough read. https://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief2.aspx?ev_id=20120307X13644&ntsbno=DCA12PA049&akey=1

Damn.

This thread is awesome.

Tuesday. Not sure which Tuesday, but definitely Tuesday.

Linked at the bottom of that article was this article, from about a week prior. Sounds like they're maybe sorta on the right course. But then it also contains this gem:

Really? Do tell...

I think that photo was at Lockheed's facility in Ft Worth, so the pic is accurate. Jet is exhausting copious money onto Lockheed, as designed.

Alright, lets get Cold War II started!

Ahh, fun times. Had one where they recalled the whole squadron on a Saturday, and then loaded us on busses to go over to the auditorium. OSI was out there loaded for bear, with their vests and goofy utility belts, looking like they were about to go on a SWAT raid. Had the K-9's out and everything. Sat everyone down in the auditorium, and then did some theater where a very short OSI dude hopped up on stage and started asking if anyone knew someone doing drugs. A couple young enlisted folks raised their hands, and they were led to the back of the room. Heard rumors later that some of the folks who raised their hands were "plants," that had been asked previously to step up. Guess the thinking was that no one would want to be first, but once some kid saw someone else raise their hand, then that would embolden others to do it. Don't know if that bit of kabuki theater actually ended up in anyone being caught or not, but I doubt it. Don't remember anyone disappearing from the squadron afterwards. Spent the rest of the morning sitting around the auditorium sipping on bottled water, BS-ing, and awaiting my time to piss in the cup. They didn't even have the decency to serve us breakfast afterwards.

Read this in Aviation Week awhile back, and thought it was interesting. LockMart appears to be upping their efforts to promote the U-2. https://aviationweek.com/blog/are-gloves-finally-dragon-lady

So how does that work? Does that mean that 40% of the AS200's nationwide just got told to turn in their AFROTC stuff and don't bother showing up at the detachment anymore?

Interesting article. Is it normal for a Rear Admiral to, for lack of a better term, "micromanage" the flight ops like this? Not to Monday-morning QB the thing, but it seems like up to this point, the folks in the aircraft and the folks in the tower were getting things taken care of.

Yikes. AFROTC was always kinda heavy on dudes/dudetts who would step over one another to look good in front of the Detachement staff. And this is based on my experince during the days of "Everyone Goes to Field Training." Sounds like a whole other level of BS to put up with now.

So, basically what you're saying is, sometime around 2020 a U-2 pilot is going to take some nice high-res photos of Southern Arizona while out on an FTU training mission. Photos where, if you zoom in enough, you'll be able to see the row of Global Hawks sitting out at AMARC.

Anyone read the book? Any good?

Agreed. WTF. Could have gone without knowing that.

Agreed. I can't imagine what that would be like. Wake up one morning, and find out that you don't owe Uncle Sam those four years after all. ROTC folks, take a long hard look at your options. It is kinda rough in the private sector right now, but damn if this isn't a great opportunity to walk away with a free education. Hell, if you want to walk, but still want to keep one foot in the military game, go talk to your local ANG or AF reserve unit and see what they have to offer.