Classic.....!

 

Who was talking to you? The "good deal" was put in quotes by the guy who seemed to have a problem with it. In fact, your post seems to have some attitude with it also - what's your issue with mil leave? Been a long time since you've done it? I'm glad you've done time in Saudi, maybe in the 10 years since we've been there you've forgotten what it's like to do both FDX and mil.

 

I don't think his comment was tounge in cheek. It WAS sarcasm, but I don't think it was meant how you took it. I also don't think my response was "touchy." If anything was "anti-military," it was his sarcastic post. At any rate, I don't feel guilty about going to fly the F-22. Should I? Further, the "anti-military" tack was directed at him, not you. YOUR Saudi time is pretty much irrelevant to the discussion. Nobody was accusing you of being anti-military.

Maybe I'll tell you all about the F-22 sometime on an AM out and back. By the time I'm done, you might wish I was back on Mil leave!

 

Is that F22 gig ANG or AFres

 

Got my double turn @ss whipping about a month ago. First guy to wail on me was Wing CC here...known as a good stick in the Eagle and certainly able to exploit advantages of F-22 against me (not saying that means anything...) PM go was against Viper TX bro (from Magnum's unit) and his IP. Did better (data points gained on 1st go...) but still whipped. It is a AWESOME jet.

My take? If balloon goes up--you go in the F-22. If it doesn't--you get every Congressman and General visiting. Either way--you are under a lot of pressure--every darn day. Because you are VANG, you will be extra HIGH VIS! You have a lot of new stuff to learn. Its exciting--but it will also be a heck of a lot of work. I envy your opportunity, but at 41 I'm also glad its YOU learning a new jet and not me. Also--as an ANG guy in an active duty wing...well...get ready. The resentment/politics will come and go, but never completely ebb. Steel your brain, bite your lip, and do your job. No matter what you do--there will be some you cannot make happy.

And for you guys outside looking in--it is a cool gig for Magnum--but you have little idea of the amount of work, time, and pressure that all this new chapter is going to take. One of our own went through the F-22 program recently, so I think I can write with some perspective. Mags is working a lot more for a lot less money the next 3 years...but with his OT&E experience he is a good guy for the job. His maturity and tact make him the "right" guy for the ANG to send. Make us proud bro...

 

Thanks, Albie! I'll stop by when I'm at Tyndall and we'll talk more about the "integration" issues. There will be more pushback from the AD than us. There will be some growing pains, but we're all pros and I think we can work through it. Besides, 6-9 years from now pretty much all the VANG guys will be IPs and valuable assets to a young Captain scheduler. We're hoping to make ourselves too valuable for the 1st FW to consistently hose us.

 

Have you considered moving to Nebraska?












.

 

Just an opinion from the peanut gallery:

I didn't think that they were being derogatory with that comment. In the military we all know that a "good deal" in quotes is not really a good deal. That is the way I took it, maybe you guys have a history with Airbusdriver, but I took the comment in the not really a good deal context, not an accusation that you were taking advantage of a really good deal.

Not like me to be accused of being sensitive or anything, but maybe you guys are a little spring loaded to the defensive on the mil leave issue.

Anyway, I thank you for your continued service and would give my left nut to fly the F-22.

FJ

 

I agree with Falcon Jet.

 

Well, you obviously said it better than I. But now that I know that the "deal" is flying Raptors, it would probably be worth the school time and political BS. That sure is a sweet ride.