First part, fact! The Blackhawk minimums are 8 hours a month. But be a technical and tactical expert and highly skilled aviator - just make sure all of your additional duties come first.

Second part, CSM or MAJ Butthurt/Good Idea Fairy (or whoever the f came up with it) got upset that pilots didn't look like everyone else with their flight suits, so we got the A2CU so we can look like everyone else yet have a functional flight suit. However... during any big formations we couldn't wear our A2CUs because they still look different from normal ACUs. Well what was the whole point of going to the A2CU from the one piece flight suit if we still couldn't wear them? Good Idea Fairy struck again.

I know you're an adult (20s, 30s, 40s with many years of adulting) and an officer, but if you want to go somewhere on your own time you need to put in for a pass. Go see the kid straight out of college to get approval for your pass to have a life outside of the Army.

By the way, did you have someone do a personal vehicle inspection for you? I know they're not a qualified mechanic, but they still need to sign this paper saying your vehicle - which you know and they don't - is safe for you to travel in.

The Army went to a 10 year commitment after flight school??