Bender

Holy bomb. "Have excellence"? Someone tell me what that means to the United States Air Force. One of the best Chang lines ever... Bendy Edit: why can't I curse anymore? Do I do that too much?

I laughed at that... Bendy

If I've ever seen a sports bitch...that's it. When did you decide you wanted to stay? 12? 13? The day you clicked I'll go to school? Sure, with 16 in and 4 to go, the math may skew...but, why post that? No one, other than those in charge of it believes that ACSC or AWC will make you a leader. The people working around you (for you) often show you how to be a better leader. Wether you are one or not is on you. You're right, you are or or aren't with few exceptions. I do not believe we're giving SOS DG to people who aren't...for what that's worth. Chang's a shit nut...the only difference is on here I can call him a shit nut. If we worked together, I'd have to apologize for calling him a shit nut, then not get to call him a shit nut again...you know cause I have no privacy and all. If retirement is the only goal, it's the wrong goal. I DO NOT scoff the goal, but it's supposed to be more than that. Maybe career tracks can help sort some of that out...I really like that idea. Some of us are just going to have to stick it out to make our country a safer place...stand by for the point where it's decided that's not needed...with the complimentary 365. So much emotion, so many problems, so few empowered leaders... Tough, tough, tough, Bendy

Naturally. You'll have to ask people to share them individually...although it would be in interesting topic to see people post their PRF bullets with basic demographic data (B/I/APZ, DP/P/NP, etc.) and result. I always tell people they should find a PRF early on from a mentor they respect, so they have an idea of where they're going OPR to OPR. I have no secret repository, nor have I kept any that I've worked on (other than my own). That said, I would imagine a starting point here would be having trouble finding a stratification for each line, being forced to use third tier stratifications, or CGO stratification for the O-5 IPZ. Shrug...the actual "gray zone" generalization will change every time, but I bet it has some commonality through out. Probably not very helpful. I'd share mine, but it's a 1 below and (I'd like to think, at least) not in the area that would shed light on your question. Bendy

How are we in a spot where a guy even wonders here? Unless there is "the rest of the story", this is a slam dunk. Almost makes think there is something you're now sharing and trying to get a half truth here. Bendy

Well there is the meat of it, isn't it. Would we have this conversation in a peacetime force? Hypothetical, of course... I agree there is a tenuous connection to a threat to our country and its way of life...but, you of all people should know, there is a very real connection to the life of young Americans who are on the ground in very dangerous situations. I can't say I'd include a 179 to PowerPoint in that...a deployed billet audit and restructuring is needed and it boggles my mind this hasn't happened yet. Never at any time have I ever seen a complete disregard for the well being of the service member or their family affairs...maybe other communities have higher tempos than the one I just left, where such luxuries aren't available or sought. If so, that it grade A bullshit and I'd walk too. Bendy

If you want to try and take something complicated and make it binary, perhaps disengagement is the best course of action. Making it binary is the exact reason people bitch about it to begin with. All over the place my ass... Good on ya, Moose. Question for you: How do you mean it when you say career? This gets said all the time, to me it's as if people commissioned or enlisted with 20 year commitments. Doing things "for your career" (family being only one of many things/reasons and certainly the least sinister among them) is yet another of the exact reasons people bitch about it to begin with. I like this one...and those making any decision (should) be well aware. To me, as soon as the the equation is no longer in your favor or at least balanced, it's time to punch. Your "career" is terminated. Bendy

You do what you do when you put on your uniform for the Air Force? This what was just implied and to use Champ's words, "absolutely the wrong answer." This might be part of our collective problem right there. You should be doing it for your family and your family's families, as distinctly and directly as it could possibly be. If you are doing it for the Air Force itself, it's just a job and you should make your snappy quips to the management at Delta or Costco. You've lost your way in serving your country and need to recage or separate. To do your best to care for families and bring them with us out the other side is "absolutely the wrong answer"? You think we should, specifically as a service to our country put ourselves (by proxy our families) first? Interesting prism...you can put your family first by going to work at Costco. We need to do better, I absolutely agree, but if "trying our best" is "absolutely the wrong answer" (particularly when that's all you have to offer) it as hollow as the guide we're currently possessed with. It's not an all or nothing, or a "you're all in" (a statement I loathe by the way). However, if you are going to go out of your way to avoid hardship while others bear it...get the fuck out of the way. If you think what you do isn't important to the welfare of the people and principles you thought you protected when you signed up all the years ago...get the fuck out of the way. I think your family is important. I also think this work we do is important. If you leave it up to Big Blue to take care of your family, you're a fuck tard. Make the choices you need to make, if it's too much for you, step aside and let someone else with more flexibility step in to help. There is a massive gray area here when almost everyone is threading the line of maintaining the Homefront while executing the down range mission...it's on you to work it out, all you should ask of someone else is their honest best to balance things. There is and will never be any doubt who one would chose if you had to choose one or the other...if there was, you should probably file for divorce (Oklahoma is a good place for that I hear). Give me a fucking break, Champ. Sometimes you're such a tool. You know I know you're not, but sometimes... Bendy

Sometimes things aren't an argument or a retort, but rather a personal expansion beyond (perhaps away from) your point which was initially quoted. Sorry, man...I could have "de-quoted" you or made it more clear. My disconnect is more general/philosophical, certainly not (as far as I know) with you... Promotions beyond O-3 aren't automatic, but I would agree that the percentages are high (for O-4/O-5). That said, what's to change here, assuming change is required to incentivize the officer corps? In my opinion, the change required is whatever is making promotion a required incentive. I speak only for myself, but I would do my job no less well knowing I was not going to make O-5. It only means I won't get to serve any longer...this isn't the greatest job on earth for most (there are some people who truly love to fly jets or code computers for reduced wages, sure)...it's still service, still sacrifice, still costs way too much for most, everything for some. The average price is too high at this point; we need a discount soon or we'll go broke. Not being able to sustain family life is a legitimate concern and one I think should be a source of attention and concern for leadership at all levels...that said, you should feel lucky to have that at the Squadron level in this Air Force, you don't have it higher then that. Senior leadership of the service can't even suggest taking the foot off the gas pedal, the combatant commands aren't going to suggest it (perhaps more rightfully so), but either way...we send many, many, many Airmen into tailspins that can't be recovered without ejection. I see definitely see a lot more selfies and self-aggrandizement from above than I do selfishness from below. Maybe not as disconnected as I think sometimes; although, if we're here to do the job, we're all going to do the absolute fucking best to do it...we'll try our best to bring the marriages, children, some of the girlfriends, hookers, and booze with us out the other side. That was an appropriate place for an Oxford comma, Bendy

I'm hoping there is some sarcasm in that statement... ...especially since those who leave these days seem disproportionately from the higher performers. What makes you think this, Ratner? I can't lay the same claim from my seat, but perspective is simply that...some go, but some stay...is that different than the way it's always been (some have just gone earlier lately, which isn't all a bad thing)? Fuck man...did you somehow think year 5 was some sort of fucking feat? If simply being in year 5 was supposed to somehow incentivize you, I have no idea where you're coming from. You should still have been teeth to the stone, fucking shit up at that point. Come to think of it, you should be balls to the fucking wall all the time (O-3 or O-5, or whatever), in the military or out, or you aren't one of these "keepers" Ratner is talking about. I'm growing a big disconnect here and I'm struggling to figure out if it's the difference between 2003 "KoolKat" Bender and 2016 Bender, or just a lot of overly sensitive, it didn't work out the way I wanted, crying it's the system and not me bullshit. There is zero doubt in my mind that the service is fucked up and needs some major focus. But if it's just me, that would be nice to know, so I can moderate my slide into not giving a shit from here on out. There are PLENTY of sharp, motivated, hard working Airmen, NCOs, SNCOs, CGOs, and FGOs I've had the privilege of working with all the way up until now...I like my team, but I do agree the coaching staff could do a better job. If you don't want to coach when you get done playing, more power to you...go find something else to do. There is no shame in that. In fact, there is absolutely nothing wrong with very publicly criticizing the coaching when you aren't even in the organization (anymore, or even ever); we do it every Sunday! Bendy

Let's continue to focus on making good Flag Officers and continue neglecting making good Squadron Commanders...Interesting excerpts from the paper Chuck shared:"Earning "distinguished graduate" (DG) status is as important as the educational aspects of SOS..."Of course it is...DG status is the first of 2 0/1 bits for HPO designation at O-3/O-4 transition."...acquiring an advanced academic degree is deemed by the Air Force as a requisite milestone for either promotion consideration and/or IDE in-residence selection."Of course it is...IDE in-residence selection is the second 0/1 bit for HPO designation at O-3/O-4 transition.DG status and IDE in-residence, topped off with a week long Squadron Commander's course is the first half (the important half) of making a senior leader..."Like squadron command, in-residence SDE is another indicator of high potential."These are naturally exactly the same thing, right...If we have failed you so far, AWC will fix it."Squadron command is a key indicator for increased rank and responsibility and usually is the result of careful growth within the squadron structure itself (e.g., squadron DO, deputy commander)."Of course it is...very careful growth within the dilapidated, struggling, squadron structure itself...led by a squadron commander we completely fucked over getting him/her ready for more than half the responsibility to grow the very senior leaders we claim to have a problem with.This topic is super fun,Bendy

If you consider UP -> MP -> AC -> IP -> EP career progression, sure... Never mind, everything is perfect in 11X world I guess. I'm going to go volunteer for something now, Bendy

I didn't say they didn't (there is more to the flying world than 11X) and I agree they should be aware, however I don't think they are all that aware. Working knowledge of the Vol 1/2 is enough of a bridge most of the time. My point was CFETPs and career planning aren't really things 11X does much of. You can add multitudes of acquisition, Intel, etc. to your list alongside enlisted aircrew. 11X just doesn't seem to feel the need to manage much of anything...we can't even figure out the difference between Core ID and RTDM is. I add 11X Career Field Managers to my list of, "Honestly, what do you do all day?". Bendy

Haha...do you think 11X's even know what that is? Ooh...tell us more. I'm not even fucking sure there is a single 11X Career Field Manager. There's the wheel...who's got it? aMS Robot, here to serve...MQ-1 for you, MQ-9 for you, ...I like you...White Jet for you, MQ-1 for you... Back to fixing Cyber...that IS important. Let's at least do that here... Bendy

Me too...exactly 4 posts ago. Bendy

Very soon; expect the number to be closer to 30% than 50% for the remaining MC-12 personnel. The 11F community stepping back from filling white jets will alter the situation slightly. Bendy

That's cute; maybe if things worked they way they should. The "must move" suck is in full effect, I believe stop loss is not here, yet. We're forced into sending our good guys to RPAs, but they "spare" the "stratified" guys/gals for the other assignments. Who's going to fix this? We've sent top people, well AFPC has, but we spared our leaders at all opportunity. Who's going to fix this? Me? I volunteered to go to this shit at a point in my career where this should be fun (mostly). [i'm a major now, believe that shit?] I'll take it on, but as a DO or SQ/CC, you aren't doing anything beyond mitigation here with the authority I've seen to date. Whose is going to fix this? If I try, will I just end up fired? I've seen #1/150 go to RPAs without a notice or a complaint... I've seen a guy get "protected" because we happened to send him to the wing... I've seen us take a "as #1/731" and give them a bomber... #1/731...young captain too...if that person shouldn't lead our UAV core, who should? Me? I'll do my best. The deck is stack against us...by us. Weird, Bendy

With an ADSC through August 2015, what is being lost waiting until that month to sign a contract? Someone with an ADSC in January 2015 (uncommitted already), you're saying is being prorated for every day that goes by with out a contract...assuming the 20 YAS option (potentially the 5 year also)? I missed the proration terms in the PSDM...did I, or are those only included in the contract itself? Bendy

Explain this for caveman Bender please. Bendy

I have no knowledge of what was said, but I bet a solid, "What a fucking drunk" within earshot of the panel would be good enough to generate this result. We'll find out the specifics eventually... Bendy

I plan to sign an ARP contract; at this point it will most likely be the RPA cross-flow option to 20 YAS (a choice that merely maximizes "economic rent" already being paid by the USAF). The MC-12 squadrons have already made the majority of their collective feelings known during the VSP offering. The remaining crew dawgs are living about as much uncertainty as one can find in the rated community these days. There are few left to take the bonus, but those that did not VSP can be expected to take it in some fashion, but there are a handful of known exceptions. With a number of pilots accepting VSP just prior to their ARP eligibility, the ARP numbers should be slightly bolstered without denoting any consensus shift. This could be quantified, but the only ones with all that data probably don't see the value in understanding it. Bendy

Apparently, for you, it is now...and that's okay. The Air Force is doing a lot of things wrong, and a lot of things right. You need to go ahead and do what is right for you; I'm glad you know what that is. Go ahead, finish your beer, and stop telling me what the fuck to do. Bendy

History is what it is, so shouldn't say always or never. Were any of the 157 on active ARP agreements extending beyond 15 years of service? The current program cuts the starting point of the offer off at 15 years, I believe. Uncommitted pilots taking a lump sum the year they are looking at 2 APZ should be well aware that the money may need to turn right back around...pilots still BTZ, have 2 to 4 years to work off, fulfilling almost the first half of the 5/9 year commitments. I'm consistently surprised at how the "world" around me functions, but to sign an ARP contact to be non-continued, following the drawdown that just occurred...seems unlikely. Can the AF terminate the ARP contract without an FEB/MEB cause? Bendy

The PSDM says the unearned portion must be repaid, but is also waiverable (SecAF). Seems unlikely anyone would be in a situation to need to repay the entire amount and even more unlikely to get any repayment waived. Bendy

He's my neighbor...heard the same thing from my Boss Man today. Bendy