PirateAF
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Posts posted by PirateAF
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I know we're not all computer savy but I'm hoping someone out there has got a fix...
Just got a new laptop that has vista and IE7 - I've installed the CAC software and the driver somone provided in the above posts -
However I still can't get webmail, SMS, or the portal to work ... it will recognize my card and I'll choose a certificate but then nothing.
Any assistance would be appreciated.
(time passes and post is re-edited)
I found out what works! Download Activclient 6.1 from Cnet and it works fine with Vista/IE7
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We pick up a hardbook (super duty laptop) at baseops for every local or mission sortie.
We just read the pubs through Adobe - works great...you can search through hundreds of pages just by searching for a term.
I love it. Never need to crack open the paper pubs on the jet.
All laptops have latest copy of epubs.
The question is how are you going to get around the whole, no thumbdrive/external hard drive issue? If you have found a way please pm me.cheers
We are using 6 GB spinning hard drives - they are about the size of two thumb drives. Still very portable.
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Guys
What's the point of the flame war?
Sure the recent C-17 buffoonery is news-worthy - but if you want to trade jabs, I can pull up some human factors C-130 mishaps that resulted in much worse than a gear up mess.
I for one appreciate the tactical advantages of the C-130 -- just as I'm sure there are many experienced 130 drivers who can appreciate what the 17 can do.
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Do you seriously think Airmen doing the bump and grind drinking beer during salsa night at the deid are entitled to the same CZTE/HFP/HDP as the guys driving the perimeter at Kirkuk, just based on the Iranians being unfriendly? I respectfully disagree.
For those guys living in the new dorms I would respectfully disagree also.
However if you're living in one of those crappy tents/trailers with the communal bathrooms...it's a toss up.
Granted your living conditions shouldn't entitle one to CZTE.
But it's nice to think about as you walk 4 miles to take a shower in the 120 degree heat.
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Any AMC guys out there have a good help/how-to file for deciphering a CFP?
I've already got "Rabbits CFP decoder" but it's somewhat dated.
Thanks
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THE OFFICER IN QUESTION RESPONDS
On a slightly different tangent, PirateAF stated “Just another example of someone trying to move up the chain by stepping on others.” You make an interesting set of assumptions about my motivations, PirateAF. May I ask “Who did you think Major Maue was going to “impress” with this piece of research?” Asked differently, “How do you think Major Maue will “Move up the Chain” as a result of getting this piece published?”
Given that approximately one-third of the new Lts in each year group will be pilots, and that they have 10 – 12 years of initial commitments while other AFSCs drop out at the “5 & Dive” option, and that our most senior ranks are proportionally composed of pilots (rightly so), this suggested to me that perhaps 40% or more of all officers who would read my piece would have a pilot’s perspective…where is the niche of shoe clerks to champion my rise up the chain? They did not exist when I was researching the issue, and it seems unlikely today that such a group will be forming any time soon…
You may conjecture as to my motivation, but I believe that any rational individual would at least conclude that “popularity” was not one of them…including possibility that my Lt Col promo board would meet after its publication.
Maj Maue,
The folks at personnel certainly don't wear wings - and those in a position to make a decision on ACP or your promotion are well removed from the cockpit.
May I ask what was your motivation for publishing this research piece in the first place?
Could it be that the driving force behind your research is the same force behind those folks who:
-implimented DTS
-removed orderly rooms from flying squadrons
-are in the process of removing finance offices from individual bases (and moving them all to South Dakota)
-set the in-theater per diem rate at $3.50!?!
It is my opinion that you seek to "do more with less". Your cost cutting directly influences the morale and quality of life of the operators who are out doing the real work of the Air Force. In doing so, you seek to gain recognition and promotion at our expense.
I applaud your intelligent (if misguided) argument and the time it took to write your response.
Otherwise, aside from this forum, I hope your research goes quietly unnoticed.
PirateAF
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Couldn't find a Columbia thread - searched for "Columbia", "Space Shuttle Columbia", and "Space Shuttle".
Anywho, NASA just released the full report on the Columbia accident. It's quite an interesting read.
RIP Columbia 7
http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/12...shuttle.pt1.pdf
http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/12...shuttle.pt2.pdf
http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/12...shuttle.pt3.pdf
http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/12...shuttle.pt4.pdf
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There is a reason the Air Force pays folks extra to retain them: 25-50K in annual bonuses for medical/dental types seem to be the norm on the 2009 pay scales.
It takes over $200K to train a doctor...and it takes over $1M to train a pilot - and speaking for this pilot, $25K will make me consider any decision I make pretty carefully. I wonder how much it takes to train a missileer? Probably not much.
http://www.dfas.mil/militarypay/militarypa...ryPayTables.pdf
And folks aren't bailing for RJs...they're bailing for SWA - I know 10 guys who got out at their 8-10 yr commitment within the past year...some even due to last year's VSP debacle!
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Why do people have to go out and try to ruin other people's good deals?
If I were an assistant professor at the Zoo I wouldn't have time to write op-ed pieces on why we should screw the operators...I'd be too busy skiing.
Just another example of someone trying to move up the chain by stepping on others.
Blah.
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First day of UPT we all stood at attention in the flight room while our Navy Flt/cc walked around and looked each one of us in the eye.
His words: "Sh*t rolls downhill...and you live in the valley".
No problems with respect in our flight room.
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I found a bunch of CVR re-creations on youtube by searching for "accident CVR".
However, this is probably a stupid question, is it possible for one to download something on youtube? ie. put a youtube video on a thumb drive?
Great thread!
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Same for us with the SARMS keeping track via MARs, updating an excel sheet through AFORMS.
Does anyone out there use GDSS2 to track currency?
I think our CC said it best today, "If you can't keep yourself current, then go find another job".
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for the first point
i was talking about guys that didnt do so well in t-37s going to corpus instead of t-38s or t-1s. there is a class ranking in phase 1-2 of pilot training too. there are of course guys in every airframe who break the mold, like the number one guy who goes to awacs.
second point
i have no problem supporting my country, but that doesnt disqualify me from thinking this way. do you think that deploying is cool or something? that fighting is an awesome thing? i just think deploying is not cool nor does it make people cool. it is just an unfortunate reality. i am not saying to avoid it, but in the c130 you will definately deploy more and you have to be ready to handle the consequences. because, although you are in the military, you are a person with a life outside as well. or at least you should be.
Some telling observations there.
Now I'm really curious. What do you fly? 130s or 17s?
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when c-17s were harder to get, we had our top guys get those and our absolute last guys (who didnt wash out) get hercs. i mean hooking checkrides, daily rides, epqs...last. no offense to any herc guys, but you know it was true.
my opinion, deploying is stupid.
How is that possible in pilot training? From what I recall (granted this is back in '03), our guys that were going to go 130s found out at track select, not 6 months later at assignment night. From what I recall, they were pretty decent pilots. Are they handing out 130s now at assignment night? Curious.
And for your second comment, seeing as how you are posting on a military forum, you're putting chum in a very small tank full of hungry sharks.
Might I suggest saying something along the lines of "deploying can be very trying", or "deploying 4 on 4 off is hard on your family".
Your flippant "opinion" denegrates everyone else here who does deploy; they give of their time and energy in service to the country - I for one do not believe deploying is stupid.
Have you every deployed?
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Qualifications? As our usernames imply, Boom and I are boom operators - he's on the -135, I'm on the -10. We've got front-row seats for the show, and instruments that tell us just how much a receiver is moving the boom around.
Granted you are both boom operators (duh). What I was interested in was what length and breadth of experience he/you was/were bringing to the table to make such qualified statements. Boom has indicated he's upgrading to IB, so I take his observations to carry some weight.
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You guys as a community suck at air refueling. I think I'm qualified to make that statement. As a seasoned IP, yeah you could do pretty well air refueling. Basic AC? Forget about it.
I find that hard to believe unless you regularly fly against LTS students.
How are you qualified? Curious.
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Concur with most of the above.
Alright. No one ever says it but they should.
If you have doubts about your stick and rudder skills, PLEASE stay out of the herk.
I know that ain't the PC thing to say, but I don't care. I'm sick of having 'those' ACs and IPs in the squadron. You know, the ones the schedulers have unwritten rules about flying with seasoned CPs. Seriously. That AF won't wash out the ones that need to be washed out. If there is one airplane in the that is unforgiving to bad rudder riders, it's the herk. If you don't think you've got it, sack up and admit it.
Well we don't want bad pilots in the 17 community either. The 130 stick and rudder skills requirement that FourFans is citing (usually every other approach in the 130 when one of those awesome propellers has quit on you) translates directly into the 17 air refueling stick skills requirement. Since you have to be able to air refuel the jet as an AC, we keep our "special needs" ACs to a minimum.
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Obviously there are a lot of 130 dudes on this forum. I guess I'll speak up for the "pretty boy" C-17.
When you're deployed at the two stages you will fly the 17 as a tactical airlifter. I've logged 10 minutes sorties in OIF carrying everything you can imagine - including the 50K MRAPS (we usually carry two at a time). I've landed in the dirt in OEF and airdropped bullets on the side of mountains too, just like a 130. While the 130 does have a shorter takeoff and land capability (2500-3000? I believe compared to our 3500), the 17 is certainly NOT relegated to 10,000 feet long "AMC hubs" as you might be led to believe (that's more of a KC-10/135 and C-5 thing). Yes, the 130 is more tac air, but that's only due to it's nature of being smaller. I suppose I could argue the CASA-235 is more tactical than the 130. The 17 does 300 ft contour LLs, NVG airdrop, etc.
There is some crossflow especially between the 17 and the 130J.
130 - You'll find yourself in more varied locations in the AOR. You just might deploy TO the AOR. You'll be trained in airdrop; you will be a tactical airlifter. You'll deploy a lot.
17 - You'll deploy to the stages for 120 around every 2 years. You'll fly tactical then, but while at home flying missions you'll be more strat. If you get a slot, you'll be trained in airdrop. You'll air refuel.
I certainly respect the 130 and it's many variants. I wish we had an AC/MC17.
Good luck with your choice and avoiding a UAV. If you go for the 17 and want the airdrop training, try to get CHS, TCM, HIK, or Elmo.
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The tower guy is hilarious...a buddy of mine started turning on his formation lights while taxiing there and the controller thought it was the neatest things ever. We landed and he asked us "Moose XX, why don't you have your pretty green lights on?" (Granted green is the color of Islam). Anyway, from then on, whenever we were on the ground we'd have our form lights on.
Keep trucking Wombat!! I think it's funny.
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I stand by my statement, but let me explain it. By "Shut up and color" I don't mean stand back and do nothing. I mean that you should work to change things at your appropriate level, but when you're squashed by the man, salute smartly and find the next item for you to fix. Take your small victories and progress to the next level.
As a Lt, don't accept the AFI paragraph that seems to have been put in place by a shoe clerk - put in an 847 and change it.
As a Capt, become a shop chief and shitcan all the stupid policies the previous Sq/CC put in place.
As a Maj, become an ADO and actually do something other than flying your bi-daily sortie and going home; bring the maintainers up the squadron to educate them on how Ops works.
As a LtCol, become a DO or CC. Let your troops wear LPA patches and Friday shirts to raise morale, and at the same time, work the shit that matters like the ######ed up flying program.
As a Col. you have made it. You are where we need you to be. Tell the idiots at finance that they're going to stop taking their daily two-hour training sessions and be in place to help us. Tell the ######stains at MPF to open their doors before 0900 and leave them open until 1800 so the people who complete the mission of the military can actually get help. Kick the SFS SrA in the nuts when he writes your guys a speeding ticket for driving 12 mph in the parking lot at 1am.
Small victories, chip away at the stone.
Rage against the machine one reflector belt at a time.
Folks re-read this excellent post. I'm actually thinking about posting this in the men's room.
Here's hoping you make it to Col Toro.
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Same question as above but initials were MD from the Boston area??
Thanks...and condolences to the families and friends of the crew.
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I'm getting the TMO/Finance run around here -
Does anyone know the reg to cite in order to get the AF to pay at least part of the costs for shipping a car?
I'm doing a CONUS PCS and I already drove me and my wife in one car - she would not drive our second vehicle (besides it's kind of old).
It's costing around $1300 to ship it coast to coast (summertime prices) and I've heard different stories about the AF paying part of those costs.
Thanks!!
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Thanks for Mcchord update, C21.
PirateAF, I'm assuming you're talking about CHS...?
Anyone willing to share updates on the status of 17s at Hickam and McGuire regarding manning and missions for newbies?
dream sheet to be filled shortly...
Yes, that's the current situation at CHS.
Sputnik just hit some great points for training considerations - you'll probably be a better trained FP at CHS/TCM simply due to the proximity of the Aux field. Flying 4-6 hours do to an assault has got to kill your proficiency, but honestly, when was the last time I landed an operational assault!?! In my 2500 hours in the 17 the only thing that's come close is a 90ft wide runway in South Africa somewhere. However, having an Aux field nearby will gen you up so much faster on NVG ops, tac arrivals, transition ops in general; if you're trying to do all of that at a busy mil or civilian airfield (Elmo or at Hickham) it's going to be tough. I was just out at the Deid and we had at least 4-5 Dover FPs coming out for 60 days to get hours. Didn't see any Elmo or Hik guys though.
I've got to plug the 17 again, regardless of the peaks and valleys in flying hours. If you just sit back and expect to get a ton of flying hours thrown your way, forget it. But if you proactively work with the schedulers (and with your schedule conflicts) you can work 300-400 a year. Operational airdrop in the 17 rocks.
Personal Common Access Card (CAC) reader
in General Discussion
Posted
This site has it all for any cac certificates/card reader/stuff -
http://militarycac.com/notes.htm