No crew member has been Q3'd nor is there plans to Q3 them.

2 hours ago, Prozac said:

The Soviets sure as shit didn’t have any restrictive ROE and they couldn’t civilize that place. The Chinese, in my experience, are a clown show & I can’t see them doing much better. 

Reference the Indian Chinese anchorman style brawl at the border. 

1 hour ago, BroncoEN said:

Interesting quote from BBC:

"I have little doubt that it's going to hurt Biden," says Christopher Phelps, an associate professor of American Studies at the University of Nottingham. "It's going to be viewed as a loss, and possibly as a disgrace - it really was his call, fairly or not."

Highlights the political nature of presidency, regardless of what deals (one, two, or three terms before you) were enacted. 

They have had 7+ months to execute some form of operation that didn't result in the optics that occured the last couple of days.  Regardless of what "deal" they were "stuck" with, the last two days didn't have to go down the way they did.   He and the rest of the DOS/DOD own that at a minimum.  

12 minutes ago, Sua Sponte said:

Calculating that Form F, if they even did one without massively WAGing it, makes me nervous just thinking about it.

It's not even close to any limit.  I'd put the average weight at 175 max.  670 pax.  Flew a flight into Bastion that was ramp to lav boxes of 40mm grenades.  

Just now, Alpharatz said:

Sad as it is..THAT is exactly what I was telling the wife...Hero to bum in one nightmare mission..If Reservists..there might be pushback if such an investigation occurs..

Two dudes fell off of the plane and the mx folks probably found some more up in the wheel wells when it landed.  Its going to be a class A.  Nothing to do with the pilots.  

30 minutes ago, HeloDude said:

How long before Kabul falls and resembles something like this…

https://af.usembassy.gov/security-alert-u-s-embassy-kabul-afghanistan-august-7-2021/?fbclid=IwAR1sWr5guHDeA--Qaf--io-khSgxyvoeK_vznYxrPsnaKvczHkXJaFEGnUI

It won't look like that only because there aren't any helos with skids there 🙂

Beat the general requirement by over 1.5 minutes.  Edit.  It looks like it was about 4 minutes from possible alarm to the first big truck pulling up.  

(2) The response required by paragraph (h)(1)(ii) of this section must achieve the following performance criteria:

(i) Within 3 minutes from the time of the alarm, at least one required aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle must reach the midpoint of the farthest runway serving air carrier aircraft from its assigned post or reach any other specified point of comparable distance on the movement area that is available to air carriers, and begin application of extinguishing agent.

(ii) Within 4 minutes from the time of alarm, all other required vehicles must reach the point specified in paragraph (h)(2)(i) of this section from their assigned posts and begin application of an extinguishing agent.

3 hours ago, Guardian said:

Regardless of Bill or Ben, Malcolm made himself look like an idiot in that clip. Worst thing was the audience was waiting with abated breath to clap and cheer at everything he said even though a lot of it was contradictory to other things he was saying, not related to the topic, or gibberish. Speaks poorly of the people in that audience.

He comes off as a giant smug douchebag.  

1 hour ago, Pooter said:

I read this situation a lot like taking yourself off the flying schedule if you're not good to fly. If she wasn't in the right headspace to launch herself through the air I'd much rather have her step back so she doesn't hurt the team scores and more importantly herself. Especially when it's some kind of special-d type issue as the media is reporting. 
 

She also did so with enough notice for the team to sub in another gymnast for the final and they still ended up getting silver. Not ideal but she's definitely not a shitbag. But all the talk about her being a hero is silly too. There's nothing heroic about taking yourself off the schedule. It's just a conservative, safe decision. 
 

 

 

Nailed it.  

4 hours ago, Scooter14 said:

 

How severe was your case of Covid?

How severe are the cases that the doctor is seeing in vaccinated people?

if all of the people that got the vaccine and then got Covid or able to fight it off without ending up in the hospital I think that is a win for the vaccinated crowd.

 

Had a buddy's family get it.  Of age folks were vaccinated.  They were put on their asses for 2 days but back at it.   

10 hours ago, dream big said:

No, Hacker was making the point that if you lead a squadron tasked with going into combat, or a wing, etc. you better be qualified in the primary mission otherwise you lack credibility. WSO leading a strike Eagle unit, absolutely.  SOC douche leading a unit that constantly needs IP supervision? That’s what Hacker is talking about.

Young young crew chief uhhello was at PSAB for start of OIF.  Waiting on pilot to show up and was surprised to see the WG CC's SUV pull up to spot.  Was surprised and asked ignorantly what he was doing.  "I'm leading the package in".  

And their version of "lock down" is an actual lock down.  

One death (80 year old)

https://twitter.com/aginnt/status/1417860184538451968?s=20

1 minute ago, Guardian said:

Well trogdor. Ask them. Do they say they are pilots? Kinda in the name. RPA. And there are RPA guys in charge of RPA. Not SO’s. Although some of the chiefs think they are in charge.

Where did the Bad Chief touch you?

Someone transcribed the recording over on reddit.  

Colonel:

I’ve won four phase 1/phase 2 exercises in my time here. This is the first time I’ve seen a failure happen. And I’ll be honest, when I woke up at 1 o’clock yesterday morning I checked Mattermost and I saw a slip for 1 o’clock today, thought “shit, the aircraft [inaudible].” At no point in my mind did I think I would walk in and find out that America’s [inaudible], the operational heartbeat of the command and control enterprise for the free world would show up and say “I can’t execute this mission.” Not once did that cross my mind. I can’t express to you the level of disappointment I have right now and the results tell me two things: either you didn’t take it serious, or I’m preparing [inaudible]. I hope it’s not the second one, but I think it probably is.

When the mission calls on us to deploy, a [inaudible] by the President, approved through the Secretary of Defense, passed through Joint Staff, handed to the [inaudible] Chief of Staff of the Air Force, coordinated with the Secretary of the Air Force, sent to COMACC, and then handed to our Wing Commander. Everybody in that chain has said “this is the right thing to do for the best of Ameri- of, of the country.” You guys have got to figure out when to flip the switch. And I don’t mean going to Doppler. We aren’t going to Doppler.

So I failed you, and I apologize for that. I failed to set the expectation so that you take this as serious as you do. I failed to set the expectation in the mindset of the leaders who are leading this ops group to make the decisions that need to be made, to understand there’s a different calculation when you’re flying a peacetime training sortie than when you’re preparing to go to war. I will lead you better. But we have a learned lesson.

This is a critical point for us. We are being questioned. Our egos as warriors is being questioned. And I can’t stand that thought. That I’m leading people that don’t know the difference in responding to a national call for help and flying a T-sortie out of Oklahoma. Is this a realistic better believe it is. Chief can tell you all kinds of stories from his background.

Chief:

I can’t ever remember a time it wasn’t real. You know [inaudible] I’ve been sitting here thinking, [inaudible]. I’ve never seen a whole crew before sit down. [Inaudible]. And the bad things about it guys, this isn’t even the worst type of exercise you can ever see. [Inaudible] in 48 hours flying [inaudible] and spending the whole week and a half down there in MOPP 4, in and off the airplane. [Inaudible] in 10 degree weather — which is nothing [inaudible].

Is the time frames different from what you’re used to seeing? Yeah. It is. 48 versus 72 hours it was mentioned to me that way. It shifts. We got it in a [inaudible]. Before you got that [inaudible]. It looked like it was good, for real? That’s all the [inaudible] we had. There’s room to… you can’t ORM out. You have to walk up to the boss and say “yeah, I’m not going.”

Did you go? Alright.

And at some point — I think that’s what-what’s going through the most [inaudible] at some point I was reading you had time Friday at the squadron yet here you are, not to let you companions, not to let the rest of your flight crew down. This is the fastest way you get out the door. You fail. We fail. So when you [inaudible] these things after years of flying experience I can tell you’ve I’ve been there, I’ve done that.

If you come in at 7 in the morning and hey, you’ve gotta be back at 7 at night, you go home… you go home and you find a way to get that little nap and whatever it is. You pack a bag, you’re good to go, whether it’s [inaudible] resting your eyes, conserving your energy, cause the next 48 hours are gonna be hell. But you find a way to get through it. Every time.

Colonel:

So I think we’ve learned a couple things. And I’ll tell you a couple things that I’ve picked up. One is to put the decision in the wrong person’s hand. We will change [cough in audience] if this is in support of a higher headquarters mission. This is not in your decision space. This is not in the [inaudible] decision space. I would barely leave it in the commander’s decision space. You’re gonna tell me you can’t execute that mission and I’m gonna understand you why?

Why you didn’t understand the difference, why you can’t go through, why you can’t set a plan to get to “yes”, why you can’t put up over the time you’re gonna be airborne opportunities to take a nap so you need to make sure you fly safe this [inaudible]. I need to know that you guys are gonna be ready to execute this.

I know by far you are the most prepared squadron I have seen this entire year I’ve been here [inaudible] phase 1/phase 2. I’ve never seen anybody more prepared than you guys. I applaud you for that. But I guess that why the [inaudible] is so big in my disappointment, because never did I thought I would walk in and hear “ops isn’t a go.” I could not process the words.

So I need you to get focused, you’re gonna need to execute the phase 1 and phase 2, you guys are not flying today. Go get your mind right, go get reset, go get-go get yourselves prepared for what you’re gonna face through the phase 2 [inaudible].

Officers stay back, everybody else you’re dismissed.

59 minutes ago, HeyEng said:

I retired back in 2014 so I have not visited this site in quite a while, but the pullout in Afghanistan reawakened some old memories and raised some questions in me. Most of the airlift missions I did revolved flying into Bagram and other airfields.

Being in the Reserves spared me the requirement of being deployed (for the sake of deployment) as a requirement of your career development, but never-the-less I still witnessed the queep and endless shoe-clerks running around making sure you were wearing your PT gear and reflective belt when you walked 5 yards to the latrine at 0400 from your hooch.

So I guess my question is what happens now to the Air force and the Airlift Mission? Are deployments no longer a requirement if you are going to make a career of the AF? What happens to Ramstein, Rota, and other of our large overseas airlift bases? It is not that easy to back that train up and I wonder what planning or changes (if any) any of you have heard or seen. 

What is everybody's thoughts on the future of the AF, will it get better? or will it resemble something like Goya's painting of "Saturn Devouring his Son"?

 

Will certainly be easier to get lodging on Ramstein 🙂

Where's the Major or MSgt with a pair to call this douchebags bluff?  I'd make sure to fill out the next ORM sheet exactly as written for my next few flights.  

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/jul/10/capitol-police-use-army-surveillance-system-americ/

At least it's not going to waste 🙂

2 hours ago, HeloDude said:

If I’m a betting man, then my money is on the Taliban.  If the Taliban wasn’t defeated with us being there and actively engaging, I don’t see any way the Afghan government/military will defeat the Taliban.

I’m the end, the Taliban wants it more.

We couldn't do it with the full weight of the US logistical system and unlimited money.  Afghan govt won't last 2 months.  

On 6/25/2021 at 9:17 AM, Royal said:

I highly, highly recommend everyone listen to episode 1671 of Joe Rogan's podcast with guests Bret Weinstein and Dr Pierre Kory. It's the closest thing that I've seen to an incontrovertible conspiracy theory play out in real life. Summary: Critical information on the benefits and efficacy of the drug Ivermectin for treating Covid has been suppressed by media outlets, tech companies, the pharmaceutical industry, and the government for almost a year now. It's possible that Covid could have been close to completely eradicated within six months using this ultra-inexpensive, ultra-effective treatment.

But "Trust the science" bro.  I finally got around to listening to it.  Out of curiosity I typed ivermectin into google.  Top hit was FDA saying not to take it.  🙂 Infuriating  

3 hours ago, Prosuper said:

When I was there the scuttlebutt about this was the Afghan shooter was flying unplanned missions with the C-27's , for what anybody's guess but heroin would be mine and the USAF folks were about to pull the plug on the moonlighting gig. I wonder how much money never made it to Afghanistan and got held up in a tight lipped bank in Dubai.

Almost exactly what the above article mentions...

4 hours ago, brabus said:

And CA, NY, MI...there is good news out there!

Just means the red states are turning purple in my holiday inn express education.

24 minutes ago, contraildash said:

Glad you survived. Thank you for your service.

It was touch and go for a bit.  I annotated my medical records appropriately.

1 minute ago, contraildash said:

😉

Valid.  Most legit pads are weight rated so I can see how a hospital with a grass pad says "sure come on in" to the osprey after being accustomed to a average 3-5k pound standard helo.  I've been under an osprey while getting hoisted up and its insane.  

6 minutes ago, contraildash said:

Who builds a helipad at an 'internationally renowned' hospital out of tarp and a plastic roller hockey rink?

Any hospital in the world that didn't plan on having a CV land on it 🙂