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DirkDiggler

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Posts posted by DirkDiggler

    Drone Pilots: We Don’t Get No Respect

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Did anyone here read the entire article, linked by the Time blogger? I don't think writing a paper for Air & Space Power Journal qualifies as "complaining to the media." Bloggers pick this stuff up all the time, it's the 21st century.

    That aside, I think it's a relevant discussion. I know Dave, he already has air medals and couldn't care less about looking like a Mexican General. Medals are just an example that people can relate to. Anti-U.S. factions use the same rhetoric as some people on this thread when they claim that we're taking a cowardly approach to war by sending in our drones to kill innocent people in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, wherever. Is combat defined by the effect or the risk? What bigger risks in Afghanistan are there today than engine failure, CFIT, and thunderstorms? How is that different from flying the flagpole back home?

    I have no idea what community you're from or what your prior experience is but you and the guy that wrote this article are dead wrong. 99% of the missions flown in Afghanistan are pretty benign, you got that right. However, that other 1% is far different than "flying the flagpole back home". As stated above ask any guy thats doing CAS, rescue, or airdrop over there and many will have had a mission where the wx was shit, the jawas were squirting fire everywhere, and the guys on the ground were screaming for help. I believe there is a complete difference in your ass being physically present in this scenario vs being 10,000 miles away. Most communities in the AF have lost A/C and friends over there hacking the mish, I don't think the UAV community can claim the same.

    That being said, I wouldn't give it up for the world. I don't like being away from my wife in a dirty shithole for months at a time, but thats part for deal I signed up for. I want that guy I'm supporting on the ground to know I'll be there with whatever he needs no matter what. Most guys I know couldn't care less about air medals or any other medal for that matter. This post isn't meant as a slam on UAV drivers, I've got friends that went that route and they're good dudes. The pred guys are doing good things over there and deserve to be recognized, they work shit hours in some of the less desirable CONUS bases. Just because they do so doesn't mean they should get the same things as guys who are physically present in the AOR.

    Bibles removed from Air Force checklist

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted

    You know I'm about the most non-religious person out there, don't practice, no interest in hearing people talk about religion etc., but things like this are ridiculous. Freedom of religion means everyone should be able to pray, be it to god, satan, Budda, fsm, whatever. Taking away someone's bible in a room to make a statement is just f(&cking retarded.

    F-22 Raptor info

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Part of the problem is that the Raptor routinely operates above the normal 50,000 ft operational ceiling of conventional fighters like the F-15 or F-16, Lyon says. How life-support systems behave at those altitudes is not understood very well, he says

    Haven't the U-2's been operating well above that altitude since the 1950's? Seems a litle suspect.

    HC-130/MC-130

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Deployments in the community as a whole (MC-130H and P) aren't too bad, somewhat depends on your location. I can't be more specific than that. The thing that starts to add up is the TDYs to various locales for training. At the overeseas locations you can expect to be gone anywhere from 180-240 days a year, maybe a little less at the stateside locations. The Shadow community right now is undergoing the challenge of standing up the MC-130J while continuing to man the current MC-P fleet. As stated above, you're gonna be busy.

    NATO apologises for Afghan Koran 'burning'

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by DirkDiggler

    snapback.pngShortbus, on 11 March 2012 - 03:56 AM, said:

    A war?

    Best post of the week. I honestly think its a tribute to professionalism and training of our military that shit like this isn't happening on a weekly basis. We have a force thats been deployed to that shithole for over 10 years now. You can't constantly send young guys/gals out to a country for 13+ months where they get shot at, watch their brothers in arms get killed/wounded while fighting a shadowy enemy that looks just like every other jawa in the village, live in godawful conditions, potentially deal with a neverending stream of qweep, are told no porn, no sex, no alcohol, no stress relief etc, and not expect that things like this won't happen sometimes.

    I have no idea what the background of this paticular situation is, I'm sure we'll find out in the coming days as the media blows it up around the world. I could be totally off base. But the fact remains that Afghanistan is war, always has been a war regardless of the whatever the popular title of the month may be, and in war really ugly things happen and people die in f##ked up ways. I'm sure that the individual/individuals responsible will be prosecuted under the UCMJ while everybody else soldiers on. Its unfortuanate that some innocents may have died and that our troops will most likely bear the brunt of the fallout. The bigger question is how much longer we're going to continue to try to "divide by zero" in a place where, at least to me, it seems like we're continuing to loose our direction and our people for what I consider to be questionable returns at best.

    9/11 was a Conspiracy!

    in Squadron Bar

    Posted

    Fyi guys, USAFpilot just sent me a PM screaming about how 9/11 was faked and we a complacent in congress. Really was a doozie. I think USAFpilot is fake or definitely has opinions of his nation and government unbecoming an air force officer.

    Post the text of the PM on here, I'm always down for a good laugh

    HRT OG/CC

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Not a rumor, happened a couple months ago. Some of your details are wrong, the crew (included said OG/CC) elected to continue the mission after the strike. When they got back to HRT they discovered the damage was far more extensive than previously thought. From what I understand (not 100 percent on this part), the WG/CC Q3'd the OG/CC, not the OG/CC giving out Q3s to the crew. Understandable on the confusion due to the fact that said OG/CC gave over 25 commander directed Q3's during his time as a SQ/CC.

    What's wrong with the Air Force?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    ... which will result in the SOF guys getting chiefed.

    Not where they live it won't, chiefs don't exist in those parts, too dangerous for their health. Even at the main bases Chiefs know better than to pull that shit with those guys, they'll get asked to leave the living area politely, one time.

    • Upvote 1

    What's wrong with the Air Force?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    What's wrong with Air Force?1. Misplaced focus.2. A culture which allows support personnel to think their job is the mission.3. A greater amount of time spent bitching about problems rather than working solutions.4. Not enough helicopter guys in leadership roles. :thumbsup:

    Not always a good thing, as evidenced by the new 1st SOW/CC, although most former Pave Low guys I know are good dudes.

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