disgruntledemployee
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Posts posted by disgruntledemployee
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Bud, I'll lay it out a little.
1. Study UPT style and learn your plane and mission.
2. Get the hours
3. If you demonstrate competence in the plane and you have the hours, the upgrades will come.
4. If you're in crew aircraft, having AC on an OPR and PRF will help.
That's the ops stuff
Now comes the part that sucks about the AF; an OG or better level job, like OG exec. Hell, just volunteering (and not getting it) for this crap can elevate your stock, and that it the gamesmanship of the AF that I hate.
But, as I posted earlier, you competed for UPT and made it. The board sees that stuff and recognizes it. I know a late-rated dude that just made O-5 1-BTZ this winter.
Out
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Its been said before, but some things are too important to be relegated to CBT and IRC is one of those topics.
Now, remember the force protection CBT. I always get the "where do you sit on a passenger aircraft" question wrong. I chose the up front, isle seat so I can pound any would-be terrorist into a bloody pulp should they make a move for the cockpit. Of course, the shoe writer of the CBT deemed that wrong.
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C'mon, this is a remake!
Use a C-130 for the 18-wheeler, substitute a Viper for the T/A, and the Wing/CC as Col. "Buford T. Justus" with his deputy "Shoeclerk."
E-3s for the county mounties with their radars, ships in the Gulf as state troopers, hell, even count flying over Iran as crossing a state line.
This could work....
Who gets to play the chick? And does anyone have a big enough, out-of-regs stash to even look the part? In the trans-am, I mean.
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While you're at it, might as well take on similar epic problems like world hunger and a non-biased news media.
BTW, we love using the pencil/clipboard and the puck board. It's a reminder that we can do our job without computers.
And another thing, why is it that so many commanders think there is an increase in efficiency/effectiveness if we have lots of plasma screens to show our crap. All that means is double the work.
And lastly EverettP, I imagine some dude has probably already done a thesis on such a topic. At least check out the Air University pages for similar papers/theses.
Out...and good luck.
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Eat right - reduce the carbs like rice, potatos, cake, etc. Eat raw veggies - the chow halls always have salad. Use fruit on the salad instead of dressing. The diet part can be tough while flying because of your food options. Before you depart, pick up a copy of the South Beach Diet. I hate that name, but it has some sound principles behind it. The main deal is that you eliminate carbs, then slowly work them back in, with an end result of eating less carbs than before you started. I will admit, eliminating carbs is hard.
Work out - if you don't run, start. Do it every workout. Short runs, long runs, fast runs, intervals...they all help take off the lbs. Do sit-ups and push-ups for the PFT. Top off the program with weights and stretching.
Supplements - stick with a high-quality multi-vitamin pack. Pills don't melt off fat, diet and exercise do.
Coffee - Drink it. Men don't give up coffee.
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Damn,
Its about time they recognized the super secret "Pizza Slice" aircraft. Now I can offically state I fly the "slice."
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DO NOT PROMOTE. I repeat, DO NOT PROMOTE this dude. Not a team player.
BTW, that was the biggest piece of crap research I've ever seen; slanted, and full of guessing.
OUT.
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Let me tell you what brother, those late-to-rate folks, especially from the 94-95 year groups when the AF boned pilot production, have one thing in common. They worked hard to earn those slots and it keeps showing as they progress. Hell, my UPT class was about half late raters.
My point...most are hard chargers; it shows and the bosses see it.
But here is where I see problems for late-raters. There is still a cookie cutter mold for career progression, op tours, staff, schools, etc. And Big blue wants patch wearers for DOs, which in turn means SQ/CC. But to get the patch, something falls from that career cookie, like a staff job (which is way overrated).
I would love to hear about any late rated DOs and SQ/CCs out in the MAF. I would really love to hear about one (or more) that made DO and SQ/CC of any airlift squadron (not an OSS or stuff like that).
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$.02
1. ARMS should provide currencies daily to help ensure the DO is signing legal orders---part of that go/no go checklist. Swizzle, all that spreadsheet work is for the birds; you're doing all the work for your crews. Also, instead of briefing metrics, put dudes names on a shit list. The only things those metrics are good for is making you work and perhaps shifting the formula for the types of training lines you have (i.e. more night sorties needed in summer).
2. Aircrews are responsible for maintaining their currencies (but we all know this one, right?)
3. Be careful how you use the pencil...its your training.
4. Time for beer!
out
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I'll go in reverse.
Me - C-130 pilot
Dad - Marine Corps during Vietnam, then went Army, then Army Guard for Desert Storm (between him and I, we can have a 75% joint conversation...sorry Navy)
Grandfather - Air Corps during WWII: Attemped pilot, then nav, then became a B-17 bombadier
Great grandfather (dad to the one above) - WWI Italian infantry: captured, escaped, immigrated to NY
I'll even throw one in for the wife; Grandfather was an Army MAJ in WWII, retired a Col.
I love this kind of heritage!
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If any of you had the opportunity, would you ask the CSAF why "Blues Monday?" He's on the command's schedule this month.
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Leadership decided to reduce speed limits on base. No more 40km - it's now down to 25km. Rumor has it, a Col was running and almost got hit by a bus. At first they made just the busses slow to 25km (15mph) which skrewed the whole bus schedule up. It's still not fixed. There is no bus reliability. Now they are making all vehicles slow to 25km.
GOOD TIMES AT DA DEID
No, this is no good. They didn't over react enough. I suggest no buses and no personal vehicles. That way, there is zero chance of getting run over, unless they're still using shitter trucks. And no more jogging either...thats dangerous too. Wait, get rid of all the fried food and soda. That stuff will kill you.
Sarcastically out!
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The application of rated dudes to staffs is deplorably managed (if there is a more worse adjective, I'd use it). I've asked the question, "How does staff experience make a dude a better DO or CC?" It doesn't. If anything, I believe that some of our more mediocre leaders out there were able to wow their bosses with "mighty skills o' Powerpoint" while in the staff and earn DGs and primo follow-on assignments.
They will say, "But as an officer, you need career broadening in order to be a good leader, etc." I retort that rated dudes, if required in a staff, should go there to apply their rated expertise, not to learn the bazillion, self-licking processes that constitute a staff. Yet, that is what most staff dudes end up doing.
Square, you are correct. Dudes die in the staff. Its a soul sucking entity. I've wondered if staffs have ever done anything meaningful that makes its way down to the squadron.
I've told the AF that the days of sending people to the staff because "its better for your career" must end now. If a staff job calls for a rated dude, they had better be doing 100% rated-type work. If not, hire a civilian. Oh, and thats another thing. Staffs are way too heavy in the civilian pay scale. You can't spit without hitting a GS-15.
Dudes at the top of their game need to stay in the wing, and get promoted, and get the schools. That is where our best DOs and CCs will come from.
BTW, if you can't tell, I HATE the staff. Worst decision I ever made.
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Hey Died folks, how do you like your new Ops Group/CC? She made quite an impression here in LR and I've already heard stories of her outlawing hookas and things of that nature. Have fun with that!
You mean like households with more than one television set?
I couldn't resist the opportunity for a vague "Anchorman" quote.
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for all of you field grade guys out there complaining about the same thing, why does everyone bail instead of trying to fix things?
I knew an outstanding field grader (true crew dog) and watched his career get shit-canned by a P.O.S. O-6 at the Deid. That happens way to often to the good guys. Put yourself in those dusy tan boots for a moment. When shit happens to one of your crews doing the J-O-B, would you stand your ground (got your back, crew), knowing that will be your last stand, or fall in line and throw the crew to the wolves?
Thats the kind of stuff that makes people think twice about taking command. Too often, in recent history, the right thing to do doesn't mix well with the "Management" above you. Once I figure out the magic formula to solve that one, we'll be on our way to taking over the Force.
So "John," to answer your question, fixing it seems like trying to cure cancer. People grow tired of cracking their head against the wall and decide to move on.
Still Disgruntled
Out.
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Don't bet on MG Scott taking our side. I asked him point blank many years ago on why I can't wear a tab that simple says, "C-130." His answer, "I don't like them and since I'm in charge, you won't wear them," or something close to those remarks. But then again, he didn't make the crew dogs wear scarves either.
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I think you missed the entire point.
HD
Crap, I forgot the sarcasm squelch.Are we going to go back and forth on this "humor" thing?
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Uncle. You win. I throw in the towel.
The Navy rules. They can teach flying better than we can.
Crap, I forgot the sarcasm squelch.
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What is this TACC you speak of?
HD
Alright dude, I get the sarcasm. Or maybe you truly have no idea. But get this, I had to babysit an "experienced" Herk AC on an iron swap because he had never flown anywhere other than the flagpole and the deployed flagpole. Sad, on many levels.
You can know a shit-ton about FMS operation, but if it breaks/malfunctions/etc or your crew isn't strong, that tech know-how won't save you. The old-school methods will.My FMS point was not a dig on the 44, but merely a comparative point. But I digress. I LOVE your point on the "old-school" and I want everyone to listen good. In the old-school days, crews knew everything about their planes. Everything. And it wasn't just a bank of knowledge that was contained in a unit, but a culture that pushed crew-dogs to really know everything they can. I believe the Herk community does a fair job of trying to maintain that culture, but its slipping. It goes down the toilet with the J model. I flew an OIF mission with them once, and they said that they didn't have to know ops limits...the computer would color code discrepancies red, yellow, etc. and they crew ran the same color checklist. Another old-school item is looking out of the aircraft vs heads down button pushing.
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I may be one of the few active duty Herk dudes that came out of T-1s. Listening to my fellow students at LR discuss their training, I concluded that Corpus is not a benefit. So, if any AFR/ANG folks out there have a choice, take the T-1 for phase 3. You stay in place for a year, and the training helps prepare you for AC duties and exposure to the AF way of doing ops. AD, you're taking a big change that a Herk comes to your drop.
I was surprised as to how little Corpus folks knew about how to operate an AF mission, from mission planning to TACC, overnight procedures, etc. Plus, in a T-1, you get a taste a real FMS; world-wide DAFIF or 200 way-points...you decide. On the other hand, none of my classmates struggled much to finish initial.
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And don't forget to add this long-endured item to the list -- the EP is an asshole. Its always that kind of EP that dishes out the most hooks. Recall back in the UPT days the chats you had with your buds.
Stud1: "Who did you get?"
Stud2: "Capt Stan Evil Jerk"
Stud1: "Sucks to be you, that guy is an asshole"
Stud2: "Yep, I'm screwed"
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I once met an O-6 commander that talked about promotion boards. This guy was extremely anal with looking up SOS/ACSC completion dates and comparing them to date of rank, thus giving higher marks to dudes with the smallest time gap. "It showed motivation," he said. So, if you know clowns like this look for this sort of crap, piss-poor officers can game his system and garner promotions, let alone in-residence PME slots. This is probably one of the reasons why good dudes leave the service and turds get promoted.
Stepping on soap box.
Commanders need to know their folks and thus take the time to do so. Group and Wing CCs need to trust their commanders. If they want the best, have a discussion after the weekly staff meeting and have commanders advertise their top people. Alternate units in case of a jump ball. No 1206 can top personal leadership. Otherwise, we're just as well off using a dart board. Opps, I forgot, that's AFPCs methodology.
Still on soap box.
Next week, we can discuss leadership by e-mail. I'm too disgruntled at the moment.
Off soap box.
Out.
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One word of advice for your CoPig when pulling a 60/2 -- since he doesn't have theG meter there to look at
and I quote one of the IP's from St Joes
" Pull until you feel your balls start to tug a bit ( imagine hand gestures as well) -- you know that good kinda of tug..."
this should help with their break turns
I can't resist. What if the CP is a chick?
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September 12th, 2001. It was an early morning flight out to Andrews AFB to lend any assistance we could. It was the quietest flight I've ever had. I snapped this photo as the sun came up over DC. We flew right by the still-smoldering Pentagon and saw the damage first-hand.
Campaign Medals (ICM & AFGM) and GWOT-Es
in General Discussion
Posted
Yep, one mission number/FDP is applied to one of the following medals: GWOT, Afghan campaign, or Iraqi campaign. Same with AM and AAM, one credit per mission number/FDP.
So yeah, GM3 bros, I hear you. Its tougher for you to get the bling than say our Herc dudes, whom either live in Iraq or Afghanistan, and thus easily earn 'em. Heck, even the Deid and Salem dudes can knock one out after a couple of 120s.
But if you can manipulate the system, and you really want a big rack (sts), go ahead. Everybody loves a really nice big rack. Everybody!
Out.