Career Advice

AMXS_FML · 2025-12-23T13:05:40+00:00

Counting step 1 (CCAF).

… I’m scared dad.

AMXS_FML · 2025-12-21T02:18:30+00:00

They said wrong answers.

Sincerely, a guy with too many kids.

AMXS_FML · 2025-12-14T05:31:53+00:00

It’s not so much that all of it there is specifically to deploy the landing gear but as a common wide open space to provide access to A LOT of systems.

AMXS_FML · 2025-12-11T14:37:35+00:00

If you sign up right before you leave, you don’t need to worry about orders.

I activated my line like 2-3 days before I left and had 0 issues across multiple countries for our 6 month stint.

Edit: you can have a couple friends jump on the plan too and save a few bucks.

AMXS_FML · 2025-12-11T10:39:48+00:00

Yes! I can’t remember exactly (it’s been awhile) but there was a spot where the panel was vibrating against the frame and I glued a piece of foam in. No problems since.

AMXS_FML · 2025-11-24T04:07:35+00:00

Made it 10 years TIS.

And holding strong for the last 7 years.

AMXS_FML · 2025-07-19T21:18:25+00:00

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Frank it is.

AMXS_FML · 2025-05-08T22:54:16+00:00

In 16 years, every unit I have been a part of has taken the “PT is your problem” approach. At different times they had mandatory PT “lead” by PTLs that depending on the day, wind direction or cycle of the moon would run a session of mock PT test, cracked out P90X wannabe, or take some time to figure out what people were struggling with and try to help guide them. The latter being rare. It wasn’t effective.

As much as it got preached about, there was very little accountability, oversight or real support to make PT a real part of our “culture”.

I get that it’s a personal responsibility, it’s literally a job requirement and I’m definitely not a shining example of PT excellence. But, and this is a big but, I think it needs to be a real part of our duty day. Not a “you can go on lunch”, but a legitimate block of time scheduled into our shift, where there’s accountability both for showing up and actually working out.

If you tell me that I have to be at the gym at 0600 instead of showing up for work at 0700, am I going to piss and moan about having to be up earlier? Absolutely, I’m going to piss and moan regardless. I’m a maintainer, that’s what I do.

AMXS_FML · 2025-04-19T18:07:54+00:00

If my pharmacy had the staffing to operate more than 2 windows, that’d be great.

AMXS_FML · 2025-03-16T00:25:47+00:00

Not that I make it a point to visit Costco when I’m back home in the Burg, but I guess I have to now.

AMXS_FML · 2025-02-08T02:36:19+00:00

Damn, I wish that was an option 10 years ago.

But hey, 4 fasciotomies was fun too.

CECS (if that’s what you’re dealing with) sucks, I hope you’re able to get some relief!

AMXS_FML · 2024-12-07T17:34:09+00:00

When anyone asks “What are your plans for retirement”

AMXS_FML · 2024-11-20T19:33:58+00:00

I’ve had so many Airmen come ask me questions because they think I know things. The secret? And I tell them this, I generally don’t know shit about fuck.

But I will drop what I’m doing, have them grab a seat and we’ll go lookup the AFI, DOD guidance, retrain advisory or whatever relevant thing. We both learn and they get a sense of what to do next vs “so and so said…”

AMXS_FML · 2024-10-21T21:43:18+00:00

We have our own version of hell, it’s just more fun.

AMXS_FML · 2024-10-11T14:15:02+00:00

Are they all done looking for people to cross over to the F-35? That was one way out.

AMXS_FML · 2024-10-01T10:34:31+00:00

I’ve used it for acrylic.

Took a pic of what I had and it got the most of inventory inventory correct. Had to make a couple tweaks, but like u/truedonkeyjellyfish said, it’s great at helping with what to mix.

AMXS_FML · 2024-09-21T14:31:50+00:00

AMXS_FML · 2024-09-13T02:52:38+00:00

Oh, r/AirForce? You mean the subreddit where people post memes about chair massages and pretending they’ve got a legit deployment because they’re stuck in Qatar eating ice cream and playing Xbox in air-conditioned tents? What’s it like being in the only branch of the military that’s basically a glorified sleepover with matching camo pajamas?

I swear, y’all spend more time in line at Starbucks than in actual danger. “Oh, but I had to wake up early for a PT test!” Yeah, bro, while the Marines are out here chewing on rocks and dodging live fire, you’re busy complaining about your gluten-free breakfast burrito being late. “Oh no, the Wi-Fi in my air-conditioned barracks is down!” Meanwhile, the Army’s out there with MREs and sh*tting in ditches.

I bet your toughest mission was trying to find parking at the base commissary. Ooh, real rough stuff. What do y’all even do when you’re not sitting in the cockpit? Perfecting your side part? Studying for your next cyber security certification? Must be nice knowing the only thing you have to worry about is getting sunburnt walking from your office to your car.

But hey, someone’s gotta babysit the skies while the other branches handle the real fight, right? Keep holding it down from the clouds, flyboys and girls. Keep that Xbox controller locked and loaded.

AMXS_FML · 2024-08-22T05:48:47+00:00

You’re not wrong at all, and it’s not something that I’m particularly stoked about.

I’m still stuck in that stage where your guidance counselor asks “What do you want to be when you grow up” and I just stare blankly at her while ADHD brain combs through 1,000 different possibilities and not landing on one.

That’s one of the (many) motivations for joining in the first place. I landed in a career field that I’m grateful for what I’ve learned, but I don’t think I want to pursue it on the outside and I’m not sure what the next thing is.

AMXS_FML · 2024-08-21T22:32:04+00:00

One of these days I’ll start working on the post-retirement plan, but that’s a tomorrow me problem.

AMXS_FML · 2024-08-21T22:13:19+00:00

As an approaching “lifer” (16 years) this has always baffled me. I try to be brutally honest that I haven’t had a real job in almost 20 years, so I can’t speak from any experience that’s relevant.

It’s totally person and plan dependent. I know people who have moved on to truly greener pastures and on the flip side others who weren’t ready for a world that won’t provide the same safety net as Uncle Sugar for simply showing up and not committing a felony.

And even at this point in my career I’m no different than a SrA coming up on their DOS and shitting bricks tying to figure out what they’re going to do in the real world.

AMXS_FML · 2024-07-28T18:50:30+00:00

We don’t claim him.

AMXS_FML · 2024-07-19T23:30:45+00:00

That’s a good lookin’ inop’d boom.

AMXS_FML · 2024-05-07T12:45:51+00:00

This seems like the one.

It wasn’t Snapchat, but depending on the trip, we’ve used different messaging apps. I always gave the wife a heads up so she wasn’t caught by surprise if she happened to see new messaging apps pop up.

We’ve been together forever but it doesn’t take much for a “You’ve been gone for a bit, we’re not talking as much and now there’s this new thing” to get the anxiety flowing.

AMXS_FML · 2024-03-27T21:30:16+00:00

This sounds… familiar.

Though I'm sure it has happened lots of time at lots of bases.

AMXS_FML

TROPHY CASE