Leaderboard

I really haven’t been here for the last deployment at all, I did maybe 1 and a half ops because I was just- bored. I couldn’t take it past an hour of just floating above the AO and watching movies on my phone. I’m fine with sitting out on the fun- or being strapped to boots on the ground, but when i’m being an over glorified, $18.1mil UAV camera for ground, I don’t see the fun it. At least boots on ground as a UAV operator, I get the birds eye and the pew pew. The serbian FTX was the shit. Hell, even the Afghan one before that was pretty cool blowing up haji’s who had stingers in the middle of the desert. Back in the days when Golemesky was on the net, I got excited knowing he was my JTAC for that op. He always gave us something to do. Even the small shit, he just held our hand and gave us sky-chimps a feeling of inclusion. Not just ‘look here what you see’ and ‘okay blow up bad guy here’. Idk how he did it, but he made flying fun. Tl;Dr, more pew pew, or a ‘yes or no’ to needing aviation before op’s. And be a definite, not this ‘come in, watch through an IR camera for an hour and 45 minutes, and blow shit up for the next 3’. Like if you need me for one strike? Give me a 30 min heads up. I come in, boom, back to the Baracks(log off). I got we’re supporting, but being supporting is fine, but doing the job that ground can do without us, but don’t want to because it’s ‘boring’ or ‘not fun’, etc. and we just get the scraps of each mission.. no thanks.

From a JTAC perspective, I definitely feel that our Aviation is not being used to its full potential. However, it is in my divine belief that the full utilization of our Aviation depends on the Ground Force Commander. Team Leaders get the only authoritative say on whether kinetic strikes can or cannot occur. It is important to note that it is not the fault of the JTAC for using y'all as a "$18.1mil UAV camera." We'd rather continue to do that than keep you grounded without any action. As debatable as that is, at least this we know is true : The 3d Marine Raider Battalion is an 'unconventional unit.' In my opinion, Aviation is not utilized not only because of the lack of kinetic approvals; but the lack of conventional forces to engage with. I feel that an increase of conventional forces in regards to OPFOR will not only be a healthy change of pace from the standard COIN style, but will allow more of a dependence on Air>Ground. V/R

Today, July 4th, is the anniversary of the formation of this unit. While not the date of the 3dMRB being founded, its the day the majority of us left other units to come together to make one of our own. Happy Anniversary y'all.

Huzzah! Freedom and murica and online hostile takeovers and coups for the win!

Also as far as pilot retention goes: I would argue it's a number of factors. Not only mission scope and type. There's a somewhat long training pipeline, that scares people away. Add to that the fact, that Arma 3 is in it's end cycle as a product and the fact, that there are tons of other units out there. Being a pilot is very much a niche in Arma. Hopefully making the mission less repetitive for aviation is something that'll help.

@CW2 (Ret) Alp was watching me play Jurassic World Evolution...

I'm So lost O_O I'm to old for this shit.