Each of the services has their own mission. I have the utmost respect for the Marines, the Navy, the Army, and the Coast Guard. If the Air Force isn’t ponying up to what it is tasked to do (I’m an Air Force veteran) then I’d be griping also and demanding they get off their butts. Though I have tremendous respect for pilots abilities and the leadership of many officers, a college degree and a commission does not a leader make. Many NCO’s in all services have college degrees also and are perfectly capable to not only fly but lead as well.
Many people have misconceptions when they think of “Air Force” ... very few have jobs that involve actually flying, just support of the air mission itself. Many jobs must also get down and dirty in the Air Force (Combat controllers, PJ’s, Security Forces, to name a few). We as a superpower in the world can only achieve this by the combined missions of each individual service working in unison. I had a nephew who was a Marine, I wish that he had worn AF blue myself, but he always dreamed of being a Marine. He also died like a Marine in Afghanistan in 2004 ... out of ammo and fighting hand-to-hand. My respect for the Marines through his actions is immense!
My sympathy for your loss, and respect for your nephew’s courage. May God bless him and comfort you. :-(
Props to your late Marine nephew, sir.
A buddy from work died in his Apache in Iraq in ‘05, another’s currently in NE Afghanistan, wearing lotsa kevlar, and my Nat’l Guard (nut) daughter’s trying to line up a years’ deployed “sabbatical” from her studies, in Iraq, she hopes, starting this fall.