What's wrong with the Air Force?

[HeloDude]

4 hours ago, ClearedHot said:

And indicative of the rot that remains in some of our senior leaders.  That fact that he survives to have his style be the mentoring force at the Zoo says a LOT.

The only thing I can think of is that the highest “senior leaders” believe that he’s a solid yes man and will push to implement the change they want.

[LookieRookie]

On 8/4/2024 at 11:37 AM, HeloDude said:

The only thing I can think of is that the highest “senior leaders” believe that he’s a solid yes man and will push to implement the change they want.

I think it’s more a save face. Everything is about appearance and big blue loses face with a fired COMAFSOC by COMSOCOM.

[ClearedHot]

I know some will find this shocking (Not), but Cat Five ALREADY has an IG complaint at USAFA.  As the story has been told to me, just days after taking over he decided to make an impromptu visit to the Field House.  The football team had just completed practice when he walked in.  He held everyone at attention for 20 minutes while he bloviated and threatened (his standard MO).  The team was in standing at attention in various states of dress, with many of the cadets butt ass naked...he held them there at attention likely meat gazing the entire time.  Well done USAF...well done, nothing but the best for our future leaders.

[HossHarris]

2 hours ago, ClearedHot said:

I know some will find this shocking (Not), but Cat Five ALREADY has an IG complaint at USAFA.  As the story has been told to me, just days after taking over he decided to make an impromptu visit to the Field House.  The football team had just completed practice when he walked in.  He held everyone at attention for 20 minutes while he bloviated and threatened (his standard MO).  The team was in standing at attention in various states of dress, with many of the cadets butt ass naked...he held them there at attention likely meat gazing the entire time.  Well done USAF...well done, nothing but the best for our future leaders.

Heard the same.

[Swizzle]

Oof

[SurelySerious]

I know some will find this shocking (Not), but Cat Five ALREADY has an IG complaint at USAFA.  As the story has been told to me, just days after taking over he decided to make an impromptu visit to the Field House.  The football team had just completed practice when he walked in.  He held everyone at attention for 20 minutes while he bloviated and threatened (his standard MO).  The team was in standing at attention in various states of dress, with many of the cadets butt ass naked...he held them there at attention likely meat gazing the entire time.  Well done USAF...well done, nothing but the best for our future leaders.

Clark was the epitome of a good leader. This guy is an asshat.

Says the guy who was promoted to AFSOC CC when not ready:
https://popularmilitary.com/new-usaf-academy-superintendent-says-the-academy-will-become-more-demanding-and-cadets-will-only-be-promoted-when-ready/

[Swizzle]

On 8/4/2024 at 9:28 AM, DirkDiggler said:

He personally called the 27 SOW/CC to request (demand really) a two-ship flyover of MCs for his USAFA CoC, because with everything else we have going on, yeah sure, we've got the time and assets for that.

Edit to add: my first question when this came down was "Does anyone care/does it matter that he got soft-fired?"  Anyone, I'm the only one, ok I'll shutup now.

 

On 8/4/2024 at 10:09 AM, McJay Pilot said:

A formation of MC’s… ironic coming from him since he, you know, wanted to kill formation.

 

1 hour ago, SurelySerious said:

Clark was the epitome of a good leader. This guy is an asshat.

Says the guy who was promoted to AFSOC CC when not ready:
https://popularmilitary.com/new-usaf-academy-superintendent-says-the-academy-will-become-more-demanding-and-cadets-will-only-be-promoted-when-ready/

Article states he got an MC-130J formation flyover, huh. 

[McJay Pilot]

1 hour ago, Swizzle said:

 

 

Article states he got an MC-130J formation flyover, huh. 

MC-130J Gunships… will wonders never cease.

[DirkDiggler]

2 hours ago, McJay Pilot said:

MC-130J Gunships… will wonders never cease.

The Wombat returns!

[Swizzle]

2 hours ago, McJay Pilot said:

MC-130J Gunships… will wonders never cease.

Sorta...Gunpig....sorta-ish

https://centcomcitadel.com/en_GB/articles/ssc/features/2024/04/05/feature-02

[lilyelliott4]

On 7/1/2024 at 11:52 PM, brabus said:

Clock-Map-Ground…the good ol’ days! if you find someone under the age of 30 who can even read a map, you’ve found a unicorn! The next steps are intro a compass or plotter, then tell them to jump in a standard transmission vehicle for a beer run (unicorn status likely dissolves in step 2 or 3).

Ha! You’re absolutely right—it's like a treasure hunt for hidden skills. Finding someone under 30 who can read a map is rare enough, but throw in a compass and a stick shift, and you've got yourself a legend! Maybe we should add balancing a checkbook to the mix for the ultimate challenge. 🦄🍻

[Sua Sponte]

17 hours ago, ClearedHot said:

I know some will find this shocking (Not), but Cat Five ALREADY has an IG complaint at USAFA.  As the story has been told to me, just days after taking over he decided to make an impromptu visit to the Field House.  The football team had just completed practice when he walked in.  He held everyone at attention for 20 minutes while he bloviated and threatened (his standard MO).  The team was in standing at attention in various states of dress, with many of the cadets butt ass naked...he held them there at attention likely meat gazing the entire time.  Well done USAF...well done, nothing but the best for our future leaders.

If he got an IG complaint, SAF/IG is an entity that will force him to retire if it’s substantiated.  They were the ones whose report got the USAFA Commandant of Cadets (Lesbian B-2 pilot) fired a few years ago since she’s apparently retarded and doesn’t know how abuse of power and GTCs work. 

[FUSEPLUG]

3 hours ago, Sua Sponte said:

...since she’s apparently retarded and doesn’t know how abuse of power and GTCs work. 

🤣

Edited August 9, 2024 by FUSEPLUG
Quoted for posterity

[DirkDiggler]

15 hours ago, Swizzle said:

 

 

Article states he got an MC-130J formation flyover, huh. 

Of course he did.  You think a new Wg/CC is gonna say no to a LtGen that was just recently his boss?  The only thing that would’ve stopped that is a full on war with China, and maybe not even then.

[Swizzle]

https://www.airandspaceforces.com/photos-air-force-football-afsoc-uniforms

Another motto is quiet professionals?

"In good times people want to advertise; in bad times they have to" - Bruce Barton

“Any damn fool can put on a deal, but it takes genius, faith, and perseverance to create a brand.” - David Ogilvy

 

What of late is the AFSOC brand? Thoughts?

[Magellan]

12 hours ago, Swizzle said:

https://www.airandspaceforces.com/photos-air-force-football-afsoc-uniforms

Another motto is quiet professionals?

"In good times people want to advertise; in bad times they have to" - Bruce Barton

“Any damn fool can put on a deal, but it takes genius, faith, and perseverance to create a brand.” - David Ogilvy

 

What of late is the AFSOC brand? Thoughts?

Not Applicable in the high end near peer fight if you ask anyone outside of AFSOC.

[jice]

26 minutes ago, Magellan said:

Not Applicable in the high end near peer fight if you ask anyone outside of AFSOC.

You’re not asking the right people outside of AFSOC.

[brabus]

8 hours ago, Magellan said:

Not Applicable in the high end near peer fight if you ask anyone outside of AFSOC.

What’s not applicable? Special Operations?

Edited August 16, 2024 by brabus

[SocialD]

On 8/9/2024 at 6:49 AM, Sua Sponte said:

If he got an IG complaint, SAF/IG is an entity that will force him to retire if it’s substantiated.  They were the ones whose report got the USAFA Commandant of Cadets (Lesbian B-2 pilot) fired a few years ago since she’s apparently retarded and doesn’t know how abuse of power and GTCs work. 

 

 

I can't remember, what did she do, buy a Suburu Outback with her GTC? 

Edited August 16, 2024 by SocialD

[tac airlifter]

10 hours ago, Magellan said:

Not Applicable in the high end near peer fight if you ask anyone outside of AFSOC.

Whoever answered you that way is shortsighted.  It's true the command is experiencing an identity crisis, as is SOCOM so trickle down is natural.  And it's true GWOT TTPs were crafted with uncontested airspace assumptions
 
But an aggressive, creative and risk accepting culture (which thrives in AFSOC despite attempts to squash it) will always be relevant in every fight.  And there are many exciting COAs just waiting for circumstances befitting their use. 

[Majestik Møøse]

US (proudly): “We’ve organized our entire military to fight an air/sea war in the Taiwan Straits!”

Opponents: “OK, then we’ll fight you somewhere else in some other way.”

US: “…you can’t do that we got rid of the other shit.”

[Sua Sponte]

On 8/16/2024 at 5:44 AM, SocialD said:

 

 

I can't remember, what did she do, buy a Suburu Outback with her GTC? 

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2019/11/22/ig-found-former-academy-commandant-misused-travel-had-poor-command-climate-she-will-seek-redress-for-firing/

[DirkDiggler]

On 8/15/2024 at 8:36 PM, Magellan said:

Not Applicable in the high end near peer fight if you ask anyone outside of AFSOC.

I think the better way to state this is SOCOM/AFSOC aren't the main show in the high end near peer fight.

  This whole "identity crisis" or whatever you want to call it that SOCOM and AFSOC are currently going through is kinda amusing to me.  For the from '01 to '21 SOCOM was the show, budgets were huge, and the command grew quite a bit.  It was also made very clear to me a as young guy, when asked what our mission was while we were simultaneously supporting OEF/OIF/GWOT, that the correct answer was "to do what the fuck we're told to do", and your job was to find a way to make it happen.

  I've heard the phrase "maintain relevance" thrown around quite a bit by senior guys in AFSOC this last year.  What they really mean is they're worried our budgets will shrink because we're not leading the charge on night one into China/Russia.

  AFSOC's part in the high end near peer fight right of bang is limited for a multitude of reasons.  IMO, AFSOC will be in a supporting role, which historically is where SOF usually existed prior to 2001.  There's absolutely things we can contribute to that fight, the discussion of most of them exceed the classification of this forum.  But the idea that we're going to be a main LOE is pretty silly with our current equipment.

  We have tons to contribute left of bang, and the C-VEO fight isn't going away anytime soon.  There's also a ton of smart, motivated people working to find ways for AFSOC to support the high-end fight.  I think AFSOC/SOCOM needs to calm down a bit with the "identity crisis" thing.

[jice]

2 hours ago, DirkDiggler said:

  I've heard the phrase "maintain relevance" thrown around quite a bit by senior guys in AFSOC this last year.  What they really mean is they're worried our budgets will shrink because we're not leading the charge on night one into China/Russia.

 

The “maintain relevance” words should make the hair on the back of necks stand up when folks hear it in their organizations.

Seen it in at least two communities as they entered a death spiral.

If your advantages are not self-evident to people within the org, you’ve lost the ball years ago and failed to recognize it.

At that point, it’s time to reset entirely; square one mission analysis to determine whether comparative advantages still exist and finding greener pastures for most of the leaders representing the majority ‘generational’  demographic. 

Edited August 17, 2024 by jice
Words

[Magellan]

On 8/15/2024 at 11:04 PM, jice said:

You’re not asking the right people outside of AFSOC.

You mean the people that are just trying to keep Gen. Slife happy, or are acolytes of his but not currently in AFSOC?

The reality is I can seek confirmation bias from any pocket of the Air Force at any level.  Great Power Competition is the reality we need to embrace.  We pulled out of the GWOT on terror, and it didn't end it just shifted fronts to Israel.  Because the bad actors in that region that want to destroy the west, western values, anyone that isn't a Islamic fundamentalist just shifted to the next closest target.

Also, the foreign policy disaster of stopping Saudi from fighting the Iranian (Houthi) proxies in Yemen was idiotic from a Real Politik stand point. There are still a lot of fights in the world were AFSOC is the best game in town, but we aren't playing any more to the extent we were.