wimpy Air Force recruiting videos

[old crow]

Dr342: Thanks. I am a Life AFA member, receive and read the journal cover-to-cover, receive the AF newsletter daily. I'll look at the Air Force Times Forums as well. Thank you.

[oscars]

Geesh guys, any of you know what sarcasm is or self deprecating humor? I am well aware of the concerns of current senior NCO's as NCO's raised the same concerns in the 1960's. By the way, if you interested in combat leadership have a look at this if you think that leadership has gone by the wayside in todays AF
33rd Rescue Squadron crew earns MacKay Trophy

I will admit to a bit of nepotism as Pedro 16's AC is my son.

[old crow]

thepriapus: Sarcasm and self-deprecating behavior depend upon your being known personally and or/being able to see your face and actually hear what you say. Words are "sterile" in fora postings; completely devoid of "character" and taken at face-value by some such as me until we arrive at some level of personal interface that allows "between the lines" interpretation. Not a lecture, just a statement about my reaction to your posting. Been there many times before, usually with Australians who speak a foreign form of English but I learned what "taking the p.ss meant" and understood thereafter. So, you were "taking the p.ss"? ed

[old crow]

Dr342: I just finished several hours' reading on the AF Times, multiple fora. Don't quite know what to say. Acronyms and abbreviations I can't fathom except from extrapolation from what is being said/complained about. I have a preliminary picture of dysfunction often associated with "distancing" of personnel-in-need from those personnel who probably have answers. Personally, I intensely dislike dealing with a "robotic phone/computer system"; I'd rather stand in line to talk to a person who has a skilled supervisor on-call and a rack of AF regs and manuals at hand. I am now humbled to realize that I served in a time when real people were available to answer real problems for me. If my many-years' retired concerns about the "health" of the USAF now exist then I can only imagine how stressful the situations are for the young people enduring "electronic intelligence" guidance in their careers. If I can relate "Boots on the ground" as it applies to the USAF, it has more meaning than just warm and able bodies, it implies that people are not only skilled in what they do but ably guided by experienced, dedicated and competent NCOs. In my opinion, officers come and go as their fortunes dictate but NCOs are "grown" to the force and it is they who provide the backbone, the integrity and the ultimate success of the force. No pilot willingly or confidently flies an acft without the consent of the crew chief.

[Tarheel]

Had my gastric ulcer in '83 but thanks for the advice. I did "pop off" on the "wimpy.." issue and should have held my tongue/fingers. And, by the way, the USAF consistently meets its recruiting quotas and has folks standing in line. The video - the USAF Academy does not always make what I consider appropriate choices. I am 67 years of age, served 25 years in the USAF, first 14 as enlisted, last eleven commissioned. Just did my job but always proud - and maybe a little too defensive - of my branch of service.

67 also and served two enlistments. We wouldn't often win any awards for spit and polish, but the guys I served with in SEA busted their butts to keep the Thuds in the air and on target. If only McNamara had been strapped to one of those Mark 82's.

[old crow]

Tarheel: I spent some time at Nellis working on Wild Weasel II, 105Fs. Have the patch somewhere among my "stuff" yet. Worked on the RHAW system. The aircrews were some magnificent men who believed in their work, as did those of us who maintained their Thuds. I recall the hangar windows vibrating like being hit with buckshot as the Thuds hit afterburner on the runway. Not many of the birds and too few of the crew survived the work they did. I had orders for Korat in 67 but my wife's miscarriage brought me a humanitarian deferment followed by orders to a tour at Tan Son Nhut (RF-4C, RF-101C and RB-57).

[Tarheel]

Tarheel: I spent some time at Nellis working on Wild Weasel II, 105Fs. Have the patch somewhere among my "stuff" yet. Worked on the RHAW system. The aircrews were some magnificent men who believed in their work, as did those of us who maintained their Thuds. I recall the hangar windows vibrating like being hit with buckshot as the Thuds hit afterburner on the runway. Not many of the birds and too few of the crew survived the work they did. I had orders for Korat in 67 but my wife's miscarriage brought me a humanitarian deferment followed by orders to a tour at Tan Son Nhut (RF-4C, RF-101C and RB-57).

Had the pleasure of two short stints at Korat on TDY status in 1965 (357th TFS) back when we affectionately called it "Camp Nasty". Went to Takhli in '66 and finished out my time in '67, back with the 355th TFW which I'd been with since '62 excepting a year with the 23rd at McConnell. You're right about the crews; saw too many go up that didn't return. Lots of memories! I was in Fire Control by the way, and WW was just being cut in when I left SEA.