Dupe

So maybe the top 10% determination should be made at MLR to avoid the wing differences issue. Or maybe it should be top 5%... I'm just spit-balling here. The point is that we spend a retarded amount of time differentiating where differentiation doesn't need to be made (eg.. the very top and the fat middle). This PRF business is madness, and I'm deeply saddened that our senior leaders haven't managed to come up with anything better. Some say "our system works!" Well, the typewriter in my grandma's basement still works, too.

I am of the opinion that, at the top, strats don't matter. The 1/40 CGO and the 1/200 CGO will both get schools slots and be on their happy way. The challenge comes in two areas: the 80th percentile and roughly the 10th percentile. How we compare dudes for that very last school slot and how we determine the lowest guy on the promote list are extremely grey in our system. How the 8/40 CGO compares to the 40/200 guy is where a PRF-writer should be making maximum effort... I don't think that's happening. Liquid, GC, or some other lurker GO: WG/CCs already have a DNP option for their lowest folks. I think they should also have a "Promote w/ DE in residence" container as well. If that were available for the top 10%, then their PRFs could go up blank... The top 10% stamp says all that needs to be said (a MLR scrub could confrim that a WG/CC isn't trying to sneak a guy through). Additionally, there should be an easy option for the middle of the road guys. Folks who are in the 25th - 75th percentiles (perhaps determined at MLR) should be promoted with little fanfare and maybe a one-liner or blank PRF. Commanders should be enabled to focus their efforts where it really matters. Under this scheme, PRFs should only be written for the 90th-75th percentile (those with clear future potential, but not obvious shiny pennies), and the bottom 25% (those with an unclear future in the AF). It bothers me greatly that we spend so much time writing PRFs on folks clearly far from the seams of the system.

Since all players are safe, I can ask this question: If all the dudes on a B-1 punch safely, does that mean AFE gets four kegs? Or are they going to be cheap and split one barrel four ways?

Of course. I couldn't fit all the examples in one sentance. The best IP and leader I know in my community isn't a patch. At the same time, I've seen some pretty dumb assignments for WIC grads to get O-4s the tickets they need to compete for further promotions because the system-at-large requires it. Examples are sending fighter WIC grads to USAFA to be an AOC and knock out an AAD. Another is sending a patch to teach at SOS and then go to ACSC in-res as a follow-on. Both were wastes of our Air Force's investment in these individuals. Had we had a community or AFSC-specific promotion system in place, these assignments wouldn't have happened.

Rusty... I'm not arguing that the system is dumb here... I'm explaining the threat picture to others who may not understand it. The sad reality is that 4 of 5 dudes seeing a guy's record at the promotion table only have scant or passing knowledge of Air Force aviation... much less the guy's specific community or his performance within it. The 5th guy is probably rated, but he may not be familiar with the promotee's community. As a result, the board falls back on what they can easily quantify: strats, DGs, PME, DP vs P, and AAD. I personally think promotions should be AFSC or community-specific, and AF/A1 should just set the number of officers required in each year group and AFSC. That way, we're not stuck with trying to keep officers who are walking out the door in some careers, while simultaneously trying to boot officers in other careers. Career-specific boards could then decide what criteria they want to promote... engineers and scientists can look harder at AADs, the MAF can look at AC to IP progression, the CAF can promote WIC grads, MX officers can promote based on number of denied 2407s, etc. ...but nobody asked me.

Sure...but comparing duty titles amongst all officers in the Air Force is a difficult to near useless exercise. Being a Flt/CC in an Ops squadron is a very different responsibiilty level than being a Flt/CC in a CE squadron or LRS. The board members know this... which is why senior rater strat, being DG, PME completion, DP vs P, and AAD so important. Those things are comparable for all AFSCs.

If its in an OPR, it can be put into a PRF. How your flt/CC experience affects your strat and DP/P status is up to your WG/CC. The board does not spend enough time on your record to do a punch-list of positions held.

To me, this is all not very earth-shattering stuff. -RPAs will continue to grow in capability and relevance. At the same time, placing all of our resources towards RPAs (or any) single option is fool-hardy -Though the F-35 has much trouble, there is nothing else on the horizion that will be able to accomplish the role of strike and interdiction in a highly contested and denied environment. For that reason alone, the JSF is unlikely to be cancelled. The real nut-cutter is what we do with all the capability that we just don't need anymore (infrastructure, personnel, and programs), and this primer into the QDR didn't even touch upon it. Maybe the real QDR will.

I'm doing a staff/acquisitions tour. To keep from hanging myself, I'm doing a rediculous amount of CFI work on the side.

What's wrong with doubling up on lodging? Eventually, you'll be in a tent/cadillac/B-hut with all your bros and you'll have to figure out how to sleep despite everyone snoring, getting up, Facetiming/Skyping back home, or secretly trying to rub one out.

All the pipeline and traffic watch stuff could go to RPAs, as could some of the aerial survey market. Police departments may want airborne observation that's cheaper and can be on scene sooner than current rotary wing assets. I could see forestry services wanting a widget to scan for hot-spots during or after a fire. The research types may want something that tracks spotted horned whales for hours on end. Realtors of high-end properties want a cheaper source of aerial imagery. I see a wide market for RPAs... just one that doesn't involve airline operations.

Also...I hear China is a growing threat and there's instability in the middle-east.

Not unlike the operational 11H world, blue-patched RW folks are challenged career-wise beyond their first test assignment. AFMC has exactly 1 RW SQ/CC spot and we don't have any firm RW staff positions. That picture leads to stunted career opportunities. I cannot think of a single RW TPS-grad O-6. That said, connections with industry are very good with this job. A conversation with a current helo test pilot is a must for any RW guy considering applying to TPS.

How many are then 7-day opting the TX spot? That'd be telling...

I suspect the author was not rated: Within the MX, CE, or Contracting world, those with the most deployments and highest alimony payments are the "winners."

FWIW: There's only two corporations I know of whot require an ATP for hiring, and neither of them are hiring right now. All the other firms only require you to have ATP mins and the written complete. Most outfits will then give you an ATP as part of their sim check. Ironically, I know a Marine Corps squadron that regularly invites a FAA inspector (not a DPE... a FSDO type) to fly with them in a C-12 to knock ATPs out for folks.

Let's crank up that 0-4 line number generator!

The really funny thing is when these guys then stand up and say "Life balance is important" when we all know these types Q3'd life balance in service to the AF. I've seen the life of 0-6s / GOs...that doesn't look fun. I sure hope it's rewarding. There's the rub for senior officers: convincing the right guys that further family sacrafice is actually worth it. The ego-driven micromanagers don't need convincing... the guys that should be leading the AF very much do. Right now, quite alot of those guys are punching.

The board understands strats and how you compare with your officer peers. The members of the board may not specifically understand any of the ladder-rungs that are unique to your career field. 4/5ths of the officers seeing your records don't care either way about the minutia of which nonflying duties you held. Because our system promotes the best officers (and not necessarily the best rated officers), young guys must understand the importance of strats and DG from schools.

My understanding is that you don't automatically get a regular ATP. Instead, you are entitled to a regular ATP once you've achieved the ATP experience requirements. That means a trip to the FSDO with your logbook. For a cat-and-dog service like this, a print out of rule that allows what you're trying to do helps.

I'll be the heretic: I'm actually learning stuff in ACSC DL. That said, I'm not sure the opportunity cost is worth it. Hopefully, knocking it out now will enable me to go to a non-Maxwell based program for school later. The ILAs suck and I'm shocked by the dumbness my classmates bring up. The papers and TDQs are forcing me to go back and read the material I previously speed-clicked through. It makes me wonder if the course really should just be three of the discussion/paper modules and shit-can all the CBT and ILA stuff. I also can't fathom how we justified having a bunch of retired O-6s on the payroll to moderate this... I'm curious what the costs are compared to the old book-and-test method.

Look guys... iron doesn't move, especially from CONUS to OCONUS, without congressional approval. The current Chief knows this and the last one paid dearly for it. I think this is DOA.

Who then will deploy to be the joint exec?

To follow on: Do not let your CFI expire. Your CFI ticket has a 24-month clock on it, and there's no such thing as a Mil-Comp CFI recertification. You can use an Instructor Form 8 that's no older than 12 months to renew your CFI. You can also use the standard civilian routes if ground deployments, staff jobs, or the like get in the way. American Flyers $75 renewal for life seems to be the best deal out there, but its painful. Do not let your CFI expire or else you'll be explaining chandelles and constant speed props to a FAA designated examiner.

I essentially have a 9-5 job as a program manager in AFMC after flying fighters for 10 years. To say that the 9-5 thing blows is an understatement. My wife regularly asks "Are you thinking about hurting yourself?"