17D_guy

Part II - https://warontherocks.com/2018/03/air-force-in-crisis-part-ii-how-did-we-get-here/ How was leadership allowed to let this happen? I've never seen the damage put together so clearly.

So, Rocky Mountain AFCEA is in full effect this week. Basically the place all the GO's go to hobnob with their future employers and actually get work done. New AFSPC/CV preaching the truth about Cyber Ops Officers though - We've been offered a retention bonus and people still aren't staying that are worth much. Because there's the chance you'll get pulled off keyboard after your first/second assignment and go to a job that utilizes NONE of that experience. Plus we've still got Col's who think that we can't be a AFSC with "Have's and Have Not's." So from Cyber Ninja to Traditional Comm Sq should be looked at as good career progression, or to MAJCOM staff working the GO's cloud infrastructure project...or Win10 migration. We're all considered 17D's...which makes it easy for AFPC to move us around...because that's what's important.

Can confirm. Had a LtCol who was exec for a 4-star. He lost the keyed secure cell-phone in the O Club parking lot...in a foreign country (ok.. it was Ramstein). I tried to dissuade him, but he "wanted to get used to carrying it for the boss." Nada happened. BLACK pen, thank you.

Naturally. Didn't fill out the right checkbox, please resubmit.

Hey hey hey... that's 24 AF! I tried to fix it 3 times...then just quit and restarted.

<a href="//imgur.com/BXuUR"></a>

Also, word on the former-Comm side is a lot of the execs were Comm O's as well. I remember my first assignment (still an E) the Wing King's Exec was Mx. Wasn't until mid-2000's it started looking like a "promotion opportunity." But I may be mis-remembering when it happened.

https://warontherocks.com/2018/02/air-force-crisis-part-pilot-retention-matters-right-now/

How do any of you stay in past initial commitment is beyond me. The QoL alone is worth more than I can even justify in dollars.

Was an interesting interview w/ Gov's Kasich (OH) and Hickenlooper (CO) about the coming election. I'm not sure we're going to see the fall of our party system, but the call out of the D's lack of a platform outside "not-Trump" is a problem. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-witnessing-end-party-system-republican-governor/story?id=53330459

Looks like the D memo got released. I'm sure it'll explain everything. After initial read - much better than the first memo, though the target was different. Answered a lot of the questions I had about timing, which the R memo "just seemed" to overlook. I'm growing less and less enamored with the Party I've voted for, for over 20 years. https://docs.house.gov/meetings/ig/ig00/20180205/106838/hmtg-115-ig00-20180205-sd002.pdf

oh good, this threads getting political too.

I've had/got that. Not too much fun, not that bad...so far. Glad he can stay.

So then.. almost nothing for the Comm Squadrons to shed. Cool...keep shitting on us, I'm sure support will only get better.

So, if this goes the way of the Comm Sq Next, or Comm Sq-Initiative, or whatever else we're seeing getting pushed (without funding, training or manning btw) then it's possible. They'll have teams there to get after and defend mission systems with the core Comm functions dwindling or getting contracted out. I *think* that nesting a current Comm Sq into the A6 would be a poor function move and not provide what theyr'e looking for. If the A6 picked up Cellphone/Telephone Management, Records Management, Information Assurance, Program/Project Planning...all those pain in the ass Add'l Duties the CS gets and the Comm/Cyber Sq just gets to work on getting your computer working and defending the domain. Man, having my guys worry about getting workstations patched/hunting threats, and not having to worry about filling out an Excel spreadsheet to re-do the Adobe Acrobat accreditation...would be fantastic. But we all know it'll move to the A-staff, but they'll need almost complete products to forward, so our guys will keep doing the actual work.

It was, then they invaded and the USAF Wx officer led the Marines around. I've read it a few times, really very good. Also a window into a totally different time and enemy.

That's how we roll in the "Cyber NAF." SAF/CIO and AFSPC come down with edicts on what they direct us to do on Net and Wedge has a polite (or not so polite) "Stay in your lane conversation." He's had to do it a lot since the Win10 migration stuff and people are looking to foist blame somewhere for issues. It's amazing to see someone who understands the actual purpose of a NAF and "operational-ization" of Cyber punch way above his weight on these issues. Doubly so because he's right, knows what he's talking about and has pushed us to fix so much. Wedge is fantastic.

It's almost like deciding to serve for some higher purpose requires some sacrifice and dedication. Good post man.

Best part about all this is we can see how the HAF is going to deal with the oncoming exodus of Cyber dudes as well. We've already heard the rumblings of "increase the pipeline" on our side and increasing ADSC's for doing the keyboard-ninja stuff. RUMINT says those that took the Retention Bonus are going to get the "most desirable" assignments coming up. Solid copying of our Rated brethren...why would this be any different?

Spent 2 weeks in Iceland a couple of years ago for vacation. Drove around the whole thing. It's amazing country and we'll be back. Can't recommend highly enough. AirBnB is a must have!

Concur. It had a lot of heart for a "comic book" movie. I'll watch it again.

Awesome. Good luck!

This dude cybers...

Those RPA bonus taker numbers were pretty interesting. Not as bad as advertised or am I reading something wrong. I'm not used to such grand slides.

Lol, thanks for the heads up guys. Client Systems (3D1X1) - Help desk monkeys who do customer visits. You'll do a lot of workstation fixes (java repair, headset's not working, etc.) Cyber Systems Operations (3D0X2) - Not exactly sure, but I believe this is the NCC Server Monkeys. So you'll be working with ACAS, Vuln patching, SCCM etc. Cyber Transport Systems (3D1X2) - Router/Switch Monkeys. So you'll be working on the transport making sure cables are plugged in and routing is working correctly. RF Transmissions Systems (3D1X3) - Antenna Monkeys. If you don't like heights DO NOT get this job. Spectrum Operations (3D1X4) - Desk job ensuring that USAF Spectrum is being run correctly. Hard to describe this one. They make sure all the emitters on the airfield are not interfering with the civilian world and vice versa. Example - Someone complains their garage door is opening on it's own every time aircraft X comes in to land. Your job to figure it out--that's a true story. No certifications that I'm aware of, you don't actually work on any equipment. I'm sure some of the bros on here have stories about country music drowning out the ILS or some other such thing. So.. if you're looking to go further with IT/Cyber do not pick the last 2 jobs. There's a reason they have a bonus. I'm partial to Transport Systems or Systems Operations, but that's kinda where I've spent the bulk of my career/professional focus. There's nothing wrong with Client Systems either, though if you've got a CS degree...I'm not sure if it's going to feel like meaningful work. IF you wanted to get into the cyber ops side of the house the two I mentioned above will be the closest to a natural transition over. Please let me know if you've got anymore questions.