SuperWSO

First things first. I can only share my experience, but when I went to Pensacola, there were 4 or 5 guys who were the biggest talkers. They KNEW they were going to be Strike Eagle guys. At least 3 of those guys SIE'd after a couple rides. Your milage may vary, but some folks get in an airplane and find out that breathing through a hose, smelling exhaust fumes and trying to figure out what is happening while puking just isn't their thing. The B-1 is still a great deal for CSO/WSOs (the AF can call you whatever it wants - I suspect the Bone community will have WSOs for years to come.) I'll go with Dupes format because it works pretty well. Pros: The Bone is a platform that was built around the OSO/DSO team. We have been working since I got there to break down the barriers for information flow, but the OSO still owns the primary sensors (radar/pod) and has primary responsibility for weapons release. The DSO is the only crew member with the full threat picture and full access to countermeasures. The crew employs as a team, but the job doesn't get done without you. Much like the F-15E, the Bone's future has improved tremendously since Allied Force. We are getting yearly block upgrades to the software, we have incorporated the Sniper Pod, and we are looking at updates to the radar that will provide unmatched capabilities. One of the big capabilities the Bone has added in recent years is the ability to mix weapon loads. While many platforms carry JDAM, CBU, Mk-82/84 or LGBs, Bones can carry all of them - at the same time. Another big upgrade scheduled in the next few years is the Fully Integrated Data Link which will bring new controls and displays to the jet. Cons: Right now, there are three B-1 Ops squadrons. That means that you can count on a 1:2 dwell ratio. Basing options are also limited. We have Ellsworth AFB and Dyess AFB. Most guys love Ellsworth. If your single, Dyess probably won't be your favorite, but it is a great town to raise a family. Currently, B-1 WSOs are sharing the Alpha tours with co-pilots, so there is a chance that you may have to go back to Pensacola or serve as an ALO. There are also opportunities at Eglin, Nellis and Edwards, but those are fairly universal (Not B-1 WSO specific). Follow ons: This part is also not specific to the B-1. I am currently serving in a staff position. From what AFPC is saying, almost everyone can be expected to go back to the cockpit after a non-flying tour. I have never seen a successful B-1 to F-15E transition, but I know guys who have transitioned to MC-130s, B-52s, RC-135s and EA-6s. Now that those are going out of the mix, I don't know if the Growler will be an option. I've enjoyed my time in the B-1 and hope to go back once I get paroled from Space Command.

Look up the "Hollow force" of the Carter years. If you think we are doing more with less now, the late 70's would water your eyes. The AF was drawing down from Vietnam and had no incentive to keep/take care of people. They also were not paying to maintain jets. As a dependant, I saw it when we lost my friends dad and my scout leader in separate class A accidents. As was stated previously, these are not "new" problems. Just re-packaged in ABUs and reflective belts.

The only time that the F-4s flew without WSOs was a brief period during Vietnam when the AF tried to put two pilots in a jet. It didn't work out well, and the AF went back to the pilot/WSO team. It is worth noting that two of the three AF Aces from Vietnam were F-4 WSOs who subsequently attended UPT. As for other fighters, there were the wild weasels - both F-4 and F-105(EWO, but still wearing Nav wings) F-111s, F-101s, and others I'm sure I am forgetting.

Opinions may vary, but WSO/CSO is undeniably a career field in decline. With that said, I am confident that you could serve out a full career in the Bone or F-15E. The AF does not even have replacement platforms on the horizon for either aircraft. The F-35 (sans WSO) is supposed to replace the F-16, A-10, and Strike Eagle, but it won't have the same legs or many of the Strike Eagles capabilities. Besides, the F-15E is one of our newest fighter airframes - it should have lots of hours left. Navs may start to phase out of the traditional Nav airframes in the next decade, but WSO platforms were designed for two or four bodies, and pilots won't ride around behind other pilots, so I think your odds are pretty good.

Oh crud, I'm gonna have to start checking the NOTAMs before commercial flights. At what RVR do RBs become mandatory? Departure or landing airfield?

REMF, I'm not "over there" at the moment, but I think your time has been well spent on this thread. It provides some perspective instead of continuing a one sided rant. Please continue.

I'm starting to wonder if someone at Air War College is now briefing this site to the future leaders of the world based on recent responses. We had B52IR99 coming off the top rope on his first post over in the "Minot Wing/CC canned" thread." We have REMF who is actually value added, but looks like he was sent to quell the uprising, and now we have Cptmorgan - again trying to come off the top rope with his "shut up and color" first post. I'm seeing a trend toward more supervision at BaseOps. I never had the illusion that this was completely anonymous, but it appears that the word is getting out - we even had a tops in blue dude in that thread. WTF?

So if you can't have your glasses on indoors, but they can't be on your head, hanging from your shirt or suspended around your neck - where are they supposed to go? In your PT pockets? Oh those don't exist! Do they have an airman running a "sunglasses check" at the door of each facility? It seems like they have regulated away every conceivable option in this case.

You've got a point. I still don't understand how it can be a uniform without rank insignia. Just imagine, 12 months from now, you will here the tink, tink, tink of your ribbons hitting the concrete as you do pushups in your modified PT/mess dress ensemble.

2? I missed that nugget of info if it was mentioned previously. On what grounds was he arrested. I've only seen that for blatent violations of G.O. 1 (ie falling down drunk in Iraq.)

I wonder how many dudes send theirs back because the altimeter stops climbing at 8,000 ft in the airplane. I suppose it could double as a "CABIN OVER 10K" light, provided you look at it. Can Herk guys open the side window and hang their arm out to check the altitude?

Nice Pawnman. I'm still laughing. Maybe you could give somebody the gift of food. Folks in Abilene love BBQ and a buddy just sent me a picture of his girlfriend's favorite.

Its been days without input on the biggest topic on Baseops. Has the leadership improved dramatically since the Officer call, or did the lobotomys do the trick? It got really quiet really fast.

I'm with HD. Those of us geographically separated from the land of tucked t-shirt belt wearers are eager to hear the latest installment. Did they postpone the update or did the com nazi's cut off all access to Baseops?

Huey, you guys should have done this... I'm certain that would have helped, plus you could have taxied into the chow hall legally. Barring that, make the FE wear a reflective belt (inside the aircraft) during ground ops on all future sorties. I'm sure the glow from the cockpit would grab the drivers attention. [/sarcasm]

I don't even think retirement is required. The boss should have broken this ass chewing/motivation into smaller groups. If you get a group of about 50 aviators in a room and try to talk down to them, you're going to hear at least one bullshit. If the group of aviators has time to stew before hand, critical mass is reached at about twenty dudes. I bet at least two or three bags are going to jump up and call bullshit if this goes as expected. The finance troops and dentists will all be horrified.

Ralph Peters rarely has anything good to say about the AF, but this is the first time I've ever seen him take a shot at the Army. Interesting perspective on the end result of political correctness in the military.

Major Stone was an instructor when I went through the schoolhouse. He was an outstanding instructor and a person I remember who made a difference for everyone he worked with. The news is currently stating that Maj. Hasan made threatening remarks on a number of occasions. Nothing was done. This may finally be the event that pulls the plug on runaway political correctness in the military.

HOLY SMOKES! This line of discussion lead to a Google search. I'm amazed this hasn't been posted yet, but just in case you wondered what was under that outfit... I'm starting to want to golf.

Nope, never. I looked for 30 minutes and couldn't find em.

This is so easy that even the Army can figure it out. When I was in Baghdad in 07-08, the rule on the FOB was reflective belt after dark except for AF PT gear. They all agreed that it was more than suitably reflective and a belt with AF PT gear was redundant.

I'm glad to see the folks at Dyess have taken a pro-active approach to the problem. I say this because the same thing happened when I picked up a 180 to Baghdad departing in Sep 2007. Skycops could not spare a single M-4. LRS had to do a hostage swap involving three separate bases to get me an M-4. Clearly, they identified that they needed the other 150 or so M-4s to prevent an invasion by the incredibly friendly population of West Texas. At least they went ahead and fixed the problem so it would never happen again... never mind.

Irony is good stuff. This story makes me laugh every time I read the latest update... FDA Warns of 'High Levels' of Disease-Causing Bacteria Found in Certain Hand Sanitizers http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,525520,00.html

Emphasis on item #1 I've been snacko in four different organizations. The trick to item number one is to make it simple - Make absolutely everything in the snack bar 50 cents. Then take the car on down to Sam's Club and look at the unit cost on the shelves. Don't buy anything with a unit price over about 40 cents. We had one retard buying stuff that cost 80 cents a piece and selling it for 50. Don't be a charity.

This isn't a book, but it is very interesting reading. It is a personal account of a B-17 crew member who flew from Sep 1943 to Feb 1944. I've read numerous other books, but it never ceases to amaze me what these guys endured, and kept hacking the mission day after day... without the aid of reflective belts or PT gear. B17log.pdf