gdp's Comments

Defense Tech : Air Force's KC-46A Refueling Tanker Makes First Flight

Wed, 30 Sep 2015 23:20:39 +0000

OK. Boeing and the military cobbled together a test flight and "declared" success. But will they deliver the 18 planes by August 2017?

MilitaryAdvantage.Military.com : TRICARE 'Reforms' Rejected; Pay Caps, and BAH Raises Remain

Mon, 18 May 2015 19:33:12 +0000

I hear a lot of bitching but no solutions. Here's a few. You've got to vote. You've got to become politically active and you need to be aggressive with your Representatives. Contact you representative and let him know how you feel on the issues. Do you even know how your representatives vote? I do. When your representative, if he has the courage, has an open event, confront him and ask him to explain his votes and if he didn't vote for your issue then get in his face and demand that he get on board. Politicians don't like public exposure and being pinned down. Contact your local media outlets and let them know how you feel. Ask them to support some actual interviews of concerned citizens and what the real issues are. Most will do it. You can't be complacent in this world anymore. There are to many leaches in this Country and they need to be exposed for who they are. The parasites in a host don't think of eventually killing the host, they just compete to see if they can get the last bite. Just remember that!

SpouseBUZZ.com : Benefit Cuts for 2016: What it Means

Wed, 4 Feb 2015 17:24:16 +0000

Something I haven't seen much of on this blog is, "What are you going to do about these proposed changes?" Are you just going to sit idly by and let this Government run roughshod over you? You need to fight for these benefits you have earned and will earn. That means contacting ALL of your elected representatives and telling them clearly what you think of these proposed changes and what it will mean to their reelection chances if they vote for these massive cuts. You need to get in their faces. You need to confront them in townhall mettings (if they are courageous to show up at one). You need to contact the media -- that means print, TV, radio. Don't worry about the stupid comments that MGen Pace made about contacting your representatives being a traitorous action -- he is entirely off base and frankly, stupid and not worthy of the uniform he is wearing. You have a right to criticize proposed policies that affect you. Become politically active. There is strength in numbers (Active Duty, Reservists, Retirees, Dependents). That's a huge voter base. Fight for what you have earned. Just don't sit back and let it happen. Fight! Ben Wallace, SMSgt Retired, USAF 1970-1993

DoD Buzz : General: Praising the A-10 to Lawmakers is 'Treason'

Wed, 21 Jan 2015 22:30:02 +0000

Hey Maj. Gen Post. FU! Your spokeshole tried to roll back your comments when she said, "...role as individual military members is not to engage in public debate or advocacy for policy.” That's more crap also. It IS everyone's responsibility to engage in public debate. That the jobs of citizens and voters. It's all more important that military members start speaking up and debating the gutting of the military and the extreme onslaught and erosion of OUR pay and benefits. You to even suggest that we become like robots and stay quiet on the issues shows what you're made of. It's time for you to go pal. You don't deserve to be in USAF. SMSgt, USAF, Retired

DoD Buzz : Army: DCGS Competition Planned for 2016

Fri, 16 Jan 2015 14:54:08 +0000

Your question is a red herring. It's all about defining the specifications up front before you go out for bids. Program Managers and the customers are trying to define the specifications, most often times, many, many years ahead of time. Adversaries change, geo-political conditions change. Military capabilities of our foes change. The USA political leadership changes. At the same time, there's a give-and-take on cost vs. capability. You can't have a do all, be all weapons system. Can you spec out TODAY a top notch personal automobile that I can and other people will buy in 2024? Of course you can't.

DoD Buzz : Hagel Makes His Pitch for Bomber to Replace B-2

Thu, 15 Jan 2015 18:03:24 +0000

Are the military Program Management Office members and politicians willing to bet their pensions that the new bomber will cost less than $550 Million a piece to include amortization of R&D?

SpouseBUZZ.com : Food Stamps Down at Many Commissaries, Here's What to Do

Fri, 19 Dec 2014 14:34:57 +0000

Why should the "customer" have to jump through hoops to use a benefit? It's up to DECA to fix this problem and fix it NOW!!!!! This is just another example of impudence. DECA works for its customers -- it's not the other around. DECA -- ARE YOU LISTENING. FIX IT!!!!! FIX IT NOW!!!!!

The Paycheck Chronicles : 2015 Military Pay Raise Likely 1%

Tue, 9 Dec 2014 17:31:50 +0000

Social Security recipients will receive a 1.7% raise.

The Paycheck Chronicles : 2015 Military Pay Raise Likely 1%

Tue, 9 Dec 2014 17:31:02 +0000

As a reminder, Social Security recipients will receive a 1.7% raise.

DoD Buzz : Bob Work Raises Profile as Possible Hagel Successor

Mon, 1 Dec 2014 15:10:13 +0000

I agree. EVERYONE should boycott Obama. Let NO ONE take this job. Obama wants to run the country, let him run it by himself. He's evil. He is no longer relevant.

SpouseBUZZ.com : Are TDY Reimbursement Cuts Hurting You?

Thu, 27 Nov 2014 20:28:04 +0000

Are Federal employees implementing a similar system? If not, why not? Because they have a Union? If the reimbursements are not sufficient, are the over and above costs tax deductible?

Under the Radar : 5 'I Don’t Get Paid Enough for This' Military Experiences

Thu, 27 Nov 2014 20:23:48 +0000

I'm looking at it from a different angle. As my last job in the USAF, I was in charge of a NRO detachment. My people and I had huge responsibilities and a large number of customers (communications, data, and other things). I was an E-8 and had the responsibilities of at least an O-5 and/or O-6. I retired after 23 years in service. I retired on a Thursday and was working the following Monday. My total compensation went up over 3X. My medical, dental and vision benefits were better than the military. I received a signing bonus. Stocks and stock options. A $12,000 housing allowance. Bottom line. After the USAF, I spent 16 years in the private sector. I retired again at age 56. I'm a multi-millionaire, house paid for. No debt whatsoever. I'm 62 now. Life is good. I was vastly underpaid while serving in the USAF, especially my last 10-12 years.

DoD Buzz : Pentagon Finalizes $4.7 Billion for 43 More F-35s

Tue, 25 Nov 2014 17:56:53 +0000

Neither the A, B or C models have reached Initial Operational Capability (IOC). Testing, testing and more testing is the order of the day. Even when the aircraft reach IOC there will still be more testing since all of the features and functionality, even then, will not be all there.

Defense Tech : F-22s and F-35s Fly First Operational Integration Training Missions

Wed, 19 Nov 2014 16:20:17 +0000

The F-35A, B and C models -- none have reached IOC. Only the F-22 is combat ready, none of the F-35s are combat ready. Current number of F-22s is approx 187. http://www.defenseone.com/technology/2014/09/f-22...

DoD Buzz : Pentagon Implements F-35 Engine Fixes

Wed, 5 Nov 2014 21:35:27 +0000

Also remember, the military decided to single-source the engine. All of our engine eggs are in the Pratt and Whitney basket.

Defense Tech : Flight Maneuver Hints at Cause of F-35 Fire

Thu, 4 Sep 2014 17:31:57 +0000

Of course there's lots of Monday quarterbacking occurring. It's OUR taxpayer dollars being spent here and since we're paying the bills, we certainly have a say in this program.

Defense Tech : Flight Maneuver Hints at Cause of F-35 Fire

Thu, 4 Sep 2014 17:30:01 +0000

Just remember, the F-35's engine is single-sourced to Pratt & Whitney. The Program Office decided to cancel the second engine sourcing to save money.

MilitaryAdvantage.Military.com : AAFES Wants to Let Vets Shop Online

Fri, 22 Aug 2014 18:16:22 +0000

If approved, first it will be on-line shopping. Then that will progress to in-store shopping privileges. Then it will be extended to shopping in the commissary. Then Morale, Recreation and Welfare privileges. No to this idea of allowing anyone with an honorable discharge to shop the Exchanges on-line. They haven't earned the benefit. It should be allowed for active duty and retirees (and qualified family members).

Defense Tech : Chinese Radar May Pierce F-35 Stealth Armor: Report

Sat, 2 Aug 2014 00:55:04 +0000

Not exactly. The Russians in concert with the Yugoslavians were able to put up a system that resulted in the downing of one of our F-117's during the Bosnian crisis. As a previous member of the NRO, I know.

Defense Tech : Chinese Radar May Pierce F-35 Stealth Armor: Report

Fri, 1 Aug 2014 18:17:14 +0000

The low frequency transmitters are located hundreds of miles away from targets. The low frequency radar receivers are located near the target. The materials and coatings of stealth cannot easily deflect or absorb the low frequency signals. On the other hand, these low frequency radar transmitters use extremely high power and large antennas -- a radar transmitter unit would be large and not easy to hide.