gimmeaplane

This!

That is terrific news for the AF after many years of disqualifying too many. Expect a wave of highly qualified candidates for the active duty board. At least those who aren't too old.

DoD spends $220M/yr on those charts and associated courses. One might wonder if all those student course evaluations (at least midrange because you must take time to explain any low score) accurately represent the value of these training programs...

Fightin’ words for nerd flag! (Depends on whether order of merit, medical, and/or personal interest drove career path.)

Not sure if addressed at me, but I was talking about a computer color vision test. The AF DQ rate is now significantly higher from what the docs report vs the old tests, and this is a win in their book. Navy allows the same computer test now, but with a lower passing score. Don’t want to derail the thread, but min acceptable standards should apply to every “gatekeeper” standard, e.g. if the somebody who’s an inch below/above some anthro standard can do the job, then we should adjust that standard. Then we’ll DQ the least number of otherwise high aptitude candidates. Whether or not we can identify/measure aptitude is a different problem.

It doesn’t help that they cranked up the DQ rate with the computer eye test in that exact same timeframe. Tighten the crank too far on one thing and something that matters has to give...that something is aptitude. Sister services aren’t exactly crashing a/c left and right with old school tests. Bros on waivers wouldn’t have made it through the front door today. EDIT: I notice you have a VMFA tag, so not sure what the USN/USMC issue would be unless they did something similar. Point remains for the AF pipeline.

Has anybody validated that Chang is in a position to answer such questions (besides himself)?

Read the existing ETP thread.

More should have the chance to go to pilot/nav/abm training and pass, or not, based on aptitude in the actual job. Regardless of whether or not you want rated officers in charge of more fields (universal management badge has its downsides), the AF needs to make more rated officers. That means more schoolhouses and relaxed medical standards for entrance physicals.

If you cut/non-promote enough people, you'll run out of negative indicators pretty quickly. Also, most of those peeps will take hint and separate on their own. And you nailed it with an example of how some negative indicators are BS.

That is true, and likewise for DE select status. It is the Air Force, after all.

Disappointed and helplessly observing good people not making the cut. Somebody asked me in the last RIF (I was eligible) if I worried, assuming that I wasn't because I had stumbled (luck & timing) into a "high-vis" job. I told them hell yes I was worried. The AF doesn't cut 30% without making big mistakes. The mission in a leadership role, right after the actual mission, is pimping out the good people as well as possible. 'Cuz somebody else is pushing an asshole (no sts). All it takes is one bad rater in one assignment to completely F this system in an unrecoverable way for a good officer. If I have a point, it's this: learn the game for your ratees' sakes. Sidenote: I knew a sharp dude, was his Gp/CC's #1 FGO, and got cut in that RIF. Big Blue makes mistakes.

The F-15SA+++++++ should have automated execution of the Defensive Egg. FMS customers could really use that.

Is it an accurate impression that MLR drives the SR's adherence to the rules/customs of PRF writing? My understanding is that SR credibility is a large factor in how many additional DPs they win for their people at MLR. Does it take on the feeling of an awards fight club or is it a straight review/scoring of records? Most of us will never see an MLR, and it doesn't get the same attention as the actual board, but it seems to play a big part in outcomes.

Higher opportunity rate could just be a byproduct of a smaller pool (thanks to RIF & otherwise stellar retention). But it's late and my giveadamn-o-meter failed.

My SR's slides said... I/APZ: 50% DP BPZ: 10% DP Overall: 84% promotion opportunity

This. Parties make the world go 'round. I don't care about the reason. You got promoted in the same timeframe good dudes and dudettes got the RIF, or non-vol'd, or...? Party. Party about small victories over the machine until you have an opportunity to fix it. Then: 1) Do the right thing. 2) Party.

TSP is a good managed fund (I personally put half retirement savings in TSP and half in a Roth IRA), but make sure to have liquid savings for life. 10% or so in TSP and the remaining savings in a mix of liquid (non-retirement account) managed or index funds. That way you have cash for a home, car, or whatever when you need it. And don't forget to keep cash in the bank.

Non-rated often compete for the few meaningful deployments (GHOST/JCAT/etc.). The any AFSC jobs are a waste for everybody and generally avoided. Any other generalities are very AFSC specific, but most who VSP'd or got RIF'd found jobs quickly.

Done both DT and OT for multiple MDS. Both are rewarding, but different. Functional DT/OT test teams talk; the degree to which that happens is personality dependent. AFTC: you do a bunch of work, get a couple heavy hitter issues fixed, and then the SPO takes the credit. 53 WG: you do a bunch of work, get a couple heavy hitter issues fixed, and then AFOTEC takes the credit. If you are the sort of person competitive for both TPS and WIC, understand their missions before submitting apps. Both camps attract people who don't understand their purposes.

Let's get back to ignoring Chang. Does anybody have gouge on instructions to the board? I (incorrectly) thought one of my guys was competitive for school and the best I could tell him was it's probably in the instructions. He's doing just fine in the big blue machine, but getting the right people IDE slots sets things in motion. Edit for Engrish.

They're not skycop stories anymore if it's all rent-a-cops.

Tulip bulbs.

Nope...just somebody I BS'd with while TDY and I can't remember her name. On the other hand, I vaguely remember that Spain offers sangria. So there's that.

I met a gal who was doing this in Spain. She was happy to be in Madrid and not-so-happy to be flying far less than promised.