~~~
original post by email:
~~~
thinkgeek.com
I'll update this post shortly.
email, links, humor
29 May 2008
I'm blogging this.
A friend at the squadron here said there was some good stuff at thinkgeek.com. A piece of apparel that is sure to scare the insecure male:
~~~
original post by email:
~~~
thinkgeek.com
~~~
original post by email:
~~~
thinkgeek.com
28 May 2008
24 May 2008
22 May 2008
cadet advice
Some advice I would give USAFA cadets if/when I go back to visit.
The most useful major I can think of based on what I saw then and what I've been through now, would be operations research/industrial engineering. It doesn't directly apply to flying (as some parts of mech engineering did for me), but it does apply in a huge way to things like the logistics of moving a squadron to the desert or scheduling training sorties efficiently. Barring majoring in that, a really strong grasp of statistics is good, as well as a good knowledge of Excel (or other spreadsheet program, but Excel is what the AF uses). Also, for those who end up using weapons, a strong grasp of geometry and trigonometry.
Start an IRA and the TSP immediately.
Take the DLAB in whatever language you studied, even if you think you won't pass.
Start your masters degree immediately, get TA for it. I recommend 100% online.
Build an "I love me" book right now, containing all official paperwork, and financial info.
Practice writing OPRs once a semester and write them for your subordinates. Ask your AOC for advice/feedback.
The most useful major I can think of based on what I saw then and what I've been through now, would be operations research/industrial engineering. It doesn't directly apply to flying (as some parts of mech engineering did for me), but it does apply in a huge way to things like the logistics of moving a squadron to the desert or scheduling training sorties efficiently. Barring majoring in that, a really strong grasp of statistics is good, as well as a good knowledge of Excel (or other spreadsheet program, but Excel is what the AF uses). Also, for those who end up using weapons, a strong grasp of geometry and trigonometry.
Start an IRA and the TSP immediately.
Take the DLAB in whatever language you studied, even if you think you won't pass.
Start your masters degree immediately, get TA for it. I recommend 100% online.
Build an "I love me" book right now, containing all official paperwork, and financial info.
Practice writing OPRs once a semester and write them for your subordinates. Ask your AOC for advice/feedback.
19 May 2008
warrant officers
The army has them. They fly helos. They fit between the enlisted ranks and officer ranks. They are technical specialists, meaning that that tend to stay in their area of expertise, and don't often move on to other things. This goes against Air Force service culture, which believes anyone who flies a plane should be an officer (and should eventually move out of the cockpit and try to be a general). But I believe this is a mistake. Given the pilot shortage we are currently suffering from, I think it would be a good idea for the Air Force to create them in this service. They would take less time to train, and they return more value over time since they stay in the cockpit, rather than moving on to desk jobs. I will have to do some research, but I am pretty sure we used to have them, back when we first split from the army.
A pilot takes about 7 years (4 years of college + 3 years of training on active duty) to create, that's a very long pipeline to try and manage in terms of meeting present demands and future needs.
When I was the Academy (10 years ago!), there were several of us who used to discuss the Air Force's problems and speculated that warrant officers might be a good idea.
Inspired to write this entry along with previous entries by Mr. Gates' encouragement of un-traditional thinking.
~~~
original email entry, same date:
~~~
more to come on this topic...
A pilot takes about 7 years (4 years of college + 3 years of training on active duty) to create, that's a very long pipeline to try and manage in terms of meeting present demands and future needs.
When I was the Academy (10 years ago!), there were several of us who used to discuss the Air Force's problems and speculated that warrant officers might be a good idea.
Inspired to write this entry along with previous entries by Mr. Gates' encouragement of un-traditional thinking.
~~~
original email entry, same date:
~~~
more to come on this topic...
history, af,
18 May 2008
4079
Army Sgt. John K. Daggett, 21, Phoenix, AZ, died Thursday in Halifax, Canada, of wounds suffered 1 May in Baghdad when an explosive struck his vehicle.
links, history, war, iraq,
Update 24 May: My guess would be they were transporting him home and he died enroute.food
Interesting this rote that I haven't gotten tired of many foods, probably because of the variety there is here. I used to get tired of certain foods or meals and would have to quit them for awhile, but here that hasn't happened. The only things I can think of are pineapple and the generic breakfast meal (scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage). I even preemptively stopped drinking so much red gatorade, which is available here in abundance, so that I wouldn't burn myself out (or get kidney stones), but I don't seem to have built up a revulsion to it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
