17D_guy

I can not believe that in 2013 a system this stupid is in place to rate commissioned officers in the United States Air Force. Dear higher ranking members how can you not be clearing this shit up so we get honest, easy to digest feedback on how to improve as leaders, managers and (some of you) warriors? This black magic nonsense helps no one.

As I've said elsewhere I don't have a problem with pilots drinking. i don't drink at all, but I wish we could have a Sq Bar, and a beer light. I think it would be great for our ALL Sq's. Additionally, no the jokes and comments don't lead to sexual assault. I never implied that, or meant to. That's as stupid as saying the "hook up" culture leads to rape. I was trying to contrast what I have seen in my corner of MSG (comm specifically). Comments/jokes do increase the likelihood of someone feeling harassed/reporting harassment. Lived through it, sucked big time. Same thing has been covered in every level of management training (undergrad, make your jokes) and PME. Ugh, I had problems with female Amn saying offensive crap to other female/male Amn. BitteEinBit has had a very different experience. Not sure if it's been Comm centric, which is where all mine has been. Sounds like an interesting environment, hope I get to experience it. I'm just trying to inject what my little bit of the MSG has been like at my bases in regards to this, not trying to take your flight suit. Cool your jets.

Well, in the MSG singing songs of those type, drinking at work at all, or crude name aren't tolerated. Of course there's still the knuckleheads who think calling names/grabbing SrA Yummybritches is ok. Any they get handled, quickly. There's no "that's what she said" or "69" or the "cranium" bullshit. It degrades our fellow Airmen, which impedes our mission. We don't tolerate that shit. I've never had a commander that did. It was understood, and there didn't require a MFR. MFR's are to show that it was briefed and understood, so that after someone does it you can show proof of "leadership" instead of having the offender run to the ADC for help after they get slammed. It's for clarity, if you don't like it, that's ok.

So, This happened - https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/strategic-command-suspension-linked-probe-counterfeit-poker-chips/story?id=20413148 "Strategic Command No. 2 Suspension Linked to Probe of Counterfeit Poker Chips"

I believe that is correct as well. However, I added the greater time portion onto mine because right at about the 5~6 year mark things really become clear about what the AF is, and if you're a fit for it or not. That's when E's are made in my opinion, (ALS, 2/3 duty station, supervisory duties). Not crapping on you, but I know many with your timeline (not necessarily rank) that do not have the E perspective/chill-ness many of my (10+ E years) peers do. Overall it's a hate for the political game O's play. That said there's some of my peers I would curb stomp if it was legal. I do quote random regs, because it's fun to mess with my NCO's I've had friends who were briefed by O6's they'd never make it up. Sad that talent (not me) is selected so early and before real character can be shown in trying situations. I was looking for ways to help out good bro's besides the ole' "You work hard and do great things, here's more, crappier work for you to do."

Now you're just trying to make me feel stupid.. BREAK This hot off the presses, (well the 10th), you'll notice it's not AF Times and I couldn't find it on the AF Times site in a cursory glance. https://www.armytimes.com/article/20130910/NEWS05/309100018/Emails-accuse-former-Aviano-vice-wing-commander-protecting-Wilkerson "The former commander of the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base, Italy, accused his vice commander of trying to protect the base inspector general, who was a friend and fellow pilot, by sitting on an allegation of sex assault against the IG, newly released emails show."

Still always surprised when this happens, and more often than it should.. unless we're counting prior-E at E4 and below 5 years service. Then it doesn't count. Somewhat of a question - I know they've pushed back the boards and there is no longer BTZ to O4. Is there a way currently to get promoted ahead of your peers? When I was an E you could always out test/SrA BTZ/STEP to get promoted ahead of the douches. I'm not seeing those opportunities on the O side, and I'm not sure if it's just not an MSG thing. I've asked around locally.. but it's all Space/Missile guys. Please note, I'm not asking who's balls I have to wash/gargle. As I said in another post I can retire happily as a O3E, my dreams have been accomplished.

About the same, most of my peers are done and I guess I'm lagging since I didn't roll the TUI/Trident sorta thing. Told a O6 I was knocking out Master's classes and he asked if I had SoS done yet. I said no, (3 classes a semester), and got a dirty look. Whatever, I can retire as a Capt, give a sh*t meter broken.

I would like to add this can be close to a similar scenario for multiple support career-fields to depending on where they're assigned. I have many peers who pulled multiple deployments in their first 4 years, and some of those included months long "battlefield" training. We could get into the discussion of an online degree, and then we're just talking about a NEW band-aid to a broken leadership scenario. The fact that some bases include PT scores in rating their folks is atrocious. Why don't they just include photos so they can make sure only the individuals the exec thinks are "hot" can go. Rating Lt's the same way you rate O4/5... way to set folks up for success.

FTFY. They work as hard as active duty, and they'll let you know it.. repeatedly.

Concur, though I would include the Aviano Wing/CC who relieved his deputy/vice/whatever and wrote the email up decrying the decision to overturn. Not because I agree with him, but because he said something. I don't fault Gen Franklin at all. I think it was an amazing letter to read and I think he made the correct decision based on what I have been able to read (FOIA/articles) on the matter, and I wish I someone with those characteristics in my chain, alas... I don't think adultery makes someone a rapist and did not mean to imply it should my statements have come across that way. I do have a problem with Wilkerson telling the guy who restored his LIFE that there was absolutely nothing else.. legal or not. Gen wrote a letter about honor, and integrity, and doing the right thing despite the repercussions. Something we see too rarely from our senior leaders imho. I think he expected the same in return and came back wanting. My opinion, and maybe the guy with wings and stars (and you guys) have a different point of view culturally that you can enlighten me on about why that's not a big deal. Kinda scummy still being legally married, but.. eh, agree with your summation. Finally, what's a RON for us Ops-but-not-Ops types?

I see you're learning

I think the "good ole' boy" comment was the casual nature in which they discussed the case, and Gen Franklin's decision to overturn the verdict. I thought the Air Force Times version had and interesting spin as well - https://www.airforcetimes.com/article/20130910/NEWS05/309100011/Lawmakers-lambaste-old-boy-s-network-email-exchange Overall I was surprised Gen Franklin was so incensed at the loss of the O6 spot/security clearance for the "good" Lt Col. I wonder what his comment would be now about the adulterer still being in the AF. Relevant part from article: Way to F the boss. Stand up bro. This turned out horrible every way it could have.

That's on the way down, League of Legends is where it's at now boys.

Well, they trust it. They just make the e-form have the same look and functionality of the paper form. To include the e-Routing Slips.

They started doing this in 2004/05 when I was there. Must be a slow news day.

Well he currently acts like he's got 5 stars.. guess we have to make another rank so he can up his game.

Don't forget this indicator of possible abuse - f) Eligible families that have users of tobacco products in the home.

Oh, I thought we were talking about the Air Force RPAs. I mean if we're going to base it off other services, why need a college degree for commission (Army), where's Officer Country (Navy) and why not 2 different PT tests a year (Marines)? Doesn't matter what other services do. We aren't on boats, and we don't count the people as equipment. We're the Air Force. We do things different because we are different. Have you spent extended time (yr+) joint? Using the Army as an example is...questionable at best. Again - In the end, Big Blue wants the Officer attitude and culture in RPA's. That and pilots only listen to other dudes/chicks in flight suits.

1 mistake/unlucky Air Force huh? We have leaders afraid to stand on their own and make a tough call without consulting leadership, and this nonsense is only reinforcing their mentality. Leadership by excel.

NSA tracking of baseops confirmed..

Awesome, who then advocates for RPA's at higher levels? Both in and out of the AF? Who guides the acquisition and acts on behalf of the Air Force in addressing operational concerns of a higher level than tactical? When the Army CC is demanding action, who goes to bat for the AF? As Brabus pointed out you're not improving service, you're simply changing out one set of problems for another. They've heavily civilianized the Comm Sq's. Now I have Amn that can't get trained in certain areas since that's a civilian position, or contractor position. My civilians don't deploy, so automatically I've got a morale problem. Additionally the civilians are almost entirely Ex-military (most AF) of some rank and think the Amn/NCO's work for them. Doesn't matter we're 1/2 the size of the force from when they got out. They still want my guys building desks when they get FY funds for new furniture. I'm convinced most of the problems we're seeing with support in finance aren't due to bad Amn. It's bad training, removal of their ability to actually help you due to power consolidation, and workload/shortages preventing them from becoming experts. Yes, there's always bad Amn but problems this long speak to something else besides recruiting dirtbags continuously just in finance/MPF.

I spent a decade enlisted before I crossed over into the "O's". Granted all of my time has been in the Comm community, but the cultural differences between the O and E side are very hard for me to describe beyond "more is expected." Not just leadership, management, or other nebulous words that hold varying meanings. Sure I'd have E's that would stay with me late to work Inspection checklists, but no enlisted person was there as late as all the (non-sh*tbag) officers. Only one enlisted guy (MSgt in my flight) would look ahead more than 2 weeks to see what was coming up that could get the CC slapped. Signing my name to a piece of paper now means more, legally and personally, than it did before. My peers are conscious of their reputations more than my peers when I was enlisted. Sure, I'd have Amn innovate all day long to get the job done, and work inside/outside the rules, but we're nerds over here and that's what we do: anything for more World of Warcraft time. I never had one who would think into 3rd order effects of what they were doing, which is why they came to talk to me. In fact, I would have SNCO's decide they were going to implement cyber programs that would have destroyed our Sq because they lacked this attitude, or were never instructed in it. In Cyber MSG side our Amn are the technical experts. I'm highly discouraged to get involved in the actual equipment unless I've got a shoulder monkey watching, past experience be damned. Doesn't mean I couldn't do the work well, it's just not my place. Same for the E's thinking outside the box or other drivel cliche's we're going to use. In the end, Big Blue wants the Officer attitude and culture in RPA's for some reason.

Something, something... fat chicks.

I want to bitch about why we have all these "extra bullets" if they're not even really read. But I can't think of a better way to do a eval system without some sort of narrative, even if only a portion of it is read for promotion processes. However, much like the push to deflate EPR's is there a push at senior levels about the magic wording and/or different styles that are emerging out of each base? Hell, between 2 Wing CC's we had a change to the C-model, and acronyms/approved words shift significantly. Additionally is leadership, in your MAJCOM if that's your purview, aware to get this strat-by-excel process that appears to be happening all over that place (by that I mean my 2-assignments). Finally.. how aware are they/you of the douche-CC's who pass of their rating privileges on their subordinates? Got any advice on how to deal with it at a O2/O3 level? Thanks.