"High Flight" or WTF?

[26 Inf]

Per Johnson, I agree if she did all that you offered. But she didnt. How can one, in good conscience, order someone to do something they couldn't/wouldn't do themselves.

How do you know what she did or didn't do? How do you know she has ordered anyone to do something she couldn't/wouldn't do herself?

[26 Inf]

Had flight time and experience in any fighter (actual combat experience not required since I don't think they let women do that yet).

Uh, only since 1991, that is when the ban was actually lifted. It was a couple years after that before the first female fighter pilots hit the squadrons.

Today there are female fighter pilots or weapons officers in every branch of the service.

An unnamed (for security reasons) female Air Force Major 'Jennifer' popped 1,000 hours combat time in Feb 2016.

[Firefly]

How do you know what she did or didn't do? How do you know she has ordered anyone to do something she couldn't/wouldn't do herself?

On a moral level, you got me in a box.
That's where I'll leave it.

[SteyrAUG]

The article said that over 800 people annually see the foyer. If they just gave every guest a 20.00 for 5 years, we'd be $300,000.00 ahead and everyone would have more appreciation for the foyer.

What I really get a kick out of is reading all the posts, some who have never served, beating on Lt. Gen. Johnson's military career, especially the non-citizens.

She commanded an air refueling wing in support of Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Johnson is a command pilot with more than 3,600 flying hours in C-141, T-41, KC-10, C-17, C-5 Galaxy and KC-135 aircraft.

Yeah, the foyer was a boondoogle, but I'd be willing to give General Johnson a pass on being solely responsible until I find out the foyer is done up as a Thelma and Louise tribute and the muzak is on a continuous Helen Reddy loop.

Are you guys going to pass the same judgement on all the rest of the support personnel in the Armed Forces?

All due respect but screw Johnson. She didn't command shit, she was GIVEN command. And I doubt very much it had anything to do with her scary "drop a golf ball in a bucket at 30,000 feet" skills. If they made a truck driver who ran supplies during the Persian Gulf War the rank of Lt. General people would lose their effin minds, UNLESS that truck driver was a female.

I don't have to be military to be allowed to criticize the military. I'm allowed to have an opinion on Manning. I'm allowed to think Johnson shouldn't be allowed to be in the same building with anyone who actually knew Olds and I'm allowed to call a diversity hire a diversity hire.

Like I said, if she ever actually did "big shit" then absolutely put her in charge of "big shit." But looks like she hasn't come close to doing any of the things thousands of people who will never rank above Captain do every day.

If a male pilot had her same exact qualifications I'd say "that's great" thank you for your service Captain.

[SteyrAUG]

Uh, only since 1991, that is when the ban was actually lifted. It was a couple years after that before the first female fighter pilots hit the squadrons.

Today there are female fighter pilots or weapons officers in every branch of the service.

An unnamed (for security reasons) female Air Force Major 'Jennifer' popped 1,000 hours combat time in Feb 2016.

That's awesome. And in my civilian opinion each and every one of those females are far more qualified than Johnson to hold her position. How she managed to jump the line ahead of females with actual combat experience is beyond me.

Now I understand we live in a PC world where we have to highlight the new kids in the class to make them feel equal. I can accept that. But christ, give the job of commanding people to somebody who has actually done the job they will be sending others to do.

If this has been the case since 1991 there must be thousands of female combat pilots who were engaged in direct action with the enemy, close support missions for ground forces and there almost have to be dozens of pilots who were then decorated for extraordinary performance in combat.

Find and reward those who are far more deserving, give them a nice office and we can even have say a $50,000 foyer which is extravagant by military standards. If Johnson was an actually leader, she'd have balked at the $370,000 renovation and said spend $10k and then spend the rest on my top performers.

[26 Inf]

Deleted Response

[26 Inf]

Steyr - With you on the the extravagance of the remodel, as I pointed out we could just give each visitor a Jackson and still be 300,000 ahead at the end of 5 years, about the time they'd want to remodel again. I do, however think you are wrong about most of the other stuff. But, maybe you have some special knowledge of LtGen Johnson's career that I don't.

There are a hell of a lot more combat service support roles in the Air Force than there are steely-eyed fighter jocks. Aerial refuelers play an integral part in supporting combat missions, granted in the battle we are now fighting they are not much at risk, but that could change in the future.

When you denigrate folks who ran supplies during the Persian Gulf War, you are denigrating patriots, who signed up to serve, and were serving in the jobs they were assigned. It takes a team effort to put door-kickers in place to do the job. A lot of the roles aren't sexy but they are important.

I've been told that most everybody graduating from basic flight school wants to fly fighters, not everyone gets to. We really have no way of knowing what Johnson may have, or may not have, wanted to do. What we do know is that she apparently flew cargo and refuelers for over 3600 hours.

There are numerous 3 and 4 star Generals who haven't been fighter pilots, or been shot at.

This guy was an Air Force General and was not even a pilot: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_L._Shelton

You might actually be familiar with this guy, he was an MI guy his whole career, do you think he was a gunfighter? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_T._Flynn

IMO you attack on Johnson's career and accomplishments was not warranted on what we know.

And yes, it is your right to think whatever you want, regardless of whether you are being fair or unfair. America since 1776.

[Moose-Knuckle]

By contrast, Michelle Johnson is famous for playing on the Air Force Falcons women's basketball team. How does someone who mostly flew refueling flights get to be put in charge of anything?

[SteyrAUG]

Steyr - With you on the the extravagance of the remodel, as I pointed out we could just give each visitor a Jackson and still be 300,000 ahead at the end of 5 years, about the time they'd want to remodel again. I do, however think you are wrong about most of the other stuff. But, maybe you have some special knowledge of LtGen Johnson's career that I don't.

There are a hell of a lot more combat service support roles in the Air Force than there are steely-eyed fighter jocks. Aerial refuelers play an integral part in supporting combat missions, granted in the battle we are now fighting they are not much at risk, but that could change in the future.

When you denigrate folks who ran supplies during the Persian Gulf War, you are denigrating patriots, who signed up to serve, and were serving in the jobs they were assigned. It takes a team effort to put door-kickers in place to do the job. A lot of the roles aren't sexy but they are important.

I wasn't denigrating anyone who ran supplies, I was simply pointing out that if you did that and you were a MALE you weren't going to be in command of anything, ever. That isn't my idea, just saying it's the way it is.

I've been told that most everybody graduating from basic flight school wants to fly fighters, not everyone gets to. We really have no way of knowing what Johnson may have, or may not have, wanted to do. What we do know is that she apparently flew cargo and refuelers for over 3600 hours.

There are numerous 3 and 4 star Generals who haven't been fighter pilots, or been shot at.

Here's my thing, if you are going to send men or women into harms way, you should have personal experience. I would have no problem with a Captain or possibly even a Colonel Johnson. Anyone who wants to be a star of any kind better have the kind of experience that warrants such a rank.

This guy was an Air Force General and was not even a pilot: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_L._Shelton

You might actually be familiar with this guy, he was an MI guy his whole career, do you think he was a gunfighter? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_T._Flynn

Looks like direct combat experience to me. Airborne qualified, give Johnson those creds and I would be fine with her rank. Though I think he should at least know how to fly something if he wants to be an AF general.

IMO you attack on Johnson's career and accomplishments was not warranted on what we know.

And yes, it is your right to think whatever you want, regardless of whether you are being fair or unfair. America since 1776.

It was based upon extravagant spending on the tax payers dime, a questionable qualifications to rank ratio and many things that look a LOT like PC appointments. Somewhere there is a female pilot with actual combat experience, who can fly the shit out of Johnson and that pilot is probably a major.

You should also probably understand I have a critical view of MacArthur and Patton as well.

[Big A]

My god...

That mustache!

Also