DirkDiggler

You’re correct he was an Olmstead guy, Czech Republic if I remember right. Dang Anderson is all about Dag Anderson, first and foremost. Smart guy, but a straight politician who’s out for #1. He’s better than having CAT 5 in the seat, but that’s not saying much.

Well, when one of your first initiatives as MAJCOM CC involves trying to kill the SOCOM 4 day holiday weekends, you're gonna leave an impression. Just probably not the one he was hoping for. Our sewing circle thought the next guy in the seat would be Farrell, or possibly Matrie. I get the impression that AFSOC's GO bench isn't that deep right now, but I could be wrong. If they're jumping someone ahead I'd be curious to see who; that also sounds a bit ominous given there's several young AFSOC GOs that I haven't been too impressed with.

It was quite a rough period for that Sq, for sure. I don't disagree that he shouldn't be leading anything or anyone. That period in AFSOC in general was real stupid; the command almost seemed like they were trying to out-AMC AMC with the number of Q3s that were being handed out. That said, I personally think that he'd do less harm at USAFA than his current position, but that's just one guy's opinion. While I appreciate the sentiment regarding the "Dear Boss" letter, CAT 5 doesn't and won't give a shit about something like that. At all. If anything he'd probably track down the guy or gal who wrote it, delay their retirement pending some type of investigation, and try to give them an Article 15 for insubordination or some such nonsense. I kid, but not really. I personally believe that at the upper echelons of leadership the AF knows exactly the problems it has; they're just either unable or unwilling to take actual steps to address it. CAT 5 being a case in point. After he put an Osprey in the trees as a Grp/CC, his wing commander told the AFSOC/CC "I can fix him". Nothing happened, and now fast forward 12 years we're all dealing with the fallout.

There's some of that, for sure. Definitely seems like some guys are leading scared. Since CAT 5 gave out 34 CC directed Q3s in his time as a Sq/CC and isn't averse to firing people, if you're a careerist CC in AFSOC right now you can see that logic (not that I agree with it). A lot of the mishaps/buffoonery I referenced above isn't coming from that; its coming from either ignorance or in several cases willful disregard of regs. AFSOC is extremely lucky that there hasn't been more death/injury up to this point. In my MWS, I'm seriously concerned that CAT 5 is willfully marching my community towards Class As. We're about to have an almost 50% reduction in the SOI at the schoolhouse, they're also going to stop teaching several METLs that I'd argue are core to our mission sets. These METLs will now have to be taught at the Sq, where we're younger than we've ever been; some of them are also the more risky things we do. We're also about to start getting pilots direct from the T-6 track on a shortened syllabus with less hours and experience. CAT 5 is pushing more and more risk to the line Sq/CCs without giving them any additional resources (beyond trying to throw a shitload of additional flight hours our way) to try and fix the experience problem. Most of the ideas he's pitching/implementing (large increase in flight hours, large increase in MQF test questions, pushing training onus onto ops Sqs that are ill equipped to conduct it) aren't fixing anything; in many cases it's going to make things worse, at least WRT retention and risk. The guys in HQ seem like they either don't care or are just trying to keep their heads down since if they speak up they'll get shot in the face anyway. Apologies for the long post and possible thread derail.

Honestly don’t know, this is all coming out of the HQ and I don’t work there so it’s second hand info. There’s speculation that it’s tied to that but that’s all firm as jello. There’s been a lot more buffoonery/mishaps across the command in the last year then what’s made the news, could be related to that. There’s a CV-22 all call this coming week at HRT where they’re supposedly discussing the way ahead WRT that community.

I’d argue that the cadets are young and will bounce back. They probably don’t give a shit who is in charge at the top as they’re just trying to keep their heads down and graduate. Much better him there as opposed to his current position where he’s doing his level best to completely trash/fuck up every part of AFSOC. The level of thrash in the command right now cause of him is the worst I’ve seen in 20+ years.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Project_K_nuclear_tests My thoughts exactly. This just political theater, and dumb political theater at that.

Lots of interesting RUMINT in the ether this week regarding the early replacement (soft firing?) of the current AFSOC/CC. Not sure that I'd put money on it given who his daddy rabbit is but here's to hoping.

Ha! Maybe so. I get that new things/changes sometimes take a while to implement and function correctly but right now getting the same RFIs 3-4 times a day from the same part of the A-staff cause they're not talking to each other and whatever O-5 happens to have a burr up his ass about said RFI making the most important thing in the world is kinda frustrating. I AFSOC fucked up by not having the A-3 be an O-6; probably wouldn't have been able to find another O-6 to come to CVS anyway.

Seems kinda Army-esque, at least with regards to how the proposed garrison/base commander and combat wing commander is being proposed. Ditto with reorg of MAJCOMs. In other news the move to A Staffs/groupless wings seems to be going swimmingly at my location/s. So far from what I can tell the A Staffs' primary purpose is to annoy the shit out of the line units with RFIs that they could answer themselves if they put 2 minutes of effort into it. Who knows, maybe it'll get better.

Maybe the Bobs accidentally selected the throwaway COA and no one on staff spoke up…..

I’m getting ready to retire this year after 21 and change. If the no shit ballon would go up with China, Iran, or Russia I’d do this, but probably nothing before that scenario.

Can't speak to the renovation piece but we just went through this at my location WRT to alcohol consumption at the Sq. Have your Sq/CC draft an MFR stating where/when in the Sq people can booze. Have him put a blurb in there at the end that says something to the effect of "or any other location/time that the Sq/CC deems appropriate". You should be gtg after that.

Pretty good secondaries on some of the open source videos coming out, hopefully they hit some solid targets.

China's Economy Is Shrinking. That Should Worry the US and the World. (businessinsider.com) I'm not smart on global economics at all but I found this article interesting, don't know anything about the author.

Pretty sure it was the return of that Shazam Martian. Weird, non-sensical self-aggrandizing posts followed by family insults when people called him on his bullshit. Looks like the mods already cleaned it up.

Glad everyone got out.

Isn’t a call sign, it’s a nickname coined by some guys in the 15th when he was the DO & CC. Came from his habit of rolling into offices in the unit, completely upending/wrecking everything and leaving nothing but destruction in his wake. See Danger’s above comment as an example, when he was a Sq/CC he gave out 34 commander directed Q3s.

Yes Technically he didn’t make it go away, he was Q3’d for it by the 1st SOW/CC, then Col Slife. Obviously it didn’t impact his career any.

Based on what I saw coming into CVS I’d 100% agree with you. My personal opinion/observation is there was a serious absence of leadership at the Wg/CC level (I’d argue the whole Wing command team and staff agencies) from time I arrived here till the UEI. I told my boss months before the UEI that I thought the Wing was in serious trouble going into the inspection; unfortunately events proved me correct. I say unfortunately cause now we’re suffering through the 2nd and 3rd order effects of playing catch-up/prepping for the re-inspection, which is real annoying. It’s been said on here before but the general belief, at least here at CVS, was the Wg/CC wasn’t fired because he’s AFSOC’s first black general and AFSOC leadership (CAT 5) wasn’t going to fire him based on that alone. I have no idea if that’s actually the case but I personally believe there’s truth to it.

I think we’re actually in agreement here. I would agree that just because someone is great at their primary crew position doesn’t mean they’re a great officer/leader. The best Sq/CCs I’ve had all happened to be extremely credible in the airplane; I know guys in other Sqs who have had CCs that were great in airplane but shit leaders. At least in my corner of AFSOC most guys/gals are willing to call out leaders who are bad sticks. Reference Sock Puppet as a prime example. Didn’t stop him from making O-6 mind you, but everyone acknowledged he was a bad pilot with great paperwork. I’d also argue that just because a guy isn’t a bro or great fun to hang out with outside the cockpit doesn’t mean they’re a bad leader, people/leaders come in all flavors. Curious, which AFSOC O-6s specifically did you fly with that you felt were good pilots but bad leaders?

Slife has (at least IMO) a long list of flaws. I personally know a couple guys that flew with him, and, to his credit, none of them said he was a shitty pilot.

One guys opinion (mine), CVS was/is a bit of a dumpster fire across the wing, not just in the OG. Proof in the data pudding is the failed UEI; the report is quite damning. I could write a very long post about all the problems during that time period but it’s already been hashed out here. On a bright note, I do believe that the current Wg/CC is pushing things in the right direction. The weirdest thing about that specific firing is that said OG had tendered a resignation letter and put it on the WG/CC’s desk; he had taken responsibility for the Group’s failure. Wg/CC didn’t do anything with it, so after a couple weeks OG/CC decided he’s in the clear. Then (supposedly, I have no direct knowledge of this, only RUMINT) CAT 5 orders the Wg/CC to fire the OG/CC. When the news was announced to CVS leadership a Sq/CC directly asked the Wg/CC what to tell his formation the reason for the firing was, Wg/CC basically gives an evasive/non-answer. Strange times.

Lotta good words here. Last couple CCs and SELs I’ve seen get canned in AFSOC have come with zero explanation from the higher ups. It would kill the gossip chain quite a bit and possibly let people learn from other’s mistakes if we implemented the recs above. Not to mention maybe giving the rank and file a little restored trust in the system.