[COVID-19 (Aka China Virus)]

6 hours ago, Pooter said:

My bad, I thought people were mad about the mandates.. reference the conversation above ☝️☝️ and dozens pages before it. 
 

Which is why I brought up other medical things the military mandates that people don't think twice about.  Hence the political lightning rod comment. 
 

It's funny, the prevailing attitude in the military was, until very recently, to shut up, complete your readiness requirements no matter how stupid, go hack the mission, and load up on go pills/rip it's/no gos/coffee/cigs/dip to get the job done, crush beers afterward, all while knowing full well basically everything the military asks you to do is bad for you. 

Is this a healthy outlook? Nope. But you can't say it wasn't common.

But then all of that magically did a 180 with COVID. Do we think that's because everyone in the military simultaneously had an epiphany that their body is a temple? Or is it because COVID turned into a culture war, and then we do what we always do and revert back to two warring tribes. One tribe is double masking alone in their cars to show how health conscious they are while the other ignores even the most basic precautions to own the libs.

People learn and people change their minds.

Your argument is invalid.

Keep doing what you're told and keep your zero agency. Remember, you were just following orders.

[COVID-19 (Aka China Virus)]

41 minutes ago, pawnman said:

I was always clear that I believed Biden and the DoD had the legal authority to order military members to get vaccinated.

lol

Name an atrocity committed in which the people in charge didn't have the legal authority (granted to themselves by themselves) to do horrible things.

"I was just following orders..."

Integrity first? What freaking military are you in? Zero people at the top have any integrity.

I respect anyone who lied or cheated to get out of masking or vaccines. They were right, even if they were legally wrong. I should have just slipped someone some money to squirt the shot onto the ground.

[COVID-19 (Aka China Virus)]

35 minutes ago, tac airlifter said:

Awesome, we finally agree! And I don't care how many boosters you take or how often you double mask your kids.  Have at it.  

Freedom of choice has traditionally been a shared value in the US; it's only recently tyrants tried forcing us rather than convincing us.  If you've switched away from the mandate cultists, then I welcome you on the side of freedom regardless of your opinion on vaccine efficacy.  Live and let live.

I really don't think they understand that the problem was the vaccine being forced on people, not that there was a vaccine.

[VA disability that doesn’t affect FAA/ civilian flying]

58 minutes ago, di1630 said:

I had a civilian buddy that sells mortgages ask me about it after he saw healthy people applying for loans but claiming disability.

How unhealthy does a person have to appear to be for you to think it is alright for them to collect VA disability benefits?

[Russian Ukraine shenanigans]

1 hour ago, ClearedHot said:

Its sad when political ideology clouds common sense, for pennies on the dollar and no American lives we have humbled the Russian military for a long time to come.

We should make them fight until the last Ukranian dies. They are not American, so their deaths mean nothing as long as it makes Russia look bad.

[UPT Next]

The same people that get upset when people call a T-6 a jet are the same people that will call tally on traffic in the NAS.

[Air Force is hiring for civilian T-6 IPs]

4 hours ago, One_Tilty_Boi said:

Is the program taking former military pilots?

Serious question. I am a current Marine Corps V-22 pilot with around 650 hours. Due to current manning across the V-22 community, it is extremely unlikely I receive orders for a second flying tour. Headquarters Marine Corps does not want to send pilots to be Navy flight school IPs unless they are water-walkers because it is considered a non-career enhancing assignment. HQMC actually leaves flight school IP billets gapped rather than send people there who they know are just going to leave and go to the airlines immediately after.

The airlines are the eventual end goal for me, but I legitimately loved flying the T-6 in Primary training and would do a lot of dirty things to get back to it and instruct.

Just get 100 hours in a Cessna, get your restricted ATP, and get hired by a regional. Fly there for a year and then get hired by a legacy. In three years you'll be making bank.

[Finally done in Afghanistan?]

On 7/23/2023 at 5:35 AM, FourFans said:

It wasn't for nothing.  I'll come off the top ropes on anyone who says differently.  For 20 years we kept the wolf on his side of the fence, and he didn't even THINK about making it to our front door.  It was expensive in blood and treasure in modern historical terms, but unprecedently cost effective and unbelievably useful in long view historical terms.  Not only did we secure our own and our allies safety for 20 years, we put the ever living fear of God in anyone who would challenge our military strength.  More importantly, we can back up that fact. Unfortunately it feels like a waste, and I understand that...thoroughly...I was there, but it wasn't wasted.

The mental and emotional health of the men and women who did the heavy lifting hinges on embracing the facts, not the feelings, and is far too important to simply throw out: It was all for nothing.  That's a lie.  Stop propagating it.

lol. Yes, I'm sure those people with $5 to their names over there that we smoked with hellfires daily were a big threat to our families back home.

Afghanistan is just as bad as before we went in except now there are millions of people there that have had family members killed by Americans. What was accomplished? Nothing. The people that died over there were pawns in a political game and did not die protecting our country. I wasted my time there, you wasted your time there, and every other sucker that went wasted their time there.

I'm not saying the dudes on the ground did anything wrong or deserve any blame. They did what they were told to do, and what they were told to do was to be a sacrificial animal to make the powers that be look better. Just War Theory is suicide and I have zero respect for anyone that believes in it. Too bad it is doctrine.

14 hours ago, FourFans said:

What's concerning to me is that we developed an amazing surveillance capacity to develop POL, and I can easily see those capabilities turned on our own citizens by a government that is quickly turning into a ruling class instead of one that derives it's power from the consent of the governed.

Looks like someone has never heard of Ed Snowden. I've got bad news for you...

 

 

[Finally done in Afghanistan?]

On 7/20/2023 at 9:57 PM, JBueno said:

This stuff is definitely maddening, but it’s easy to make the big things the boogeyman while ignoring the small issues.

Plenty of local BS at the squadron level that gets ignored by leaders clamoring about how bad CSAF-level decision are. 
 

Control what you can control. For those still in, we aren’t about to fix Pentagon-level crap. Look around your squadron, take a look in the mirror, and go fix some shit. Plenty of people in your charge are depending on it.

Tell that to everyone that died in Afghanistan for nothing.

[Finally done in Afghanistan?]

2 hours ago, SocialD said:

Is anyone really surprised?  When the people who send us away from our families to endure untold hardships, have absolutely zero accountability, it's amazing that there is still any accountability at the lower levels.  Things like this are why is why I scoffed shit like GTC "misuse" forms, especially when their per-diem more than covered the expense, but the location was "flagged" (not a strip joint).  Apparently someone higher up didn't like my level of sarcasm in my reports...oh well.  Sorry, I have more important things to deal with.  Glad I'm retired and done with that bullshit.  

No kidding. Integrity is entirely absent in leadership.

Remember when the current Chief of Staff and Pentagon Spokesman stood in front of the American people and knowingly lied about that drone strike that killed a bunch of kids during the pullout? I remember. They are still there and faced zero consequences.

 

[Captain passed over for Major, looking for advice.]

On 6/18/2023 at 4:12 PM, illusive said:

Congrats, glad it worked out so well for you

 

Any retribution for doing this from leadership?  Did they find out about the first letter since you need to be twice non selected?

 

Were they aware this was a rule or did you have to fight for it with AFPC?  My big fear is they would just ignore me.

 

No retribution at all. My commander was completely on board and supported me the whole time. No one attempted to talk me into staying. Not one person said anything negative. A few people that got picked up for major in my group were mad they didn't do the same, especially when I separated a month or so after they pinned on.

My commander also told me that when he was at a meeting with the wing commander before the second board's results came out for those already passed over, a lot of other commanders were saying that their guys were going to off themselves if they didn't make it. My commander said to the group that "his guy" (me) was going to throw a f-ing party.

There is no fight with AFPC. It is a federal law. Twice passed over officers must be separated (if they do not elect to continue) within six months of notification of 2nd non-selection. No one in the Air Force has the power to stop that.

I highly recommend anyone thinking of getting out gets passed over twice and saves more than a year of their life.

[Aviation Continuation Pay (ACP - The Bonus)]

17 hours ago, Ryder1587 said:

Here’s a serious question.  Why would someone even stay Active Duty after their initial commitment ?  What draw is there ?  I get it for the people who want to lead and are desiring O-6 and beyond. But you can even do that in the Reserves and Guard.  Why would not everyone try to get an AGR gig and pick where you want to live , get the bonus , and have a say in your life ?  I seriously don’t get it.  

Fear is the #1 reason I've heard.

Most academy and ROTC bros have never had a job outside of the Air Force and are afraid of not having a guaranteed government paycheck.

Another reason is that people can't do math. Zero people make more money by taking the bonus and staying in vs. leaving for an airline. The bonus is only for people that would stay in any way and for those that can't add.

[Captain passed over for Major, looking for advice.]

On 7/15/2021 at 6:57 AM, Danger41 said:

I’ve never seen someone who deserves to be an incredibly salty Major more than you.

Speaking of public disclosure, want to share why you feel that way?

An update:
My plan worked to perfection.

Separated with 120+ days of leave, took ~90 terminal, paid the rest.
Got hired by a legacy airline and started with ~60 days left on terminal. The airline asked zero questions about any Air Force promotion stuff.
Got the plane and domicile I wanted straight out of training. I'm already a line holder.

Holy crap the airline life quality of life is a million times better than the Air Force. Zero queep. Zero outside work work.
Zero mission planning. Zero paperwork. Brief and debrief? Maybe a total of five minutes combined per day of flying.

I am so glad I got passed over and wrote a letter for the second board. I was told I am a legend in my old squadron and tales are being told of how I played by their rules and won.

On 4/7/2022 at 6:46 PM, illusive said:

What are you referring to?  I was thinking about writing the board so I can leave a year or 2 early.  I am in the 2015 year group and if I decline promotion twice I was hoping I could get out 2 years earlier and potentially get hired.

Do it. The letter is due in November. It is completely different if you are selected for major and then decline. You must not get selected, and a letter is a good way to do that.

Here's something like the memo I wrote:

MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD

FROM: Capt Cool Dude

SUBJECT: Non-Consideration For Promotion to Major

1. I do not wish to be considered for promotion to the rank of Major for board ABCDEFG123.

2. I fully understand the consequences described in AFI36-3207 and AFI36-2501 that will result from not being selected for promotion to Major a second time.

3. For questions regarding this memorandum, please feel free to contact my Executive Officers at DSN 123-4566 or lameGuys@us.af.mil.

														Signature block

Ping me if you have questions. Tell your friends and anyone else that wants out early.

I have zero regrets.

We could have a recession tomorrow and I could get furloughed. Zero regrets would still exist.

[Promotion and PRF Information]

On 4/21/2023 at 5:15 PM, HossHarris said:

There are only 3 optimum points to get out:

-the moment your pilot training commitment is up. 

-at exactly 20 years 

-when they kick you out for High year tenure. 
 

Any other point on the timeline and you’re giving something up. 

You left out the most optimum point to get out: 1+ year before your UPT ADSC is up.

Write letters and get passed over twice for major. You'll save more than a year on your ADSC, depending on when you commissioned and completed UPT.

I highly recommend it.

[Finally done in Afghanistan?]

22 minutes ago, Lawman said:

Light grey and Raptor guys somewhere… fuming at the idea that Super Hornets might get another air to air kill before they do…


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Call the F-15Cs. They are experienced at shooting down American Blackhawks.