Gen Welsh - USAF Chief of Staff

[Mark1]

You guys all have it backwards.  He wants you to have a maximum of 7 teeth meshed counting from the crotch.

[Dupe]

3 hours ago, Mark1 said:

You guys all have it backwards.  He wants you to have a maximum of 7 teeth meshed counting from the crotch.

 

That's good way to get a bleeder....

[Majestik Møøse]

Maybe he means you can have up to 7 teeth open on the bottom to show some brain.

[Ram]

I dunno bout y'all, but I typically need a lot more than 7 teeth when I flash my chewed bubble gum.

[Napoleon_Tanerite]

[matmacwc]

2 hours ago, Ram said:

I dunno bout y'all, but I typically need a lot more than 7 teeth when I flash my chewed bubble gum.

Your chewed bubblegum has kimchi in it now......gross

[ATIS]

On ‎12‎/‎26‎/‎2015 at 8:29 PM, Lawman said:

But if I can't expect you to follow the pointless inane BS that doesn't actually have a written reg or policy letter to reference, how can I expect you to read my mind on all the actual mission decisions and do things that aren't written as a requirement...

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I hate this F-ing argument and I hear it all the time from management from above (fully understand the point Lawman is trying to make). 

Treat folks like big boys and girls...fully realize folks will get in trouble and you punish accordingly, zero defect mentality is BS.  This Dudley Do Right atmosphere is perminating all of our services (some more than others). 

When the gong goes off....I want folks running to the door to beat me though it.  Boss's concerned about "pointless inane BS" have lost the mindset of "running for the door"...something leaders in the profession of arms should never loose.  My opinion of course.

ATIS

[NEflyer]

On 12/26/2015 at 8:29 PM, Lawman said:

But if I can't expect you to follow the pointless inane BS that doesn't actually have a written reg or policy letter to reference, how can I expect you to read my mind on all the actual mission decisions and do things that aren't written as a requirement...

 

On 12/27/2015 at 9:54 AM, ATIS said:

I hate this F-ing argument and I hear it all the time from management from above (fully understand the point Lawman is trying to make). 

My rebuttal to that and the "If I can't trust you to wear your uniform in exact accordance to regs, how can I trust you in the aircraft" argument, is always... If your primary worry in life is how we wear our flight suits and closely we follow AFI 69-69, or substitute in any of the countless queepy things the AF cares about these days... How can we trust you to lead us? Given you've just made it glaringly obvious you don't prioritize tactical proficiency, job performance, morale, retention, or anything relating to effective leadership. 

I'd even go so far as to say that attitude is often indicative of poor performance in the aircraft as well. So much of aviation is prioritization and the ability to recognize the next most immediate [and real] threat. Worrying about say... zipper height, as opposed to how effectively one does their actual job... Is akin to checking if your last four are written correctly on the flight orders as you CFIT into the side of a mountain, or the proverbial rearranging of the deck chairs on the Titanic as you plow into an iceberg. 

 

Edited December 28, 2015 by NEflyer

[Champ Kind]

https://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/2015/12/29/need-know-2016-usaf-chief-staff-gen-mark-welsh-retire-summer/77760168/

I really wish people would stop publishing "CSAF" and "McD" in the same sentence.  You think things are bad now?  Just wait.

[Majestik Møøse]

What's the popular opinion on Everhart, the new AMC CC? I met him when he was the 1-star TACC CC in 2012 and he struck me as 1.) seeing the big picture and 2.) not a politician. He seemed to understand and agree with all of the gripes coming from our group of GRACC captains, which impressed us, at least. Obviously he's impressing others if he gained a star per year. I never thought he'd make it.

Edit: I'm not in AMC anymore, which is why I ask. It seems like he'd be a great change from the Johns-era legacies.

Edited December 29, 2015 by Majestik Møøse

[11F]

Gen Carlisle will be the next CSAF, and Gen Robinson will be the next NORTHCOM Commander. Carlisle will take the reins at the end of June.

https://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/policy-budget/leaders/2016/01/08/lori-robinson-next-northcom-head-hyten-mcdew-carlisle/78507984/

[Herk Driver]

Gen Carlisle will be the next CSAF, and Gen Robinson will be the next NORTHCOM Commander. Carlisle will take the reins at the end of June.

https://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/policy-budget/leaders/2016/01/08/lori-robinson-next-northcom-head-hyten-mcdew-carlisle/78507984/

I'd be surprised if it was not McDew.

[Champ Kind]

4 hours ago, Herk Driver said:

I'd be surprised if it was not McDew.

Lord help us

[SurelySerious]

I'd be surprised if it was not McDew. Lord help us

New core value: Appearance first?

[Champ Kind]

12 minutes ago, SurelySerious said:

 

New core value: Appearance first?

That's not even the half of it.  The guy will operate with blinders on with regard to ops tempo and personnel issues, taking the "you should just be happy to be here" approach.  The shallowness of his advocation for Airmen will dwarf Nortie's.

In short: with the manning issues we are facing and will continue to face, there couldn't be a worse choice in terms of retention.

Edited January 9, 2016 by Champ Kind

[Lord Ratner]

 

New core value: Appearance first?

That's not even the half of it.  The guy will operate with blinders on with regard to ops tempo and personnel issues, taking the "you should just be happy to be here" approach.  The shallowness of his advocation for Airmen will dwarf Nortie's.

In short: with the manning issues we are facing and will continue to face, there couldn't be a worse choice in terms of retention.

Good news if you want to stay in and get promoted.

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[Tonka]

On January 9, 2016 at 9:23 AM, Lord Ratner said:

Good news if you want to stay in and get promoted.

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I'm hoping there is some sarcasm in that statement... 

[Lord Ratner]

Good news if you want to stay in and get promoted.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

I'm hoping there is some sarcasm in that statement... 

Not really. If people have been voting with their feet under Welsh, it should continue or accelerate under less empathetic leadership. Those who wish to stay and make rank should have an easier time doing so, especially since those who leave these days seem disproportionately from the higher performers.

Quality of life may get worse, but there are plenty of people willing to endure anything for the faintest chance of being a colonel. Fewer people means better odds.

[Tonka]

I still don't think that is "good news"...i.e. "the Titanic is going down", "well good news there should be less of a line for the shuffle board games.  Quick re-arrange the lounge chairs to hear the band better."

I'm all for making rank and getting paid more, and there are at least a few jobs that I think would be fun to do with a couple of good promotions...but, if way too many people leave, what good does it do?  Maybe if we eventually figure out that we really have to do less with less, it might be good... I just don't see it happening in my career time frame.  So if you want to look at it that way, you are going to get promoted by attrition and have to deal with worsening and worsening conditions. 

How good did we feel about ourselves when we made it to Captain with a 99% promotion rate... didn't really give us much of an incentive to do much.  Multiply that through the rank of Lt Col and we get a lot of unmotivated individuals that sit around from 10-3 eating popcorn, drinking beer, and hitting the gym... wait maybe this is good news!

[Bender]

Good news if you want to stay in and get promoted. Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

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)?

How good did we feel about ourselves when we made it to Captain with a 99% promotion rate... didn't really give us much of an incentive to do much.  Multiply that through the rank of Lt Col and we get a lot of unmotivated individuals that sit around from 10-3 eating popcorn, drinking beer, and hitting the gym... wait maybe this is good news!

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

[Lord Ratner]

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)?

Mostly anecdotal. VSP for one. Since then, the people I know who are not taking the bonus or opting out of their next assignment have been the ones with strats and school slots.

The guys and gals I know these days who are positive about taking the bonus and making it to retirement no matter what are (not all, but mostly) worker bees, at best.

Five years ago when I would tell someone the bonus was a raw deal, most would look at me like I was nuts. Now it's rare to talk to someone who is sure about taking it, while passers abound. This is supported by data, at least.

[guineapigfury]

Here's my anecdata from the last year in my current squadron:  4 evaluators and 9 instructors dropped their papers.  There are plenty more lined up to follow them out the door as soon as ADSCs or enlistments are up.  The 6 dudes in my Squadron going to MEBs are all pretty damn good as well, so that doesn't help.  I've seen a handful of top notch dudes take the money, but for each one that does it seems like three punch and two break.  I hope it's going better elsewhere.

[HossHarris]

>you< can be the best of what's left!

 

(excellence through attrition)

[Duck]

Guineapigfury. It is the same at my base. However most people are trying to Palace Chase so at least they will still be in the total force. I have also noticed people leaving who have never been screwed by Big Blue but see how bad the current climate is and are getting jaded just from that. It is an interesting time for sure, and money is not the answer.

[17D_guy]

The best people I've worked with Cyber side are out or heavily considering it.  If they don't get out entirely, they palace chase.  Which is great for them.  Meanwhile, I'm sitting less than 5 years from retirement and I'm just... tired.  I'm tired, and I've been unable to deploy.  So I haven't even felt the suck of the 6/12's most cyber officers have been feeling.  

I don't have the people to support the missions we're asked to do.  The next large AEF-band is coming and it's going to be the super-suck for the base for another 6-months.  Where a single Airman takes leave, and I've got <30% work center output.  Looking at the already low manning levels and no-shit deploying 30% (as of now) of available Amn.  WHAT?

Last time it came down to "do we spend all day patching" or "do we spend all day working high priority tickets?"  I could not do both.  I refuse to hold my Airmen at work for extended periods of time when the AF can't figure out it's manning.  I'll burn, but I'm not going to force my Amn to.

I can't quit anything like the CSAF wants, because I don't have the authority to quit and the bosses don't want to ask.  Plus, what am I going to quit.. equipment accountability?  Patching?  Issuing new equipment?  Making iPhones work?  Making VPN work?  That awesome IA test?  

Sure... it might save a little time now, just wait until the next inspection or audit.  Especially since we get inspected by non-AF entities who don't care what some Gen said.

Edited January 12, 2016 by 17D_guy