17D_guy

Watched War Machine on Netflix. It was painfully familiar while being totally fake. Worth my time.

Sounds magical. I can't talk about current manning throughout the cyber force - it's rough. I will say in Comm Sq leadership in 2015ish I had 22 billets for helpdesk/computer support tech's supporting a base of 5K. 16 of those billets were manned w/ mostly 3-levels (approx 6-8). Most of my NCO's were cross-trainees or 20 yr techs because the outside was hiring so hard and RIF/Tera/etc. Then AEF-Next came and I got to keep 8 Amn, out of 22 billets. 4 went as CST deployed down range and the other 4 went as TCN escorts because that was the fair-share around the base. Our COMSEC office had to pony up 1/2 their Amn as well to support the TCN. One of our brightest new SSgt's got out because of that. The person after me came in and was getting so much more accomplished. I couldn't figure how we'd failed so hard for those 6 months as my whole flight was motivated and talented enough to really improve a lot on the base. Then I remember how I had 1/3 of the people I was billeted for, which was on-top of the cuts to manpower we realized with the synergy of the Enterprise Service Desk.

I'm not familiar w/ CFPS, JUMPS...and remember Falcon View as bad software circa 2005. I have a feeling I should know what these things are... While we're talking about Col's. I was setting up a brief for a GO w/ 2 other Jr Officers in a NAF Conference room. People walking in and out as we fiddled with the VTC since the TSgt was out volunteering. A Wing/CC Col walks in and looks around as we're messing with the remotes and the other officer is sitting preparing her notes. Cols says, "Um, I'm not that person, but lets remember our customs and courtesies and when a Col enters the room you need to stand up." We all get blinky eyed, and the sitting O apologizes but doesn't get up, and the Col leaves. Get done with brief, atta boys all around, and same Col comes over and says, "That was pretty good. But in the future the chomping gum is very distracting." Went to gather up things and talk with the exec who mentions it and the GO calls me into his office laughing asking if I have to chew gum as he shoves a piece in his mouth, and throws a piece at me. I then briefed him on a different subject chewing that gum. That Col is probably going to get a star.

Something interesting in the gender breakdown. Women selected higher in IPZ/APZ...but not BTZ.

"Officers and enlisted airmen who volunteer for an extended 365-day deployment can, if eligible, apply for either an advanced assignment or a two-year deferment from a permanent change of station." Love that caveat. Of course, this won't mention the promotion impacts since now we can't move you to that GO exec job, or staff somewhere, to "groom you."

AFPC - "Look, I realize it's going to get bad soon, but our process says we've got to kick these guys out. So that's what we're going to do, because here in AFI 69-8008, flowchart 2 it says to kick them out unless we waive them. Waivers can take...like...weeks. So we'll just follow the process."

Love that base, love that mission.

Concur. Lots of fun.

I'm probably in the minority here because there's facets of the strat process I really like. I'm a simple dude, and the simple number makes it an easy goal for me to shoot for. It's a common language I can share with every level of leadership above me. Generally every boss has an idea of what their #1 looks like, for better/worse. When I don't get the #1, or am not the #1 clearly, I do what GKinnear has said and talk with my boss (or bosses boss). I've gotten great feedback (leadership focused, not bake sale/CGOC) and it's led to one of the best jobs I've ever had. I'm old enough now to know how I work, what I value and what I'm willing to do to "succeed" in a given position. The discussion with the boss will make it clear if this job is worth it. For example, I do like my peers and leadership but the current job is not "worth it." I still work just as hard as I would any other job, and that's generally harder than a lot of fellow CGOs. When OPR time comes around I don't care what's on there because there's levels of insanity to Staff that will not be mitigated by anyone working supremely hard to get the mission done.

I love the dichotomy of these 2 statements. Thanks for the re-cap.

My kind of place.

Elaborate? Or was this the brief spoken about with someone from A3?

All this for us cyber guys too. Don't need a OCO/DCO team trying to decrypt DTS to get out the door *NOW.* However, I'm not a fan of more contractors doing this work. Also, for us the additional $12K after taxes doesn't touch the additional ~$45K and choice of living location I was offered on the civ side. Sq/Org culture could make up for that, but I don't think I (or my family) can wait 5 years for it to possibly happen.

Reading fail on my part, I thought someone was saying the AF did this and I was generally wondering which community.

So, Lots going on this week in Cyber. The whole WannaCry issue has again highlighted how awful everyone is at security/patching. Can't get into specifics, but the USAF is no better with getting patches loaded on time. But our boundaries are amazing and the operators there are legit. If you'd like some more info on WannaCry, just google it. Also had a ISAG group come by our spaces this week to discuss cyber things with every rank group. It was interesting to talk with the different rank groups what was covered in their areas and how people felt about the event overall. Some felt they were talked down to, my group felt listened to though we were bewildered by the confusion Gen Welch had when discussing how cyber does assignments. He stated repeatedly that A1 likes us all as 17D's, because they can just throw us around so much easier into assignments. Someone actually said "A1 got us into this fiasco." There's little/no concern for past experience or training once you're a Capt. He said that as a 11F he was always an 11F, and up through Col could count on staying near, if not in, a flying position. It's just not the same for us "cyber opertors." We can do 2 17S ops tours (DCO/OCO) and then go to 17D staff, then go be a 17D DO at a traditional Comm Sq, and then go back to staff in a 17D slot, then go back to 17S Ops as a Sq CC...on a completely different weapon system on which initially qualified. There is no staying qualified on the weapon system you were previously on. There's kinda discussion for that with the Comm Sq of the Future, but that's for DCO. OCO... there's nothing. Where do you think a large portion of our true operators (in the legit sense) are? Then come to find out, while our manning is absolute garbage (remember Grosso's "90% retention necessary") we're getting promoted at a significantly lower rate. Gen Welch couldn't understand how the Comm/Cyber AFSC, which through his whole career had dedicated, hard working and recognized O's/E's, was now getting promoted at a significantly lower rate than previously selected. Apparently this has caught the eye of some leadership. Meanwhile we just had one of our best Col's retire 29 days short of 3 years with O6 pinned on and AFSPC didn't waive it so he could retire in rank. Retirement orders stated Lt Col. Wonder why so few of the non-prior E's who're legit, aren't taking that bonus. The now-retired Lt Col is doing fine w/ his VP position at a Defense Contractor, but that's just shitty. Gen Welch also didn't like that people coming out of IQT/MQT were not comfortable on operating their weapon system. We had one of our WIC's stay he never felt comfortable and the single month of training on the equipment didn't really prepare him for anything. He had to do almost everything OJT, and before missions he'd deep dive into what they were going to do so that he could actually use the equipment. Finally, there are Cyber guys who just want to do the support mission. They don't want to be hackers or highly technical. They want to keep the flying mission running. However, there's no place for them right now with this deep focus on cyber. One of the panel members brought up "maintenance" which we cautioned against, because everything's an operation in cyber. Overall, good discussion, but reaffirmed my decision to not take the bonus and keep the cards close on future plans. I've got only a little while left until check-of-the-month club.

Having run around the higher levels of a Sq a few times now, this is the feeling I get from most 1st time CC's in Comm/Cyber. I don't know how you fliers do it, but unless our O's dig into the many areas of a Sq (finance, civ relations, first shirt issues, etc.) we get no experience from it. My last boss was great, and brought me into a lot of the CC's issues...but I'd say that was the exception. The MAJCOM Sq/CC courses are a joke. Last boss said it was basically "Call the Command Post if there's a suicide/rape/assault/etc." with little else about dealing with being a commander, working with other commanders, etc. Can you give an example of this grooming/preparing?

Next SOS class was cancelled to do a course re-write. Gouge is they're going to add another week back, so future schedule is in the air also. Class was supposed to start 5 Jun, so lots of people just had summer plans nixed.

The argument isn't "was this legal," it's "was this the right thing to do." The Pres can declassify, but as Toro said above it was probably him spouting off to sound self-important and may have put intel assets/collection at risk. It's basically the same damn argument we have on here when CC's give LOR's when they can't get a Art-15 to stick, PT stupidity, RIF's, etc. Interesting to see people line up on certain sides.

Why not both?

AHAHAHAHA....We can't even get them to fire terrible Group Commanders and up.

This so much. Me via my Col, "Hey, there's this big new service migration coming week after next. The 4-star promised the other 4-star we'd get it done. The ticket's been in for a couple of weeks now with no action. Sq/Commander X, can you look into it and make sure it moves along so we're not wrangling Amn on a Sat to get it done. It is planned for XX May XX." CC'd whole chain for vis. Nothing for 4 days, so we pinged saying this was coming <a week. Commander X, "We've got to make sure it goes through our ad hoc process, did I mention we're undermanned?" "Right, but...you know, 4-stars, high-vis...you're a Commander. We've made Amn jump through their ass before, and we're trying to avoid that. Can you give me a ETA of when it'll get done" "Ops Grp" CD, "Well, you can raise the priority on it and that'll move it through the log-jam. I'll get you a POC. What's the due date, we aren't tracking it?" Call "Ops Group" 5 hours later since we've had no comms. CC, CD, Sq/CC all gone TDY/Leave. Talk to the civ "deputy" who "Doesn't work the ops side of the house." Goes on and on about how the new contract is going to take care of all these tickets in the future, and we need to plan them better, etc. Sq DO shoots me an email telling me we need to prioritize their work for them, that they've had this ticket for a week, but weren't doing anything because it's a "project" and they don't work those unless tasked. Once it's tasked, then they'll start planning, but won't start planning now. Also, they guy they need to do it won't be in for the rest of the week, so we have to figure something else out. Accused my Col of Bro-netting the tickets to get done. I will not be taking the bonus, because I will not serve under these monkeys.

Usually you can set a time out window (ex. 30 days) until you need to verify again.

I know the BLUF emails get hate on here. But having to deal with the current crop of Maj-Cols (sometimes 1-stars) and (MSgts-E9) that won't just get to the point, I understand why they now exist. So many "Commanders" want to have a discussions about a problem and solution they're not going to own any part of. So, we've got to sit there for 40 min while they hash it out, talking past each other with no resolution but tons of quibbling and requests for guidance, prioritization and pointing out where provided written guidance is lacking. Ugh, I hate this job. I told you guys our "cyber operators" get crew rest for a 5 hour sortie, right? I generally just tell my Airman to give me the information in tweet length and problem solved.

Pretty Darn Good

We do this in cyber...well between Ops and Traditional Comm/Staff. Remember what Grosso said about 90% retention required? Wonder why.