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Not all sweetness and light in USAF

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Not all sweetness and light in USAF

Old 4th Dec 2015, 19:29
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Not all sweetness and light in USAF

Looks as if USAF is heading into or has arrived at some serious problems.

Gen. Mark Welsh sounds alarm on undermanned Air Force

And then there is the pc air force.

Report: ACC mandates race, gender criteria for promotion board
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Old 4th Dec 2015, 19:39
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535,000 active personnel (how many retired but on the list in case it hit the fan?) down to 312,980?

I know it's a much bigger country, but compared to the RAF, they've still got it quite good. The RAF would be happy (okay, happier) with 40,000 personnel at this point.
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Old 4th Dec 2015, 19:44
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Except JSF, we could put most of the RAF's flying component on three of their large superbases.
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Old 4th Dec 2015, 19:46
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Oh yes they are short of people.

For instance, the USAF Reaper force is 300 crews short.

AFAIR FRI's of up to $135000 were offered this year to 6 year served OR's in the Sensor Operator role to sign on again long term.

10 year served Reaper Pilots were offered up to $225000.
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Old 4th Dec 2015, 20:40
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Can't believe I've been retired for 20 years now. Probably can't imagine all the changes since then.
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Old 4th Dec 2015, 20:48
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A US Navy Fleet Carrier has a much larger strike force than the whole of the RAF.
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Old 4th Dec 2015, 21:02
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Originally Posted by 4Greens
A US Navy Fleet Carrier has a much larger strike force than the whole of the RAF.
It doesn't.

Last edited by JointShiteFighter; 4th Dec 2015 at 22:49.
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Old 4th Dec 2015, 22:40
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Exclamation

I will go with JSF on this one, any attempt to compare our cash strapped nation to the US would be totally wrong. As our crews extend their area of operations this week, the last thing they need is bloody doom and gloom about the parlous political situation our country is in. The lads will punch their weight and more, it's time we stopped trying to wave willies and gave them our full confidence and support.

Smudge
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Old 4th Dec 2015, 22:49
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Agreed, Smudge.

I have no reason to doubt that active personnel may be reading PPRuNe from the relative safety of Cyprus in their down time - lets avoid posting anything which may lower morale, please.
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Old 4th Dec 2015, 23:11
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Smudge: in the words a long time ago from a USAF pilot to an RAF one. 'if you had our kit we'd still be colonials'. These day I'm sure the USAF would like Typhoon as the F22 like the F35 is far too expensive, Tornado even though it is over 30 years old can still give them a run for its money and lastly Brimstone which is something the USAF/USN would love to have in their weapons kit.

All the very best to those on deployment in all positions and come home safe. I hate posturing politicians from all sides at times.
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Old 5th Dec 2015, 00:10
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Originally Posted by 4Greens
A US Navy Fleet Carrier has a much larger strike force than the whole of the RAF.
Thankyou, funniest thing I've read on the internet today!

-RP
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Old 5th Dec 2015, 08:59
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I remember going to Red Flag back in the day, when it was claimed that the USAF had more fast jets on the ramp, just for the exercise, than the RAF had in total.
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Old 5th Dec 2015, 11:22
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Originally Posted by 4Greens
A US Navy Fleet Carrier has a much larger strike force than the whole of the RAF.
I'm not sure why this post received such derision. Having visited a USN carrier that had 24 x E/F/Gs and 36 x Cs (12 of which were USMC) embarked, their force elements at readiness (that are capable of strike) looks pretty impressive.

I'm not sure our deployable FE@R for the RAF equivalent assets is in the public domain but we were told by the USN that the above number of Hornets was around 6 more than usual. Still, I am sure we can all imagine how own FE@R compares to the the demonstrable ability to embark 60 F/A-18s.
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Old 5th Dec 2015, 12:28
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I have no reason to doubt that active personnel may be reading PPRuNe from the relative safety of Cyprus in their down time - lets avoid posting anything which may lower morale, please. -JSF

We, and they, should be really worried if they were truly affected by this, or indeed anything else that they read on this forum. They're made of far sterner stuff.

Jack
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Old 5th Dec 2015, 12:39
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In the words on a T shirt I've just had delivered. 'On the eighth day God created the Royal Air Force and the devil stood to attention.' He damn well would have if he met the College Warrant Officer we had.
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Old 5th Dec 2015, 14:12
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Seems a willy to Willy waving contest here where Penis Envy is a malady afflicting the willy wavers.

You only considered the one Carrier not the entire Fleet.

You overlook the lack of any Carrier on your side.

The shame is both Air Forces are a shadow of their former selves and that is regrettable.

How small you can become before losing significance is the question both Air Forces have to consider.

Enemies do not strike because they think you too strong.
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Old 5th Dec 2015, 14:37
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Possibly apocryphal, but: USN ship passing RN ship. "How's the world's second biggest navy?" "Fine thanks. How's the world's second best?"

To the guys and gals at Akrotiri. "Go get 'em"

airpig: where did you get that t-shirt?
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Old 5th Dec 2015, 14:39
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Keep in mind as you look at the USAF staffing numbers that many of them have absolutely nothing to do with airplanes but rather are babysitting missiles waiting for that call.
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Old 5th Dec 2015, 19:48
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Originally Posted by Herod
Possibly apocryphal, but: USN ship passing RN ship. "How's the world's second biggest navy?" "Fine thanks. How's the world's second best?"

To the guys and gals at Akrotiri. "Go get 'em"

airpig: where did you get that t-shirt?

Quite right, Royal Navy is the world's fourth largest navy*. I don't have a clue how the US Navy ship got that wrong.

Most likely because it never happened.


*Behind the US Navy, PRC Navy and the Russian Navy.
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Old 5th Dec 2015, 20:52
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Larger than the French navy? I wonder by tonnage or by counting every dinghy, to include the one on loan to the Iranian navy.
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