zach braff

A Super P is a P with a bottom line stating "if I had one more DP," "my next DP if I had one," or something to that effect - effectively making the recipient that #1 of the P stack. They're not tracked officially, but its about the best chance of getting promoted with a P provided the records are there to back it up.

That would be cool - especially as he hasn't even mentioned a possible contender - not even as unlikely backup choice. At least that I've seen anyway.

Revival - Had orders to Hawaii - that just changed with a phone call. Off to the RoK... One question I wonder if anyone might have info on as I don't yet have a sponsor. Being assigned to a key billet/controlled tour - which is good for Command Sponsorship - but is that gonna require that I live on base? Can't find anything on what the policy is for housing but really prefer to be off base. zb

Thanks. Yeah I'm aware of the challenges on place-finding & schools. I think we may go private for the kiddo so we're not further limited by getting the place with the right school assignment - then we'll just attack whatever we can find on craigslist as soon as we hit the island. And I know we won't be saving a ton of money going off base either. What can you do. Was seeking more on the lifestyle in the area. From looking at Kailua and hearing from friends who have lived there, I picture it as laid back, lots of BBQing out back and trips into town for the beaches & coffee & brews… Is that close? zb

Bump. Off to Hickam this summer. What's the latest? We have a no-on-base-unless-forced-to rule and a kid starting kindergarten… Looking at the Kailua & Kaneohe areas, anyone have experience around there or anywhere else that is cool to live? zb

My take: All depends on the situation/position of the ratee & rater and the record. Two relatively equal records with a *he's a good guy" bottom line - maybe the Stars carry more weight depending on his/her position (i.e. NAF commander saying so vs. pentagon back-office 2-star saying so) - but there is an entire record to be reviewed regardless of who happens to be your SR now. Usually O-6 Wg/CCs have bigger strat pools so you can theoretically get a much better strat that way than from the 2-Star HAF/XPGESLCUEFVZ office A-Rng cubicle SR... Example - A shit-hot strat from an O-6 Wg/CC(#1,2,3/50 eligibles) is probably gonna be hotter than a #1/13 from a 3-Star... However if you're working for the star-holder in a special capacity (i.e. selected for position based on past performance) - that's gonna factor. So again - it depends...Yes - if the CSAF or COCOM/CC is personaly rating you, there is probably a reason and that is going to carry weight. But remember it's about the entire record though - so a long record of good performance is going to show regardless of the rank of SR. zb

Word up - the look is this summer, when you may not be pinned on, but it's for a school/program that would begin next summer, when you will be. And Cubbies22….take the small school program! zb

SRs are generally required to nominate all eligible selects unless they have a really good excuse (mission critical/hardship/etc), so expect a nom if you're a select and meet TOS requirements and stuff - the school nom PSDM will have the details. He/She can still make comments about not sending you yet, but clicking the nominate box will be mandatory in all likelihood. zb

Got a homie who met O-5 board APZ with a P and made it. I somehow got the IDE designator on my O-4 board while another dude who my SR stratted higher than me did not. Evidence would appear the boards really are looking at records and not only the SR bottom line. I hope it continues... zb

Ram and Harpy - the DLI situation changes with commanders methinks. I was there - same sq (314th) - 2012-2013 and it was the most big-boy training I have ever participated in. No crazy uniform rules other than the AETC mandated blues Monday (I wore ABUs all other times, pilot classmates wore flightsuits). I went through 2 Sq/CCs with the 314th and their only real requirement for the officer students was to stay out of trouble, pass your tests (or see them if you were having trouble so they could go to bat for you), and enjoy the student life. O's would help out with some of the first-term airmen events from time to time, but it was typically voluntary unless mandated by higher powers. I can count on one hand the amount of times I was mandated to do something outside of schoolwork and basic AF requirements (PT test, dental appt, etc) during my ~18 months there. Ram's experience with the squadron sounds like a complete 180 from what my pals and I experienced - I'm sorry it sucked. Get another cool CC in there and I'll bet it becomes super again. The language stuff will remain hard though. zb

DLAB scare stories: Had a buddy/mentor tell me how important it was to get a DLAB score on file so I took it and got a good score similar to his. The next week he got nonvol'd into Middle East RAS w/Arabic by his DT. I freaked and thankfully found a different program with a language I wanted to learn shortly after, but it was close. Ended up on RAS track anyway through another program but it's using the language I like and a region I give a sh-t about. Although I think now all Majors+ are required to take DLAB (it was on my promotion RIP). You consistently read in school/promotion PSDMs and such that they're not supposed to dock AFPAK hands and even give them special consideration, but it doesn't appear to be working. Likely this is because the AF hasn't followed CJCS intent of sending top dogs into the program though. Anyway, if you are interested in that region or a future with agencies (or contractor $$$) involved with it…amazing. If you are not - shittiest deal ever. zb

I can think of a lot of pretty sh-tty deals out there but AFPAK hands sounds like about the absolute worst of the worst of the sh-tty deals. zb

My A- was for writing a bottom line bullet that went something like this: "#1 Polish captain I've ever pretend-rated at SOS in my 5 year career!" They warned us about corny strats but it was worth it.

No COCOM/CC requirement for CSAF (or any service Chief), but to be Chairman one must have been either the Vice Chairman, a Service Chief, or a COCOM/CC. I was thinking Rand would be the next CSAF but the move to AFGSC likely rules that out. ref: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/152

I think the Duffel Blog did a better job of the LTs letter than she did. https://www.duffelblog.com/2015/04/resigning-commission/ Personally I though her letter kind of sucked and the rebuttal was awesome. Not that I'm against these resignation manifestos or ignoring the problems in the military - hers just struck me as lame. zb And the Joint Chiefs' response is the best of all: https://www.duffelblog.com/2015/04/jcs-dont-care-youre-resigning/ zb

They cut waaaaaay back on equivalency credit this year as well. You can only get DE credit if you are 1) a DE select on your board and 2) did the program during your DE window. What's up with that? Any ideas or RUMINT? ZB

What is this? What does it mean? Task Force Cyber Secure https://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/582062/air-force-stands-up-task-force-cyber-secure.aspx zb

Well there you have it. I stand corrected… Hope it does mean a better shot for candidates - at least for the ones that want to go to school. ZB

It was still about the usual 20% school selection - for IPZ Captains. The 16% overall is because there were a sh-t ton more APZ dudes that made major this round that added to the denominator. zb

You mean they at least kept your ticket open? I got a "we are pleased to inform you that your ticket has been resolved and closed" message in my civilian email without ever actually speaking or dealing with anyone, or having my actual problem resolved. What's your secret? Note that this was after the initial call about my official email not working where after a 20 minute conversation with the "help desk" the guy told me that they would email my official email about the problem. Me: "Did you miss the part over the last 20 minutes where I gave you every single specific piece of information about how my email doesn't work?" Guy: "Oh yeah…do you have an alternate address?" zb

Can we ask communications questions in the cyber thread too since 85% of Air Force cyber stuff is just comm with a futuristic sounding name? The Enterprise Service Desk system sucks. Sorry, that's a rant, not a question... Why does the Enterprise Service Desk system suck? zb

I like the guy that grabbed a girl's buttocks at a party and got court martialed. The Air Force should have sent some agents & JAGs to pretty much every hip hop night club I ever went to in my 20s - they would have had a field day. zb

Believe DLAB is required because ACSC has a language requirement while you're there, who knows though My DLAB is done already so non-issue here. I know several SAASS grads and a bud is a current SAASS student and loves it. At least among those guys, and regardless of some of the cynic posts here...none of them are "careerists," all great dudes. My guess is the selection board can differentiate who wants to become a strategist and who just wants to be a colonel/general. I figure I'll throw in an app when the time comes because getting paid to read and argue for a year doesn't seem like a bad deal. zb

RAS list is out. If you're on it - best of luck not getting a crappy region.

I made it and even managed to catch the IDE designator. Not an SOS DG or even in a good flight, never been an Exec (although I did do a CAG stint), never was Xmas party/CFC/AFAF lead and have never even met my SR in person… Heck after reading the stories from the BaseOps threads for the last 9 years it's a wonder I even made major at all! In seriousness, I think there were some changes - for the good - in what was valued this board. I'd be curious to know if any after-action or post-board slide decks will come out from the members - obviously they wouldn't have specifics but general "what we valued" info would be cool to see. Anyway, congrats to all those on the lists...both O-4 & O-6! zb