Archive for the ‘USAF’ Category
Reactivating My Account
Monday, April 26th, 2010Fighting for Our Future
Friday, June 12th, 2009The Air Force has been under considerable pressure from several different people for the past several years. Some of these folks have actually called for the Air Force to be disbanded. I penned a short apologetic piece which I posted over in the pages section.
It’s hard to believe some folks want to ignore lessons learned over the past 80+ years of military aviation; whether out of misplaced pride in one service, general ignorance, or unreasonable disdain of my service. The Air Force must be a separate service in order for aerial forces to perform effectively in battle. Period.
Raptor Punks
Wednesday, November 5th, 2008Congrats to the first F-22 B-course graduates!
(In our squadrons, we refer to the first-operational-assignment lieutenant pilots as "punks.")
Laying Low
Sunday, September 21st, 2008Returned To Base
Saturday, June 28th, 2008I’ve done a reverse MacArthur. I have returned from the Philippines.
As it happened, I rolled home and straight into an exercise! I’d like to say I swapped my ‘Battle Rattle’ for a chemical defense ensemble, but rather the chemical defense ensemble went on underneath the Interceptor body armor. Mercifully it’s been a cool June here in northern Japan.
It certainly was fun to get a few flights in, too, even if the weather obscured everything but the Pacific and the Sea of Japan.
Now back to the grind!
The Best Thing About This Tour
Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008The best thing about this deployment was meeting this guy:
. . . At least according to him! You know how these young folks can be brash sometimes.
You’re doing great work, AJ! Keep it up!
Battle Rattle
Monday, April 7th, 2008I’ve found it nearly completely unnecessary to wear this stuff in the current theater. The primary danger is from pickpockets.
I can’t believe I traded in a G-suit for kevlar!
Update 11 Apr 2008: Due to popular demand to know which one of these fighter pilots-turned fighter-pilots-on-the-ground is me, I’ll give you all the following hint: I’m the one on the side. (Seriously, I may tell you via e-mail if you ask nicely)
Anne, I’m curious now about that riding crop, I’ll keep my eyes peeled. There aren’t many horses around here, though.
Shouldering the Load Together
Sunday, March 9th, 2008AFA Article About Aging Aircraft
Friday, February 22nd, 2008The Air Force Association put out an interesting article relating the age of various USAF airframes to popular culture historical events. It’s kind of a twist on that e-mail that one university puts out each year to the professors that describe the shared cultural life-experiences of the incoming freshman class.
Blue Sky Hawaii
Monday, February 11th, 2008I’m blogging from Waikiki beach again. I’m here for a short TDY to Hickam AFB to see the folks at PACAF. You know, the sky in Hawaii just seems to be a slightly different shade of blue than anywhere else I’ve been. It’s always green here, too. I’m not sure I’d want to live here, but I’m pretty sure I’ll never get tired of visiting!
The great thing about these TDYs is that I get a chance to see friends. I just had dinner at an Outback Steakhouse with my friends from my North Dakota days. The slow-broiled sirloin was outstanding, as was the sundae! Great food and good conversation (and entertaining kids) make these trips worthwhile.