Fozzy Bear

I've got all these pictures of my dad in his AF uniform with an M-16. I've asked several times to be allowed to fire one, and gotten totally denied every time. I know of maybe two other officers in the USAF (out of SF) that have been trained on the M-16. Bring that back.

Right now sitting in the chow hall - sorry, DFAC, at Dhafra, is an E-8 training airmen. The job - sitting at a dining table, watching to make sure everyone signs in, uses sanitizer, and doesn't bring in contraband; the last of which we got busted for. In an attempt to get a fast to-go plate before racking out for crew rest, my Nav dropped his plastic shopping bag by the door. Big mistake. We got a five minute lecture from a senior NCO about following the rules. Also, evidently, escorts on an AEF cycle aren't allowed to interfere (help) the locals whatsoever. An airman is an escort in the dining facility and has a catering business back home. She regularly made every type of cobbler and coffee cake imaginable, just cause she could - friggin sweet; til someone found out it was her, not the locals, and made her stop. This may be melodramatic, but at this point, it's the little things that piss me off.

I've tried several. The only one I will ever use is Mardon. They're based in Tuscon, and as far as I know, they're the best. I've never been unhappy with them, although sometimes they get backed up. Is this for a UPT class or an established unit? If for a unit, find out who they used. www.mardonco.com

What do mean? The 10 never has chutes? We always do, but I laugh every time we carry pax, cause we certainly never have enough for them, and it's always an question brought up during the pax brief. Something to bing back: smoking on the jet. If we opened the sextant port, the smoke shouldn't really bother anybody. God, I'd love to light up on the way home from bad guy land.

This actually is what the brass is telling us now. As far as sanitizing, it's changed for us almost every other week, depending on who the LtCol is behind the desk. Tanker missions don't always involve passing the go juice, and even on special sorties, there's no consistency. Blood chits and EVCs: yeah, no where near us on the plane. For any booms on here, do you guys check the parachutes prior to T/O? Just curious.

I've seen some old pictures with the actual phrase, "unofficial ace Sgt________, who shot down 8 enemy planes...." Point is, I don't think there is a title, officially.

Yeah, Flightom's were always the bottom of the barrel in my experience. They'd break, weren't very comfortable, and they let in a lot of noise. The thing about the opposite sound wave and thus twice the actual waves - flight doc here agreed with that.

Of course the Air Force has Navigators, but they're being squeezed out, and fast. Armed on overseas/ combat sorties? Great. Good for you. I'm not, along with many other airframes. Even if you check out a weapon - doesn't mean you can carry it.

Little different question, but has anyone heard anything negative about the new bose headsets? A lot of heavy guys are switching, but I heard a rumor from a flight doc that they somehow damaged your ears over time.

- PT gear that doesn't "swish" - Navigators - armed pilots on combat/ overseas sorties - mirrored sunglasses (I can have a stache way out of regs but get busted for aviators?)

Most units are supposed to be getting a 182 with the G1000, fyi. As far as the flying, some units WANT you to take it out for the day, or weekend, to work on your proficiency. The counterdrug stuff is supposed to be pretty cool (never done it); you also do disaster relief, SAR, exercises with the alphabet soup, etc. It's all free and helps build time, the downside is pretty massive though. It's a huge pain in the ass to become a mission pilot, which you have to be before you can check out the plane. Also, you'll get calls in the middle of night to go track down an ELT. In an aviation town like Wichita, that can get old REAL fast. Flying students around is f***ing fun - you're not and instructor, it's just an orientation ride - you can do whatever. The only way to get thru the gayness with some expediency is if you're a CFI with lots of PIC time. Every unit is different, sometimes vastly so.

I'm deployed and my flt/cc back home needs bullets for my first OPR. I'm a new 135 pilot. At the same experience level, what are some things you guys put down?

Ah, man, that's kinda dick. You don't want to be the one dude in your class that DOESN'T get dunked. Fight, run, etc., but you gotta take your licks and get wet (sts). That's what UPT is all about, especially as early in the program as initial solo. That being said, at Laughlin, you could hook maintenance up with a case of suds and they'll make sure to pick you up and drive you to BOPS or the main T-6/T-38 building, where you can sneak in thru the life support room. Or, just run really fast.

It's still gay. Al Dhafra doesn't seem to be as bad as the Deid, but still pretty bad. You certainly can't wear a boonie cap with any sides up. Among many, many other fascist speeches was a five minute monologue by a chief on how to wear sunglasses.

Al Dhafra's pretty fruity, but it's not just the chiefs. There's more senior NCOs than junior here, but that's not where the lack of common sense is really apparent. Everyone here who's not aircrew seems to think we revolve around their AF, and somehow the crap they need to get done outways us flying the mission. For example, an hour ago a bunch of firefighters stormed thu the aircrew dorms checking smoke detectors, waking up the dozens of aircrew on the hall, many of whom were in the middle of crew rest. The huge red signs on people's doors with "Do Not Disturb Unless an Actual Emergency..." were completely ignored. We were shocked. One of the booms realized there wasn't an actual f***ing fire and asked them to get the hell out, which they refused. I think there's some O-5s involved now. Last night, SF didn't want to let my Nav back on the flightline. He had all his badges and whatnot in order; they just wanted to disrupt our flow so we would remember it's THEIR flightline. Actually, SF is just as bad in the states, so I don't think that really can affect my opinion of Dhafra. Oh yeah, and we only get 2 beers a night.

I was in the 54th at Altus and it does seem we're there another week later than the 55th. I don't know why. All in all, I got there on 25 April and left on 7 September. It's a vacation; enjoy it. If you're going to Altus, stay in the Ramada. The folks in La Costa REALLY take care of you. Ask for Ramone; tell him Ross sent you.

so I get that it's almost impossible to go fromheavy to fighter; but what about heavy to bomber?