The USMC has made some errors along the way; Osprey comes to mind. Why did the USMC not just buy Black Hawks and forgotten about the whole MV-22 deal.  I think the A-10's are still a fantastic CAS platform. I like to see a life span report at the 10 year mark on the Mv-22. The only thing that spears the USMC from the contracting mess is the fact that the USMC does not do acquisition on a level like Army,Airforce or Navy. But your right, the culture has always been geared towards the survivability of the trigger puller. That is really where is starts and stops.

Many people have forgotten what it really means to serve. Retiring with a paycheck and the job across the hall at the Pentagon seems to be the thing. You know when 0-4's go to the Pentagon, they loose their spine! Atleast it is preserved until they finish their tour. 

If change must take place, people like you have to stay in to fix the mess otherwise the jackasses will stay and rise to the top and further mess things up. It has always been that way, the only difference is that their percentages have increased.

haha... wow. Should I regret promising the AF 10 years?? I actually have faith in the V-22. Give it a few years and I think youll be surprised how many kinks are worked out. I am sure all of us would have been bashing the F-14 and every other platform when it first came out because of their first glitches. The only difference between aircraft being built today and yesterday is the media coverage.

A point was made to me about the V-22 and it got me curious how it's going to be handled.  When Blackhawks are used for transport they have Apaches and such covering them because they are too vulnerable when they get to their destination for drop-off...

What's the solution to a Blackhawk replacement (V-22) who's cruising speed is higher than the Apache's top speed?  Sounds like it will be longer before the V-22 can be used to its fullest capabilities.  It would be awefully hard to make do with A-10s, especially when it would be a joint operation.  If anyone knows how they've decided to work around this obstacle I'm really curious to hear it.

I am a C-17 IP at McChord AFB WA (Reserves) with C-141 IP and American Airlines experience as well.  A transport pilot's day is usually long, always different, and very rewarding.  A typical trip for the Reserves at McChord begins with flying to a deploying unit in the US; air refueling over the East Coast; and ending in Germany.  From there you enter a 'stage operation'; get 12 hours off; and head (with a new plane) to a downrange location in the AOR the next day.  After you off-load your cargo and upload the new cargo you head back to Germany or a different stage location.  You may air refuel during your day into Afghanistan, but the days into Iraq are usually short enough to where you don't need to get gas.  You continue to do this rountine (in and out of the AOR) until your go home mission.  You leave Europe with a returning US unit and try to get you home within 10 days.  The days are long (sometimes up to 26 hours) but 24 are more common.  Have fun and good luck!!