Learjetter

AFMAN 11-217, Volume 3. Chapter 13. Fly Safe!

Hate replying to old posts...but here's my $.02 on USAA: I had USAA for my homeowners, but after a particularly nasty hailstorm here in tornado alley last year, they sent a letter that said they were doubling the roof peril deductible from 1% to 2% without a corresponding reduction in premium. Talking about it at work confirmed a bunch of us who had USAA all got the same letter. We called in droves to re-negotiate, to no avail. So we all switched to another company with better coverage and a lower premium. I think in the end, something like 16-18 of us fired USAA over that. I got a great car loan from Bank of America's Military bank (the old Fort Sam Houston Bank) a dozen years ago--so I switched to them for banking. Never looked back. USAA still rocks on auto insurance, and home equity loans, though. Fly safe!

I agree 96.9% with your last statement. While I have no doubt the CFACC sent you precisely because he believed you had the skills and ability to unf**k the situation, I doubt he "screamed" it at you in a large public forum. I also suspect he selected that phraseology because he knew you, and your leadership/management and followership styles, and knew you would read him as he intended: "loud and clear." I worked with the CFACC, C3 and DIRMOBFOR in the beginning of OIF and never once heard any them utter an angry f-bomb in a public forum. Their demeanor and use of language set a clear, professional military tone and I, for one, appreciated it. There are few words in the English language that we can use like an f-bomb--it's versatility is unsurpassed. But, I think it's still vulgar and coarse, and I prefer to keep my military bearing intact and have only once myself uttered an f-bomb in flight (several "holy sh*ts!, though). Your tale of screaming at the SNCO may have been exactly the right motivational tool to use at that moment: you needed to get a certain message across and you chose that method/language to deliver it. Maybe it worked exactly as designed, and maybe the SNCO believes to this day that you are an unprofessional, angry tool who laughs about the incident now because he's afraid if he doesn't you'll do it again. I'll never know, and neither will you. But, even you would have to admit that, viewed by a dispassionate observer, your rant would appear as a childish, hot-headed, emotionally-charged (irrational?) outburst. I'm not saying it wasn't effective, but I'd hope that a professional air-warrior would normally not choose to salt his communications in that way. Like the senior leaders I served with, I want my bosses, crews, staff, airmen, and peer officers I work with to believe I keep my cool under pressure, use rational, dispassionate reasoning to reach the right decision, and never get "ruffled" or "out-of-control." I think indiscriminate use of the f-bomb destroys that image and does not instill in them confidence in my ability to lead my troops or my crews, in combat or back at the home-drome. Perhaps that's what happened to "Captain Bligh?" Her superiors lost confidence in her ability to lead in part because she wasn't cool, calm, collected, and in control in difficult situations? In the end, I like to think that as an officer, I should act the part--that means no f-, c-, b-, or any other kind of bombs while in uniform. I try not to raise my voice--though I do "change my tone" when the situation calls for it. While I disapprove of such vulgarities and usually counsel (in private) my younger troops with a speech similar to this one, in the end, each of us will lead in our own way. If what really matters is getting the mission done, regardless of professional demeanor, couldn't it be said the female skipper did exactly that? And look what happened to her... Fly safe!

Predator Follow-on: "Funniest Thread Title on Baseops!"

Anonymous, Check the 91-series AFIs. I think you'll find that the SAFETY investigation is not releasable outside the USAF. If there is also an ACCIDENT Investigation, that report IS releasable outside the USAF. Now, normally, the full AIB report is redacted to protect the identities of those involved...but sometimes not. Now for the unsolicited advice: Check the YES box, and make your own written report of what happened: explain the situation, your role in the incident, what you learned from the experience, and how the experience makes you a better leader/aviator/etc. Then rest easy knowing you kept your integrity intact. If they don't take you at your word--do you really want to work for them? Easier said than done, I agree....but really, what other choice is there? I've been involved in several "incidents" throughout my career--some serious ($$-wise), some not so serious. If I had to make the choice you're facing, I like to think I'd make the choice I described above. Good luck.

Damm!t...Eat Hot Death, Old Crow! You got me.

Tennozan: The Battle of Okinawa and the Atomic Bomb -George Feifer Outstanding historical account.

I have two that I like: 1) GALCO SH3 w/202 holster for 9mm, and 2) BIANCHI #5. The GALCO is all leather with plastic grommets, very easy to clean, durable, and quite comfortable, but is heavy. The Bianchi is all nylon, very light, but has two faults: the elasticized opposite shoulder strap rides up (sts) under the armor, and since the holster is so light, the weapon feels less secure than when I'm wearing the GALCO. Overall, I much prefer the shoulder holster when wearing the flight suit. I've tried the "tactical" holster, which I think works fine while walking around, but is just in the way when strapped in to the aircraft. The Bianchi was about $65, and the GALCO was closer to $120. But that was in 2000--don't know what they go for these days. Fly Safe!

Basics in a nutshell: Once you finish UPT you are placed on "aeronautical orders" and your second "year of Aviation Service" (YAS) begins. The year your UPT commitment expires, you become "eligible" for Aviation Continuation Pay (The Bonus). The rules in effect for the fiscal year your UPT commitment ends are the rules you play under. Not the year before, not the year after. USAF can change the rules at anytime--what your buddy got last year may not be what you get this year. Services are authorized by Congress to pay "up to" $25K per year as a retention bonus to pilots. USAF normally chooses the $25K for pilots, about $15K for ABMs or Navs. Last year, rules said pilots who sign a 5yr commitment get $25K per year extra for the five years. You get paid on your anniversary date of the day you sign the contract. In my case, it is Oct 26th. Speaking of pay--anything on your LES with the word PAY on it is Taxable (Base Pay, Aviation Continuation Pay, Hostile Fire Pay). Anything not labeled "pay" isn't taxed (Housing Allowance, Basic Allowance for Subsistence, etc.) Fly Safe