ATIS

Hey Huey bubba's....stop flying overhead North/Southbound 7th Street NE every night at 2300...waking the kid. ATIS

Make sure you are taking MLWOP...not standard LWOP. I have spent over 3+ years doing stuff on active duty while working as a GS, NAVAIR has been very good to me and I have a pers office (Kathy is her name...son in the 160th) that takes care of me. PM me with your specific questions and I will ask her. Cheers ATIS

Heck, you should have seen the first days of the U-28. I wasn't even in your service and I was stuck in that shit-show with the "White Silver Tornado". Good leadership made all the difference. Cheers ATIS Edit: hair color

Other than getting rid of my Glock 19 years ago (below in headwork on my part)...getting rid of my "Ladysmith" years before that was a mistake/regret as well. A very well balanced and slim 9mm. Cheers ATIS

Spoke at my winging in Pensacola back in 1994, still had that tiger in him. Alex Vraciu, renowned WW II fighter pilot and war hero, passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 29, 2015. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/contracostatimes/obituary.aspx?n=alexander-vraciu&pid=174009213 http://www.alexvraciu.net/Alex-Vraciu-Bio.html

Solitary: The Crash, Captivity and Comeback of an Ace Fighter Pilot by Giora Romm. You can pick it for ~$13 paperback. While a majority of the book revolves around Mr. Romm's dealings in captivity (flashbacks to SERE class and training guaranteed), the back side of the book expands on his recovery and eventual return to flight (not a walk in the park). The final chapters will thrill any military aviator, and how the 1973 YKW thrust Romm into command/cockpit forcing dealings with his residual demons of captivity. A quick and easy read, you won't put it down until it's done. Cheers and here's to a great 2015. Collin

actually "SWO-flauge".

http://cliffviewpilot.com/oldest-living-medal-of-honor-recipient-96-dies-in-englewood-local-officer-salutes-him/ Fair Winds Sir.

Un-######ing-Sat

Not specifically a "beer" question, but related to the adult beverage field. Anyone got a review of the Jim Beam newest "Devil's Cut"? Collin

2 weeks ago I picked up my issued OCP's, all Velcro. Our type III uniforms (multi-cam) have them sewn on.

My goodness...who would want to go U-28's??? [press to test that detector first]

During my Pentagon 2 hour briefing....myself and a LtCol (USMC) both rolled in hot on the Master Chief giving the brief when words to the effect that "this person... guilty of sexual misconduct is an example....". I was in the back sitting next to the 2/3 star and looked straight at him when we both said that he hasn't been convicted of anything (yet)...so why the premature "guilty" verdict now? The LtCol said that "if" he is proven guilty via whichever legal system is used, then you might have a leg to stand on (still in bad taste IMO). I looked at the Admiral and said they just "softly" convicted him without any due process. He just looked at me and shrugged. The whole briefing was misguided in my opinion....all talk about how to handle things after an incident. We know what to do there...there is a process. Get the facts and let the truth tell the story, keep the politics and crap out of it. What really wasn't being talked about was the other side of the kill chain...prevention and defusing situations before they potentially lead to a sexual assault situation. I told the Admiral to take the message back to the larger fish above him that "we will get this taken care of", but there is no easy fix and it's not like flipping a light switch (he actually agreed with that). Time for that second cup of coffee. edit: spelling/grammer.

I love tennis now.

'Car Talk' on NPR?

http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/AW_07_08_2013_p06-588656.xml I'd give my left nut to go fly this as a NFO/CSO/WSO...whatever you call it these days. ATIS

NAF ATSUGI 1996: Check-in sheet shows a block to check off: Skipper and XO, I caught both of them late on my first afternoon. Skipper sits me down with the XO and ..... "Welcome to the squadron, you must have had good grades to get to Japan, so lets cut to the chase: A) Learn your jet and learn the mission, fall behind or don't cut it we send you back to the states B) Take care of your troopers C) Don't get in "too much" trouble D) Don't let your pilot fly you into the back of the boat Questions...nope...OK, lets go to the club and meet everyone else" Things have changed.

I don't care what rank you are or service you fly for...this is UNSAT. I watched a lot of folks (0-3's mainly) in your service run around between hops getting SOS and stuff like that done. There were a lot of "old salts" in the new squadron that were good sticks and "forward leaners" (meaning they wanted results and to prove the platform like I did)... and they passed down their knowledge on the younger aviators very well. I don't think it's like that anymore. ATIS

Call me a little "off the mark here"...but I would pin this same award write up on multiple USAF guys and gals I flew with in the early days of the unit I was associated with.

From the article: "It showed that he had participated in missions that contributed to the deaths of 1,626 people." "Contributed" is a key word IMO. I "contributed" to ending the Cold War, and the effort in OIE/OEF (and from the looks of it about to re-contribute again)...doesn't mean I put a spot down on somebody/something and drove-in a kinetic action or won the war single handed. Go forward and witness shit that happens to our folks and bystanders, opens your eyes to reality a lot more than an EO/IR picture. Welcome to the Fog of War shipmate, nobody likes it and it comes back to visit us in our dreams and life...but we don't talk to the press about it for publicity.

Hey Art: Lot of advice on this thread, but this little nugget is something I would highly recommend. If you want a family life that survives the long haul, consider what 2020 says. I've seen too many marriages crumble in my 21+ years in the service, and most of that happened in flight training, the RAG, or during initial tours with a squadron (read: things before the age of 30). It's a game of odds, and while some folks win and have success in that area right out of the gate, they are very very few. My first crashed and burned at age 29. I recovered and after a period of getting my head out of my ass and really learning about myself (and having a shit ton of fun with some Hurlburt friends starting up a squadron)...I have never been happier after I met and married four years ago, with absolutely no doubt about the long haul. Early in this career path is much easier as a single ship having fun, and then settling in. Just some advice.

I will just make this clear as day: (not serious), "have you thought about joining the Navy"? (Serious): "Coast Guard aviation" is something you should consider.

I'm reading it now, about 3/4 finished. Should be required reading for all.

Hang tough AIM2013. Helo's/MPA may be an option, but could be a challenge depending on the demand signal of each community (that is if you still want to fly). 'Bolter' hit on a major point, try to have the command in your corner no matter what. They won't be if you cut the strings and slack. If you truly bust your balls and make the attempt, they should see that, which should assist in whatever transition you make (in our out of the Navy). While probably not your first preference, I knew NFO's (in all communities) that DQ'd at the boat (either in the training command or at the RAG), and came back to still serve. Our squadron MO DQ'd in A-4's at the boat, came back as a NFO...same with one of my RAG instructors. It's an option (WSO/ECMO/E-2 Mole/MPA). Fly safe

Whisky/Bourbon PIREP (I'm assuming this is something USAF and USN can agree/share stories about): OBAN 14 and Gentleman's Jack NTS (Not Too Shabby). Johnnie Walker Blue Label and some others...just too much peat for me. End of the night, just settled on straight Jameson 18 (just amazing how smooth it is with little/no bite). Now back to the topic of good "hands". Always have your whisky in one hand, and a small glass of water in the other to cleanse the palette. Have great Memorial Day weekend all...I'm fading to black to watch and read.