January 21, 201510 yr I think the "underwhelming" part is that the best contractor-provided red air I'd going to be an A-4 with a few gee-whiz upgrades. My impression of the article was that this was GOCO: Government-owned, contractor operated. A contractor would operate AF-owned F-16s over a two week period. Here's what came out of ACC: Head Quarters Air Combat Command desires a ROM to acquire commercial air services adversary air support training ("Red Air" or Dissimilar Aircraft Combat Training) from 4th generation fighter aircraft capable of Mach 1.0+ and equipped with: Radar, Radar Warning Receivers (RWR), and Electronic Attack (EA) systems. Desired level of support: - 10x8 support for a two week period (10 flying days) (180 sorties) at Nellis AFB - 1.5 planned ASD sorties to support a 45 minute vulnerability window - Ability to flex flying window to support AF requirements not to exceed a 12 hour daily flying window. - All aircrew must have a minimum Secret clearance and current SSBI investigation - Provide necessary personnel, transportation, maintenance support, and supplies I don't see how industry would spin-up for a two week push, then spin down again. There needs to be the promise of on-going work. Edited January 21, 201510 yr by Dupe
January 21, 201510 yr I don't see how industry would spin-up for a two week push, then spin down again. There needs to be the promise of on-going work. Been contracting for awhile, no way I would sign on for this, it will take just 4 weeks to get boots on the ground after 6 months just recruiting guys with the skill set to do this, plus who is going to spend the money for 2 weeks for pilots type cert. It has to be 2 years with year to year options. Since I don't wear stripes anymore you got to pay me big to sign on for this.
January 21, 201510 yr is this not something that could be shifted to reserve/guard units first? the reserve guys get proficiency, the AF gets lower overhead agressor squadrons
January 21, 201510 yr I'm guessing a lot of commenters don't actually know what aggressors squadrons do, should do, and used to do. The red air aspect is only a small part of the overall job. Damn near anyone can fly red air to varying degrees of effectiveness. Aggressor squadrons are different for a reason.
January 21, 201510 yr To add to the list: -Duty titles that include the words "Assistant Deputy..." -Random exec/aide taskings from the AFPC robot with requirements/preferences for WOs. Really?
January 22, 201510 yr The 64th and 65th AGRS had Traditional and ART Reservists from the 926th Group the two years I was there. My first and only TFI unit.
January 22, 201510 yr I'm guessing a lot of commenters don't actually know what aggressors squadrons do, should do, and used to do. The red air aspect is only a small part of the overall job. Damn near anyone can fly red air to varying degrees of effectiveness. Aggressor squadrons are different for a reason. Besides adding CGO & FGO numbers to support strats of WIC instructors, 422 dudes, and T-birds, I'm not sure I understand why aggressors must be military. Contracting out, creating more technician spots, or making GS positions all seem like valid ways to fill the aggressor need while mitigating the very real 11F manpower problem.
January 22, 201510 yr I was thinking there were TTP's and intel on the enemy the aggressors had that normal's didn't.
January 22, 201510 yr Know the threat, teach the threat, replicate the threat. That is the mission. There have been and still are Aggressors serving in TFI units in the 57th ATG.
January 24, 201510 yr https://hamptonroads.com/node/741563WTF? What role playing were they doing that led to this? Edited January 24, 201510 yr by Herk Driver
January 25, 201510 yr WTF? What role playing were they doing that led to this? And it's an AE SQ at that!
January 25, 201510 yr I'm too lazy to go dig up the report (I think it may have been mentioned earlier in the thread), but the whole situation was an absolute clown show. The training in question was supposed to be related to AE's job....which as you might expect has nothing to do with hostage negotiation or rescue. Someone with rank had a good idea fairy moment and decided that the training needed "plussing up," so they directed a couple of (I'm assuming Med Group) CGOs and SNCOs who were in charge of the training syllabus to basically call an audible on the last day of training. The CGOs/SNCOs in question had something like less than 24 hours to come up with the "plussing up" of the training. The CGOs/SNCOs had zero training on any real training development process, much less something as fluid as a hostage negotiation and/or rescue, so they were basically winging it. They came up with a plan that involved a climax featuring driving a Humvee in close proximity to a whole bunch of people (my memory is fuzzy but I think it was something about the hostage takers driving into the compound to deliver the hostage back to US forces or something). Unsurprisingly, the mixture of untrained individuals operating heavy equipment in close proximity to a gaggle of personnel in a scenario that was not well designed and loosely controlled resulted in something getting out of whack and someone getting run over. BL the Col in question is probably lucky that no one preferred charges against her because the situation leading up to the death of the SSgt was some serious dereliction of duty shit. The fact that no one had the sense to call knock it off at any point in the process reflects pretty poorly on everyone involved. Edited January 25, 201510 yr by BB Stacker
January 25, 201510 yr https://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2013/GAIB%2C%20HMMWV%2C%20Montana%2C%2029%20Nov%2012.pdf
January 25, 201510 yr https://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2013/GAIB%2C%20HMMWV%2C%20Montana%2C%2029%20Nov%2012.pdfThat's not it but I can dig around and find it. Thanks ETA: https://www.amc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-141202-003.pdf Edited January 25, 201510 yr by Herk Driver
January 25, 201510 yr That's not it but I can dig around and find it. Thanks Weird. I just grabbed the first one that mentioned hmmv in it. I know I read the whole report but it's not up on the site anymore. Found it on the AMC site https://www.amc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-141202-003.pdf Edited January 25, 201510 yr by uhhello
January 25, 201510 yr ...Someone with rank had a good idea fairy moment and decided that the training needed "plussing up,"... It's amazing how much of this crap goes on today in the financially constrained/deployment heavy environment we're in. Some old-POS SNCO/FGO thinks the AF is babying the Amn/NCOs/CGOs these days and need toughing up. All my Amn are working harder, longer hours, with less support and funds than ever before. But somehow we're soft and don't know how hard it was back in the day, so additional training's got to take place. On top of the resiliency/CAF/Safety/etc days. Some idiot thinks additional support should be offered because it's a "nice to have" or throws us under the bus because we "won't" support an additional 5K customers without additional manning. God, I wish I was making that last one up. As a prior-enlisted, and old looking, officer I get rolled into this soft crowd, that doesn't understand how "hard" it was in the late 90's thru '07. It usually doesn't go well for that individual.
January 26, 201510 yr Note - interactions mentioned before were face-to-face. I subscribe to the arguing on the internet w/ retards rule. Edited January 26, 201510 yr by 17D_guy
January 26, 201510 yr I'm too lazy to go dig up the report (I think it may have been mentioned earlier in the thread), but the whole situation was an absolute clown show. The training in question was supposed to be related to AE's job....which as you might expect has nothing to do with hostage negotiation or rescue. Someone with rank had a good idea fairy moment and decided that the training needed "plussing up," so they directed a couple of (I'm assuming Med Group) CGOs and SNCOs who were in charge of the training syllabus to basically call an audible on the last day of training. The CGOs/SNCOs in question had something like less than 24 hours to come up with the "plussing up" of the training. The CGOs/SNCOs had zero training on any real training development process, much less something as fluid as a hostage negotiation and/or rescue, so they were basically winging it. They came up with a plan that involved a climax featuring driving a Humvee in close proximity to a whole bunch of people (my memory is fuzzy but I think it was something about the hostage takers driving into the compound to deliver the hostage back to US forces or something). Unsurprisingly, the mixture of untrained individuals operating heavy equipment in close proximity to a gaggle of personnel in a scenario that was not well designed and loosely controlled resulted in something getting out of whack and someone getting run over. BL the Col in question is probably lucky that no one preferred charges against her because the situation leading up to the death of the SSgt was some serious dereliction of duty shit. The fact that no one had the sense to call knock it off at any point in the process reflects pretty poorly on everyone involved. Why court martial the Col, when you can court martial the CGO who came up with the scenario at the Col's request?
January 29, 201510 yr It's not entirely analogous to the AF and AFPC since we're more like inmates than customers, but crose enough. Interesting that behavioral science considerations are fairly high on some corporations' list in customer retention. The Rise of the Chief Behavioral [science] Officerhttps://recode.net/2015/01/28/the-rise-of-the-chief-behavioral-officer/?trending=yes
January 31, 201510 yr When I become a farmer several years from now I'm going to set aside room for a handsome young boar even though I won't really need him. I'm going to pump most of my time and money into him even though he won't perform nearly as well as the older boars on the farm (they'll need to be sold or slaughtered). I'm going to feed this bastard as much as possible so that he'll barely be able to waddle his fat ass around the farm. He won't even be able to make bacon with the lady pigs. But damn it all, he'll be a pretty pig and I'm going to keep his beautiful, sorry ass around and lose most of my money doing so. And all of the other animals on the farm, and my family, will suffer because of my stubbornness and stupidity. This pig will named "Lighting II". I'd also like to create my own original breed of pig. I'm going to ask all of the experienced farmers in my area about what characteristics would be the best to strive for. In the end though, I'm still me and I'll ignore centuries of experience. When I'm finished I'll have created a pig that looks beautiful on the outside but will have major problems like not having an asshole. "Who would have thought a pig would eventually need to shit?" I'll incredulously say. The experienced farmers, that's who. I'll sink a ton of time and money into this pig as well. And more suffering will ensue. I'll call this pig "Pegasus". It sure is tough to make a living by being a farmer.
January 31, 201510 yr When I become a farmer several years from now I'm going to set aside room for a handsome young boar even though I won't really need him. I'm going to pump most of my time and money into him even though he won't perform nearly as well as the older boars on the farm (they'll need to be sold or slaughtered). I'm going to feed this bastard as much as possible so that he'll barely be able to waddle his fat ass around the farm. He won't even be able to make bacon with the lady pigs. But damn it all, he'll be a pretty pig and I'm going to keep his beautiful, sorry ass around and lose most of my money doing so. And all of the other animals on the farm, and my family, will suffer because of my stubbornness and stupidity. This pig will named "Lighting II". I'd also like to create my own original breed of pig. I'm going to ask all of the experienced farmers in my area about what characteristics would be the best to strive for. In the end though, I'm still me and I'll ignore centuries of experience. When I'm finished I'll have created a pig that looks beautiful on the outside but will have major problems like not having an asshole. "Who would have thought a pig would eventually need to shit?" I'll incredulously say. The experienced farmers, that's who. I'll sink a ton of time and money into this pig as well. And more suffering will ensue. I'll call this pig "Pegasus". It sure is tough to make a living by being a farmer. Drink much?
February 1, 201510 yr Drink much? He's like that normally. And if you're implying you don't want to visit said farm with said pigs living on it, you sir are a liar.
February 3, 201510 yr A pig without an asshole? My 8-year-old self back in 1990 would appreciate this. Much less mess to clean out of then barn.
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