WeMeantWell

I was assuming the UAV had a combined INS/GPS as well, but you're probably right it might be GPS-only navigation... INS is fine if you align it on the ground and take no updates, but if your GPS is spoofed and the filter takes enough of the small votes of the incorrect GPS measurement over time, the same thing is feasible.

The fact that they did this to a UAV is immaterial to the fact that they spoofed GPS to do it... i.e. a manned aircraft relying on GPS (while not VFR, and not backing up with instruments) could* be misguided in the same fashion. I guess NAVs might be around for a little while longer. *obviously a lot of factors to go into the could.

What's interesting is that the powers that be (in charge of crossflows) understand the very long lead time and cost to get an expert in an MWS, but the powers that be (in charge of RIF, continuation) have minimal understanding of that concept. If anything the AF is really good at spinning the data to suite our decisions at that moment.

Obviously a pretty general query, but: Easi-"er", mainly because they have a HUD, which makes most things easier... unless you are landing on a boat, then not as easy.

I agree with most of the previous posts, and I understand that it can't be like travelocity because it has to "fit" to the JFTR. However, that doesn't mean it has to be so idiotically arranged that it forces there to be "DTS" people in the Sqd and paperwork trails to get approval to submit authorizations/vouchers. The system must be built so that the lowest common denominator can learn it in 15 minutes or less. You should be able to send a bunch of dudes right out of basic on a trip, have them come back and complete the voucher without any instruction (save, maybe, where the site is and maybe some basic starting guidance), you can easily do that with a paper voucher that worked for 50 some years... As with most of the "universal" programs we are forced to use, I think a big problem is the central database requirement. Every time you hit save/enter/nextpage the 'trons have to travel around the universe 8 times and through 69 firewalls. Why can't the voucher be built on a local computer and uploaded, maybe start from an outlook calendar input or a squadron-specific scheduling program (CAASS?), or even a locally designed excel file... create a simple XML format file that can be uploaded to a central site, then everyone is free to create any local program they want to create that XML file, you can customize it to anything your specific squadron does. Does every trip go to DC? Does every trip contain unknown destinations/length? Etc... If there are blanks in the XML, you fill them in after you upload. It will only take a few times and you will have the perfect starting voucher every time. You could also be creating the voucher throughout your trip on your phone, pda, pager (if you still have one). How come we always have to over complicate such a stupid simple idea. You went somewhere, you abide by what is really a simple amount of rules, you get paid for where you went...why does all that $$$ have to be spent to create something unique to the government. It would probably be cheaper and more accurate to create a program that can automatically read a travel voucher instead of DTS. Hell, submit it to industry with a $50 million prize for the best software, that's a 90% savings.

so... what's the problem?

I'll second that, it is one of the few programs that is only as complex as it needs to be... yeah there is stuff I would fix, but not for the sake of fixing things (which is the problem with most AF created software) and 90% of the time it works 100%.

Kodak + 3.5 pounds of enriched uranium + reactor... in Rochester, NY; for R&D? http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20120511/NEWS01/305120021/Kodak-Park-nuclear-reactor?gcheck=1&nclick_check=1

DOD: "man, we're doing a lot of 'studies' these days, we should do a study on how much these studies are costing us" GAO: "oh, you're doing a study on studies? we need oversight on your study"... "hmmm, your study on studies is no good, here's our study on your study on studies" DOD: "you're right, we did a bad job of studying the studies that we do" http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/05/this-is-not-a-joke-government-issues-study-of-a-study-about-studies/ Apparently, the fiscal crisis has yet to impact anyone in the D.C. area too dramatically yet.

Just kidding: http://www.dailypres...0,2376589.story nothing to see here, move along...

No, it really isn't. Resilience day should provide an opportunity to forget about your life/job/enslavement for awhile. Off-site, civilian clothes, families involved, fun, no "Briefings", no CBTs, corn-hole tourney, trust-falls, Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, and copious amounts of non-alcoholic beer. The human mind can only accept so much stress over set periods of time; why do we have to learn this through empirical evidence... you don't push people to the average limit, because everyone below the average can't take it. You only push people to the lowest common limit (young airmen that barely understand life, and we place the weight of the world on their shoulders), and only then will you see the reduction in suicides. Pushing folks is a fact of life in the military over short durations, but over 10 years it becomes dangerously ineffective. Solution: Reduce the necessary stress wherever/whenever possible: you could argue that maybe AADs/inspections/etc make sense during a peace-time force, but really have no business while actively engaged. Do we really need to deploy 5 FGOs to create power point slides for the Col? Get rid of any and all extraneous stress/duties/deployments and provide stress reliving opportunities whenever possible. Instead of TA for AAD, we need TA-like assistance to go on a cruise, vaca, or other recreational activities. I would rather see tax dollars spent on outdoor rec, than an O'club/Plasmas/BX, so any soldier can actually afford to enjoy more of what they offer. Every base should be required to have a pool, go-cart track (german-style), put-put course, obstacle course, etc., well before we spend a dime on a plasma TV, TIB. You reduce this stress, If you really want to stop suicides, by learning how to say NO to your superiors. NO, we can't launch a 10 turn 10 turn 10. NO, we can't prep for an inspection, fight 2 wars, deploy everywhere, and stay sane. Not only NO, but Hell NO I will not waive his post-deployment down time. You say it enough times and 1 of 2 things will happen: You will get fired and lose your job, or 2 your boss will stop asking. If you get fired, your replacement has a better chance of saying the same thing and might be listened to. I would rather be out of a job by politely dissenting than knowing I pushed the people under me so much that the enemy was no longer the threat, I was. I've come to realize a simple litmus test for a poor leader: He always says Yes to his boss and No to his subordinates, without any thought to the effects of such decisions. Great leaders realize what's important for their unit and when necessary disregard the chaff (AAD, PME, Ancilliary, AFA, CFC, PFT, inspections...) and reward them (not just "award" them) with the opportunity to live stress free and enjoy the benefits of the freedom they provide, if only for a short period of time. I think there are more leaders like this then we think, they just get overshadowed by the temporarily great achievements of other leaders who disregard this logic and by blind, shear luck make it through a 2 year stint without a fallout.

good stuff!

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123299279 T-1 (first C-17) immortalized in Dayton... we almost made it to retiring one before we lost one, an incredible record. Here's to the good folks that made it happen, and those we've lost along the way

... And then the OG will call you wondering why your gear wasn't down when you perched.

I got it here: https://afkm.wpafb.af.mil/ASPs/docman/DOCMain.asp?Tab=0&FolderID=OO-ED-SA-01 -3&Filter=OO-ED-SA-01 YMMV, but I could not "Get in" with just a "CAC", had to actually penetrate with a .Mil If you need to get it to your personal computer, go here: https://safe.amrdec.army.mil/safe2/Welcome.aspx It's like a Dropbox for military stuff, click the middle (the longest) link, use your personal email address as the recipient, and upload your files. You'll get an email from the site to download the files and viola... much easier than trying to email it to yourself.

But somehow we all successfully finished school, got jobs, and became normal functioning adults (despite getting grades that weren't As, sitting in detention, and getting in minor skirmishes). There's a reason it's called adolescences, because no one knows how to act. Parents need to wake up and realize life is not perfect for your child on purpose, because they are being prepared for LIFE. The more they are coddled, protected, and put on a idol-istic platform of porcelain, honey, and blue #1 ribbons the less likely they will ever be able to handle simple disappointments when reality sets in. Obviously, there are extremes (6 sigma-probabilities) that things get out of hand with respect to bullying, fighting, etc. But I would rather my children learn to stand up for themselves and take their medicine (i.e. suspension) then live in fear of the bully AND the institution.... After all it's the American way, you can't hold a whole school responsible for the behavior of a few sick, perverted individuals. For if you do, then shouldn't we blame the whole school district? And if the whole school district is guilty, then isn't this an indictment of our educational institutions in general? I put it to you, Greg ... isn't this an indictment of our entire American society? Well, you can do what you want to the school, but we're not going to sit here and listen to you badmouth the United States of America! Gentlemen!

Frozen Beer foam to keep the beer cold... Details: http://www.gizmag.co...eer-foam/22097/ I think Keg-stands might get more interesting...

It doesn't hurt as much as you think it does, if everything else you have is competitive... Fvcking up is human, 1 data point is not a trend. Many of them understand the concept of AMC's Q3-Q1 candy, I've heard a few stories of fighter bubbas taxiing into things and they got a call-sign out of it. AMC is full of many leaders that only understand leadership as an avenue to place blame... but that is an entirely different discussion. They can relate, it is tough, but so is rolling on your back, puling to fly straight at the ground to put a piper on a target, watching 15+ different parameters and pickling at the precise moment while watching three, green 1LTs do the same... (I know I probably messed up that verbiage), but thumping your chest about hard your pilot job is doesn't get you anywhere. Every plane has its challenging $hit. It's amazing how many people really don't understand that statement, they pick the best from those who apply... if the best don't apply, sucks for them.

more easter-egg gems at Amazon: How to live with a large endowment http://www.amazon.co...f=cm_lmf_tit_12 Audio cables for $10,000 (I think I should let my IT guys know about this) http://www.amazon.co...e/dp/B000I1X6PM "Transmission of music data at rates faster than the speed of light seemed convenient, until I realized I was hearing the music before I actually wanted to play it." 1 star

Duh!, always a few outliers in the data...

If you want to go to AFMC, you have to start using "sts" after statements like that. I would focus on the positives, why you SHOULD be a TP grad. I wouldn't mention the Q-3 (the details are already in the Form 8 if they want to see), I would only mention Form 8 info if you had an EQ, or some other really positive write ups. Yes, they will look through your FEF, but it won't be the focus. I think that is the real kicker that most people do not realize, TPS grads are not chosen because they have great hands (although it is important), they are chosen and used because they can apply engineering disciplines to flight (If you wanted to be chosen for great hands you would of applied to a weapon school instead). So engineering schooling, especially masters level work is a positive reflection that you can take difficult concepts and apply them to aircraft. If you have time, search out OT wherever it might be and get in on it if you can, or any other "testing", even if it is reflective-belt wear-testing... its still testing. Create a new tactic (within the bounds of your T.O.!!) and pitch it to your tactics shop or Sqd/CC and then ask for a few training hours to develop it and write it up, send it to AMC/HQ, etc... Focus on what in your history is related to test first, then delve into the breadth of your accomplishments (especially awards, or any type of excelling). I don't think not being an MWS IP will hurt a whole lot, since you have two airframes. Strats won't hurt, but I wouldn't focus on them unless the pertain to test or flying. I would get at least one or two good recommendation and don't water them down by trying to add a third weak one. Here is a little dose of reality (IMO) you most likely will be selected based on the AF needs for a C-5 Test Pilot grad. Since you don't fly pointy nose jets, you probably do not matter to 90% of the folks on the board. (AFMC has a few high-visibility test programs, and aircraft that start with C or KC are not them, not even KC-x... I know *gasp!). Since there is not a lot of C-5 testing to be had, you have to have an amazing application for them to believe that you could one day fly another type of aircraft (which you have already shown) and, of course that there is not another pilot from that community also applying with a similar looking app. Also, I think the class sizes are being reduced from 24 back to 20. I am not sure how the break out works, but I would imagine that means cutting 3 to 2 ME pilots. But with the interview process you should still have a decent shot of getting out there to show them what you got... Good luck!!

So I find myself siting in yet another Billeting office waiting for their computers to "come back up"...supposedly they have been down since last night across the country, so no one can check in. What's the threshold for pain until I demand a non availability statement. I figured I will give them until check in time (1400)... This is the second time this has happened to me in the last two months, the last time it was down for three days. After sitting patiently for 2 hours, I kindly asked for my 4th update, 30 minutes after they said the computers would originally be back up. All off a sudden they determined that it was indeed possible to check someone in without a computer. "So," I must ask, "Why could you have not done this 2 hours ago?"... "Well we have to have special approval from a supervisor to check folks in without the computer". I just smiled and walked away (my logical follow-up question would have gone no where as well). I know we don't have to run things like a commercial outfit, but I guarantee Holiday Inn would find a quicker way to take my money without a computer. In regards to their "software", that has gone down yet again, when will the military/government/decision makers learn that a single central database for ANYTHING is pretty stupid. At least allow for a local back up system, so the mission doesn't stop when "the Internets" no work. Every few years it seems, someone believes that "this time" they can do it right.

For Reference, JFTR (Ch1-10): http://www.defensetr...28Ch1-10%29.pdf Non-Availabilty letter info is under Chap 1, part Z (Search for U1601), it is being moved to Chap 2 eventualy. Scroll down to Note 3. NOTE 3: The member is not required to seek (or check for) GOV’T QTRS when TDY to a U.S. INSTALLATION or RESERVATION after non-availability documentation has been initially provided. Checking QTRS availability is a one-time requirement at a TDY U.S. INSTALLATION or RESERVATION. (Ex: A member, who is required to check QTRS availability on arrival at a U.S. INSTALLATION, does so and certifies nonavailability or is issued non-availability documentation, cannot be required to re-check later for QTRS availability at that U.S. INSTALLATION during that TDY period there). See par. U2570. I can't find a U2570, might be a broken ref because of the merger initiation, it should probably say "See Par U1601-C" I just got a call from the billeting manager and he directed me that I had to move back on base (after I was off base for 3 days and have a non-a slip for those 3 days), I told him BS and he explained how I would not be re-imbursed, etc, etc... Its been awhile since I had to deal with this incompetence, so I thought I would check to make sure nothing has changed, looks like it hasn't. When I checked-in, the front desk told me they would fax me a non-a for 30 days, but when I got the fax 3 days later after calling 8 times (and waiting on hold for ~3 hours total) it only had 3 days on it, whatever...

Some guys walk around on sandpaper all day pushing pallets, wears them down pretty quick... pretty common to completely wear out the tread in an year, especially the cheaper ones we seem to buy these days.

True, but I thought it was 800#? Also, TMO told me the 800# is above your normal weight limit... so if you are close to going over it is better to be paid something, rather than paying them something for going over. I usually have a lot of pro-gear books that I have to move that it makes it worth while.