Leadership at the 'Deid

[JS]

I have also found that a lot of the controllers, while pretty capable and good guys/girls, don't really have much of a clue about flying operations of the aircraft themselves. For example, as a Herk guy, I had to spend about five minutes trying to convince one of the controllers that there are other planes in the Air Force inventory besides the C-17 that can reverse taxi. They didn't want to take my word for it at first. They also don't really know why some of the Bones or tankers spend a few more minutes on the runway while the Herks and DV planes seem to hit the runway rolling for takeoff.

Not saying that the SOF job should be to educate the controllers on reverse taxiing, but I found it enlightening learning about their jobs just as they seemed interested in mine.

[Murph]

My favorite SOF moment was when I was told to go cold on the range 8 miles from the airfield during a ground emergency.

[FourFans]

My favorite SOF moment was when I was told to go cold on the range 8 miles from the airfield during a ground emergency.

They must have known you weren't wearing a reflective belt. Tisk tisk.

[Napoleon_Tanerite]

The problem with the Deid isn't so much the Deid itself. I came to the realization why the Deid is so bad the last time I was there. Quite simply, the Deid is 100% the product of the "new" Air Force. Older bases have longstanding traditions and ways of doing business that help reduce the flagrant stupidity that occurs at the Deid. The Deid was built by the new generation of risk averse, shoe first ask questions later leaders. It is the puritan wet dream that many current AF leaders wish they could impose on every base and every airman worldwide. They have COMPLETE control and nobody to raise a stink. Stateside bases and even OCONUS bases have retirees and civilian workers who would raise absolute hell at some of the stupidity that goes on at the Deid if it was implemented home station.

We can't drink (aside from our three per day) and can't have porn due to sensitivity to "host nation" customs? You know how I know that's BS? Because we can eat all the bacon, ham and sausage we can stuff in our faces at the chow hall.

Don't get me started on all the buffoonerous force protection measures they do there that serve no purpose. I won't go into them, but you know what I'm talking about and how pointless 99.69% of it is.

The Deid isn't the island of the lord of the flies, rather it's a shoetopia that a large percentage of leaders in the AF wish they could impose on EVERYONE.

[SuperWSO]

We can't drink (aside from our three per day) and can't have porn due to sensitivity to "host nation" customs? You know how I know that's BS? Because we can eat all the bacon, ham and sausage we can stuff in our faces at the chow hall.

Everyone has heard the jokes everybody tells about the AF guy in the BOQ complaining that "this sucks" because the cable TV is out. Be careful when you bitch about being limited to just three beers a day. I have not been to the Deid, but my last trip downrange was at a place where near beer was the closest thing you could get for six months. Yes it sucks, but keep in mind that everything is relative and it could ALWAYS suck worse.

[Napoleon_Tanerite]

Everyone has heard the jokes everybody tells about the AF guy in the BOQ complaining that "this sucks" because the cable TV is out. Be careful when you bitch about being limited to just three beers a day. I have not been to the Deid, but my last trip downrange was at a place where near beer was the closest thing you could get for six months. Yes it sucks, but keep in mind that everything is relative and it could ALWAYS suck worse.

O, I'm fully aware of that, but don't blow smoke up my ass about the reason that alcohol consumption is limited/banned is due to the host nation. If leadership doesn't want us getting piss drunk (or drinking at all) have the grapes to take responsibility for the command decision and say so, don't try to pin it on the host nation.

[LockheedFix]

O, I'm fully aware of that, but don't blow smoke up my ass about the reason that alcohol consumption is limited/banned is due to the host nation. If leadership doesn't want us getting piss drunk (or drinking at all) have the grapes to take responsibility for the command decision and say so, don't try to pin it on the host nation.

What? Of course it's the host nation and not our (the U.S.'s) decision. Don't you know that Allah has forbidden all Muslims and Americans from drinking alcohol? That's why the Canadians and the rest of NATO can have alcohol in Afghanistan, but we can't.

[skibum]

Be careful when you bitch about being limited to just three beers a day. I have not been to the Deid, but my last trip downrange was at a place where near beer was the closest thing you could get for six months.

You should probably experience the Deid before you wave a caution flag. I've been to a lot of crappy places where beer is not allowed, and I'd take every last one of them over the Deid. I always found a way to get more than three a day, but the truth set in quickly -- I could not stuff enough alcohol into my gut to overcome the rediculous Deid life. For some reason I would puke right before it became tolerable.

[B*D*A]

...shoe first ask questions later...

Brilliant!

Edited May 24, 2010 by B*D*A

[Napoleon_Tanerite]

Brilliant!

I'm thinking it'd be perfect for the new Air Force slogan...looking for suggestions.

[bucky60k]

During the stage in Bahrain we were allowed to take the shuttle base up to the Navy HQ (NSA) up in Manama so we could get some decent food, etc. The quality of the facilities of the NSA should embarrass our "leadership" who takes pride in "taking care of their airmen." Not only does the NSA have no tents or cadilliacs that should have been replaced 10 years ago, you can wear civilian clothes, and generally just relax on your time off without being harassed by the shoe legion. I say open up the Deid as a PCS location. That way the families would force the people running the base to improve living conditions and get rid of the bullshit rules. For god sakes if we are still living in tents when our 90 year lease is up on that hell hole it just proves once again how our management just wants to get promoted and not care for people in the fight.

[jrobe]

During the stage in Bahrain we were allowed to take the shuttle base up to the Navy HQ (NSA) up in Manama so we could get some decent food, etc. The quality of the facilities of the NSA should embarrass our "leadership" who takes pride in "taking care of their airmen......"

Bucky what time frame was this

[bucky60k]

Bucky what time frame was this

Late April to early May this year

[Stiffler]

You should probably experience the Deid before you wave a caution flag. I've been to a lot of crappy places where beer is not allowed, and I'd take every last one of them over the Deid. I always found a way to get more than three a day, but the truth set in quickly -- I could not stuff enough alcohol into my gut to overcome the rediculous Deid life. For some reason I would puke right before it became tolerable.

BIG TIME "2." In fact the biggest "2" i have ever responded with, ever.

[Guest Hueypilot812]

You should probably experience the Deid before you wave a caution flag. I've been to a lot of crappy places where beer is not allowed, and I'd take every last one of them over the Deid. I always found a way to get more than three a day, but the truth set in quickly -- I could not stuff enough alcohol into my gut to overcome the rediculous Deid life. For some reason I would puke right before it became tolerable.

I spent a year at Sather Air Base. While the shoe mentality is everywhere in varying degrees, I'd rather spend a year in Baghdad than 4-6 months at the Deid (deployed there twice). The several days I spent at the Deid coming (sts) and going from the AOR during my 365 tour incurred as much pain as months spent at Sather.

By the way, I never ONCE wore a reflective belt in the year I was at Sather, and never was told to wear it. I kept one in my flight suit pocket just in case, but never had to break the seal on that pocket to retrieve it. On the other hand, I was reminded many times about reflective belts at the Deid. The uniform police is about the only thing that seems to have any importance at the Deid.

[PasserOGas]

O, I'm fully aware of that, but don't blow smoke up my ass about the reason that alcohol consumption is limited/banned is due to the host nation. If leadership doesn't want us getting piss drunk (or drinking at all) have the grapes to take responsibility for the command decision and say so, don't try to pin it on the host nation.

You know how you can tell 100% it isn't host nation sensivities? Manas. 2 beers a day in a country that could give 2 sh#ts how much you drink. Hell you can find a list of local favorites here:http://www.advantour.com/kyrgyzstan/cuisine/drinks.htm

BTW, they also have a real problem with childhood alchoholism there, so you know they like to party!

[Day Man]

Late April to early May this year

At OBBS right now...still true. The NSA looks like a no-shit nice college campus.

[BQZip01]

To "celebrate" this thread finally reaching 100 pages (this should be an indication as to how bad it really is), here's an image of the place BEFORE shoeclerkishness overran the gate and took hold...like that ever happened...

P.S. Next entry=100 pages. I don't care who it is, but SOMEONE needs to do it (sts)

Edited May 27, 2010 by BQZip01

[Napoleon_Tanerite]

Page 100 is MINE!

[ellsworb]

100 Pages WOOT!

[FourFans]

Hey admins, can we get the title to this thread changed to a nice bright reflective-belt yellow or green color? Having now attained truly epic proportions, it would be a safety hazard for it to not be highly visable.

FF

[Butters]

Well, I have returned to the Deid after a 3 year absence. WOW, this place still sucks. Leadership is still losing the war on Graffiti, but that is not important, this is what really bothers me. I just noticed I am the only one out here wearing reflective PT gear without a reflective belt! Yes, this includes the Navy, not sure where they came from or when, but you can’t swing a dead cat around here without hitting one. Anyway, I have yet to be approached by anyone trying to correct me on my lack of additional reflectivity. So, is it not required? Does no one care? Hell, maybe they can’t see me!

It is also May. What happens in May? Yes, a lot of Air Force Officers, rated and shoes alike, get promoted. Now if anyone came to the Deid and forgot to bring their new rank they would quickly find they have a problem. The BX does not sell Officer rank anywhere on this base, none! However, they do have 22, counted them, 22 sets of Command Chief Master Sergeant rank. The must promote them like crazy out here.

The BPC (Better People’s Complex)is a nice addition. I am surprised they don’t have some sort of policy limiting the number of transients and other riff raff that are allowed to cross the fence into their country.

Also forgot to bring my own plunger.. seems 3 out of every 4 toilets here are plugged up… must be the food.

[Hammer]

Not about leadership, but I need to rant. Just finished a long flight and go to have a smoke in the smoke pit. I walk out of the door, light up and make a bee line for the nearest pit. I get about 50 yards from the pit and some joker comes storming up to me yelling "Excuse me, you need to put that out!" to which I reply "I'm walking to that pit." and point to it...we can all see it. He says "Come on, you've been walking with it since over there, lets be honest with each other" and I get a "YEAH!" from his little sidekick. Rather than press the situation farther I flick off the cherry and walk the next 50 yards and relight as the dynamic duo pass. For one, WE ARE OUTSIDE! Does it really bother you that I am having a relaxing post-flight smoke? Two, when I tell you I am walking to the smoking area, do not question my integrity. Was I technically breaking the rules by lighting up outside of the designated area? Yes. Was it going to kill anyone? no Thanks for letting me vent/

[snoopyeast]

and I get a "YEAH!" from his little sidekick.

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[Butters]

Not about leadership, but I need to rant. Just finished a long flight and go to have a smoke in the smoke pit. I walk out of the door, light up and make a bee line for the nearest pit. I get about 50 yards from the pit and some joker comes storming up to me yelling "Excuse me, you need to put that out!" to which I reply "I'm walking to that pit." and point to it...we can all see it. He says "Come on, you've been walking with it since over there, lets be honest with each other" and I get a "YEAH!" from his little sidekick. Rather than press the situation farther I flick off the cherry and walk the next 50 yards and relight as the dynamic duo pass. For one, WE ARE OUTSIDE! Does it really bother you that I am having a relaxing post-flight smoke? Two, when I tell you I am walking to the smoking area, do not question my integrity. Was I technically breaking the rules by lighting up outside of the designated area? Yes. Was it going to kill anyone? no Thanks for letting me vent/

Were you wearing your reflective belt?