Another Tormented Drone Operator

I think a large issue is PTSD has gained a lot of media coverage, aka those poor warriors we send into harms way. More of we (the public) should care about these people while also pitying them to make ourselves feel better. So it becomes a catch all, when in fact there are a myriad of emotional/stress issues associated with war.

I've heard older heads talk about some of the compartmentalization issues that dudes had during the Balkan conflicts, they lived in Italy often with family and some had problem separating being a husband/father and a combat killer. I can certainly understand how an RPA pilot (yes they're pilots/crew members) could have some issues with becoming emotionally invested in the outcome of a TIC in Afghanistan, then having to deal with a colicky baby 2 hours later.

There are certainly some attention whores in the mix however.
 
Fucking Brandon Bryant. That little prick just won't go the fuck away.
 
Raptor said:
Well, from what I've seen on the news lately, it seems like the media finds anything that goes against the norm compelling...
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Young un....

That's the definition of news. Not just lately, but for all time. It's not compelling for media folk it's a money maker.

Could you please refrain from stating the obvious?

LL
 
It's compelling because people romanticize war, snipers are cowards (Michael Moore) because they shoot people from afar, and don't give them a "fighting chance." Drones are evil because they're "all seeing eyes in the sky that kill without letting the guy on the ground have a chance," they don't understand that this isn't about proving who has bigger balls. They don't get that fighting fair is dumb when there are other options.

I think it's partly why America has a love affair with SOF, you guys fit their accepted mold of man vs man. Airpower made it more removed, but at least there's still a guy in a cockpit. Once you remove any personal risk people are faced with the ugly reality of what war really is: to quote Eddie Rickenbacker, "Fighting in the air is not sport, it's scientific murder." He was just ahead of his time.
 
lindy said:
This shit just won't go away. Is the story REALLY that compelling?

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30483010
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This one is so weak, that it can only be prep work for yet another weak story. Who knows, maybe this guy is a wiz at writting, or already has a shit hot agent scripting for him. If nothing else, 20 to 25 minutes of "fame" for him. Really, he is a failed drone pilot, and that won't sell.
 
Anyone know how to fly a drone?

http://www.startribune.com/air-force-cuts-drone-flights-as-pilots-burn-out/307738861/

CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. – After a decade of waging long-distance war through their video screens, America’s drone operators are burning out, and the Air Force is being forced to cut back on the flights even as military and intelligence officials are demanding more over intensifying combat zones in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

The Air Force plans to trim the flights by the armed surveillance drones to 60 a day by October from a recent peak of 65 as it deals with the first serious exodus of the crew members who helped usher in a new era of war by remote control.

Air Force officials said that this year they would lose more drone pilots, who are worn down by the stresses of their work, than they can train.
 
Once again, I would happily turn in my retirement, disability, etc... to be a drone pilot. I think that it's the perfect job for disabled/prior service for the operators. You don't need to be able to hit rudders because an electronic twist stick would allow you the same effective action (It's how I flew everything flight simming) which means even lower extremity amputees would be able to do it. Everything else? The guys have already seen this stuff and are as hardened to it as they're going to be, they have more understanding of the ground mission if that's what they're going to end up supporting.... and there's no heartache if the command chain says "that's the guy".

Plus we cheered when we watched gibs flying from airstrike/AC-130 videos, so once again, no problemo man...
 
Ranger Psych said:
Once again, I would happily turn in my retirement, disability, etc... to be a drone pilot. I think that it's the perfect job for disabled/prior service for the operators. You don't need to be able to hit rudders because an electronic twist stick would allow you the same effective action (It's how I flew everything flight simming) which means even lower extremity amputees would be able to do it. Everything else? The guys have already seen this stuff and are as hardened to it as they're going to be, they have more understanding of the ground mission if that's what they're going to end up supporting.... and there's no heartache if the command chain says "that's the guy".

Plus we cheered when we watched gibs flying from airstrike/AC-130 videos, so once again, no problemo man...
Click to expand...

Have you inquired about getting into it?
 
Ranger Psych said:
Air Force barely takes prior service, I have an RE-4 reenlistment code due to being medically retired. It'd take an act of God, basically, if I was to re-enter the service.
Click to expand...

What about the Air Guard? I know when I joined, active USAF was completely closed to prior service, despite TACP being a critically manned AFSC. Guard was no problem though.
 

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