Don't kid yourself. No matter what you fly, everyone is supporting someone else's mission.

Completely agree. You can be the tip of support or the shaft. I'd rather be closer to the tip, STS.

I'd rather be closer to the tip, STS.

So would I, but you definitely won't be in either of these airframes.

The only 'possible' exception might be SOLL II...

Completely agree. You can be the tip of support or the shaft. I'd rather be closer to the tip, STS.

Tankers actually support objectives being actioned regularly, airlift/AD rarely plays a direct support role in fighting (at least how you guys do it). Both are important, but it's folly to assume you're always more relevant. Thats true for all of us.

OP, hope you get something that makes you happy.

I'm not going to kid myself, I'm a number and but a small cog in a giant machine. I think we would be that screw you have left over after putting something back together...

I'd consider it if it weren't for the location I'd be FAIPing to, the fact that there's no guarantee there will even be a C-5 dropped after my FAIP tour, and the fact that it's entirely possible to xtrain to the C-5 later if I really put my mind to it.

I said that tongue-in-cheek, but want to be clear about your comment.

You can NOT crosstrain to the C-5 if you "put your mind to it." First, there is currently no opportunity to crosstrain from the 17 to the 5. The best shot would be to FAIP, go OSA, or tanker. With both FAIP and OSA, you have to get an MWS after, so it could be the C-5 as well as any other MWS. If you go tankers, you can apply to Phoenix and crosstrain to an airlifter, but the odds are far greater that you'll get a 130 or 17 than a 5. Just a numbers game as far as that goes. Just so you're clear, the "top" of the strat pool get selected for Phoenix, but where you go is completely up to AFPC's randomness. If you want to have any input in that part of the crosstrain decision, you have to know somebody with clout.

Completely agree. You can be the tip of support or the shaft. I'd rather be closer to the tip, STS.

I always felt closer to the battle in the -135 vs the -17, but still pretty far away. I've seen the fighters I just gave gas to peel off and drop bombs on Fallujah, I've had a lot of fighters ask me to move my orbit closer to their TIC so they can spend more time strafing. Opening night for OIF was pretty exciting with a wall of fighters on my wing ready to push into Iraq. A lot of the -17 guys I flew with seemed to think the war revolved around them. Granted I wasn't an airdropper in the 17.

Is this going to turn into a tanker vs airlift pissing contest??? I thought the MAF was above that

Is this going to turn into a tanker vs airlift pissing contest??? I thought the MAF was above that

I think these will be common:

Job satisfaction is highest when airborne.

The grass is always greener, whether its stuck on a trip wishing to go home, or sitting at home wishing to get on a trip.

Also, I think either way, you'll have a triple digit leave balance for several years.

So would I, but you definitely won't be in either of these airframes.

The only 'possible' exception might be SOLL II...

I've done some cool things in the C17 ( not patting myself on the back, I'm not the only one). None of which I can talk about and only about half of those "support" missions were SOLL II.

Haha, if you weren't based out of Charleston, I would be 100% convinced that you were trolling instead of 75%.

Maybe a little, haha.

Tankers actually support objectives being actioned regularly, airlift/AD rarely plays a direct support role in fighting (at least how you guys do it). Both are important, but it's folly to assume you're always more relevant. Thats true for all of us.

Tankers also support the support airframes. I'm not bad mouthing tankers, there's something to be said for relevance. Direct delivery of anything (pallets of street justice, kinetics, etc.) is more appealing to me than giving everyone else a top off.

I always felt closer to the battle in the -135 vs the -17, but still pretty far away. I've seen the fighters I just gave gas to peel off and drop bombs on Fallujah, I've had a lot of fighters ask me to move my orbit closer to their TIC so they can spend more time strafing. Opening night for OIF was pretty exciting with a wall of fighters on my wing ready to push into Iraq. A lot of the -17 guys I flew with seemed to think the war revolved around them. Granted I wasn't an airdropper in the 17.

I felt pretty relevant on the opening days of OIF too. Flying into "J" fields to deliver SOF assets to the fight. I wish I could have been in a C17 for HUMRO.

Is this going to turn into a tanker vs airlift pissing contest??? I thought the MAF was above that

No

Another reason not to go C-17s :)

https://www.woai.com/articles/woai-local-news-119078/c-17-part-falls-off-plane-11515963/

I've done some cool things in the C17 ( not patting myself on the back, I'm not the only one). None of which I can talk about and only about half of those "support" missions were SOLL II.

You flew some Arabian horses around in a grey and maroon cattle car?

None of which I can talk about and only about half of those "support" missions were SOLL II.

Then you probably shouldn't be talking about them...

Then you probably shouldn't be talking about them...

What are you talking about! My favorite line is ' I did some stuff, but I can't tell you about it......um dude, you just told me about it idiot'

I've done some cool things in the C17 ( not patting myself on the back, I'm not the only one). None of which I can talk about and only about half of those "support" missions were SOLL II.

Tankers also support the support airframes. I'm not bad mouthing tankers, there's something to be said for relevance. Direct delivery of anything (pallets of street justice, kinetics, etc.) is more appealing to me than giving everyone else a top off.

I felt pretty relevant on the opening days of OIF too.

No

Pallets of street justice & kinetics you can't talk about? You must have done the super spec ops C17 fighter pilot upgrade, sorry for questioning you Dr. Badass.

Pallets of street justice & kinetics you can't talk about? You must have done the super spec ops C17 fighter pilot upgrade, sorry for questioning you Dr. Badass.

The specops C-17 Fighter pilot Upgrade teaches advanced, gear down, on speed, in the zone, at the correct airfield landings. It's the tip of the shaft (STS), the best of the best of the best, SIR.

Haha, if you weren't based out of Charleston, I would be 100% convinced that you were trolling instead of 75%.

If you were a real pilot, people might care what you think.

We need to start the Buddy Spike VS Joe1234 thread.

I've been to over 150 countries in ten years in the C17. I've done airdrop in three continents.

I have the death sentence on twelve systems... >150?

Comparing 10 and 17 bases who cares?

You might want to check the title to this thread, it's pretty much the point.

Tankers also support the support airframes. I'm not bad mouthing tankers

If you want to burn holes in the sky and support everyone else's mission, good for you. Somebody has to do it

Yes you are.

I've done some cool things in the C17 ( not patting myself on the back, I'm not the only one). None of which I can talk about and only about half of those "support" missions were SOLL II. I felt pretty relevant on the opening days of OIF too. Flying into "J" fields to deliver SOF assets to the fight.

Still talking. BTW that WAS 10 years ago, so you either walked into SOLL II the day you got to CHS or you were Airland only at that point, most likely a new copilot augmenting a seasoned crew. How was the view from the RACM/LACM seats?

I thought the MAF was above that

No

Obviously.

Bottom line, every community has their day. At any time any community might suddenly find themselves not relevant to the current situation, (and arrogance is the first sign that your community is no longer relevant) but every community is still a critical part of the team regardless... except maybe TIB.

It's a mix of hilarity and creepiness.

Exactly how I feel about you pretending to be a pilot.

Pallets of street justice & kinetics you can't talk about? You must have done the super spec ops C17 fighter pilot upgrade, sorry for questioning you Dr. Badass.

Tried to make a joke. I missed the mark. Community standard. My apologies. My point was I'd rather deliver something, whether it's cargo for a MAF pilot or bombs/bullets for a CAF pilot. Tankers support both the MAF and CAF for those actions.

I didn't say too much did I Tonka?

I deliver lots of things: fuel, people, MWDs, bombs, bullets, engines, vehicles, and the list goes on. I can carry more, farther, and faster without a fuel stop. Sure, it can't be as tall or on more than a two-pallet train, but that's what FRED is for.

Another reason not to go C-17s :)

https://www.woai.com/...plane-11515963/

Not the first time that's happened with that part...at all.

I deliver lots of things: fuel, people, MWDs, bombs, bullets, engines, vehicles, and the list goes on. I can carry more, farther, and faster without a fuel stop. Sure, it can't be as tall or on more than a two-pallet train, but that's what FRED is for.

But i can refuel in flight...wait a sec, so can you.

In all seriousness, I think of the C-17 as a cross between the C-5 and C-130. A little strat, and a little tac airlift. We can't carry as much as the FRED (or the -10 for that matter), but we can sky hook it halfway around the world (longer legs than the -130) and deliver direct to the guys on the ground who need the stuff, whether by airdrop out airland to an LZ. That's why i wanted to fly the C-17.

But i can refuel in flight...wait a sec, so can .

Yeah but his community doesn't suck at AR.

Yeah but his community doesn't suck at AR.

Like the AWACers?