Speed,
I have worked with a variety of supervisors in my 14 year career, some good, some bad. I'm not there yet, but some pretty smart folks mentioned to me I'd find the same in the airlines, both on the line and in management. By the same token, there are happy airline pilots and miserable airline pilots, and it seems to me about 85% of the difference is attitude.
If you served a day for your country..you did a service that many never do. I don't care if you were dropping bombs, flying cargo, passing gas, or flying DVs around in a C-21...you did what your country asked. I'm glad you were on the team.
I'm also glad you found your niche in civilian aviation. I hope to join you there in 2 weeks. In the meantime--how about remembering a little board etiquitte? I am getting out...I agreed that the grass for me was greener on the outside. However...rants against guys who stay in with terms like "loser" and "too scared to get out" don't do justice to the guys who stay in. Right now there are friends of mine scattered across the globe in some crappy places far from family. They are there to impose our national will on those who would do us harm. They aren't there for the pay...you can't pay me enough to enjoy 120 days away from the family at a pop. (Navy guys do this routinely on cruises) You may think being a well-paid airline pilot buys you security, but another shoe bomb or hijack that doesn't get thrwarted may very well mean more furloughs, airlines going out of business, etc. Especially in aviation, right now your job security is on the razors edge...and the success of our military operations have a direct effect on your economic livlihood. If I were you, I'd be very thankful there are people willing to try to stay in 20-30 years and doing the leadership jobs--making due with much less money than you (and hopefully me soon) will be making, and being greatful for the (often closed) commissary and (overpriced and poorly serviced) Bx/Px exhanges.
Again--I'm getting out...happily! I also saw some non-effective officers and poor policies. I also worked with some of the best people I have ever met. However...I am forever indebted to those guys who stick it out, move every three years, endure the remotes, work the 14 hour days, and, oh yeah, occassionally die doing their jobs. If they weren't there making sacrifices, you can bet the "our Delta is better than SWA who is better than United" BS banter would become moot in about 48 hours.
As always...fly safe. And try to play nice.
Albie