dream big

I don’t agree with everything Pete has done but in terms of worst SecDef ever…

Anyone who was paying attention always knew AFFORGEN was simply a force presentation model to be sustained in competition only; in crisis - all bets are off. Y’all keep acting like Trump just started this war out of the blue. We have been in conflict with Iran since 1979 with more Americans having died indirectly from Iranian actions than from any other country. Not to mention the impact to global commerce through not just the SoH but through the Red Sea and the funding of Houthis. We just finally had an administration willing to do something about it. This escalation was bound to happen at some point. We can debate the timing of said escalation but this is far from “Trump’s war”. Now I agree that we may have missed and opportunity and I wish we had finished the job when we had them on their heels early April; too early to call it a shit deal when we don’t even have a deal yet. We can reassess after the 60 day mark. Yes our military is sadly smaller than in the 1990s; blame generations of shitty leaders and politicians who ignored the clear need to modernize and recapitalize our military.

Everyone has to retire at some point. Guy was a 4-star general with 34 years..where the fuck was he supposed to go from here? COCOM, CSA, or Chairman. Also it’s been well known for some time that USAREUR is downgrading to 3 star command similar to USAFE. Not everything has to be some major conspiracy. Dude probably didn’t see a path forward and decided it was time to hang it up.

It is “incoherent” to you because you are blinded by your hatred for this administration. This is actually the first military conflict I’ve ever seen with clear strategic objectives (1) Attrite their military and military industrial complex (2) Ensure FON in the SOH (3) Iran does not possess a nuclear weapon Also please a huge shoutout to our kick ass Airmen across every platform and specialty who projected power under circumstances that none of us alive to this day have experienced. That extends to all the guard and reservists who were involuntarily mobilized and knocked it out of the park.

You mean 13 attributable to a mass murdering radical Islamic controlled government? We have been in conflict with Iran since 1979. More Americans have died from Iran directly or indirectly than from any other country. This escalation was bound to happen eventually.

Okay sure, let’s go back to one a few years ago where they loaded a C-17 full of cash for Iran and called it good. How many Americans have died at the hands of Iran since?

This problem is an easy fix but there is a lack of political appetite to actually solve this - same could be said in this country until recently.

AETC is inept? There is talk of MAF FTUs going to AMC as well but likely will stay with AETC; AMC barely has the manning and resources to cover its own ops equities.

Next VCSAF. We hit the absolute jackpot here. https://breakingdefense.com/2025/12/trump-taps-lamontagne-as-next-air-force-no-2/

Seattle, New York, NJ… utter shitholes. They are not representative of the rest of the country. Worry not!

Could be worse, could have been Slife.

You’ve led people before I’m sure. You are about to roll out a massive change in your organization’s culture and direction. For argument’s sake let’s say most of your minions are geographically separated. You’re saying you would do it over email?

“Clearance is as follows, Djibouti Djibouti!” “Line up and take off behind the A330”

What?

Good riddance, hopefully he takes his CMSAF with him. Now the question is who follows him?