Promotion and PRF Information

[pawnman]

WTF? You have serious reading comprehension issues! I had two kids before finishing UPT. My point was the exact opposite of what your applying to me. I was acknowledging that family is a choice as well, and you're a moron if you think it isn't. Nobody forced you to knock up the Mrs... Family is a choice, but that doesn't mean it's going to take a back seat to anything at my house.

Here's some new advice for you: go re-read my posts, and re-think about what it says. I'm with you. My family is with me for the long haul, and vice-versa.

Okay, back to the discussion.

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Well, then I took it wrong. Because I've had people tell me it's a choice before, and usually they are implying that I'm choosing not to get promoted if I put the family above the Air Force when it comes to queep.

Maybe you managed to get a stellar MBA from Harvard while deploying, going TDY, and keeping the kids well-entertained. If so, I wish I knew the secret. I did what the Air Force asked of me, in the way that required the least amount of sacrifice for the family.

[slackline]

Well, then I took it wrong. Because I've had people tell me it's a choice before, and usually they are implying that I'm choosing not to get promoted if I put the family above the Air Force when it comes to queep.

Maybe you managed to get a stellar MBA from Harvard while deploying, going TDY, and keeping the kids well-entertained. If so, I wish I knew the secret. I did what the Air Force asked of me, in the way that required the least amount of sacrifice for the family.

Okay, this time with less venom. I have been extremely lucky, as I've stated before, and I had good bros and bosses looking out for me in terms of ranking, awards, opr's, etc. I do not have an AAD or even Bac+. Still somehow got picked up for school. I stayed late when staying late was required, I took my share of bad deal tdy's, last second deployments, etc. When that crap wasn't required, I was out of there the earliest possible opportunity I could be. In fact, in my previous assignment, my boss was a real good dude. He always told us that if the work was done, and we could manage to stay ahead of things, we could clear our shops out as long as it was never abused. I, to the dismay of some one here, was running the biggest shop in the sqd, and I kicked my guys home to be with the family, work on CCAF, PT, etc as often as I possibly could. Big picture focus truly kept our sqdn running smoothly. Boss told us he would worry about big picture, and leave little picture crap to us as long as the little picture crap got done.

Best dude I ever worked for!

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Edited June 19, 2013 by slackline

[Champ Kind]

You have mentioned your story in some form or another a few times...

I hope you realize just how lucky you are, and that your story is definitely an anomaly.

[slackline]

You have mentioned your story in some form or another a few times...

I hope you realize just how lucky you are, and that your story is definitely an anomaly.

Yeah, I apologize. My intent was not to sing my own praises. I was simply trying to point out that occasionally you do find good leaders that do look out for you, or your bros that put you in for awards when deployed.

I am incredibly grateful for the leaders that have given me the chances I've been given, and fully recognize that I'm no better than anyone else. Promise won't bring it up again.

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[Mike Honcho]

You have mentioned your story in some form or another a few times...

I hope you realize just how lucky you are, and that your story is definitely an anomaly.

Don't shit on him for that. While it may be an anomaly, it exists. You can't blame a man for appreciating what he has/had and trying to show others that hope is still alive.

I've never written my own OPR and my flight at SOS couldn't believe it. But I wasn't ball walking.

[Champ Kind]

I should have added a caveat at the bottom that I wasn't trying to shit on you, and no apology is necessary. I acknowledge that it is difficult to interpret emotion on the interwebs.

Unless you're a douche (I don't know you... you don't come across as such, though), I am glad that things have worked out for you. I like seeing good things happen to good people.

You have a good story. It definitely falls into the, "see, it can be done" category.

[ThreeHoler]

Don't shit on him for that. While it may be an anomaly, it exists. You can't blame a man for appreciating what he has/had and trying to show others that hope is still alive.

I've never written my own OPR and my flight at SOS couldn't believe it. But I wasn't ball walking.

I think it is less of an anomaly than people think...since most of the people who come here come here to bitch.

[17D_guy]

https://www.af.mil/ne...sp?id=123351830

Just saw this solid-gold article on AF.mil, the quote below sums the article up nicely - and pretty much confirms all of our thoughts about filling squares...

"The choice is yours and yours alone. Be willing to accept the consequences. Don't say, "He/she only got Senior Airman below-the-zone because he went to school." Rather, you must say, "I lost because I chose not to go to school. I chose not to fill the squares."

I thought not getting SrA BTZ was due to not having tits.

[Cell Dweller]

I thought not getting SrA BTZ was due to not having tits.

That only applies to Cyber Ops.

[Guest ThatGuy]

I walked into the BTZ board having to compete against two other SrA who were females. You were graded on your answers and BTZ package. One of the SrA was in my squadron and we both were on day shift together. We didn't know the other SrA. I walked out of the board knowing I was going to get my stripe. My supervisors "bred" (LOL) me to win boards. I say that because I can articulate myself pretty well. My supervisors told me my BTZ package would be solid and all I needed to do was show up and do my part. Needless to say, I garnered my stripe. Now that I think about it I did check some boxes...Red Rope, Awards, going to school, volunteer work, and one hell of a basketball player for the squadron.

[soultrain]

I walked into the BTZ board having to compete against two other SrA who were females. You were graded on your answers and BTZ package. One of the SrA was in my squadron and we both were on day shift together. We didn't know the other SrA. I walked out of the board knowing I was going to get my stripe. My supervisors "bred" (LOL) me to win boards. I say that because I can articulate myself pretty well. My supervisors told me my BTZ package would be solid and all I needed to do was show up and do my part. Needless to say, I garnered my stripe. Now that I think about it I did check some boxes...Red Rope, Awards, going to school, volunteer work, and one hell of a basketball player for the squadron.

Cool story, bro.

[zach braff]

I did not get picked up for BTZ. Then two weeks later I got picked up for ROTC scholarship. Moral: Not good enough for SrA? Just become an officer instead!

zb

[Guest ThatGuy]

I did not get picked up for BTZ. Then two weeks later I got picked up for ROTC scholarship. Moral: Not good enough for SrA? Just become an officer instead! zb

That is messed up when you think about it. Some supervisors are really great writers and some are not just like on the officer side. Most bases do not have a BTZ board where you actually meet the board in person and they determine whether you are worthy or not of receiving a stripe early. From my understanding a vast majority of the bases have a "paper only board."

I won't forget what my pops told me when I was an airman. He was active duty Army at the time. He said, "You are crazy if you don't do what's necessary to achieve your next rank. Don't be like your peers and blow stuff off. When it comes down to it, if you don't get promoted you are taking money out of your own pocket. Getting promoted is something you actually control."

Cool story, bro.

Thanks Soooooooul Traaaaaaaaaaain!

Edited June 20, 2013 by slick999

[Vetter]

We are now talking fucking airman BTZ promotions. Can we just lock the thread already?

[Guest ThatGuy]

We are now talking ######ing airman BTZ promotions. Can we just lock the thread already?

The thread says "Promotion & PRF Information." It does not specify what we can and cannot discuss. Secondly, I supervise airmen, NCOs, and SNCO's. If I am not ensuring they are well taken care of and deserving of promotion then I shouldn't be promoted either. Third, I made a comparison between box checking and promotion as compared to the enlisted side.

Edited June 20, 2013 by slick999

[zach braff]

We are now talking ######ing airman BTZ promotions. Can we just lock the thread already?

It's fun to reminisce about the good old days when this thread was about PRFs and Promotions.

So just for old time's sake - what format is everyone's command using for PRF writing these days? Mostly I've seen the "C-Zone" with a career-summary top line, strats & other good stuff along the left, and the bottom line being the big one. But there are also some folks who fill the top two lines with the strats & big stuff, the bullet/impact stuff in the middle, then the bottom line still as the big one. Not sure which is considered stronger though...

zb

[Guest ThatGuy]

It's fun to reminisce about the good old days when this thread was about PRFs and Promotions. So just for old time's sake - what format is everyone's command using for PRF writing these days? Mostly I've seen the "C-Zone" with a career-summary top line, strats & other good stuff along the left, and the bottom line being the big one. But there are also some folks who fill the top two lines with the strats & big stuff, the bullet/impact stuff in the middle, then the bottom line still as the big one. Not sure which is considered stronger though... zb

My GP/CC slides call it the "C-Method." I wasn't there the morning that he briefed the slides I have due to having duty the night before. I had to ask his exec for the slides. Anyway, I assume the C-Zone and C-Method are one in the same because the example in his slides mimick what you are describing.

Edited June 20, 2013 by slick999

[sqwatch]

It's fun to reminisce about the good old days when this thread was about PRFs and Promotions.

So just for old time's sake - what format is everyone's command using for PRF writing these days? Mostly I've seen the "C-Zone" with a career-summary top line, strats & other good stuff along the left, and the bottom line being the big one. But there are also some folks who fill the top two lines with the strats & big stuff, the bullet/impact stuff in the middle, then the bottom line still as the big one. Not sure which is considered stronger though...

zb

My GP/CC slides call it the "C-Method." I wasn't there the morning that he briefed the slides I have due to having duty the night before. I had to ask his exec for the slides. Anyway, I assume the C-Zone and C-Method are one in the same because the example in his slides mimick what you are describing.

Edited June 20, 2013 by sqwatch

[Tulsa]

Yeah, I apologize. My intent was not to sing my own praises. I was simply trying to point out that occasionally you do find good leaders that do look out for you, or your bros that put you in for awards when deployed.

I am incredibly grateful for the leaders that have given me the chances I've been given, and fully recognize that I'm no better than anyone else. Promise won't bring it up again.

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slackline, did you come from the 347th wing at Moody by any chance? Just inquisitive, no other motive.

Attack!

Tulsa

[Fifty-six & Two]

So just for old time's sake - what format is everyone's command using for PRF writing these days? Mostly I've seen the "C-Zone" with a career-summary top line, strats & other good stuff along the left, and the bottom line being the big one. But there are also some folks who fill the top two lines with the strats & big stuff, the bullet/impact stuff in the middle, then the bottom line still as the big one. Not sure which is considered stronger though...

zb

My understanding is that the c-zone is the stronger. It'll be used for individuals with multiple number one strats as those will be along the left side. I've seen the c-zone for the top dudes and everyone else has the other method.

[Champ Kind]

BODN is supposed to be my sanctuary.

Now we are discussing the pros and cons of "C-Method" vs "Thematic" PRF writing.

Worlds have collided. Ugh.

[RASH]

Another good article from Tony Carr. It's focused on the enlisted, but equally applicable to the officers...

https://www.jqpublic-blog.com/?p=431

This is in response to the AF Times article referenced in post 565 of this thread.

Edited June 27, 2013 by RASH

[GoAround]

Another good article from Tony Carr. It's focused on the enlisted, but equally applicable to the officers...

https://www.jqpublic-blog.com/?p=431

This is in response to the AF Times article referenced in post 565 of this thread.

I especially appreciate his parting thought: "While instructing airmen on how to be successful careerists manifests a kind of loyalty, it’s a betrayal of the service, which needs its leaders to keep airmen focused on the mission first and themselves later, after they’ve established a professional foundation upon which they can stand firmly and build themselves into capable career airmen."

[pcola]

Another good article from Tony Carr. It's focused on the enlisted, but equally applicable to the officers...

https://www.jqpublic-blog.com/?p=431

This is in response to the AF Times article referenced in post 565 of this thread.

Excellent article and couldn't agree more with his philosophy. It's a shame he's out of the fight.

[Maul]

Liquid, Your comments are appreciated. If you'd like to see the spreadsheet point system, I'd love to send you an example via PM. Truly disturbing stuff.

I'm the fortunate recipient of a school select designation w/ no AAD/BAC+ at one command followed by 3849: Not Recommended x 2 Years at my next assignment.

AAD/PME/Initial Qual/Requal/IPUG value = what you put into it. I double turned classes for my ERAU AAD recently and got almost nothing out of it personally. I got more out of my Formal Flying Training programs which I felt were more important. Now that I'm AAD/PME box checked, I have difficulty even wanting to stay (besides the obvious financial benefit), but every day feels like a prison sentence. Probably because I'm deployed again doing something I don't enjoy (non-flying) surrounded by concertina wire, rarely leave the compound, and work out a lot. I suppose many struggle with the transition from tactical (flying) to Ops/Strat (staffs), but I'm pretty sure I didn't try so hard at Formal Flying programs IOT get a DG w/ the end goal of being a glorified secretary w/ MS Office skills and a tactical background.

It seems it's unlikely the top 20% will stay too far past the bare minimum when they've been metaphorically a** raped (SAPR reference) with expectations/time away from family leading to lesser qualified individuals (those barely in the top 50% who checked boxes and hardly worked resulting in higher QOL and more reason to stay) taking Sq and OG commands. I think this is the fear of many in the forum when the guy at the top of the bottom 50% might be a great leader. Those who self identify via PME non completion (Yeah, this just screams "screw you promotion board") and marks a clean kill.

Now that I'm AAD complete, it seems like it should seem easier looking back, but I can still testify it was awful and easily the worst year of my life (due to the expectation laid out by leadership and my personal choice to put it off until I was being threatened to be not recommended on my third IDE look, and double turning classes while playing DO). I could have made it less painful by doing it earlier in my career, but as I was taking all my classes at ERAU w/ a bunch of Lts/Early Captains I couldn't help but thinking their efforts were at the expense of some level of tactical expertise and whatever practical application of the AAD towards the higher level knowledge required for staffs and joint environments won't be retained by a Lt. Probably should happen as we prep officers for these staffs. We should set up schools to develop these leaders with the skills required for these environments.....Oh wait......

Long live Gen Jumper's recommendations although they will never truly be in effect since DPs are given by the SR and SRs will use metrics easily identified by .xlsx products like the one I mentioned above.

Maybe I'm wrong. Just my 2 cents.