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Post by pat perry on Sept 22, 2021 22:09:50 GMT 9
Interesting article. Been around for awhile but seldom mentioned.
Air Force commandos are preparing for war with Russia or China by rethinking what a 'runway' really is
Click Here
Excerpt:
Although they are an important part of SOCOM, Air Commandos are often overlooked because they support other special-operations units. Combat Controllers and Pararescuemen are often attached Navy SEAL platoons or Army Special Forces detachments. They do operate on their own teams but not as often.
AFSOC is equally active in the air, however. It operates several rotary- and fixed-wing platforms, such as the MC-130 Commando II transport plane, the AC-130 Spooky gunship, the CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, and the MQ-9 Reaper drone.
Agile Combat Employment, or ACE, and Forward Arming and Refueling Points, or FARP, are not entirely new operations, but AFSOC has investment in them more as tensions have risen with Russia and China.
Pat P.
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Bullhunter
Global Moderator 
318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
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Post by Bullhunter on Sept 23, 2021 1:49:26 GMT 9
We sure do not need another war or military conflict.
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Post by LBer1568 on Sept 23, 2021 2:20:03 GMT 9
Gary, I agree we have had enough "War's". But remember that WWII was the last declared war. We have fought many so-called "Wars" since WWII ended, but none were Congressionally declared Wars. On a slightly different topic, have you seen the new "Space Force Chief's insignia?  This, IMHO, is pure BS. Why are we wasting the Administrative costs associated with a new Branch of Service? I know Trump's Administration created it, but not everything Trump did was right. President Trump had a standing fight with our Intel Community, and rightfully so, but creating a New Branch does not solve the problem. Trump's biggest problem was not cleaning house of all Obama people. Even his last pick for Sec of Defense was part of swamp. Now IF I WERE IN CHARGE...lol Lorin |
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Post by Diamondback on Sept 23, 2021 9:56:42 GMT 9
This, IMHO, is pure BS. Why are we wasting the Administrative costs associated with a new Branch of Service? I know Trump's Administration created it, but not everything Trump did was right. President Trump had a standing fight with our Intel Community, and rightfully so, but creating a New Branch does not solve the problem. Trump's biggest problem was not cleaning house of all Obama people. Even his last pick for Sec of Defense was part of swamp. Now IF I WERE IN CHARGE...lol Lorin First rule for any new R Administration: fire ALL the Schedule C's, ruthlessly. Only way to clear out most of the dead wood... even that only starts, THESE are the guys that need to be housecleaned and sadly they're tenure-protected. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senior_Executive_Service_(United_States) |
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Post by LBer1568 on Sept 24, 2021 1:09:32 GMT 9
So where are the real American Politicians who allow this to go on?  So called President Biden should realize the mistake in Afghanistan since he is well into his second childhood.  |
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Post by pat perry on Sept 24, 2021 1:49:19 GMT 9
Gary, I agree we have had enough "War's". But remember that WWII was the last declared war. We have fought many so-called "Wars" since WWII ended, but none were Congressionally declared Wars. On a slightly different topic, have you seen the new "Space Force Chief's insignia? This, IMHO, is pure BS. Why are we wasting the Administrative costs associated with a new Branch of Service? I know Trump's Administration created it, but not everything Trump did was right. President Trump had a standing fight with our Intel Community, and rightfully so, but creating a New Branch does not solve the problem. Trump's biggest problem was not cleaning house of all Obama people. Even his last pick for Sec of Defense was part of swamp. Now IF I WERE IN CHARGE...lol Lorin
www.usamm.com/blogs/news/what-is-the-most-elite-military-unit-in-the-u-s
They all have their special mission training, clothing and weapons.
The Space Command operates at 300+ miles above the earth to assist troops on the ground, especially Special Ops Teams from every service.
The only inspiration with each of the uniforms they wear is for the person who wears it and the skills they bring to their teams. Most wear the same basic uniforms of their service but have special badges or rank chevrons to differentiate their mission. I have no problem with Space Command uniforms because there are so few of them.
All the wars we fight in the future will be local, regional, or global but all the Special Ops will be guided by Space Command constellations of satellites in orbit. I think of them as Guardians because in 57-84 we were "Guardians" of the U.S. with the F-106 and Air Defense Command even though we wore the same USAF Uniforms. We had squadron Patches and F-106 Tail Flashes that differentiated us but we all had the same mission. Protect the United States. And we did a pretty good job with that!
I'm really proud of these new Space Command troops because they are much younger than we are and their technology skills are better. They will be protecting the U.S. long after we are gone.
Thanks,
Pat P.
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Post by LBer1568 on Sept 24, 2021 23:37:11 GMT 9
Pat, when the Space Force (SF) was created, instead of another Joint Service "Special Op's" type agencies/units they had to duplicate all of the Administrative requirement's. That includes all of the millions of pages of Regulations, manuals etc. That includes Uniforms and all the basics associated with it. It requires every Manual to be replicated and maintained. New Administrative agencies have to be duplicated such as Chief of Staff, HQ Divisions etc. So in any given service about 40% are assigned to Administrative support positions. Add to that the workload accomplishing Administrative duties such as records keeping, maintaining documentation etc. Add to that the levels of Command. A new Service has only so much span of control so divisions are made to allow for better direct control. The USAF already had a Space Division similar to SAC,TAC,MAC etc.
New personnel records had to be created. Special procedures to address already awarded Medals and ribbons etc. Have yo ever lost a wallet and tried to go get everything new?
Back in 1947 when USAF became a separate Service everything had to be done just like when Space Force (SF) was created. This was probably the worst decision made under President Trump's name. Probably recommendation made by General who was in charge of Space Division and he went from being a Sub Division Commander into Chief of Staff of new Service.
Now back to the Chevrons of a USAF CMSgt, I assume that was duplicated in Space Force. But in other services the central part of Chevron identifies Special positions within the force, not the force itself. In USAF the E-9 chevron has center device of Star for Command Chief Master Sgt, Diamond for First Sgt, and one for CMSGT of USAF.
Now the Space force wants one that identifies the Service for E-9, not the position. How are the other ranks identified? That will be some special Uniform, maybe a different color sometime soon. When USAF started we had Army Uniforms with USAF Insignia, so will Space Force follow up? For first few years I see Force Generation being cost driver. We had a couple Units here at WPAFB which have now left USAF and became SF. Admin costs will be high. All new letterhead, even telephone book entries are part of switchover. All duplication of effort. Space Command could have became a joint forces unit much easier.
Lorin
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Post by Diamondback on Sept 25, 2021 0:53:51 GMT 9
Pat, when the Space Force (SF) was created, instead of another Joint Service "Special Op's" type agencies/units they had to duplicate all of the Administrative requirement's. That includes all of the millions of pages of Regulations, manuals etc. That includes Uniforms and all the basics associated with it. It requires every Manual to be replicated and maintained. New Administrative agencies have to be duplicated such as Chief of Staff, HQ Divisions etc. So in any given service about 40% are assigned to Administrative support positions. Add to that the workload accomplishing Administrative duties such as records keeping, maintaining documentation etc. Add to that the levels of Command. A new Service has only so much span of control so divisions are made to allow for better direct control. The USAF already had a Space Division similar to SAC,TAC,MAC etc. New personnel records had to be created. Special procedures to address already awarded Medals and ribbons etc. Have yo ever lost a wallet and tried to go get everything new? Back in 1947 when USAF became a separate Service everything had to be done just like when Space Force (SF) was created. This was probably the worst decision made under President Trump's name. Probably recommendation made by General who was in charge of Space Division and he went from being a Sub Division Commander into Chief of Staff of new Service. Now back to the Chevrons of a USAF CMSgt, I assume that was duplicated in Space Force. But in other services the central part of Chevron identifies Special positions within the force, not the force itself. In USAF the E-9 chevron has center device of Star for Command Chief Master Sgt, Diamond for First Sgt, and one for CMSGT of USAF. Now the Space force wants one that identifies the Service for E-9, not the position. How are the other ranks identified? That will be some special Uniform, maybe a different color sometime soon. When USAF started we had Army Uniforms with USAF Insignia, so will Space Force follow up? For first few years I see Force Generation being cost driver. We had a couple Units here at WPAFB which have now left USAF and became SF. Admin costs will be high. All new letterhead, even telephone book entries are part of switchover. All duplication of effort. Space Command could have became a joint forces unit much easier. Lorin Well said, Lorin. It should have been handled like SOCOM and STRATCOM (though I still chafe at "my other tribe" the B-52 community being potentially under a squid instead of a proper Heir to LeMay), the individual services contributing components to a joint command. |
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Post by pat perry on Sept 25, 2021 5:05:49 GMT 9
Pat, when the Space Force (SF) was created, instead of another Joint Service "Special Op's" type agencies/units they had to duplicate all of the Administrative requirement's. That includes all of the millions of pages of Regulations, manuals etc. That includes Uniforms and all the basics associated with it. It requires every Manual to be replicated and maintained. New Administrative agencies have to be duplicated such as Chief of Staff, HQ Divisions etc. So in any given service about 40% are assigned to Administrative support positions. Add to that the workload accomplishing Administrative duties such as records keeping, maintaining documentation etc. Add to that the levels of Command. A new Service has only so much span of control so divisions are made to allow for better direct control. The USAF already had a Space Division similar to SAC,TAC,MAC etc. New personnel records had to be created. Special procedures to address already awarded Medals and ribbons etc. Have yo ever lost a wallet and tried to go get everything new? Back in 1947 when USAF became a separate Service everything had to be done just like when Space Force (SF) was created. This was probably the worst decision made under President Trump's name. Probably recommendation made by General who was in charge of Space Division and he went from being a Sub Division Commander into Chief of Staff of new Service. Now back to the Chevrons of a USAF CMSgt, I assume that was duplicated in Space Force. But in other services the central part of Chevron identifies Special positions within the force, not the force itself. In USAF the E-9 chevron has center device of Star for Command Chief Master Sgt, Diamond for First Sgt, and one for CMSGT of USAF. Now the Space force wants one that identifies the Service for E-9, not the position. How are the other ranks identified? That will be some special Uniform, maybe a different color sometime soon. When USAF started we had Army Uniforms with USAF Insignia, so will Space Force follow up? For first few years I see Force Generation being cost driver. We had a couple Units here at WPAFB which have now left USAF and became SF. Admin costs will be high. All new letterhead, even telephone book entries are part of switchover. All duplication of effort. Space Command could have became a joint forces unit much easier. Lorin
I just received the Medicare & You Manual for 2022. In 2010 with Obamacare the Medicare Advantage Plans were going out of business. Today the new manual shows all the Medicare Advantage providers in the last half of the manual and their coverage comparisons. In short, the federal government is turning over Medicare to the insurance companies and their network of providers for open enrollment decision making by senior citizens from Oct to Dec 2021. Insurance companies quote their best prices during open enrollment and increase their premiums and terms and conditions in Apr-May each year. "It's all about economics".
I have no problem with new uniforms for Space Command if that makes them more focused and proud of what they do. It's cheap compared to the cost of their equipment. And they are an older organization than we are aware of.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Space_Force
Excerpts:
"Military space forces were organized under several different Air Force major commands until they were unified when Air Force Space Command was established on 1 September 1982. U.S. space forces first began conducting combat support operations in the Vietnam War and continued to provide satellite communications, weather, and navigation support during the 1982 Falklands War, 1983 United States invasion of Grenada, 1986 United States bombing of Libya, and 1989 United States invasion of Panama. The first major employment of space forces culminated in the Gulf War, where they proved so critical to the U.S.-led coalition, that it is sometimes referred to as the first space war."
"The first discussions of creating a military space service occurred in 1958, with the idea being considered by President Ronald Reagan as well in 1982. The 2001 Space Commission argued for the creation of a Space Corps between 2007 and 2011, and a bipartisan proposal in the U.S. Congress would have created a U.S. Space Corps in 2017. On 20 December 2019, the United States Space Force Act, developed by Democratic Representative Jim Cooper and Republican Representative Mike Rogers, was signed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act by President Donald Trump, reorganizing Air Force Space Command into the United States Space Force, and creating the first new independent military service since the Army Air Forces were reorganized as the U.S. Air Force in 1947."
I'm proud of these kids who grew up in the computer age and played video games. Had it not been for our MA-1 troops on the F-106 the rest of us mechanics would not have known that the F-106 had a computer and how important it would become for future warfighting. I had just returned from Cam Rahn Bay Vietnam to Naha AB Okinawa on July 20, 1969 and went to the Airmen's Club for a beer. I walked in just as Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon on TV. The place went nuts and I was never more proud to be an American and in the USAF!
Thanks,
Pat P.
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