GKinnear

Not the same situation, we were still on AD, but we used Standard for my wife when she was pregnant last time in the Vegas area. The ability to pick you own civillian doc was a world of difference. Yes, there's the catastrophic cap, but since she got to pick my doc we felt that there wasn't going to be needed. The level & quality of care was an order of magnitude better. If you can get Tricare to pay for it but use an off-base doc, that's a Win-Win in my book.

Well it's no surprise Sky Cops need to be taught how to put one on...now they just need to figure out where to stick it!

fvck the fvcking fvckers EDIT: I didn't make the fvcking cut...

Two quick thoughts 1) We have to remember that our ultimate "end product" is to lead Airmen in combat. IMO, the assumptions that DoD leadership is basing that idea on is one of a peace-time, business model. It seems like they think that any goober an come in and order troops to their death to take some random hill. If it is primarily to stand-up a Cyber MAJCOM, or other specialty fields, GS and contractors already fit that bill. Or create another professional Corps (JAG/Medical/Chaplain). 17Ds are already LAF guys, it'd be a slippery slope until the direct commission is opened up wide. It's a disconnect between the civilian/military leaders. It's been stated before, this is just another example. 2) On the basis that it fly's in the face of Big Blue's insistence that in-res grads from IDE are the "chosen ones", maybe it's not so bad.

The Pentagon's plan to hire military leaders off the street The shoe clerkery has gone full retard. WOs, oh hell no; but O-6 hired off the street is acceptable? WTFO... EDIT: yes it's more of a DoD issue, than just AF specific. I really hope this is just polite consideration since Carter is name dropped in the article and not serious.

It's heresay, but if true, they had shitty leaders. Was it a conversation in passing or a "you should recat, we're talking about your job here" type harassment? What's the difference between UPT-Directs and a late-rated dude? Some recat, some don't; some are doing well back in a traditional platform, some aren't. It really comes down to the pilot and attitude. Bloom where you're planted.

//RANT ON// Just stop with the number of deployments argument; as it relates to RPAs, it's old and busted. Even when not deployed in theater, back at homestation the operators are actively prosecuting ATOs, killing the enemy, and meeting the demand of a war-time ops tempo. Not just in short sprints, but every single day of your assignment in RPAs, flying the line (which is 99.9% of MQ-1/MQ-9 Pilots and Sensors). I question the demographic of the Aircrew that find it appealing due to the "fewer" deployments; how long have the been in the AF, how many non-RPA flying deployments have they had, total deployment count, how long were they in RPAs when that opinion was given and what's their follow-up opinion now (ie, has it changed)? Don't be fooled into thinking that just because you're at home, your "deployment" is somehow easier. It's generally not. The ops tempo is continual, AND they have meet the demands of a peace-time AF (CBTs, Inspections, CCAF degrees, PROJO volunteers, civilian education, etc). The remote location forces everyone to spend significant percentage of their paycheck on fuel, especially if you have office work to do. You can't get it completed when you spending 83% of your time at work actively flying/prepping to fly, so the bus schedule and van pools aren't a valid option. Speaking of the van pools, yes the AF provides a payment system for contract van rentals, but G-d forbid you that up on a rare TDY, or don't ride enough in a month. There are more examples that I'm glossing over, but think of everything you do right now and then try to image fighting a war for 7.5 hrs out of every 9 hr day (minimum) with no end in sight. Yes, some of the posters here sometimes present an argument from their POV and how the ops tempo is affecting them personally, but that doesn't negate the validity of their complaint. The aggregate effect, of everything listed above, upon the Airmen meeting it all is wearing them out quickly. One of the shitty parts is everyone of them is smart enough to realize that succeeding in their primary duties (to remind you: fly planes and kill the enemy) isn't enough to keep getting promoted. I've seen exactly ONE pilot who was able to just fly/instruct the line and fleet up to the top. He definitely earned it, but he's the exception to the rule. Some aircrew in RPAs volunteered, some were "needs of the AF"; all do more than speadsheet bean counting. People come here to vent because they care about the AF and because that's what Aircrew does. I've seen many good plans come together from sport bitching in the bar that solved immediate needs. This is just the extension of that. I'm curious as to your quals; you've become a blue-suit equivalent of Scoobs. You pass profound judgement that show you lack a basic "man-on-the-street" perspective. You have ZERO credibility at this point for most your posts. RPA operators are all great Americans, who have answered their country's call. If comments here make someone "a touch angry", then sack-up get yourself out to Creech. Learn what it means to lead people in actual combat. There's plenty of seats on the line for you. //RANT OFF//

I'm waiting to hear your response to this email. If you are who you pretend to be, then the impending 11F shortage HAD to be in your crosscheck. Go ahead, try to reconcile it. Keep telling us that "everything is fine" and throwing more money at the problem will fix it. Wait until a problem is very public and too late for elegant solutions, then try to fix it. Yup, it's all about the money.... JQP - 11F Crisis (direct link) JQP - 11F Crisis

Not surprising that the two RPA signers (14% take rate) were SOF and -170s.

There's a bunch of 11M dudes who have actual CAS/Air-Ground experience out at Creech. Just saying...

, but if I am getting cut off at the knees and have no opportunities to "shine" then I'm just going to get out. Double edged sword, this manning plan is. I can only imagine the challenge AFPC has to deal with. When there are plenty of pilots, they are pissed when they have to take a job out of the jet. When manning is so bad that you "have" to fly your supersonic chariot for the majority of your career, they complain about not being able to "shine". Wtf. IMO pilots want to fly as long as possible. Most of them being type-A personalities also want to be in command. But they are also aware that to the AF beauracracy, Option 1 rarely leads to Option 2. Is almost like the "stovepiping" in the late 90's/early 00's. Sent from my SM-N920T using Baseops Network Forums mobile app

The satire was almost too subtle. Good thing it was on Duffleblog, otherwise a lot of people wouldn't get it

I read this as a critique of what one Presidential Candidate said to the other circa 2012...

I must just be tired, but what is this? It's been awhile since my AMC days, but I have no frame of reference here.

It's happening in Cyber as well. Very many people who aren't prior are bouncing. They're tired of the deployments, lack of command clarity, inability to (usually) make positive changes with their customers and for the base support, being cast aside for the sexiness of Offensive/Defensive Cyber. Who flies planes anymore.. so silly.... We just had our Summer '16 PCS webinar, total AFSC manning currently at 84%, IF you count the new 2Lt's in FY15. Overall, they'll be filling only 60% of positions requiring a body that cycle. People are just tired, and the experience and certifications we're walking out with aren't run of the mill server-farm experience. Starting salary for a lot of these is around six figures. Hell, the trend lines for the mid 90's folks, and mid-00 folks is well below the sustainment line. I wasn't a O then, but I seem to remember my bosses (jr-mid Capts) were getting RIF'd at ton in '06-'08... and that was "before the drawdown." Anyway, has anyone noticed a change in the Maj's getting promoted? With the increased scrutiny Learjet I was wondering if it had also moved down to O-4 as well. There's been numerous people who haven't made it I was surprised at. The Comm Field was a high pick on my dream sheet 16ish years ago, when a plan to do my 4 yrs and walk. At the time, I knew Doctors who were leaving medicine to work for telecoms and getting 3x the pay. I would think the current environment is even more magnified. But what do I know, that personnelist is a really good leader and more deserving than everyone else.

The unspoken thought is that RPAs don't want shitty Pilots any more than shitty pilots want to be in RPAs. It's a compounding situation.

So, are women now denied federal loans if they don't register in the Selective Service?

Looking at his ribbons and his bio, it seems like his only deployment was as the Deid Deputy Mission Support Group CC in '08. The blues policy is completely in line with a dude who's been a REMF his entire career.

Great, now all we need to do is triple RPA manning. Haven't you heard? We're over manned with 11M's...these problems solve themselves

1989: 2x Tomcats shoot down Libyan Floggers Hear This Intense Declassified Recording Of F-14s Shooting Down Libyan MiG-23s There's not much on the video, it's mostly just audio, but still interesting to listen to.

The Navy may be getting rid of the X-47, but this is still a leap forward in the RPA's development. X-47B UCAV AARs w/Omega Tanker DARPA is also looking into RPA-to-RPA, Manned-to-RPA, and RPA-to-Manned AAR solutions DARPA RPA tests

The dreaded FAIP assignment. Say that out loud and see how it sounds. You need to catch on how much that sounds like a little bitch. FAIPs do alright, both in the jet and career-wise.

My guess is the 11Xs would receive a T-6 IP qual in the backseat and let the 18X try to kill him. Joe1234's point is more valid in the RPA world where not everyone has an LR qual or need. Let the guy who can go to a different airframe keep his skill set up, and let the 18X get some basic airmanship w/out the pesky landing currency. An abbreviated pattern only, ala Sport Pilot Licence, might be the ticket for an LR qual'd 18X.

Go myPers and search "promotions". Somewhere in there will be a link for board status as it hits the review milestones. 3ish months generally. Any date given is just a shifting target. Good luck!

So, TiB could land you on the WH Fellows track? Richard Marcinko once said "Some people wear stars and other wear scars..."