[Carpiquet]

Try selecting a base, choose your plane and then go back and hit "Brief".

Most people have briefings separated in the .mis file so that different sides see a different brief. You will only see it, however, once you've chosen a side and plane.
Just remember not to hit fly before you read the briefing.

I think you're right that that's my problem, I;ve never done that before. When I join the server, choose my base, then click arm and choose my plane and go back to the map page, I don't see a button labeled "brief". where should it be?
Thanks

to clarify: Even after I've selected my abse and plane I see only: disconnect, difficulty, arming, and fly on the map page.