Everything posted by JBueno
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Iraq in state of emergency - Mosul overrun by militants; government flees;
Here's an interesting look at our general foreign policy. Thought provoking if nothing else. https://www.steynonline.com/6414/helicopters-on-the-roof
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North Korea at it again
I just finished reading A Mig-15 to Freedom, by No Kum-Sok. It's a great book about both flying and freedom.
- North Korea Halts Nuke Program for Food (Again...)
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Making a living as guard bum right out of UPT?
Resurrecting a long buried thread here. How is the bum / trough status in the guard and reserve these days? Iraq is gone, but have those of you who on here who bum noticed a significant dropoff in extra flying/days available?
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Little Rock info
If you're just out of UPT and headed to Little Rock for the schoolhouse, wait to do your annual ADLS training until you've started. The registrar is only taking the certificates with completion dates that fall within your course dates.
- WTF? (**NSFW**)
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Jokes/Fun at UPT
I rocked my solo so much, when my flight commander heard about it from the other IPs in the pattern, he PA'd me right into the B-course at Luke. My bros also threw me into a rich mahogany dunk tank full of Glenfiddich after I landed directly in the parking row with my amazing skills.
- WTF? (**NSFW**)
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Columbus AFB Information
Most married guys in my class live on base and I think we all agree it's worth it. I would say it's worth it to live on base. During T-6s with long days and formal release, saving time commuting can help add study time and give you extra time to spend with your new wife. The single guys who live off base generally get roommates and pocket some BAH, but for a married O-1, you'd be in an apartment if you want to make money. As it is, new base housing is around 1500-1800 square feet and we don't pay utilities. I know living here has helped my wife adjust to the military. I know a few spouses who teach locally; some are substitutes. Some find jobs at local retail stores just to kill some time, have something to do, and make a little money.
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Raptors grounded over OBOGS issue
At least now we've found the cause of the problem and 19th Air Force has something to work with.
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Raptors grounded over OBOGS issue
All T-6 studs take note!!! If you dork something up, blame it on the OBOGS and be sure to tell your IP that you "do not recall the incident".
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Bin Laden dead!
Too often the real heroes get overlooked in these situations. Government conspiracies and all. Samurai Sword-Wielding Bin Laden Hunter Demands Share of U.S. Reward
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IFS (Initial Flight Screening) information
Whoa, IFS is a screening program? Hadn't heard that 300 times when I was there.
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Questions on UPT Packet/Application Process
Congrats. Everyone leans forward in the straps once they get the call; it's a long and often boring road to get through the paperwork and get dates. It might take 2 years to get dates; be patient. It sucks to sit around at drill for 13 months and have everyone ask if you have dates yet; laugh it off. You'll spend a day filling out paperwork for your security clearance, enlistment, etc. You'll go between recruiting, base training, finance, and probably security forces to get everything squared away. Expect multiple visits to multiple offices. At most units you should be able to take care of most of this on drill weekends. This will get you birthed into the various DoD computer systems, none of which are connected to one another. A warning on "when will I get my dates"? Don't waste too much time war-gaming when you will get those Christmas presents (there are other threads on here discussing how long dates have taken to get). Some dudes get all their dates at once; others find out randomly, and everything in between. They all come from the NGB through your base training manager, so find out who that is if you don't know already. Some guys have been able to call the NGB and speak directly to the pipeline manager, but I'd definitely go through your unit before doing that. Make sure you do, and make sure any waivers you need are 100% approved before going to AMS.
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General info on UPT (Undergraduate Pilot Training)
I've heard top 50% as well. Brabus is right about just giving max effort and letting things take their course. But, in the grand scheme of your war-gaming, don't forget that you still have to do well enough in T-38s to get the nod for IFF. Not everyone does.
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ACLU Goes After JSOC
This one's being filed from the ACLU-Karachi branch office, no?
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Russian Spy Story
Does his book have a title?
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IFS (Initial Flight Screening) information
You're probably anxious and wanting to be well-prepared, which is good. Honestly, I wouldn't fly at all. If you insist on it, I would only take one or two flights, just to get past the motion sickness (if you even wind up with it) and learn how to use coordinated rudder and aileron maybe. There were plenty of zero-time guys when I was there who did just fine. From my experience, it seems like the guard guys (who generally have more hours, some up in the thousands) got got wrapped around the axle about proficiency advancing (PA'ing)and getting out of Pueblo, while the lower/zero-time guys didn't worry too much about it, took all the flights in the syllabus, and graduated just fine without problems. PM me if you have any questions.
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Visiting a unit
TLR, just be who you are and get to know them while you're there. Good luck.
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Columbus AFB Information
How do utilities (electricity, water, trash) work when living on-base at Columbus? Does Pinnacle include themin the rent/BAH, or are they extra?
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IFS (Initial Flight Screening) information
Anyone know how much free time students have during non-duty days or if we're allowed to stay off-campus overnight? I'm thinking of bringing some fishing/camping gear on the off-chance I can get away for a night.
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Guard/Reserve timeline to UPT
Just got my IFS dates moved up 2 months. Anyone else in that boat?
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Visiting a unit
Or be the one who plops it on the bar, then pours half of it for himself (seen it happen!).
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Visiting a unit
It varies from unit to unit. The unit that hired me is the only one I didn't bring booze to. Some units told me up front to stop by a liquor store, and others flat said, "Don't try to get in by kissing our asses." Just ask.
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Osteochondroma / Bone Tumor
FWIW, the flight doc said no waiver was even needed. He asked if I had any problems afterwards with it. "No, none at all. Didn't even go through physical therapy."