United States Army Aerial Demonstration Teams

United States Army Aerial Demonstration TeamsUnited States Army Aerial Demonstration TeamsIn the early 1970s, the United States Army wished to demonstrate the capabilities of Army Aviation(in a similar manner as the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels), using the 1972 U.S. International Transportation Exposition at Dulles International Airport - better known as Transpo 72 - as a springboard for the team. Since the Army had no fixed-wing fighter aircraft (refer to Function of the Armed Forces and the Joint Chiefs of Staff 1948), their option was to either use the fixed-wing aircraft they had such as those used for cargo transport or reconnaissance or use their rotary-wing aircraft. In 1972, the Silver Eagles were organized.The mission of the team was to assist US Army personnel procurement and retention efforts and to contribute to the public understanding of the role of Army aircraft by demonstrating proficiency and versatility in the performance of precision helicopter flight. Early D ays When first organized, the Silver Eagles were the only helicopter vorfhrung team in America. Based atFort Rucker, Alabama, the Silver Eagles consisted of 25 enlisted volunteers and 12 officer aviators.The team was assigned two helicopter models - nine OH-6A Cayuse helicopters that had been completely overhauled after seeing combat service in Viet Nam, and 9 factory-fresh OH-58 Kiowa helicopters.Shortly after their organization, though, the OH-58 helicopters were transferred to other units and the Silver Eagles retained the nine OH-6As painted in olive drab and white colors. Though an aerial vorfhrung team, their routines did not consist of aerobatics rather, the routines consisted of flying techniques Army aviators were required to master.Speeds and altitudes of precision maneuvers ranged from zero miles per hour at ground level to 140 miles per hour at one thousand feet. Seven helicopters were used during each demonstration, with specific names/positions Lead, Left Wing, Righ t Wing, Slot, Lead Solo, Opposing Solo and Bozo the Clown.The Bozo unit wore the face of a clown a red nose, big eyes, and floppy ears and a straw hat - and performed antics to entertain the audience while the other aircraft were positioning for the next maneuver such as playing with barrels along the ground or playing with its yo-yo.Due to the use of Bozo, there was almost always at least one helicopter performing in front of the crowd at all times during their normal 35-minute presentation. Public Appearances The teams first public appearance was at the Aviation Centers Armed Forces Day Celebration in 1972 at Cairns Army Airfield, Fort Rucker, AL.Their first official performance was for Transpo 72, where the team performed two shows daily.The teams success at Transpo 72 convinced the Army brass on the desirability of having a permanent demonstration team. In early 1973, the Silver Eagles received official status as the United States Army Aviation Precision Demonstration Tea m (USAAPDT). In 1974, the Silver Eagles were composed of seven demonstration pilots and 30 ground staff, with the addition of a De Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou support cargo aircraft painted in the new blue and white color scheme. In February 1975, the Silver Eagles made their international debut in Ottawa, Canada and were recognized by the Army Aviation Association of America (Quad-A) as the most outstanding aviation unit in the Army. Sadly, the teams final performance was in 1976 on 21 November, the Silver Eagles flew at the Blue Angels Homecoming air show in Pensacola, Florida, and then performed its final show at its home field of Knox Field, Ft. Rucker, AL, on November 23, 1976. Final Thoughts During the four years of its existence,the Silver Eagles shared the stage with the Blue Angels, Thunderbirds, and the Golden Knights parachute team.A more comprehensive source of information/history on the team would be Dancing Rotors A History of US Military Helicopter Precision F light Demonstration Teams. Unfortunately, this book is out of print, but perhaps a used copy can be found in a used bookstore or someplace like eBay if one is willing to pay the price (at the time of writing, a copy on eBay was listed for $95.00 or best offer).

7 Questions Moms Should Ask Before Quitting Their Job

7 Questions Moms Should Ask Before Quitting Their Job7 Questions Moms Should Ask Before Quitting Their JobShould I quit my job? is a question you may ask yourself when you just no longer want to balance work and home-life. Maybe you are asking this question because of a life-changing event like youre pregnant, youve given birth, or you just had a second child. But could you leave your job? Quitting your job cant be an impulsive decision because it affects your familys security as well as yourfuture career prospects.So to help you decide if quitting is the right thing to do, you should yourself the following seven questions 1. Is a Work-Related Challenge Making Me Want to Quit? When youre having a crisis at work or your child is struggling in school, its easy to think, If only I could quit my job, all these problems would go away. But if you resign rashly, you may find that your underlying problems remain and youve given up your income for nothing. Blaming your work for your probl ems, without thinking it through, might be a mistake. This is especially true for those major life transitions, such as returning frommaternity leave, starting anew job, or changing childcare. Its dangerous to make a big decision like quitting your job while something else big is happening in your life.Give yourself a few weeks to see if things simmer down. In the meantime, write about whats going on at work in your journal. Be as honest as possible. Writing about your problems can do a few things for you. Writing gives you the chance to sit and think about your problems. Where if you think about things while youre loading the washer thoughts just come and go. Also, when you write it gives you the chance to mull over what you wrote. Read it over the next day and see if a solution pops out at you. 2. Can I Afford to Quit? You may be dying to quit but will you have to default on your mortgage and car payments as a result? Now is a great time to review your finances.Check out your checking account and credit card statements and analyze how you are spending your income. There may be a way tocut some of your monthly costs. You might want to ask yourself the following questions Are there any major life expensesI could decrease, like moving to a smaller house or getting rid of a car?Could I workpart-time workto help alleviate the drop in income? What type of job would help fill the gap?How much will I save on commuting, work clothes, child care and eating out, etc., if I quit? (Think about all those harried work nights when its just easier to pick up takeout than cook a cheap, healthy meal.What other expenses do I have that are a luxury and not a necessity? Could I imagine life without these perks? Where do I shop? Are there other places I could shop to save a few bucks? 3. Am I Working to Pay for Childcare? Maybe youre in a situation where you love your work but hate how much of your income goes to childcare. Your budget is the tightest when your children ar e under 5 or over 18 when youre paying for college. If you have preschoolers know that thecost of childcarewill drop dramatically once theyre in public school. Try looking at the long-term picture when you write that monthly daycare check. It may be worth it to pay as much if not more for childcare if its only for a few years. Especially if youre in a field where employment is tight. 4. How Easy Would It Be to Re-Enter the Workforce? If you quit, would you be cutting yourself off from working in your field in the future? In many industries, theres a clear road from education to mid-career employment, and its impossible to break in once you step off the path. Look around you. Do you see older moms who took some time off? Or has everyone worked steadily since receiving their degree? Perhaps you could be a trailblazer who leans in If you are in a field that doesnt forgive breaks in employment, you need to be realistic about your prospects for returning to work. Although re-entry is nt as big of a concern if you dislike your job and want to change fields. Look into thecareeryou would like to switch to, and see if you could prepare yourself for a change while spending more time at home. 5. Would Quitting Hurt My Familys Security? Money makes you feel like your family is secure. That they get all the things that they need and maybe some things that they want like dance class, music lessons, or sports. If you quit would your family be secure, money-wise? Maybe your spouse earns enough to pay your monthly bills. Or, if youre a single mom, you may count on having enough freelance or part-time work to manage.This is the time to be brutally honest. Think about the worst case scenario. If your spouse was laid off how would your family get by? Where would you find health insurance coverage? What is your safety net? If you want to quit, have a backup plan first. Build up your savings so you can better weather any storms that may come your way. Know where you could pu rchase health or dental insurance. If you are getting any discounts from your work, could you pay bills at their full price? 6. Could I Cut Back Your Hours Instead of Quitting? Cutting back the time you spend at work may ease stress over work/life balance. Since youre already on the verge of giving your notice, it doesnt hurt to ask about part-time or flexible options. You never know when an employer might be open tonegotiating a flexible schedule. You could start a job search for a job that is more flexible. Look around your organization for roles that might be at a similar level but not as demanding. Network with colleagues at other companies to see if youd be happier somewhere else. 7. Would I Enjoy Being a Stay-At-Home Mom? Weve all had those stay-at-home-mom fantasies. Youre racing to work after another bout ofgestaffelte anordnung anxietyat daycare drop-off, and you spot a mom playing with her child in the park. That could be me you think to yourself. Not so fast. The life of a stay-at-home mom isnt all roses and clover. There are a lot of repeating the same tasks that youd have to endure without much gratitude. Being on duty 24-7 can exhaust your patience making parenting more challenging. Are you up for this? Many moms find that they enjoy their kids more by having focused time with them outside of the workday. Many moms find that they enjoy their kids more by having focused time with them outside of the workday. Are you one of them? Give this question some thought. You owe it to yourself and your family to make sure youd be happy as a stay-at-home mom. In the end, being a hands-on mom is a short-term job. Your baby will head off to elementary school in five years. Then in another 13 years, they graduate high school. (If all goes well) Dont make a decision that will have long-term implications by only considering your present situation.

2015 Military Basic Pay Main Menu

2015 Military Basic Pay Main Menu2015 Military Basic Pay Main MenuDecember 19, 2014, President Obama signed the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act into law. The one percent military pay raise for all pay grades O-6 and below will be effective January 1, 2015. Pay is frozen at 2014 levels for pay grades O-7 through O-10. Base pay is the same across all service branches and is based on rank and time in service, with pay raises according to years of creditable service. There are two distinct career paths in the military Commissioned Officers and Enlisted. The pay scales for each reflect their degrees responsibility. Each military service has its own names for the various enlisted ranks (Navy and Coast Guard are the same). Most enlisted members enter the military at the lowest pay grade (E-1) and climb the pay scale to higher positions with greater pay. Enlisted pay grades range from E-1 through E-9 (E represents Enlisted). To gain the pay advantages of a Commissioned Officer, some enter the military with a higher education degree and begin their military careers through one of the Officer Candidate Schools some are high school graduates who attend a service academy or a civilian college while participating in an ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) program. Military members receive a monthly base pay which is based on their rank and time in service. Active duty members receive full-time pay, while guard an reserve members (who are not on active duty) receive part-time pay, or drill pay, depending on the number of drills they perform each month. Military pay is subject to income taxes unless it is earned in a designated combat zone. All branches of the U.S. military receive the same amount of base pay. This military pay chart can be used to determine Air Force pay, Army pay, Coast Guard pay, Marine pay and/or Navy pay. The military maintains various other pays that are not included as part of the pay tables below. Additionally, there are certain allowances pr ovided such as Clothing Allowance, Basic Allowance for Housing and Cost of Living Allowance. The basic pay charts below are for Members of the United States Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and National Guard for the calendar year 2015, beginning January 1st as approved. The pay rates are monthly amounts rounded to the nearest U.S. dollar. Enlisted Members Warrant Officers Officers Reserve Enlisted Drill Pay Reserve Warrant Officer Drill Pay Reserve Officer Drill Pay