BashiChuni

I think the 10% at Lowe’s is different. Thats more of a personal thing and not something where we’re “cutting in line” basically of the paying American public (boarding before 1st class) I don’t like getting put on a pedestal for recognition around the general public. “Look at me I’m in the military/I’m a veteran!” Feels dirty.

Guys, the military “hero” / “thank you for your service” / “veteran” culture has jumped the shark. At the airport today waiting to board, and the Delta gate agent announces “anyone w a active duty military ID can now preboard”. Damn near 25 people made their way up to the gate...including a brand new 2LT RPA pipeline student wearing his flight suit (very tacky). Now it’s not these individuals fault they took advantage of Delta offering them early boarding. But as military members we need to think of what that’s doing to the general public’s perception of its military. If I’m a first class passenger I’m going to be slightly annoyed that some 19 year old dressed in cutoff jeans and a tank top is boarding before me just because they’re holding an active duty ID card. thats certainly not endeering me to any of those young 20 something year old airmen. Again, not a shot at the airmen, but a call to reflect on how some of this has gotten out of hand. next example: in Texas anyone with a qualifying military medal gets that medal displayed on their license plate along with other perks (I think free parking fees some places, along with other smaller perks). now fellas you’d think after parking on Randolph AFB you were in the god damn Medal of Honor parking lot with the amount of “meritiorious service medal” (super lame), “expeditionary war on terrorism medal” (lame), “air medal” (not as lame) and other frivolous displays of military “heroism”. I’ve never seen so much bling on cars! Honestly it’s a bit off-putting. Again not a shot at those who have these plates...More of an argument at the state of Texas for allowing it. What happened to serving honorably with humility and quiet professionalism? Why is there a need for military members to have a medal saying “look at my meritorious service?” I know a lot of us on here are annoyed when random people come up and thank us “for our service”. These license plates don’t do anything to stop that from happening. They are helping promote a hero culture for all veterans which is harmful to our profession in the long run. We’ve already identified there’s a growing civilian/military gap. Having all of these perks is nice for sure, but I’d argue it’s doing nothing to close that gap. Having civilians awe at your meritorious service medal (to them they don’t know it’s lame, they just see an award) shows how out of touch the avg American is with its military. Silver star or higher? Hell yeah put that on there that’s legit but that leads me to my next thought... Not everyone who serves is a hero. Quite the opposite. Most of us are simply doing our jobs, quite well no doubt. But there are really few heroes. If everyone’s a hero then no one really is. few military members deserve the amont of recognition that the American public is showering all of us with. Deep down we all know this...am I really a hero for doing 20 missions in afg at FL260 in the ISR orbit, not getting shot at,playing angry birds on my iPad? Hell no. Eddie Rickenbacker left WWI as a major, but used the rank of captain for the rest of his life cause that’s what he felt he earned. I really hope we can return to that level of humility. My grandfather fought in Italy as a tank gunner in WWII and had a finger blown off (no big deal). While in England recovering, his tank, along with his friends, was obliterated. When he came home from war he didn’t slap a Purple Heart on his license plate. He didn’t get thanked for his service or board airplanes first. He didn’t even talk about the crazy shit he did or saw. He simply thought that he did his duty along with millions of other Americans. That type of thinking was common. Now Yes I know a lot of this over the top military hero culture has come from how poorly America treated her Vietnam vets. I’m certainly not arguing to return to those days... and I wish those dudes didn’t have to endure that pain coming home. But there’s a healthy middle ground, and right now we’re not standing on it. Thank you...for reading.

they started around feb

Negative. You do not have to be under 10 year adsc. I’m personally working my own case this month and will report results back, and only know tO do this cause my buddy got his waived. I guess not waived but extra year removed

Yes. The reg contradicts itself. Standard. But guys have gotten it waived down to 2 year PCS commitment

Excellent post

can't wait for Mr FAIP to tell mr. 35 year old 5 year captain how "the real air force works" lol

the longer i've done this the more i've appreciated the roll that everyone plays. heavies hard sts? no. at least not most of their flying, but they're needed and important. and that's not some "everyone gets a trophy" bs that's the honest truth. no one operates in combat in a bubble. shit even F22 dudes are getting threat calls from the lowly heavy AWACS. night 0 shit? yeah that might be a little different...for a few nights...but even that's gonna be a whole lotta teamwork anyway not sure what the point of this post is gotta go back to the "emirates" thread for the juicy gossip c ya!

Allah always decides

17D....bro all I can muster up is keep up the good fight. You have my respect sir!

Damn shit got real!

That sounds a lot like my “masters work” too

Hey lt McCain STFU

Let that dead horse rest FFS

Major in what interests you... as long as your scholarship allows it I was miserable for 3 years in school as a comp sci major and only did it cause that’s what the AF would pay for Dont major in rotc. Enjoy college. Air Force life will happen soon enough.

Fair enough. I’d argue you’re not a lemming if you do what you know is right.

Not a dig at you, But what it’s gonna take is guys acting with conviction and not doing the stupid stuff even if it’s to the detriment of their careers. Unless a mass group does that it won’t change.

I’ll never do a correspondence class. Ever. I remember my sq cc telling me to “knock out” SOS in correspondence to show I had the drive/desire to go In-Res... no thanks boss. How does that type of thinking make sense? ”hey dude get your undergrad degree done in correspondence to prove you want to go to college in-res” lol

Norty didn’t impress me didnt blues Monday start under his watch?

Well, your world. Good to know there are perfect people out there like you, sure you must be proud. Lol

that's not how the air force world works though...

Wasn’t just a social media video. It made USA Today. If I do something stupid that goes viral and makes a USA Today/CNN/FoxNews article id expect a hammer to drop. I don’t care to decide what’s appropriate or not. anyway that’s my opinion and I respect yours and do see where you’re coming from.

why Is taking the oath in the back of a c130 different than taking it with a dino sock puppet on your hand? come on bro.

you're def not a big pussy lol. what chaps my ass even more is she is public affairs... and PA has been a dumpster fire for so long...highlighting bull shit stupid "gimmicks" that make the air force look dumb...so maybe that's what pushed me over the edge. you and i wouldn't have done something so incredibly stupid either. to me the oath is sacred and not to be mocked with some stupid sock puppet. and for those of you saying you've seen modifications of the oath i'd submit that taking it in the back (sts) of a c130 or skydiving or on the top of a cliff is different than having a fucking lamb chop sock puppet on your hand.

TA i disagree with you on this one. that video was complete and utter bull shit... both the O-6 and SNCO should know better... it made my blood boil. if someone sees me drinking beer in uniform or not wearing my cover so be it...i brought "shame" on myself and expect to deal with the consequences...but god damn did those two bring shame and scorn on the entire enterprise and shit all over a oath that thousands have given their lives upholding. they mocked the entire military IMO and deserved to be absolutely crushed.