Luke AFB to speak at a Viper class graduation. Great to see the new generation ready to write history themselves.
Some things change though and they aren't always pretty.
First impressions: who was the buffoon who outfitted aircrews in pastel green suede combat boots?
Why do we have OD green Nomex for stateside units and desert tan for Middle East fliers? Double the cost with no discernible benefit. And that outfit requires tan suede boots. Is this a conpiracy against Kiwi?
Joint "club" now, but there is main enlisted bar and Officer's Lounge. Eight taps for draft beer. Six don't have any beer. Last call is at 8:00 PM. Total clientele? Three retirees, the Support Group commander and his wife, then ten guys from the graduating class. Not single other student, instructor or support officer stopped in.
Other impressions? There appears to be a very strong awareness that the highest levels of the Air Staff are committed to crushing the Warrior Ethic!
8 comments:
Same is true at DM. Luke is no exception. Last time I walked in there I turned around and walked out. Maybe Nellis is still ok but I doubt it. Perhaps these guys do all their partying overseas. Wolfpack Jack.
I have to wonder how big a hit Kiwi took when the Army and Marines (and now the Air Force) went to suede boots.
They (Kiwi) make stuff for cleaning your suede boots now, costs a lot more than a can of polish.
Bruni's is still in operation and Juvat warriors are there in abundance.
Look like Pappy Boyington, Robin olds and all the other fighter pilots who like to drink won't be in the USAF, Navy or Marines.
Sorry for the weather here in Phoenix, probably reminded you of a base in Europe not a great day on the flightline at Willie with beer and pizza at Cosmo's after work.
~Leadfoot
The clubs overseas are still going strong. I guess the ones here stateside have too much competition.
And yes, the suede boots came about because no one wanted to polish anymore.
They started phasing them in just as I retired.
At our recent reunion at See My Johnson, one of my old squadron mates said his son who was flying Raptors at the time had decided to bail. Just couldn't take the PC Air Force anymore. I wonder how many of us "old-timers" would stay for 20 or more in today's USAF.
Ed, have you been to the Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola? I understand the have the old Cubi Point O-Club there that was dismantled when we left(got kicked out?) the Phillipines. Supposed to be a neat place. You could compare it to the clubs at Hurlburt (bet you might find a few warriors there) and Eglin, which aren't far away. See the Air Force armament museum at Eglin and the USS Alabama in Mobile. The Army Aviation Museum in Fort Rucker isn't far from there either.
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