Promotion and PRF Information

[disgruntledemployee]

So making O-4 is like making O-3.  Seems so easy.  Place all the DNPs in a pile, review for justice or injustice and make the call.  Everyone else moves along.  Wow, I just saved hundreds of hundreds of man-person hours on a promotion process.  Next...

Out

[17D_guy]

Well.. not just this YG - 

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2017/09/18/all-eligible-air-force-captains-to-be-promoted-to-major-for-next-three-four-years/

"Goldfein also said that promoting all qualified captains will mean squadron commanders won’t have to do the paperwork involved, which he said amounted to “a pretty significant administrative burden” and would free up considerable amounts of their time.

Wilson also said that without these promotion boards, squadron commanders will have to step up and tell underperforming captains that they’re not cutting it.

“If you’ve got a captain who really shouldn’t become a major, you need to step forward and say so, and not move it to some faceless promotion board,” Wilson said."

[bronxbomber252]

Well.. not just this YG - 
https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2017/09/18/all-eligible-air-force-captains-to-be-promoted-to-major-for-next-three-four-years/
"Goldfein also said that promoting all qualified captains will mean squadron commanders won’t have to do the paperwork involved, which he said amounted to “a pretty significant administrative burden” and would free up considerable amounts of their time.
Wilson also said that without these promotion boards, squadron commanders will have to step up and tell underperforming captains that they’re not cutting it.
“If you’ve got a captain who really shouldn’t become a major, you need to step forward and say so, and not move it to some faceless promotion board,” Wilson said."

Well... if nothing else, I don't have to worry about my board next year if this actually happens like it seems it will. (I'm a 2010 guy so my board is 2018)

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

47 minutes ago, 17D_guy said:

“If you’ve got a captain who really shouldn’t become a major, you need to step forward and say so, and not move it to some faceless promotion board,” Wilson said."

So at what point prior to the next board is the AF going to provide CC's the spine to truly mentor and state an individuals worth in the squadron to their face? This is a novel concept by the Secretary, but I posit that it will not happen in the next 4 years. CC's typically let someone else do their dirty work or have become all too accustomed to utilizing PRF subtleties to eliminate an individual. 

[dream big]

15 hours ago, AlphaMikeFoxtrot said:

So at what point prior to the next board is the AF going to provide CC's the spine to truly mentor and state an individuals worth in the squadron to their face? This is a novel concept by the Secretary, but I posit that it will not happen in the next 4 years. CC's typically let someone else do their dirty work or have become all too accustomed to utilizing PRF subtleties to eliminate an individual. 

While I agree with you, it is not up to someone else to tell me as a leader to be a f$&king man and give someone feedback to their face.  My old Sq/cc would rack and stack everyone, and wouldn't hesitate to tell someone they were his #99/99, why they were 99 and what they could do to fix it.

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

9 hours ago, dream big said:

While I agree with you, it is not up to someone else to tell me as a leader to be a f$&king man and give someone feedback to their face.  My old Sq/cc would rack and stack everyone, and wouldn't hesitate to tell someone they were his #99/99, why they were 99 and what they could do to fix it.

Dream...I wish that your experience was more of the norm. Unfortunately, in my experience leadership has typically passed the buck on making the call on many under-performers. I am not talking about individuals who force commanders to take action after a DUI/e-ticket/etc, but rather those who just aren't performing in the top 85% but do just enough to get by, legally. Does the CSAF still want those individuals promoted? To me it is obvious not to promote those with a UIF (though I know not all UIFs are equal) but it's not obvious what the Chief's expectations are in his latest comments.

My original comment was tongue-in-cheek...I've worked for some great commander's, many that I consider close confidantes a decade plus after I worked for them. One of which is lauded by many in this forum for his AF viral blog. The weakness I witnessed by each of them was to nip poor performance in the bud. Maybe I am a bit jaded, but I have a gut feeling that going forward without any regulated accountability, commanders will not "be a f$&king man" and choose the path of least resistance. How long was fire-wall fives a known problem? Everyone knew the right thing was to mark individuals down to truly depict many individuals records but the top 85% were firewalled! I expect the negative connotation to "be a man" and have an individual without a UIF or any obvious negative discriminators passed over, even if it's the right thing to do, will outweigh their decision to speak up. Just my .02, not how I would handle it, nor is is how I want it done.

[disgruntledemployee]

1 hour ago, AlphaMikeFoxtrot said:

Dream...I wish ...

OK, but now the promo game has changed for the next few years.  The man (or woman) to impress is the CC, not a board, at least til O-5.  We may see unit/aircraft performance become the leading indicator of leadership and promotion.  Records will still need good (enough) paper for O-5 and on, and for PSCing to that new boss.  I think it'll be an interesting period and a process that may stick around for more than 4 years/boards. 

What will be interesting is the outside pressures to keep people instead of letting them go.  

Out

Edited September 20, 2017 by disgruntledemployee
English, MFer, I can't spell it

[ColoradoAviator]

So... anybody have intel on if/when Congress might approve the O-4 promotion list for the 2008 YG?  The first batch is set to pin on "1 Oct or Senate confirmation, whichever is later."  

Edited September 23, 2017 by ColoradoAviator

[dream big]

Well, so much for “re-vitalizing the squadrons.”  An unidentified active duty Airlift Wing in Texas’s Wing Commander is still making 09 guys submit PRFs.  My exec bros are in on the weekend to edit the PRFs before his deadline...

He also has a new policy of limiting flying bullets on OPR to two per OPR, even for LTs.  What in the actual F@&$?  

I have to admit I have tried to be optimistic about these new changes, but for those of you who are beyond the point of reproach by the Air Force (Duck), you aren’t wrong.  There are deep rooted cultural issues in the Air Force and the one that upsets me the most is the lack of focus on getting metal in the sky and obsession with OPRs, records and careerism.  

[panchbarnes]

To be or to do...

[matmacwc]

AD airlift wing in TX?  I've been around the block a few times and I can't figure that one out.  SA is reserve.  

[BFM this]

4 minutes ago, matmacwc said:

AD airlift wing in TX?  I've been around the block a few times and I can't figure that one out.  SA is reserve.  

West TX

[Warrior]

That must be the new wing formerly known as the 317AG. (Dyess)

[BashiChuni]

3 hours ago, dream big said:

Well, so much for “re-vitalizing the squadrons.”  An unidentified active duty Airlift Wing in Texas’s Wing Commander is still making 09 guys submit PRFs.  My exec bros are in on the weekend to edit the PRFs before his deadline...

He also has a new policy of limiting flying bullets on OPR to two per OPR, even for LTs.  What in the actual F@&$?  

I have to admit I have tried to be optimistic about these new changes, but for those of you who are beyond the point of reproach by the Air Force (Duck), you aren’t wrong.  There are deep rooted cultural issues in the Air Force and the one that upsets me the most is the lack of focus on getting metal in the sky and obsession with OPRs, records and careerism.  

Goldfein should fire this guy on the spot for insubordination. 

Only that type of drastic action will move the needle. 

[LookieRookie]

8 minutes ago, BashiChuni said:

Goldfein should fire this guy on the spot for insubordination. 

Only that type of drastic action will move the needle. 

Checks. It won't happen though.

[matmacwc]

Dyess is not west TX and is ACC.

[HU&W]

3 minutes ago, matmacwc said:

Dyess is not west TX and is ACC.

317th AW is AMC and at Dyess, in Central Texas.

[icohftb]

West texas, central texas.... who cares?

[SurelySerious]

1 hour ago, matmacwc said:

Dyess is not west TX and is ACC.

Sadly ACC has given way to AFGSC on the bomb wing side. 

[matmacwc]

1 hour ago, icohftb said:

West texas, central texas.... who cares?

good point

[hispeed7721]

18 hours ago, dream big said:

He also has a new policy of limiting flying bullets on OPR to two per OPR, even for LTs.  What in the actual F@&$?  

So, your primary job is flying...but you can only list 2 bullets for it? Even in today’s AF, this is a huge WTF. My last OPR only had 2 bullets that weren’t flying related. If the CSAF has any resolve whatsoever he would fire this guy ASAP 

[Guest]

Can someone provide some “best of” stories from his Sq/CC days? I’ve heard less than stellar things, but always in vague terms.

[BADFNZ]

From what I've heard from some bros at Dyess, the shit the new AW/CC has implemented could fill up its own thread.

Edited September 24, 2017 by BADFNZ

[mcbush]

The first thing I always think of from his Sq/CC days was how much he liked to berate people for walking on his grass. There's about a two foot wide berm between the parking lot and the road in front of the squadron that everybody always walks over because it's a much more direct route than going all the way down to the sidewalk. His office on the second floor overlooked this whole scene perfectly, and he would allegedly spend his days peering down into the parking lot looking for violators. Over the years, many well-meaning dudes and dudettes were summoned into his office and dressed down at attention, most of whom were brand new LTs on their first day in the squadron who didn't recognize the importance of walking around said grass. It always rubbed me the wrong way that their first ten minutes in the "real Air Force," having finally made it through UPT and everything else, was spent getting bitched out by that guy. What a way to welcome somebody to the squadron...

[Duck]

2 hours ago, mcbush said:

The first thing I always think of from his Sq/CC days was how much he liked to berate people for walking on his grass. There's about a two foot wide berm between the parking lot and the road in front of the squadron that everybody always walks over because it's a much more direct route than going all the way down to the sidewalk. His office on the second floor overlooked this whole scene perfectly, and he would allegedly spend his days peering down into the parking lot looking for violators. Over the years, many well-meaning dudes and dudettes were summoned into his office and dressed down at attention, most of whom were brand new LTs on their first day in the squadron who didn't recognize the importance of walking around said grass. It always rubbed me the wrong way that their first ten minutes in the "real Air Force," having finally made it through UPT and everything else, was spent getting bitched out by that guy. What a way to welcome somebody to the squadron...

When I heard some douche was yelling at people for this, it made me start going out of my way to walk on any grass I could find. Glad to finally put a name with my rebellion!