After some early experiments, the Air Force announced that it is establishing an official, dedicated “undergraduate RPA training (URT)” pipeline. The first class is slated to begin in October 2010.
According to the release, RPA (UAV) pilots will be part of the 18X career field, which is a rated field equivalent to traditional aviators. They will receive aviation incentive pay, and incur a 6 year active duty service commitment.
A running joke in military pilot training is that if it gets too difficult, you can always quit and become a truck driver. In fact, the phone number for truck driving schools is often posted on the flight bulletin boards. While perhaps a little insensitive to those in the truck driving profession, it makes a valid point: no one is making you do this. It’s your choice: do your best, or quit.
If nothing else, should a pilot training student decide to Read more
Former US Marine 2nd Lieutenant Adam Ballard has given his excuse for his lapse in integrity, in which he cheated on a land navigation test: everybody’s doing it, and it was the school’s fault:
Ballard admits his actions were wrong but said they were facilitated by “inordinately lax procedures at [the basic officer school]…”
Over half of the three hundred Marines in our company possessed the same information that I had and that those numbers were comparable, if not more, in all the other training companies past and present…
As noted here often, neither a “culture” that seems to encourage cheating, nor a tangible disadvantage for not cheating are excuses for making the “easier” wrong choice.
A moving memorial was held for US Army Major Ronald “Wayne” Culver, killed by an IED in Iraq on May 24th. The Chaplain, a friend of the Major, spoke of his faith and his salvation:
The service continued with the chaplain speaking of the major’s faith and how he knew he would see his friend in heaven. He choked up at the podium and the squadron command sergeant major walked across the stage to support him. The room was deathly silent, save for the sound of more than 500 battle-tested Soldiers sniffling.
Prayer and the playing of Amazing Grace on bagpipes, another military memorial tradition with spiritual undertones, was Read more
Albert Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, has a long commentary on the proposed “repeal” of the policy best known as “Don’t ask, don’t tell.” His position is fairly clear:
Make no mistake: The repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy will present a clear and present threat to the religious liberty of those who wear the American uniform, and especially to those who serve as chaplains.
Unless something alters the political context, the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy is about to become history, and the U.S. military is about to be changed forever. The summer of 2010 may well turn out to be a watershed season in this nation’s life and history. Is anyone paying attention?
Chuck Colson, a noted Christian leader and author, has also made a similar argument. See the prior commentaries from Archbishop Timothy Broglio and Richard Land.
At a Memorial Day event in “Nashville’s most patriotic church” attended by thousands, including Mike Huckabee, LtCol (ret) Courtney Rodgers gave a stirring motivation to those in the congregation about how they can honor the sacrifice of the men and women in the military who serve them:
We take an oath that binds us to the ideological foundation of this nation – to the ideals of freedom within our constitution. We leave our families for months, maybe even years, so that you may never have to bow before any earthly king or dictator. We fight to protect your God-given rights… Read more
An article describes Campus Crusade’s Military Ministry, which provides support for members of the military and their families through deployments and re-integration, as well as Christian-based help in coping with PTSD.
US Army MajGen(ret.) Bob Dees has a unique take on their mission; he describes actively caring for or about servicemembers in all circumstances as part of their contribution to the Great Commission.
In discussing a military award, a US Army article makes note of what is sometimes believed to be a pejorative view of the Afghan army, or Islamic militaries in general. LtCol James Boozell wrote “a national strategic vision while in Afghanistan,” at the request of the Afghan government: Read more