Ops Brief 033: Daily Drop - 24 April 2025 (Microreactors, Shady Signal Chats, and the 20-Step Beard Waiver Saga)

Send us a text Jared is speedrunning this Daily Drop like it’s the last brief before weekend libo. But don’t worry—this episode still slaps. From Air Force leadership dodging infrastructure bills, to a shaving waiver flowchart that sounds like a side quest from Fallout, it’s everything you didn’t know you needed to rage-laugh through. In this episode: ☢️ Nuclear microreactors are coming to Alaska (yes, seriously) 📦 The B-21 is flexing, and China should be nervous ✈️ A C-17 just got refueled by a commercial tanker, which apparently took 30 levels of approval and a priest 📉 Space Force: secretly launching stuff into orbit while governors and contractors scream into the void 📶 And yes—Pete Hegseth is still Signal-chatting like your conspiracy uncle You wanted updates? You got nuclear reactors, missing airmen, and possibly the most bureaucratic beard policy ever written. 🔥 Key Takeaways: Nuclear microreactors are real and they’re coming to an AFB near you Air Mobility Command did the unthinkable: used a civilian tanker There’s a 20-step beard waiver process… for real Space Force + NRO = black budget bros stay winning Hegseth leaks = OPSEC nightmare meets encrypted boomer energy Protesters at Holloman accomplished... absolutely nothing China’s mineral chokehold proves we learned nothing from COVID SpaceX is launching everything but your Wi-Fi password at this point ⏱️ Timestamps: 0:00:00 – Intro, quick rundown warning, PAO update & OTS reminder 0:01:10 – Defense Acquisition Review & the F-47 greenlight 0:02:00 – New cyber rules aim to fix the broken contractor ATO slog 0:03:10 – AMC milestone: commercial refueling of a C-17 0:04:40 – Nuclear microreactors at Alaska bases = energy gamechanger 0:05:40 – B-21 flexes at Edwards, aimed squarely at China’s perception 0:07:00 – Missing airman accused of desertion and child abuse materials 0:08:30 – China restricts rare earths = Pentagon readiness nightmare 0:09:40 – Signal leak fears: compromised comms & OPSEC anxiety 0:11:00 – Small Sat Alliance warns Space Force not to over-outsource 📢 Support the show Join this channel to get access to perks: HERE Buzzsprout Subscription page: HERE Register for our Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.com Collabs: Ones Ready - OnesReady.com 18A Fitness - Promo Code: ONESREADY ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLete Danger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADY DFND Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADY Hoist - Promo Code: ONESREADY ...