Catbox
-
Posts
264 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
1
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Gallery
Blogs
Downloads
Wiki
Posts posted by Catbox
-
-
ASAB Enlisted Corps,
Welcome to 5MT accountability one and all. Today marks the day that you are
required to know the Airman's Creed and Air Force Song as outlined in my
first 5MT to the Enlisted Corps. At no time did I alleviate ANYONE from this
requirement, so the demographic is clear. If you are an "E-something", this
applies to you. To some it applies even more, especially if you are a
supervisor. If in a supervisory role, you are also accountable TO and FOR
your people.
MANY PEOPLE ARE ASKING WHY I INITIATED THIS 5MT TO BEGIN WITH. Well.Before
we delve into the "whys," let's first revisit the "Who, What, Where, and
When" parts. Those were provided in BOTH the initial and follow-on emails
that I've attached. The "how" was left completely up to you.
- Who: Every Enlisted member assigned to the XXXAEW.
- What: Be able to RECITE from MEMORY the Airman's Creed and "sing"
the first verse of the AF song
- Where: In public forums during Wing events or when asked by
senior leadership.
- When: Primarily by 1 September 2011
- How: Based on your personal preference
- WHY: To forge LEADERSHIP and FOLLOWERSHIP capability and to drive
Enlisted uniformity during ### AEW ceremonies.
My dad worked as MX troop in the 8th TFW in Thailand, while I always took his stories with a grain of salt, he like everyone else would have followed Robin Olds to the depths of hell. One of his favorite stories was how the old guy took the time to know first names and hometowns of all the maintainers, I'd assume as many of the other enlisted troops as well.
One leadership style based on personal interaction, trust and a willingness to give a shit
vs.
a style based on intimidation, needless information and worthless embarrassment in front of peers.
-
Save yourself some time and heartburn; get cynical now.
Brother...the separation paperwork is at AFPC. I'm years past cynical, time to live off the wife's hard work for a while.
-
Take note. If you read the rest of the attached you will see he is aggressively cutting numbers this year so that us 97 and beyond year groups don’t have to be concerned about our future (as much). I went to public school but if you take 10% of 1500 then he will be trying to aggressively cut 1350 officers. Until then, look for your nearest guard or reserve recruiter if you want to keep your 20 yr retirement option open.
So in essence they could have used a scalpel to trim the dead weight from the 157 instead of the cleaver and let those who wanted to punch get out. They still could have been well on their way working toward 1500 cuts to get within the 10% satisfactory window.
Instead they chose to screw over guys who have deployed, sacrificed and been put through the ringer.
I truly want to believe the leadership has biggest picture and the best interests of the country and individuals at heart but it gets harder and harder to swallow that pill.
-
If I really am a bitch, then I will get weeded out.
My avatar is Richard Feynman. Oh wait. I see what you mean...apology accepted.
Sadly, no, that isn't the case. Not saying this applies to you at all...but bitches don't get weeded out...irrespective of gender.
That's a pretty stylish hat for Nobel prize winner.
-
Thank you for your attempted internet psychological assessment, but I was messing with Rainman and it got out of hand. Hardly indicative of who any of us are as a person. I have no ego nor any intention on committing any one of the four mistakes. Thank you for the well wishes, but do not sleep in fear for the USAF's future. It will be just fine with me.
Out of hand?!!!! This was awesome and I think you handled yourself just fine toots.
And that high minded idealism will only make you that much more bitter when you get to be my age.
-
Greatest thread ever...
An aging fighter pilot and a dude who looks like Prince argue over sucking c---.
-
Yeah, that's kind of what I thought.
You have to know when to notch but you can't let the enemy use their acquisition radar as a weapon.
I get what most of you guys are saying, I absolutely loved any chance I got to go donwrange and did whatever it took to make that happen (and extend) whenever I could. The difference is probably that I also didn't mind proceeding direct to Nellis for RF/FWIC support/AW w/in 7 days of returning home from a long deployment. I was ######ed up and my family eventually let me know that. Luckily I was able to regain 3/9 with my priorities and not lose the most important thing in my life...which wasn't the USAF.
It wasn't that long ago that I made the transition from being one of the defenders to being one of the defended. It has proven to be one of most difficult thing I have ever done. I hate not being able to hammer down on behalf of the rest of America that is unwilling to, incapable of and/or uninterested in doing so for themselves. I am totally in support of and thankful to all you guys who are defending me and my family today.
That said, I'm trying to think of meaningful ways I can support you guys today. I have made some pretty decent connections in my civilian life and I am trying to figure out how to leverage them on your behalf. For example, we have the wife of a Hogdriver who is a full-up US Senator. The important thing is to separate what is a legit cause of real pain and what is simply bitching about shit that could just as well be ignored. You don't want to waste weapons on decoys, especially when there is an abundance of legitimate targets.
Understood and interesting stuff from everyone...can we just close this thread and go back to watching you battle with Masshole in the bar?
-
I think the reason that most feel so unhappy with the AF at times is that we see what great potential it has. Things have to start changing, I just hope I can do my small part to facilitate it and see it before I retire......If that isn't taken from me of course.
Ok cheap shots at each other's appearance aside...I think you hit the nail on the head. The Air Force has a ton of potential...I really like to think that if some enemy came knocking on the door of Alaska or California we would rally Wolverine style and be able to kick ass. Maybe the drag of continual nation building and other contingencies has made us bored and thus we focus on queep like uniforms, volunteerism, “everyone’s a warrior” and slogan after slogan after slogan (after slogan).
-
As a "No Real Purpose in Life SNCO" I have to take offense to your statement. I hope that isn't what you really believe, just because there are some E-7's 8's and 9's that take queep to the extreme. Don't lump us all in the same boat. I have met some real dumb and incompetent officers, but I don't think that a whole tier of folks have no real purpose in life. BTW, I have an amazing haircut! And if we are talking about aesthetics, are all FGO's issued Dockers, tucked in polo shirt, loafers, and a braided belt? And my tone is in jest, but really it is so easy to pick out the FGO. Probably just as easy to pick out the T.E.D.
Edit: For grammarSarge...you have to admit some NCO's have really f-ing stupid haircuts. I keed, I keed. Now where is that belt I bought in 1994...I'm taking the wife to Chili's tonight.
-
3
-
-
I'm probably like everyone else here, I have a love/hate relationship with the Air Force. But I think when it comes right down to it, as an organiztion the Air Force has its self screwed tightly into the wrong hole (no sts on that, sorry). I think baseops is a pretty good representation of the officers and some enlisted who truly care about what is going with the service and the most active boards and threads are the ones where people bitch and complain about Big Blue. 90% of the time I agree with the points being made, or at least where the frustration is coming from.
When I was at SOS and they brought the War College guys in for Capt/Col discussion. I will never forget after taking quesitons from a bunch of angry, know-it-all Captains for the better part of an hour, the Colonel simply told us "YOU have to allow YOUR Air Force to make mistakes."
I agreed with him at the time, but how many mistakes is enough? Would we as individuals have been cut the same amount of slack if we spent SIX years trying to figure out force shaping initiatives? How about the idiocy with uniforms? Reflective belts? What about one of the most expensive airframes ever being grounded for five months?
Having said that what is OUR problem? If there was one thing (or a few things) that could turn crap around what would it be?
I have my theories...leaders not allowed to be leaders is probably the biggest one...but I don't any earth shattering answers but maybe someone else does.
-
1
-
-
I’ve talked ad-nasuem about this on other threads but I too am getting out at 13 years…retirement be damned. I make no bones that this is the hardest decision I have ever had to make because at my deepest core I love being an Air Force officer, I love the “entre” wearing a bag around town gets me, I love it when an old guy shakes my hand and simply says thank you…and I even enjoyed deploying and the only time I shed a tear as an adult was the welcome home I received from total strangers at BWI. But this has to be done…the shenanigans are just too much for me. I’ve spent time away from home and have kids with whom I have to get reacquainted with at least once a year all while my wife has watched her hard earned and expensive education wither away into near uselessness because no company in their right mind would deal with the uncertainty (I guess I shouldn’t forget all the base newcomer’s briefs that remind her of the “great” opportunities at AAFES). I’ve seen mind-numbing stupidity when it comes to uniforms (“combat” uniforms that are essentially shrink-wrap in a fire, “sweat-causing” fabric in the ill-fitting PT uniform and arguments whether a belt should go on the blues). I’ve now seen good majors get fired because they caught a bad break, didn’t have someone looking out for them, wrong place at the wrong time, etc… and didn’t get promoted. No doubt some bad apples got shown the door but how many of those 157 guys were the best sticks in the squadron, the most knowledgeable, trustworthy, etc… I’ve been in squadrons where good CC’s with the best of intentions work ridiculous hours on queep, so much so that they have to be propped up every time they step in the jet. To top this all off I have seen an E-9, in writing, criticize Robin Olds for his famous/infamous appearance. Not attempting for a second to understand what Olds was trying to accomplish…that leadership doesn’t always come out of AFIs, the color of a persons boots and t-shirt, or even some imaginary professional image that has never fully existed anyways. What does my disgust have to do with the current retirement row? If I was still proud to serve I would gladly do the next 7+ years and collect what I felt like was a well deserved retirement. But my disgust with the present state of things means that I would just be a hanger on waiting for the dole like any other welfare recipient, no matter what retirement scheme congress conjures up. For those of you that still feel that pride and want to serve…god bless you…the country needs you.
-
1
-
-
Did that include 12S?
I've been looking through my .pst to find that breif but can't seem to find it. I dont remember exactly but I think all 12X were heavy for year groups in the late 90s. However 12S were one of the few AFSCs that were offered continuation this year.
edit: check out https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil/app/home when you log in do a search for "officer sustainment matrix" This shows exactly the opposite of what I claimed but I very specifically remember a line graph that showed navs being heavy.
-
I'd be curious to see what 11/12/13XX AFSCs have overages, according to AFPC.
I saw a briefing that my functional gave back in May (prior to all this non-continuation crap) and if I remember correctly there were significant overages in all 12X specialties in and around my year group (96). They were mitigating this against the massive shortfalls they had in the 11X positions (specifically 11F) and they would need the 12X for <50% manned staff positions. Maybe, just maybe these staff positions that we were all supposed to be aiming for just aren’t that important?
There is nothing about all this that makes sense to me, how can unit/staff function be less than 100%+ manned if the Air Force is over manning strength? How can they let guys with 15 years of experience go if certain staff billets are less than 50% manned? I could spend all day asking these questions and don’t think I would get an answer that makes sense to me.
-
F AFPC in the A, they have no say in the ARC/ANG hiring process. You my friend, have some bad poop.
matmacwc...heres the reg I was referencing. I'm sure ARC/ANG can make thier own rules when it gets to getting someone on (I imagine a bro network helps a lot) but this is out there:
9. REGULAR OFFICERS: Regular officers who are discharged based upon nonselection for promotion are ineligible for a Reserve appointment (AFI 36-2005, Appointment in Commisioned Grades and Designation and Assignment in Professional Categories, Table 2-2, item 25). A waiver of this policy will be granted only in rare instances, wherein (1) the officer's specialty (AFSC) and experience are demonstrated to be extremely critical to the Reserve Forces, (2) the quality of the officers past performance and conduct is judged to be exceptional, and (3) a Guard or Reserve unit endorses the officer's request to affiliate. For further information regarding waiver requirements for Reserve appointment, contact HQ ARPC/DRPB, DSN 926-6446.
edit: I'm a retard.
-
One last question, if you want to stay in but are worried about getting the boot why not wait until that happens? Is it that hard to get into a reserve/guard unit if you have been in 15+ yrs?
Two big reasons for this...
AFPC says that once you are twice passed over twice for LtCol you are ineligible to go guard and reserve. The AF Times article quoted someone from AFPC that they were going to be waiving this on a case by case basis. My thinking here is that I could get into the guard/reserve now without a waiver. This is what I've read and interpreted...if anyone can clarify this or has a different outlook please let me know.
2nd reason is that the wife has her job now...it's not quite a once in a lifetime opportunity but it is close to it. She is an MBA and a well known company with local offices/manufacturing sought her out. Her starting pay is not nearly as good as mine but if she performs well, it will catch up. This is the area we want to settle, we have a house, good schools, etc... If I forced the issue, she would move and not take the job but I know in my mind she would never forgive me for that. I had thought about this long before my assignment came up (and AFPC did a TERRIBLE job of matching me with anything even near what was on my ADP) but this has really forced the issue because I have to make a decision. Again I could leave the family, let her take the job and wait out the two years to see what happens and as was mentioned in an earlier post, be $300K up. But some of that would vanish in keeping two households, trips back and forth and extensive need for child care. Frankly it would devastate the kids (6,4) who have seen me vanish for months at a time enough to know they don’t want it anymore.
Again my thinking on this is not perfect—why I’m on a message board asking for advice from strangers (informed as they are). This is probably boring the shit out of everyone but I appreciate the indulgence as I argue with myself in public.
-
And as far as "scummy" contractor jobs, I'm getting ready to take one that pays $39/hr. Thats a little over $81k per year which is just about what my base pay is now. Pretty good money for posessing a TS/SCI.
No offense intended with the contractor jab...I worked very close with all the OEF ground EW contractors on my last deployments and pretty much to a man they were all good guys. However even most them acknowledged that getting $200K a year was a little like highway robbery espcially while the AF officers doing the same job got about half and the enlisted Army EWs made so much less.
-
Yes, it is possible. In order for a Major who is passed over for promotion twice to continue service to 20 years, a board must approve his continued time in. In the past, this approval has been basically rubber-stamped and assumed. Just this year that process is less rubber stamp and more actual evaluation of records. The result is that some passed-over Majors in some specific year groups have not been offered continuation and have to get out.
The sky is not falling.
From what I've read it wasn't an evaluation of records per se, it was if you have the right AFSC you get continued. I agree that the sky is not falling and I'm also positive that in two-three years there will be the "oh shit" moment at AFPC and everyone from Captains on up will get continued. The problem I have had with this non-continution crap is how it came out of the blue. Big Blue swears up and down that they gave everyone fair warning in letters from CSAF, force shaping and RIF breifings but I have looked back through and the letter from CSAF has one line saying somthing about selective continuation "possibly" being not offered. AFPC force shaping breifings have one bullet implying "maybe" selective continuation options would be limited, amongst hundreds of bullets telling Captains and younger Majors all the options they have up to, during and after the RIF.
there's an interesting discussion on the issue here:
-
M2-
Thanks for the insight--its not easy and as resolute as the wife and I were yesterday we both had a sleepless night thinking about the what-ifs. If the idiocy with the selective-continuation would not have happened this year (and come as such a surprise) this would have been a no brainer, I would have stayed in. Her job is less money to begin with but its with a Fortune 500 company that is actually growing so if she plays her cards right she could top out at a higher salary than I could ever hope to get in the next seven years plus my retirement-but a steady paycheck and benefits for life (hopefully the house of cards doesn't collapse) is nothing to shake a stick at even with the promise of higher dollars down another path. We are lucky in that we have savings, absolutely zero debt (mortgage excluded) and I have the GI Bill, guard, reserve and other avenues. But that guaranteed income is such a sweet deal.
My RIP hasn't shown up yet so I have 7+ days to figure this out.
-
Hey Butters, just to provide a data point, I signed up for ACSC the same week the promotion list came out. I had it done before I pinned on Major. I really don't think timing on ACSC in correspondence matters unless they are looking at you to go in residence.
Catbox - do you have any EWO background? I've found that can be a marketable skill on the outside.
I do actually, I was a panel and retrained as an EWO. I have no doubt I could get the scummy contractor jobs. In fact I did basically the same thing that the ground contractors did on my last bogus deployment as a Brigade EWO. I've already looked into it, at least what I've found so far is downrange...for at least double what I make now.
Trying not to get sappy but I really appreciate the honest feedback from everyone. Posting this thread has been the best thing I've done since all this uncertainty came about.
edit:grammar
-
Before...
After...
Cocaine's a helluva drug!
Can I get the name of her dentist?
-
I think your logic is perfectly fine because I'm nearly in the same boat. Tired of watching guys drink the koolaid and become careerist backstabbers. Tired of being told that because I didn't get ACSC done before I pinned on Major, that's a "bad thing", as if getting a damn correspondence course done fast somehow proves leadership ability. Tired of being told that I'll likely go to another flying assignment, just not at the base I'm at (I'm AETC on an AMC base...want to walk across the street to AMC but being told that's "bad for my career"). My kids live near here, I have a house. I'm not going to staff and not going to school, so looking at the numbers I have about a 30% chance of making O-5. In years past, that would be fine because there was a 98% chance I'd be continued to at least 20, but not anymore. I've done a 365-day deployment for this Air Force not that long ago and they are already trying to send me back on a 180 day deployment while other guys have been here for 3+ years with no deployments...yet when I bring that up I'm told "you can't pull that card because you volunteered for that 365, so we don't feel sorry for you". Yeah, volunteered after I was told I'd get it anyways.
I've already made my decision. The ARC is in my future. Yours should be pretty easy to make, considering what you just posted.
It's not that hard of a decision but I have to convince myself that this is a good thing. The worst part about it is that the Air Force and I got to this point, its almost like breaking up with the "sure thing" girl. All the time, memories and expectations out the window in seven days. Having said that, like you, I'm just so tired of the crap. And everyone up and down the chain knowing its crap.
-
I worry more about the Fed borrowing/printing so much money that inflation skyrockets and our retirement checks become worthless...
The sentiment of the day, I'm afraid this one is all too possible.
Edit: the sentiment of Nov 2010. Whoops.
-
I'm on the verge of saying enough...enough with pushing phony OPRs and awards packages, enough with uniform changes, enough with force shaping, enough with deployments, enough with TDYs (my several TDY's to Nellis are OK), enough with forced community service and frankly enough of big blue capitalizing on my patriotism and my pride to make me work long hours on stuff that just doesn't matter.
I'm up for my primary board next year, but was told bluntly that I have little chance of getting a DP. Although I have IDE and a BS masters complete without the DP I'm doubtful of my chances. I'd always planned on retiring but with the selective continuation fiasco of this year that isn't really a guarantee either. I readily admit I have put myself in this position because of assignment choices I made when I was a Lt/Capt and medical stuff that kept me out of the jet at key times in my career.
The wife just got a great job and I just got a crap-can assignment...we were thinking that we'd separate the family, let her get in with her company and allow me to see if the promotion came along. AFPC's offering will not make being away from the family easy...its across the country and will likely involve multiple (if short) deployments.
I am about ready to throw in the towel and seven day opt out of this assignment. I'm a Nav so I don't have instant employment options but we could get by on the wife's salary while I figure it out and play Mr Mom. Reserves and guard are an option I would readily take and have the feelers out there...
Am I off my GD rocker here?
-
1
-
-
I'm sure that there are some dirtbags being shown the door with this policy...
but in every flying squadron I've been in it was the passed over majors with nothing to lose who were the first to give the big F-U to crap like this:
Nellis/Vegas info
in General Discussion
Posted
Jesus man, how many young pilots did you make cry during your AD days?