First stop was Bryce Canyon NP.  It seemed that God put a divider across the mountain range then poured water down one side eroding away the rock & dirt to create an awesome view of layered rock formations!  We rode along the top of the mountain range looking down into rock formations.  Next we tried to get into Cedar Breaks NP (National Park) but they were closed due to the four feet of snow still on the roads!  So we just headed down to Zion NP.  This time we were in the canyon looking up at the rock formations!  Mom rode the bus around and back to the hotel while I ventured off on different trails to see some of the sites.  I hiked back in on one over a mile in to see this water fall, but alas I ended up finding it within 100 yards of the bus stop!  Yea the hike was nice, but I was on a time schedule to get back with mom.

Anyway, next day we woke to travel over to the Lake Powell Resort.  Yepper, the same lake area we used to fly into while navigating IR-126 into Red Flag…aaaah the days of low level flying in the canyons!  We took a 5 hour cruise to get to Rainbow Bridge NM (National Monument).  The only way to see this natural bridge is by boat, horseback riding, hiking, or 4-wheeling.  I guess you could even parachute in, but you would have to hike out.

Then we headed to Hovenweep NM – protects six prehistoric, Puebloan-era villages spread over a twenty-mile expanse of mesa tops.  It was a god thing we had a Ford Explorer to get back into some of those dwellings.  Then over to Natural Bridges NM to see three incredible rock bridges that were carved out by the wind, rain and river (once upon a time) before calling ti a day.Up early again to visit Canyonlands NP.  The Colorado & Green River plus their tributaries divide the park into four districts: the Needles, the Island in the Sky, the Maze and the rivers themselves.  We were able to see the Needles & the Island in the Sky.  The Maze is only accessible by hiking or horseback.  We called it quits just outside Moab, UT.  That way the next day we could see Arches NP.

If you can remember your John Wayne trivia, the Arches NP should sound familiar.  The Duke and many other Western movies were shot in this area.  What impressed mom and I was that each area had its on geology and was very different from the others!  The beauty was just fabulous along with the weather…it was very accommodating during the whole trip.

Then, June rolled in.  I journey back to Montana to be with mom while she had her left hip replaced.  I stayed for a few weeks to make sure mom could get around and be comfortable being back in her own home.  The surgery went well, but it took a few extra days for mom to recover and be allowed home.  She has therapy folks coming to the house three times a week and she is already making plans for next year…she wants to go to San Francisco to visit a Teddy Bear lady and of course see some more National Parks there in California.Anyway, this has been long, so I save some for next month…until then – fly safe!

 Time to post and update you all to what’s up on the west coast.  I am now a qualified Global Hawk pilot.  I passed my check ride last week…hoo-ray!  I am now filling our paperwork to get a german pilot’s licence.  Yup german,  the company has plans to send us to Germany next summer to start flight test on the Euro-hawk.  Also this fall I will be TDY to Vandenburg AFB to do some testing on new software for the GH.  The Air Force is planning on opening a squadron of GH’s on Guam and we need to train the Hawk to land on a slopped runway.  Those of you that have Castle AFB time will remember that VAFB has a pretty good slopped runway.  Also for those who like it cold, the Air Force is putting a GH squadron at Grand Forks!  There should be some employment for people that want to live in ND…yuck!!! 

On the home front,  we finally got the mirror for our telescope completed ( the 22 inch scope we started two and a half years ago).  I was getting worried that the mirror maker had taken my money and ski-daddled.  However it turned out that the extra time waiting for the mirror was well worth it.  We had our first full night testing the optics with a large group of both professional and amatuer astronomers this week end.  everyone was completly blown away by the views into deep space through this monster telescope!!  Aslo my son had his first scientific paper published on research he did on double star positions.  We are working on another project and plan to publish this summer.

On a more personel note, my Mom is in the proccess of dying from both cardiac heart failure and altztimers.  I took her to the Ceaders-Sinai hospital friday to see what they can do for her heart valve that has calcified to the point it’s causing her heart to fail.  They offered a procedure that involves putting a balloon into the heart valve to expand the opening to allow more blood to flow and relieve some of her symptoms.  This is all well and good, however my idiot sisters are putting up road-blocks becuase they think it’s better to let her die from heart failure rather then deal with the alztimers.  I had to remind them, sternly, of their Christian duty to honor human life and protect the weak and infirm …although I don’t think that appeal works with most people these days, my sisters included.  Our society has become so selfish and self centered, that duty honor and self sacrifice are words for fools and zelots. Most people attend church, some pay attention and learn a few facts about Christianity,  even fewer folks actually put these values to the test in their lives.  My sisters fall into the first catigory. Either way I will find a way to prevail,  If I have learned anything in life it’s been a trust in values and examples of the right way to do things that I saw  while living and sharing time with you all.   All our conversations on alert and in and around the office and on this blog help keep me grounded in reality…thank you all.

 Cheers

 Reed “Ponch”

I do not post often but always read about your exploits. I am looking for employment at Barksdale. I have exhausted the Retired Rated Recall Program (cut funding), the reserves do not call back and I am tired of beating my head with the F-35 Program. Bomber credibility in a Fighter world. Let me mention that, “I was right” but not until it became my Boss’ idea. So, I have applied for 2 Program Analyst jobs in GSC, nothing yet. I am starting to think that I need to know someone (or do they know me?). Well, I know you guys. If anyone is hiring, pls let me know. larsoninla@aol.com is still my email. Thanks, Britt

Some of you know I’ve had problems with my middle daughter for years. On 1 April, she drifted into some kind of deep delusion and starting seeing dragons, hearing voices, and thought she was some magic player in a great battle of some new Golden Age.

She emailed me to come get the twins “NOW” early in the morning.  I don’t always check my email before work, but this time I did.  The first thing I thought of was that she was going to hurt them if I didn’t go there immediately.

To make a long story short–she was about as out of it as anyone I’ve ever seen.  I tried to lead the discussion to real things with no success.   Eventually Cindy came over, and later that day we drove over to our house.  My daughter was expecting an invisible friend to spirit her away at sunset, but when he didn’t show, I tried to get her to go to the VA because they have a mental health doctor in their emergency room.

She refused and eventually started doing the Linda Blair routine from the Exorcist.  If she could have green-pea souped me, she would have.  Sounds funny, but it is quite alarming when someone does that to you.  We had a neighbor come over to witness the event, and she was talking to her priest on the phone with things turned worse.  Before the night ended my daughter was arrested.  At the time, I considered it the worse night of my life, some of you might have read my facebook posts at the time.

The next morning I tried to get her involuntarily committed to no-avail, as she hadn’t physically hurt anyone or tried to commit suicide or said to me that she planned to do either.  In spite of being told by several people to leave her in jail, I bailed her out and successfully convinced her to come with me the VA.  After an intense few hours, she was seen by a doctor, but they kept me out of the room–people got rights you know–who let her walk after less than an hour.  My stress level was quite high by then.

However, she came out acting calm, a faux normal.  What else could I do?  I brought her home, our 20 year old daughter was there with Cindy and the three boys.  Things seemed fine, I wondered if the doctor talking to her had somehow helped–hard to understand this stuff–so I took a chance on going to work for Friday afternoon.

As I got home from work a few hours later, she was attacking Cindy.  She was arrested again.

The 1 year-old’s father came over the picked up the baby.  He also wanted the car we’d given my daughter a few months ago.  The car’s in her name, she’s been living with the guy, he has driven the car to work–I didn’t have any legal option to prevent him from taking it.  So he took the car.

He said he loves the baby and wants to care for it.  As far as I understand this process, the father’s rights trump the grandfather’s right in this state.

But the twins don’t have that option–if I don’t protect them, there’s nobody else.

Cindy has a temporary restraining order against Amanda.  And I filed a restraining order to keep her away from the twins, which also gave me temporary custody of them.  In addition, Child Protective Service has started an investigation.

We have our first of many court dates in less than two weeks.

She was in Bossier Max until last night. According to the bondsman who called me this morning, she pledged the car we’d given her a few months ago as collateral for the bond.

This has been a long ugly story.  Stemming when she ran away from home, two-weeks before her 18th birthday while I was Saudi and up to the attack on Cindy.

Even with your children, you have to drawn the line somewhere.

I’ve drawn the line at her physical attack on Cindy.

You can’t trust anyone who can switch from “normal” to explosively violent at the drop of a hat.

Hopefully, Amanda will seek the mental health help she needs, get well, then press on with her new life.

So, except for that, everything here is normal.

Oh, I’ve lost 20 pounds in the last week.  I call it the stress diet, but I don’t recommend it for anyone.  Good thing I started off so fat.

Time to post.  First for those interested there is a very high paying flying job available here for a Government GS-14 level Global hawk Pilot.  This is a SWEET position with a cost of living bonus and flying privileges in C-12 as well as a GH.  The pay range is well into the 100K range.  Another Buff driver in GH would be huge. 

Chuck,  I never saw the pictures of the GH air-refueling.  I erred greatly by saying there is no AR capability in the GH.  NASA is modifying a couple of GHs to air refuel. There is a big test sometime next year to verify the capability.  The programming will then be transferred to the UCAS bomber.  Northrop is partnered with NASA to do the mod and testing, the Air Force does not want to ante up pilots for the project…so guess who get to go fly with NASA. Yup me!  SWEET!  We took a tour of the GH control facility yesterday.  OMG!  Talk about first class!  I almost wet myself over the displays (also I’m getting to that time in my life were diapers are becoming an issue;-).   As usual the Air Force spent minimal bucks for the Global Hawk control system.  The NASA system is so Cadillac it was unbelievable.  The AF version uses a Falcon View back bone with limited capability for moving map.  NASA uses Google Earth!!  The computers are so fast on the NASA system that you can mouse roll zoom the map from a total world outer space view (Google Earth start page) into 3 meter photo maps almost instantly!  It also uses FAA sectional maps and other stuff.  Also you can tilt the whole display (ala Google Earth) to show a 3D version of the Jet flying a climb or decent profile.  The PSD is right out of a 767 with all the bells and whistles, unlike the PSD in a AF block 20 that is more like a C-172 version of G-1000.  Plus the control room at NASA was just like you would imagine a NASA control room would be…everything new and clean and first class.  Way COOL!

Also another good deal…the company is planning on sending me to test pilot school either at Mojave or a course out of the U of Kansas.  The guys here say the U of K program is much better, but harder to get. I will probably end up at Mojave.  Either way COOL!!

On the telescope front things are getting way busy.  We took the wooden model down to INCA corp. in Los Angeles a few weeks back.  They have reduced the design into 3D cad cam modeling and are well along with construction on an aluminum version.  Inca’s plan is to produce the final version in 1, 1.5 and 2 meter sizes…contingent on our success at making the design work.  Dr genet just got back from Hawaii where the concept is raising all sorts of excitement amongst the professional and amateur astronomy world. Dr. Genet was at the French observatory on the Big Island and the director of the telescope approached him about the project.  Turns out the French telescope used Dr. Genet’s laws on robotic telescopes for their design.  We get daily suggestions from astronomers all over the world for exotic projects for the scopes.  The end intent for the scopes is to connect multiple one and two meters scopes into an array that will be able to resolve the surface features of near-by stars. COOL!  

Cheers

Ponch

The Flak 36 was straight from Tamiya’s new 88mm GunFlak36 ‘North African Campaign” except I borrowed the bogies from their original Flak 36/37 kit.  Although the figures came directly from the kit, the radio operator was another kit, except I had to scratch build the antenna based on an image I had from a German WWII Panzers in the Desert reference book. 

The Sd.Kfz.7 8t Half-track Initial Production was Dagon’s new Smart Kit release that hit the street in October 2009!  I had to scratch-built a few items, the bustle rack on the very back to hold the jerry cans and the canvas roof in the stowed position.  Even though Eduard’s 8t tool boxes were designed for the Trumpeter kit, with a slight modification, they worked just fine for Dragon’s.  Eduard’s 8t engine PE kit provided the engine side panels covers.  The rifles, MG34, and MP40 came from Italeri’s Accessories II kit.  Since I needed Luftwaffe license plates for my project, I turned to Peddinghaus-decals to provide them.   Dragon provided five different German Army plates – no Air Force.  Archer dry transfers provided German helmet insignias, uniform patches, DAK palm trees, German tactical symbols, and Sd.Kfz.7 instrument panels and generic lettering.  Verlinden Productions provided ration boxes, wooded barrels, military provisions, stowage cargo & accessories, bottles, crates, and German food supplies.  The Luftwaffe Anti-Aircraft Badge is a reproduction from Landser Outfitters based in California.

As for the base work; I used CelluClay for the base along with folk-art paint.  I most have gone through seven different colors before hitting the right combination to give a desert color.  I spread the plaster over wax paper in a cookie sheet.  Once dry, I broke into pieces and stacked to make the wall.  A 50-50 water/glue solution was used to set the wall in place.  Again, once dry I used folk-art paints again to paint it.

As for other news, Jim Melvin & I decrease the duck population around Corpus Christi again.  Both sons could not make it due to one being sick and the other having to work.  We each bagged redheads, buffleheads, and pintails. 

Day 1: we bagged our redheads early in the morning.  I managed to drop two in the first pass and couldn’t hit anything afterwards – had a chance at one or two more birds, but no luck.  Jim got one in the first pass and another later – then he couldn’t hit them either.  So we packed up for the day. 

Day 2: we were out for buffleheads & pintails.  Went to a different area and the blind was out in the middle of no-where!  Water everywhere and the land was only visible on the horizon.  We got our buffleheads early, but mine was a hen.  So Jim holds off shooting until a drop a drake.  I soon drop another, but once more a hen.  Finally after much waiting I finally drop a drake.  Then some pintails circle and it takes a lot of calling to get them to attempt to land.  We each drop one, but mind lands further out from the blind.  The only sad thing is that pintail I knocked down was hurt just enough not to get airborne again.  I must have chased him for miles!  I was in water up to my knees while he was about 50 yards or more away.  Although he couldn’t fly, he sure could swim and paddle his feet he did…I could never gain on him and by the time I turned to see how far I was from the bind, the bind was just a speck on the horizon!

We stayed on our guides property and were fed – and what a feast!  There was no lack of food for each meal!  First night was a Texas BBQ with ribs, sausage, brisket & duck.  Next night, duck gumbo with all the trimming; corn bread, mash potatoes, green beans, etc.  Lunch times always had leftovers which there was plenty of.

O’well I’ve written too much…so see you next month

Chuck here’s some pitures of actually artillery range finders…

Here’s the description:

1.5.2  Analyses and Assessments:  The contractor shall provide personnel with the knowledge, skills, and abilities/qualification to accomplish the tasks specified in this PWS in the technical environment described below.  (A001, A002, A003, A005, A009)

1.5.2.1  Provide the expertise to serve as a MAJCOM level technical expert advising on matters concerning scientific work requiring the design, development, and adaptation of mathematical, statistical, econometric, and other scientific methods and techniques providing advice and insight into the probable effects of alternative courses of action.

1.5.2.2  Provide the expertise to formulate unique analytical research proposals and studies that recommend alternative courses of action to senior Command officials. As an analytical expert, the contractor must be able to provide technical guidance and independently resolve problems and issues involving the development of mathematical models and computer programs to evaluate and predict the ability to support assigned missions, projects, studies, or problems. The uniqueness of the problems requires creativity, innovative use of techniques, advanced approaches, and/or new technologies. As an expert, the contractor shall be capable of defining or further defining major/critical problems and for advising management of advantages or disadvantages of various alternatives.

1.5.2.3  Provide the expertise to support the implementation and clarification of policies, criteria and standards and recommending modification to USAF analytical criteria as needed, or modifications of such as needed for specific MAJCOM requirements. 

1.5.2.4  Provide the expertise to AFGSC/A9A for the creation and maintainance of data structures that provide a short notice, responsive analysis capability in addition to long-term studies.  Expertise in modeling and simulation and other analytical tools are required to support study objectives, create and maintain input data structures and files, run/modify the models, analyze model output, prepare output for presentations and assist in final documentation of analytical efforts.  Support will include, but is not limited to, future force structure analyses and future trade-off studies such as an Analysis of Alternatives (AoA).  

1.5.2.5  Assist in developing study plans that include the following: background, study team composition, purpose of study, scope/limitations, critical assumptions and constraints, measures of effectiveness (MOEs), study parameters and variables, methodology description, data requirements and schedule with deliverables.

1.5.2.6  Provide the expertise to create, update and manage data files with the source of all data and points of contact listed, providing a basis for determining the validity of study results.

1.5.2.7  Provide the expertise to use mathematical models and/or simulation tools to evaluate system performance and utility.

1.5.2.8  Provide the expertise to run specified AFGSC/A9A models, analyze outputs, prepare outputs for presentation/report, and document study results.  Documentation includes final report, associated data sources and points of contact, an in-depth explanation of critical assumptions, model methodology and scenarios, commentary on any unique assumptions necessary to derive the results, and a section on the lessons learned in conducting the study.  Studies may involve analysis of PPBE inputs and POM results to create decision submissions for senior leader consideration.

1.5.2.9  Preparation of data sources, including adaptation/modification of available databases, to meet the fidelity/completeness requirements for other modeling efforts within an AoA or other analysis efforts, and documentation of the results.

1.5.2.10  Coordinate model and scenario development with Air Force Studies and Analyses, Assessments and Lessons Learned (AF/A9) and other organizations, as required.

2.0  GENERAL INFORMATION

2.1  Personnel Qualifications: The contractor shall provide personnel with the necessary training, qualifications, and clearances to accomplish all requirements identified in this PWS.  In the event of contractor turnover of employees, qualification summaries shall be submitted through the Contracting Officer for verification of personnel skill sets.  The following paragraphs list the general qualifications for the skill sets described in paragraphs 1.5.1 and 1.5.2 as well as specific qualifications for the skill sets described in 1.5.1 and 1.5.2.   (A001, A002, A003, A005, A009)

2.1.1 General Knowledge Skills and Abilities

a)         Knowledge of a wide range of global strike concepts, principles, and practices relating to area of specialization.

b)        Knowledge of common budgetary practices, procedures, regulations, precedents, and guidelines.

c)         Knowledge of safety and security regulations, practices, and procedures.

d)        Skill in written and oral communications to explain, justify, and clearly present ideas and findings of a variety of issues in a logical manner; also prepare presentations, analysis, and clear/concise reports complicated by short deadlines and limited information.

e)         Ability to communicate with decision makers and their immediate staffs as well as specialists, experts, and professionals in the same or related fields.

f)         Ability to participate in study teams; originate new ideas, projects, and methodologies; and execute projects and/or studies within established financial and/or time constraints.

g)         Ability to use Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access)

h)        Ability to develop and utilize data collection techniques to conduct statistically sound analysis and data presentation.

2.1.3 Specific Knowledge Skills and Abilities required for the skill sets in Paragraph 1.5.2

a)         Experience in analysis of modern bomber aircraft, bomber aircraft systems or ICBM operations.

b)        Experience in ICBM, Bomber or Navy Nuclear Operations.

c)         Knowledge of a range of methods and techniques used in operations research studies and possession of analytical abilities.

d)        Knowledge of expert quantitative techniques and methods used to develop, adapt, modify, and apply models to resolve problems or define and clarify alternative solutions.

e)         Ability to design, build, and use models and simulation using software such as SAS and ARENA.

f)         Operational experience in combat aircraft to include knowledge of their performance, tactics, capabilities, and general employment in various roles/missions within a broad range of military operations

g)         Staff experience (MAJCOM-level or higher).

The position is with Macaulay-Brown at Barksdale AFB in AFGSC.  If you’re interested, send me your resume and contact information via my email  and I’ll get it to the site lead.  Salary will be commensurate with experience.

Here’s the description:

1.5.1  Lessons Learned: The contractor shall provide personnel with the knowledge, skills, and abilities/qualification to accomplish the tasks specified in this PWS in the technical environment described below.  (A001, A002, A003, A005, A009)

1.5.1.1  Assist the integration of AFGSC-wide activities for the AF Lessons Learned Program.

1.5.1.2  Assist policy development to be implemented throughout AFGSC.  Assist development of goals and objectives to align Headquarters AF, AFGSC, 8AF, 20AF, and AFGSC Wing level lessons learned activities in accordance with AFI 90-1601, the Air Force Lessons Learned Program.

1.5.1.3  Identify and maintain lessons learned submissions and issues to be incorporated into key AF processes that influence improvements to DOTMLPF (Doctrine, Organization, Training, Material, Leadership, Personnel, and Facilities) and resource investment decisions.

1.5.1.4  Draft summaries of lessons learned activities that are presented to senior leadership, pushed to key functional offices, and posted to knowledge management databases.

1.5.1.5  Plan and host General Officer level meetings to present and discuss operational and strategic level lessons learned.

1.5.1.6  Assist development of solutions to eliminate work problems or barriers to mission accomplishment, balance workload and assist in providing overall direction and vision to other offices regarding the AF Lessons Learned Program and perform as an action officer at HQ AFGSC.

1.5.1.7  Assist AFGSC/A9 to collect, identify, track, integrate, and disseminate lessons learned and related issues from AEF operations, contingencies, and exercises.

1.5.1.8  The contractor shall coordinate with OPRs and monitor status of related projects, lead working groups in the assessment of lessons learned and facilitate the incorporation of solutions.

1.5.1.9  Provide the expertise to conduct research as necessary to support briefings and papers, answer requests for information, and produce analytical summaries for publication.

1.5.1.10  Prepare senior level staff briefings; prepare regular staff packages and respond to short notice tasks for papers and/or briefings.

1.5.1.11  Assist with development of media and content for conferences.  Provide the expertise to support the organization at various meetings. .

1.5.12  The contractor shall coordinate with HAF, NAF, and other representatives to discuss/resolve lessons learned processes and other issues of common interest, provide results of studies, analyses, and evaluations to counterpart agencies to share experiences and resolve controversial matters, promote interchange of information on requirements, capabilities, deficiencies, and technology applications in the area of specialization, provide the expertise to support the planning and scheduling of work for accomplishment by augmentees, recommend and review short‑term priorities and prepare schedules based on consideration of difficulty of requirement.

2.0  GENERAL INFORMATION

2.1  Personnel Qualifications: The contractor shall provide personnel with the necessary training, qualifications, and clearances to accomplish all requirements identified in this PWS.  In the event of contractor turnover of employees, qualification summaries shall be submitted through the Contracting Officer for verification of personnel skill sets.  The following paragraphs list the general qualifications for the skill sets described in paragraphs 1.5.1 and 1.5.2 as well as specific qualifications for the skill sets described in 1.5.1 and 1.5.2.   (A001, A002, A003, A005, A009)

2.1.1 General Knowledge Skills and Abilities

a)         Knowledge of a wide range of global strike concepts, principles, and practices relating to area of specialization.

b)        Knowledge of common budgetary practices, procedures, regulations, precedents, and guidelines.

c)         Knowledge of safety and security regulations, practices, and procedures.

d)        Skill in written and oral communications to explain, justify, and clearly present ideas and findings of a variety of issues in a logical manner; also prepare presentations, analysis, and clear/concise reports complicated by short deadlines and limited information.

e)         Ability to communicate with decision makers and their immediate staffs as well as specialists, experts, and professionals in the same or related fields.

f)         Ability to participate in study teams; originate new ideas, projects, and methodologies; and execute projects and/or studies within established financial and/or time constraints.

g)         Ability to use Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access)

h)        Ability to develop and utilize data collection techniques to conduct statistically sound analysis and data presentation.

2.1.2 Specific Knowledge Skills and Abilities required for the skill sets in Paragraph 1.5.1

a)         Experience in Air Force Aircraft Maintenance, Missile Maintenance, Civil Engineering or Communications career-field.