4 ms·

As a former F/A-18 pilot, we were the jack-of-all-trades master-of-none. It does make some sense on an aircraft carrier with a limited number of planes, but eve

by poof131 12y ago

As a former F/A-18 pilot, we were the jack-of-all-trades master-of-none. It does make some sense on an aircraft carrier with a limited number of planes, but even then there was talk of having two of the four squadrons specialize in air-to-air and two in air-to-ground. The problem: who doesn't want to fly combat missions into Iraq and Afghanistan? At the end of the day, I generally recognized that the F-15C pilot was going to be better at air-to-air, the A-10 or F-15E pilots better at air-to-ground. The F-16 pilots more jack-of-all-trade types (excluding CJs) with a slightly better aircraft that can't land on the boat. And the F-14 pilots better at drinking in the bar. I also think the general consensus when I left a couple years back was that the F35 is a turd. Probably a better turd then anything else out there (excluding maybe the F-22), but not worth the price, and riddled with flaws. General's and Admiral's, however, put pressure on anyone who even thought of speaking negatively about the program. If the saying goes: "Arm-chair generals study tactics, real generals study logistics," then our current crop of General's and Admiral's forgot the part about only "morons putting all their eggs in one basket." This is exactly what the JSF is: a basketful of eggs ready to break. Unfortunately, the defense industry has gotten so totally out of control that we can't afford anything it provides. Pretty soon we will have 1 super tank, plane, submarine weapon thingy. The exit from senior military positions into the defense industry has created an awful supplier of tools to the troops. Our own leaders are so self-interested that they can't even recognize a problem: http://www.boston.com/news/politics/articles/2010/12/26/defense_firms_lure_retired_generals/?page=full http://www.boston.com/news/politics/articles/2010/12/26/defe... But the problem of this implicit corruption extends way beyond defense, just look at the banks and the treasury. We need some sort of '5 year hiatus', where after serving in a senior position of government, individuals can't join a corporation that does over X revenue with the branch of government that person just left for 5 years. No more hiring for the roledex or as payback for deeds done while in government. Serve in government to serve, not for the payday afterwards

moe 12y ago
We need some sort of '5 year hiatus' That's sadly unlikely to help, as can be seen in countries where such regulations are in place. The culprits simply delay the payment or move to alternate forms of compensation (e.g. arranging for a well-compensated 'job' for a close family member...).
pessimizer 12y ago
>where after serving in a senior position of government, individuals can't join a corporation that does over X revenue with the branch of government that person just left for 5 years. Do $100K speaker fees count as "join[ing] a corporation"? It's a more direct payment than putting someone on the board.
tim333 12y ago
We need some leader in the US to fight for this kind of stuff. Shame Obama didn't go for it. Hillary perhaps?
- webXL 12y ago
  L. O. L. Politicians at that level are so bought and paid for. The only thing that would end our industrial military complex would be if every citizen read Orwell's 1984 and then voted 3rd party. I mean Jesus fuck, how would fighter X, Y, or Z get us anywhere in Iraq and Syria right now???
- phaus 12y ago
  Hilary Clinton only cares about two things, power and control. I really doubt that she has anyone's interests in mind other than her own. I say this as a moderate conservative who would have voted for her husband to serve a 3rd term against any of the republican candidates from the last two elections.
phaus 12y ago
First of all, thank you for your insight into the F/A-18. >We need some sort of '5 year hiatus I was under the impression that it was already illegal whenever a conflict of interest exists, and that the laws were simply being ignored. Before I started my current position, I spent a couple of years as a defense contractor doing entry and intermediate level IT work. Whenever I applied for a job, as a low level employee, I had to fill out questionnaires that asked dozens of questions about whether or not I had been a senior leader in a government organization that could have impacted the decision making process for government contracts. I assumed that these questions were designed to filter out any applicants that might present a conflict of interest, but I frequently hear stories about Colonels and Generals jumping right into executive positions at the same companies they negotiated government contracts with just a few months earlier. IMO, the people who are doing this AND the people who are knowingly hiring them should end up in federal prison.

by poof131 12y ago

moe 12y ago

We need some sort of '5 year hiatus' That's sadly unlikely to help, as can be seen in countries where such regulations are in place. The culprits simply delay the payment or move to alternate forms of compensation (e.g. arranging for a well-compensated 'job' for a close family member...).

pessimizer 12y ago

>where after serving in a senior position of government, individuals can't join a corporation that does over X revenue with the branch of government that person just left for 5 years. Do $100K speaker fees count as "join[ing] a corporation"? It's a more direct payment than putting someone on the board.

tim333 12y ago

We need some leader in the US to fight for this kind of stuff. Shame Obama didn't go for it. Hillary perhaps?

webXL 12y ago
L. O. L. Politicians at that level are so bought and paid for. The only thing that would end our industrial military complex would be if every citizen read Orwell's 1984 and then voted 3rd party. I mean Jesus fuck, how would fighter X, Y, or Z get us anywhere in Iraq and Syria right now???
phaus 12y ago
Hilary Clinton only cares about two things, power and control. I really doubt that she has anyone's interests in mind other than her own. I say this as a moderate conservative who would have voted for her husband to serve a 3rd term against any of the republican candidates from the last two elections.

phaus 12y ago

First of all, thank you for your insight into the F/A-18. >We need some sort of '5 year hiatus I was under the impression that it was already illegal whenever a conflict of interest exists, and that the laws were simply being ignored. Before I started my current position, I spent a couple of years as a defense contractor doing entry and intermediate level IT work. Whenever I applied for a job, as a low level employee, I had to fill out questionnaires that asked dozens of questions about whether or not I had been a senior leader in a government organization that could have impacted the decision making process for government contracts. I assumed that these questions were designed to filter out any applicants that might present a conflict of interest, but I frequently hear stories about Colonels and Generals jumping right into executive positions at the same companies they negotiated government contracts with just a few months earlier. IMO, the people who are doing this AND the people who are knowingly hiring them should end up in federal prison.