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The Navy is apparently getting serious about the Omni VIII goggles. Not for sure what that means in terms of actually making it to the fleet, but the conversations/science projects have started.

For a point of comparison, flying with the Omni VI in an urban environment is absolutely incredible. Halos are virtually non-existent (reality is they are just much, much smaller) which greatly improves the ability to visually track something through a town/alleys/on a road. I have also noticed...

I'm not gonna lie, first time ever seeing these and my immediate thought was they drew inspiration from Star Trek or Starship Troopers.

Seems like it's out super early this year. From what I can tell it doesn't look like much change, if at all, for the various communities compared to last year. https://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/messages/Documents/NAVADMINS/NAV2018/NAV18254.txt

Let's leave your personal physical problems out of this

I dunno what model this helo is but I know some commercial operators of the 206 (and I think 407) will just use the collective friction knob at max to keep the aircraft on the ground with the rotors spinning and no one in the cockpit.

Do you have or have you ever held a Canadian passport? I had dual citizenship by virtue of being born in a foreign country and living therefor a number of years.I have since renounced said foreign citizenship. I had to answer some additional questions but it wasn’t a factor in my original...

In the helo world, we call that a “thump”. FAA says no lower than 500’ above populated areas. It does make me wonder if the cops are permitted to fly lower in performance of their duties?

Hopefully they actually codify it to manage expectations. Relying on the words of the current Airboss just means it could all change when the Airboss changes. Otherwise it resides on the subjectivity of the senior rater and we’re back to square one.

That’s actually entirely inaccurate. It says that it removes a person from command opportunity but makes no mention of terminal rank. Sort of reinforces my point of FITREPs being a foregone conclusion, no?

I think I realized that this whole debate is a lot like if the chicken or the egg came first argument. The foregone conclusion is that a permanent IP is terminal, so they don't really need/deserve a #1EP. So, without a #1 EP they don't pick up O-5. But, if they get a #1EP, they might actually...

The NAVADMIN just hit the streets. It looks like a pretty sure way to fly all the way to 20 but it probably also means you'll top out at O-4. https://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/messages/Documents/NAVADMINS/NAV2018/NAV18241.txt

Our admin-o sent out a notice to the wardroom that photos will be returning as a requirement for statutory boards. Anyone else hearing this? Looks like I’ll need to dig out the khakis...

I know a few dudes that have done it so it’s possible but a FAC/JTAC for Navy guys isn’t very common. Like most everything in the Navy, depends a lot on timing. Plus, the further you get from the beaten path the less favorable it looks on boards, etc. That said, I did the JTAC thing and it’s a...

Good catch, I didn’t recognize the difference.

Interesting post on the AFPC Facebook page. Looks like they are increasing the age limit for initial pilot applications. They must be really needing pilots. From Facebook: If you’re an officer over 30, you may have thought you couldn’t apply for pilot training. Good news! Air Staff has...

Had one intel O do it in my squadron (helos) a few years ago. He flew his ass off and could speak intelligently about the aircraft and fully understood how to employ the helo operationally, not just that it took off straight up. He could function as a crewmember, not just a pax with a really...

But he did ask.

There are, especially if you wanted to go to a different service as being passed over may require a waiver.

I think anyone who submits a don't pick me to a statutory board is making a bad choice. I've known guys who have gotten out, had no intention of reserves, and then later decide to affiliate with a reserve unit. It'd be a tough sell to any squadron that the FOS was because they asked for it and...

I actually did ask my CO about it. I am very frank and to the point, no matter who it is. His answer was because he earned the #1.

You missed my point. I’m not arguing that all of the guys getting out are by better than those staying in. I simply take issue with the default reaction of a CO ranking someone lower because they may be getting out or taking a ‘less due course’ job. Another anecdotal example from my career. My...

I understand exactly what you're saying, and in reality the difference between a #1 and a #2 EP is often small, and often the #2 would most likely be an excellent CO. I am simply saying that the FITREP system should be the best of the best, regardless of future plans, and I would argue that your...

I'm an asshole and would have no problem telling a guy he sucks, or wasn't quite good enough. I do it all the time already. I hope that one day I can be a RS. I wouldn't rank someone because of another person's choice, because that means they didn't earn it but they are getting their ranking...

I wouldn't. Reason being is it's up to the CO to say who he thinks is best. The point of being a CO is that you have the wisdom and experience to see things that the folks working for you may not or cannot (due to lack of experience, less SA on the big picture, etc). Just because someone says...

That's not what I'm saying. As it's been explained on here and in person, the FITREP system is to identify who the CO thinks is best suited for command. The CO should objectively identify who he thinks is best suited for command, out of his entire pool, and if that person then gets out that's...

A little late to the conversation but I think the FITREP should reflect the viability of a person for command regardless of them getting out or not. Like has been said, if the CO gave a true indication that who he thinks is the best suited for command is in fact the people who are getting out...

So is it ATIS because you won't shut up or because you just say the same thing over and over again?

You get what you pay for. Want something better/nicer, pay more. Simple as that.

BLUF is the staff equivalent of starting a radio transmission with "and". Completely unnecessary and makes you sound like a damn fool.

If you can score a first/business seat that flight would be great. Main cabin actually isn't bad in Ethiopian but I think the IAD-ADD flight was 10-11 hours so it'll be a long day.

Flew first class on an Ethiopian Air A350-900. Pretty damn nice, thought it was better than United international first class.

A few years ago I flew Qantas to Sydney. My bag was delayed in LAX and they gave me a bag with toiletries, a T-shirt, shorts, and slippers, plus a voucher for some food before I left the airport. They even delivered my bag to my hotel, which was a follow-on flight and then an additional hour...

It is possible, I know of one dude that got out of his DHRB contract. He had to immediately pay back all of the money he had been paid. His scenario was different than yours but it is possible, just difficult.

You're correct but it would take a lot to convince me to evade with the M240. That thing is heavy and the ammo makes it even heavier. The only reason I would use the egress kit on the 240 is if I needed to set a perimeter around my helo.

In most conflicts these days, the jets are in relatively close proximity to ground troops as well so the same could apply. If it were a DAS situation, then I'd agree evasion is probably better. I still think it wise to give the pilot the option to have the M4 if he wants it.

I may have missed it in the last 8 pages, but helo crews across all branches have been flying with some flavor of M4, M14, MP5, MP7, shotguns, etc, for years and it's been considered an essential part of their E&E kit. Not for sure why it'd be a bad/crazy idea to figure out a way to get the same...

Follow SPINS like you're supposed to and that isn't a problem.

I like the idea. How else do we shoot the monkey that they told us to watch and then eat during API ground survival? I mean, those fuckers are wiley.

I just got off the phone with Chase to see if I could get the Sapphire Reserve fee waived. According to the agent, for SCRA to apply you have to meet one of the following; opened the card prior to entering military service, have had a break in service since opening the card, or live in Ohio...

I've told a story a few times about being a bus driver. I work for the local school and I drive the short bus for retarded kids. In reality, I'm a helicopter pilot that flies ground dudes around, so it's really not a stretch.

I know the guy setting up the program, he is actually the same dude that created Oakley Standard Issue so it'll be a good program. This is similar to the Oakley Standard Issue program that exists for servicemembers/first responders/etc. Discounts available will be in the 40-50% off range. I...

The difference is collective position and the minimal loss of altitude during recovery. Conventional wisdom is lower the collective and nose down to reduce pitch while gaining airspeed, essentially flying forward out of the vortex. The thought is that max collective won't do anything because...

We had an intel o do it. He ended up logging several hundred hours in the helo, knew NATOPS thoroughly, and contributed as a part of the crew. I actually respected his opinion when he had issues with aircraft, etc. The benefit, while he had no hard 'requirement' in his orders, was that he was...

Yes, they are regular active duty officers and get paid accordingly.

I actually went back and forth on typing "a" or "an".

Is that an euphemism for beer?

Nom for 85 and get selected for a second sea tour in lieu of your first shore tour gives you leverage in negotiating your third set of orders. Technically, per the applicable MILPERSMAN, you can force the detailer to give you shore duty for the dissacociated timeframe, but that doesn't mean...

You're talking about the smallest aviation community in the entire Navy. The mishaps in the past few years, married with the abysmal flight time available for JOs, has absolutely hammered the HM community in retention. Considering there are only two squadrons, when dudes bail it's by default a...

I guess my question is how can the CAG deny the helo guys wearing them? It is an approved piece of flight gear after all.