Forum: Off-topic

Does the United States Air Force have a strict policy of segregating siblings in their ranks by assigning them to different squadrons and different aircraft or they allow siblings to be in the same squadron and even in the same aircraft?

Are they setting themselves up for an equivalent of the deaths of the Sullivan Brothers?

For example, you are with your younger brother (who is your GIB in an F-15E), or you and your elder sister (a flight engineer on an AC-130) or you and three of your cousins (navigator, EWO and bombardier on a B-1B).

Because in Australia, this practice of "siblings together" harkins back, way back to World War I.

F-16.net Sponsor

Last edited by TC on Apr 22, 2009 - 02:05 PM; edited 1 time in total

Contrary to popular belief, there is no "Sullivans Law" in the U.S. Armed Forces. The only caviat, is that a sibling or spouse can not be in command over another.

I knew of a pair of brothers, who were Eagle Drivers and were in the same squadron. "Buster" and "Breaker" Himan. (No Sierra!) Laughing

There is no rule about siblings being in the same unit, but they cannot fly on the same aircraft together while performing official duty. We have a set of brothers in my squadron and they cannot fly together. Also my wife is in the medical squadron and we cannot fly together on duty. We can fly Space A together, but we had a chance to go to Germany a couple of years ago but she ended up going alone because we would have been on the same jet while on duty.

I used to be in the same squadron with a couple who are husband and wife. They've both PCS'd now, but like you said, they weren't allowed to fly together.

Quote:

"Buster" and "Breaker" Himan. (No Sierra!) Laughing

Okay, here's a thing I wanted to do for my book, two brothers are in the same fighter squadron, would they be able to fly in the same flight element? Or would that break the rule about commanding a sibling?

You mean siblings / spouses cannot be in command of one another while on duty,regardless of rank period?

ptplauthor wrote:

two brothers are in the same fighter squadron, would they be able to fly in the same flight element?

Don't go too "Iron Eagle" with your book. Brian Griffin tried that, and caught hell for it.

"You never go full r#t@rd..."

skyhigh wrote:

You mean siblings / spouses cannot be in command of one another while on duty,regardless of rank period?

No, they cannot. One cannot be directly over the other in the same chain of command. However, there is no issue with, for example, a Captain in the Ops Group being married to a Major in the Med Group. Different chains of command, and no chance that one would ever be in command directly over the other.

So segregation of siblings / spouses is ideal?

Quote:

Don't go too "Iron Eagle" with your book. Brian Griffin tried that, and caught hell for it.

Well, unless there's another Brian Griffin you're thinking of, there are two big differences:
1. He's a dog
2. His novel isn't about the military.

It's only a one or two time thing. Twin brothers that got through USAFA, placed first at UPT, picked the Viper, then they got split up, one went to Misawa after final F-16 training, the other to Mountain Home. During the fight, Mountain Home loses a few too many pilots, and so they borrow a few Misawa fliers--one just happens to be the other twin.

And is the Sole Survivor policy still in effect since the Sullivan Brothers' deaths?

If so, would you be withdrawn from combat if any of your siblings or your spouse were KIA?

Or if you were too far away to receive the telegrams, would you fight on?

Quote:

And is the Sole Survivor policy still in effect since the Sullivan Brothers' deaths?

If so, would you be withdrawn from combat if any of your siblings or your spouse were KIA?

Or if you were too far away to receive the telegrams, would you fight on?

Sole Survivor is, IIRC, only a guideline, not a regulation.

Uhh, telegrams? STOP
They don't have those STOP
Anymore STOP
Poke

STOP

jk
they probably use the Internet.

I don't think that's a wise idea to be informed by the 'Net of your sibling's or spouse's death, KIA, as that would inadvertently reveal to the enemy your immediate family.

Telegrams are still in use today.

Quote:

I don't think that's a wise idea to be informed by the 'Net of your sibling's or spouse's death, KIA, as that would inadvertently reveal to the enemy your immediate family.

Telegrams are still in use today.

That argument doesn't work for two reasons Sky:

Telegrams can be intercepted too, and unless its sent using a one-time-pad they can be easily cracked--not many ways to encrypt Morse Code.
The Military still has secure channels for comms, they're supposed to be highly sensitive--I know of at least one, I think: CHALLENGE ATHENA.

Ok, ok, ok! Christ in a cartoon people!

1. Brian Griffin IS a dog PT.

2. His book was inadvertently a complete ripoff of "Iron Eagle" (weren't you paying attention when Lois laughingly informs him of this?)

3. If a family member was killed in combat, you would be removed from your deployment

4. Telegrams? WTF year is this? 1943?

5. The Chain of Command would notify your commander, and then your commander and First Sergeant would inform you face to face

6. Skyhigh, you seem overly obsessed with combat deaths. You need a new hobby. Laughing

Forum Veteran Joined: Dec 15, 2006 - 12:28 AM Posts: 760

ptplauthor wrote:

Quote:

I don't think that's a wise idea to be informed by the 'Net of your sibling's or spouse's death, KIA, as that would inadvertently reveal to the enemy your immediate family.

Telegrams are still in use today.

That argument doesn't work for two reasons Sky:

Telegrams can be intercepted too, and unless its sent using a one-time-pad they can be easily cracked--not many ways to encrypt Morse Code.
The Military still has secure channels for comms, they're supposed to be highly sensitive--I know of at least one, I think: CHALLENGE ATHENA.

I don’t know of anyone that sends or receives telegrams anymore.

Western Union announced the discontinuation of all of its telegram services effective from 31 January 2006

http://www.livescience.com/technology/0 ... union.html

I thought that most of the US military next of kin were notified by phone, mail, and whenever reasonably possible a military representative shows up in person.

Forum: Off-topic

Sole Survivor or Siblings Together?