Now Blog It Out...
Anyone (I might be down to zero readers at this point with how often I post, but I hear they still talk about me in Hawaii) who reads this blog might have thought that my other thought from my last post was a bit of literary flair or some device, but that isn't the case...I do actually have some things to say...even in addition to the previous thoughts I had from before.
First, for some updates. I'm the The Guam. Why do I call it "The Guam?" Well, it's a play on the fact that technically I'm on a deployment even though I'm blogging from a house (they call it a "hooch" here), watching SportsCenter, and deciding how much I want to golf this weekend. Our squadron is here as a part of a "Theater Security Package, but the key to The Guam (at least the Air Force side) is that it's a "forward main operating base." In any case, they have a few people out here, but it's not the desert and it doesn't come with any more danger than home so tone here seems to be one of overcompensation...as in, "I really need to justify all the money being spent and people being sent out here so were going to give everyone the 'rah rah' about how this is a 'real deployment' and how you're all very important."
So, because of this attitude of overcompensation, we call it "The Guam" like "The 'Nam." Because people here seem to like to try and make it seem as if we're in a real war, but we're not...and I'm blogging from it. Another common phrase - "Guambat tour."
What do I think about all of this? Well, I do think it's actually a pretty good mission for us to be here for a few reasons. First, it allows us to deploy as a squadron and despite the cost it's important that flying squadrons practice that. Second, our presence in PACOM is also a good thing. It might not mean a lot tactically, but operationally and strategically it's good messaging.
On the other hand, I don't like the way the Air Force or this base in particular handles these deployments. First of all, with some offices here on base it's becoming a boondoggle that allows the permanent party folks to get out of their manning problems that they are, one, making worse everywhere else, and, two, everyone else has to deal with. An example - a public affairs team is deployed here from Andrews AFB. They generally have 12 people in their office for the one base in the Air Force that probably needs PA due to all the VIPs going in and out. However, they're deployed here (reducing home base manning by 1/3) to a PA office that already had 15 people for less of a PA mission. Meanwhile, the PA team is assigned to the Ops Group - really the only folks making news in The Guam so the permanent party folks aren't even shouldering most of the work. Furthermore, our flight doc deployed with us. Generally when this happens their job will be the same as at home - taking care of the squadron folks. Here...no, they're here for the manning assist. This place is a black hole of manning.
The other thing I don't like is calling this a deployment. Technically, as a squadron, we're deployed, but this is no wartime thing. The Air Force, like any other bureaucracy, however, doesn't see it that way. We have to meet the same requirements and get the same credit on paper as the folks going to Iraq and Afghanistan...this is bullshit. If you ask me, and if you're on this page I'm assuming you are, I think there needs to be tiers of Air Force deployments. It could be a matrix of how bad it sucks combined with how close you are to the mission...it might look something like this...
I want to make a note that I write this for the greatest respect for, first, everyone in the military - what we do really is getting to the point where we can't lose a whole lot of people, and, second, to everyone actually in the shit and taking the shit. Also, you might be in a Tier 0 and it still might be the most important thing to the DoD, this scale isn't a reflection of importance, but rather just how I see things. This is purely based on my own observations from folks and friends in the Army, AFSOC folks (noteably some Special Tactics Squadron guys I met at Red Flag - be safe fellas), SERE folks (both teachers and fellow students from school, those guys are awesome), and my own observations from my current boondoggle...ahem...TDY.
Tier 0 - TDY
Now, I'm smart enough now to know that with the current fights we're in that the Air Force is all over that stuff, but not necessarily in visible ways (and that joke is bullshit in a lot of cases). I'm proud of the contribution of my service despite how I might feel about how we do things sometimes.
But make no mistake - The Guam is a good place to be and a lot of fun. The mission might even be somewhat important (especially with a certain country making noise up on a peninsula somewhere), but I have no illusions - this is a TDY, not a deployment...and as TDYs go this one is actually pretty sweet.
Until next time...I'll be thinking of the folks really on deployment and keeping them in my prayers.
AirForceKush...aka...The Arctic Fox
First, for some updates. I'm the The Guam. Why do I call it "The Guam?" Well, it's a play on the fact that technically I'm on a deployment even though I'm blogging from a house (they call it a "hooch" here), watching SportsCenter, and deciding how much I want to golf this weekend. Our squadron is here as a part of a "Theater Security Package, but the key to The Guam (at least the Air Force side) is that it's a "forward main operating base." In any case, they have a few people out here, but it's not the desert and it doesn't come with any more danger than home so tone here seems to be one of overcompensation...as in, "I really need to justify all the money being spent and people being sent out here so were going to give everyone the 'rah rah' about how this is a 'real deployment' and how you're all very important."
So, because of this attitude of overcompensation, we call it "The Guam" like "The 'Nam." Because people here seem to like to try and make it seem as if we're in a real war, but we're not...and I'm blogging from it. Another common phrase - "Guambat tour."
What do I think about all of this? Well, I do think it's actually a pretty good mission for us to be here for a few reasons. First, it allows us to deploy as a squadron and despite the cost it's important that flying squadrons practice that. Second, our presence in PACOM is also a good thing. It might not mean a lot tactically, but operationally and strategically it's good messaging.
On the other hand, I don't like the way the Air Force or this base in particular handles these deployments. First of all, with some offices here on base it's becoming a boondoggle that allows the permanent party folks to get out of their manning problems that they are, one, making worse everywhere else, and, two, everyone else has to deal with. An example - a public affairs team is deployed here from Andrews AFB. They generally have 12 people in their office for the one base in the Air Force that probably needs PA due to all the VIPs going in and out. However, they're deployed here (reducing home base manning by 1/3) to a PA office that already had 15 people for less of a PA mission. Meanwhile, the PA team is assigned to the Ops Group - really the only folks making news in The Guam so the permanent party folks aren't even shouldering most of the work. Furthermore, our flight doc deployed with us. Generally when this happens their job will be the same as at home - taking care of the squadron folks. Here...no, they're here for the manning assist. This place is a black hole of manning.
The other thing I don't like is calling this a deployment. Technically, as a squadron, we're deployed, but this is no wartime thing. The Air Force, like any other bureaucracy, however, doesn't see it that way. We have to meet the same requirements and get the same credit on paper as the folks going to Iraq and Afghanistan...this is bullshit. If you ask me, and if you're on this page I'm assuming you are, I think there needs to be tiers of Air Force deployments. It could be a matrix of how bad it sucks combined with how close you are to the mission...it might look something like this...
I want to make a note that I write this for the greatest respect for, first, everyone in the military - what we do really is getting to the point where we can't lose a whole lot of people, and, second, to everyone actually in the shit and taking the shit. Also, you might be in a Tier 0 and it still might be the most important thing to the DoD, this scale isn't a reflection of importance, but rather just how I see things. This is purely based on my own observations from folks and friends in the Army, AFSOC folks (noteably some Special Tactics Squadron guys I met at Red Flag - be safe fellas), SERE folks (both teachers and fellow students from school, those guys are awesome), and my own observations from my current boondoggle...ahem...TDY.
Tier 0 - TDY
- This is going to Vegas for Red Flag or any other regular TDY...you might be prepping for a deployment or helping some sort of mission, but you book it in DTS and stay at a hotel.Tier 1 - Glorified TDY
- This is The Guam. Perhaps you're supporting a mission...even the GWOT, but you're in a place so nice it doesn't matter or the combination of mission and place doesn't warrant a higher tier. Other "deployments" under this category might be going to Tampa for CENTCOM work or deploying across Europe for NATO air policing.Tier 2 - Super Support
- Either you're deployed somewhere that is within a country of the action (perhaps the CENTAF CAOC?) supporting actual missions or you're supporting the mission directly from home, but it sucks so bad you wish you were actually deployed because at least you would be getting credit (I'm thinking Predator drivers working non-stop shifts and living at Creech AFB, ugh). Another possible option is some kind of actual mission where there's some danger (not a lot), but it isn't advertised a whole lot (helping folks after an earthquake in a remote country, for example). I think of this category as a catchall for the folks that deserve some good credit for making the mission happen, but who also deserve to be kicked in the balls for having their Facebook profile picture be them in full kit (helmet, ballistic sunglasses, body armor, etc) and either holding a weapon (that they had to borrow even though they're 1,000 miles away from the nearest shooting) or flying in a helicopter/driving a hummer, etc. Also, this category in extreme cases can count for people actually in country, but so far away from the mission they might as well be in The Guam.Tier 3 - In country, but not in the shit
- Maybe you're doing something important, but you never get beyond the wire. It's dangerous, but you're not on patrol every day. Dudes I know call them Fobbits. It doesn't mean they're not important, but they're jobs don't get them out much. Many intel dudes I know are in this category - you might even get to pose for a picture or two (but not too often...poser). In any case, enjoy the DOMEX guys...Tier 4 - In the shit
- These are the folks braving the IEDs, mines, ambushes, and all the stuff you read about (well, maybe not so much with MJ's death...bleah). From the PFC driving the MRAP to the officer leading a civil reconstruction team...this can be the suck. It's pretty much the opposite of what I'm rockin' right now.All of this reminds me of a joke I heard when I first got in the Air Force. First, a SOCOM guy is in the mud with his rifle and eating a cold MRE. It starts to rain and he growls, "I love this shit." Second, a Marine is in a similar situation, but maybe with a hot MRE and it starts to rain, "this sucks," says the Marine. Third, an Army guy is riding in his Hummer and it breaks down - he has to walk the mile back to base, "this sucks," says the Army dude. Fourth, a Navy dude is on ship and he finds his six month cruise got extended for a month - "this sucks," says the seaman. Lastly, the Air Force dude is in his hotel room and the remote breaks, "this sucks," says the pussy.
Now, I'm smart enough now to know that with the current fights we're in that the Air Force is all over that stuff, but not necessarily in visible ways (and that joke is bullshit in a lot of cases). I'm proud of the contribution of my service despite how I might feel about how we do things sometimes.
But make no mistake - The Guam is a good place to be and a lot of fun. The mission might even be somewhat important (especially with a certain country making noise up on a peninsula somewhere), but I have no illusions - this is a TDY, not a deployment...and as TDYs go this one is actually pretty sweet.
Until next time...I'll be thinking of the folks really on deployment and keeping them in my prayers.
AirForceKush...aka...The Arctic Fox
Kish,
On one hand, I agree. I'm in a Tier 3+ (going outside the wire on a weekly, but not daily basis), to use your system at the moment.
However, any deployment or TDY is time away from your family. Honestly I almost prefer a Tier 3 to a Tier 2. For example, Billy is in the Phillippines on what you would probably call a Tier 2. He is also away from his wife, also missing an AK summer, and it generally sucks. There's some danger as well. However, he won't get the ribbons and shizzit that come with a Tier 3+ deployment. He doesn't get the same financial goodies (SDP, tax free, some bonus pays, etc).
For me, the time away from home is the real kick in the junk. It could be in Iraqistan or The Guam or even somewhere in the states. So, if I've got to be away from home, I almost prefer to get paid decently.
IMHO, the real issue is that the Air Force needs to resolve the long term manning issues. Its jacked up when >50% of a shop is deployed, constantly. It kills morale and mission at home; I was adding it up and my dwell time will be
We're absolutely wasting a lot of people's talents and trainings on these deployments; my previous NCO out here for DOMEX was a 1N5 SIGINTer E-6 select. The taxpayer has literally spent tens of thousands of dollars for years of training to give him a very specific and useful skill set. He could have been out here doing useful ELINT work. And we had him scanning shit. I could have a warm body with a clearance and a pulse do that; in fact, I told our SES that they should send out a generic admin body and an IT body before they send any more intel people or terps.
RUMINT out here is that the Navy pulled the plug on their IMAs following the elections. Will be interesting to see how that works out.
My idea is to create GWOT 'J.E.T.' Wings (JET = among the gayest acronyms ever): You go to a "GWOT Deployment Assignment" for 3 years. This is similar to a Navy Sea tour. Expect to be deployed 1:1 or 1:2 during this tour. When you are at home station, you are reachback support for the downrange folks doing the same job from the same unit, so you know them and the situation and can support them effectively. Some parts of DIA do this and its very effective. Basically, you'd have a lopsided wing heavy on the things that are getting raped on deployments now: SF, Intel, and CE.
That way the home unit mission doesn't suffer because the home unit mission directly supports the deployed members. Families don't suffer as much because the unit leadership would actually care. ADCON is better (my ADCON out here is a fricking JOKE) and airmen might actually work for airmen. Once you're done with your GWOT Deployment Assignment, then you'd have a "shore tour" and maybe deploy once on a traditional AF deployment at your next assignment, not three times. That gives you stability and allows you to plan, and the people that LIKE deploying can volunteer for the units.
Cheers,
Chris