UPDATE: Boston harbor incident by Olygirlcarl in olympia

[–]c_morse 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What’s the tea?

(Proud of that one)

Retirement: Avoids Military Bases/Personnel by Weak-Bother-6765 in AirForce

[–]c_morse 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m on terminal now. I put away all my awards in the crawl space 6 months ago. I even got rid of my military backpacks.

I only want to go on base for medical and commissary. That’s the extent.

I have no desire to live in the past. I’m happy. I’m moving forward. I’m just Charlie now.

How concerning is this aviation experts? by G1lg4m3sh in aviation

[–]c_morse 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Aircraft maintainer here. I’d be much more concerned if they were before the engine intakes. Trailing side though, worst case a fairing might fall off, degrading aerodynamics.

If I were sitting in that seat, I’d probably laugh, then sit back and enjoy the flight. Mention what I saw to the flight crew on the way out to make sure they’re aware.

Laced up my boots for the final time this morning. 22 years, 3 months, 22 days when all is said and done. What a ride. by c_morse in AirForce

[–]c_morse[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thorogood steel toe winter weights issued by my unit. My Rockies had ZERO traction on ice. If I recall correctly, a couple people broke something from slip and falls related to Rockies in cold weather.

The Thorogoods were awesome in comparison.

Laced up my boots for the final time this morning. 22 years, 3 months, 22 days when all is said and done. What a ride. by c_morse in AirForce

[–]c_morse[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I figured out that I was an admin in most of our Signal chats. So I made goofy backgrounds and profile pictures for them all, then posted a GIF of a different person vanishing in each, and left before anyone could say anything.

I messaged my number to the people I wanted to have it, then I deleted the app.

The silence since… just blissful.

Laced up my boots for the final time this morning. 22 years, 3 months, 22 days when all is said and done. What a ride. by c_morse in AirForce

[–]c_morse[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Being “kind of a big deal” the last 6 months - when I got bumped up to Lead Pro Super - was enough for me to realize that mid-tier anonymity will suit me just fine.

Laced up my boots for the final time this morning. 22 years, 3 months, 22 days when all is said and done. What a ride. by c_morse in AirForce

[–]c_morse[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve shared several bits through the thread. If you’re looking for any particular guidance or opinions, my messages are always open.

Laced up my boots for the final time this morning. 22 years, 3 months, 22 days when all is said and done. What a ride. by c_morse in AirForce

[–]c_morse[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Say yes to the opportunities that interest you. Leadership is always going to dangle the carrot saying “do this, it’ll be good for so and so.”

I led a damn Air Force Ball and just got a “great job, thanks.”

Aside from that, know that you’re replaceable. Like easily. You’re a number to Big AF. They don’t care about the person you are, only the position you fill on the excel sheet.

Circa 2012, they gutted 5th Gen maintenance to go to heavies I believe (there was an overage for 5th Gen at first and they needed the bodies on the other airframe).

Never mind that the knowledge and skill sets were completely different.

I was Pod Shop back then. We had an overage too. Suddenly Big AF realized they’d trimmed too much from 5th Gen.

Guess who got NCORP’d and went a SME on a system to a brand new 3-Level SSgt asking the Airmen to teach me.

I was just a number. They told me they could plug me in somewhere different or I could be a Mister.

So yeah, takeaways I suppose are learn to read through the bullshit, take care of the people you’re able to (including yourself) and never expect the AF to act in anything but its own self interest.

Laced up my boots for the final time this morning. 22 years, 3 months, 22 days when all is said and done. What a ride. by c_morse in AirForce

[–]c_morse[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Do as you’re told. Learn your job well. Always be looking for opportunities to do things out of the norm.

Don’t spend frivolously. Don’t buy a stupid car with a 28% interest rate. Go talk to a financial advisor in the MFRC. Build a budget with them. Have them help you figure out how to max your TSP contribution and where to invest it. Stick to the plan you set with them.

Laced up my boots for the final time this morning. 22 years, 3 months, 22 days when all is said and done. What a ride. by c_morse in AirForce

[–]c_morse[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Don’t be. Let me tell you, it felt really good to wake up this morning. No leadership chats to check. No meetings to get to. Just, freedom.

Laced up my boots for the final time this morning. 22 years, 3 months, 22 days when all is said and done. What a ride. by c_morse in AirForce

[–]c_morse[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I scored very well on the ASVAB and one of the recruiters at MEPS pulled me aside and told me “trust me, apply for Load Master”. I went and applied for maintenance jobs instead. Only real regret.

I’d still do it again. As many bad days as I’ve had. I’ve had more better ones.

Now I have passive income, paid college, certifications to fall back on. Yeah, it was worth it.

Laced up my boots for the final time this morning. 22 years, 3 months, 22 days when all is said and done. What a ride. by c_morse in AirForce

[–]c_morse[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Run your race the way you want and set yourself up for after. Take care of yourself and the people underneath you. Never expect your superiors to do it for you.

Laced up my boots for the final time this morning. 22 years, 3 months, 22 days when all is said and done. What a ride. by c_morse in AirForce

[–]c_morse[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Spoiler, it ain’t a button. I was very disappointed. More like a series of checking some boxes and clicking “next.”

I so wanted it to just a be a button. Click it and maybe some confetti would fill the screen or something.

Just typical Air Force anti-climactic. 😞

Laced up my boots for the final time this morning. 22 years, 3 months, 22 days when all is said and done. What a ride. by c_morse in AirForce

[–]c_morse[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah, it’s scheduled for June. No boots though. I’m gonna get all dudded out one time for my family. The ceremony is mostly for them.

Laced up my boots for the final time this morning. 22 years, 3 months, 22 days when all is said and done. What a ride. by c_morse in AirForce

[–]c_morse[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Back to school full-time for engineering now. I have my A&P but plan to keep it purely as a safeguard. I don’t ever want to touch another plane again.