panchbarnes

Seriously? I know you have been following the different threads here as evident by your holier than thou comments and you still don't have a clue?

Who's Gen Welch? Is he the new A1?

Wonder why AF PAO is so proactive in promoting this scandal. They even had an article advertising the press briefing before it started. From the pictures in the link, it look like Gen Welsh has a busted arm... http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/468806/34-icbm-launch-officers-implicated-in-cheating-probe.aspx

I agree we are focused on the wrong things in developing/promoting Airmen nowadays that's why I was curious how things were done in your days. Didn't realize you just retired last Fall. I wanted to know if leadership by spreadsheet was common 10, 20, or 30 years ago. Thanks for the response.

Thread derail... Out of curiosity, how is that different than when you were in and in charge? Without SOS by correspondence and online Masters, how did you guys rack and stack people? Did you guys have to use Lotus 1-2-3?

With this crop of managers in charge, don't show your hands unless you are ready to deal with the consequences...

I hope y'all don't take all the Reserve slots away from the people who aren't eligible this year.

Sent: Friday, January 10, 2014 6:46 PM TO: MAJCOMS, A1/J1s, FSS/CCs, MPS/Chiefs, MPS Supts SUBJECT: FY14 Officer Voluntary Separation Pay (VSP) Program Application Window and Release of FY14 Reduction in Force (RIF)-VSP and Force Shaping Board (FSB) PSDMs Update 1. Details regarding the Reduction in Force board, coupled with voluntary separation pay, and the Force Shaping Board are expected to be released within the next two weeks. The start of the FY14 officer VSP application window will be shortly after the PSDMs are publicly released. The Air Force is completing final decisions on eligibility for the boards, which in turn impacts eligibility for the VSP program. This still allows an eligible officer a three-month window to apply for voluntary separation programs. 2. The application window for other force management programs already announced such as Officer and Enlisted Temporary Early Retirement Authority, Enlisted Voluntary Separation Programs, and Enhanced Selective Early Retirement Board will remain the same and begin Jan 14, 2014.

She now recognizes the need to give her airmen more off duty time with their family . Does that mean she removed the AAD cell from her strat spreadsheet?

If you want to quit the AF quickly just fail a PT test or two.

Thanks for the tip (STS). The force management effort online townhall discussions made more sense after reading the attached documents (not NSS and NDS) from defense.gov. http://www.defense.gov/pubs/ Key points: In FY 2014, the Department continued to shift to a smaller, leaner force that is agile, flexible, and ready to deploy quickly. In keeping with the 2012 defense strategic guidance, DoD is no longer sizing U.S. forces for prolonged, large-scale stability operations. Full-Spectrum Training Supported Even with flat and declining defense budgets, the military is pressing ahead with its transition from a counterinsurgency-focused force to a force ready and capable of operating across a full range of operations. The service budgets all fund a return to full-spectrum training and preparation for missions beyond current operations in Afghanistan: • The Army is preparing for a rotational presence in multiple regions and has begun training in "decisive action" scenarios and transitioning to training in combined arms warfare; • The Marine Corps is returning to a sea-going posture, its traditional role in between major land wars; • The Navy is investing in ship maintenance and measures to alleviate the stress on personnel from prolonged and extended deployments required by current operations; • The Air Force is re-focusing on high-end capabilities required to confront advanced air forces and air defense systems of other nations. The Department continues its work to understand and quantify readiness activities as we move into a post-conflict environment with increasing budgetary pressures. Specifically, the Defense Budget Priorities and Choices—Fiscal Year 2014 9 Department is developing metrics by which we can better measure readiness levels to help identify critical readiness deficiencies. The planned improvements to readiness have been put at risk with the implementation of the FY 2013 sequester. The Department will continue to assess these impacts to better understand how sequestration will affect readiness in the future. To meet the needs of the 2012 Defense Strategic Guidance, the U.S. military is building forces to fulfill two primary demands: Rotational presence: forces that can routinely operate away from the United States, engage friends, and deter bad actors. Contingency availability: forces that are prepared to respond to a crisis or counter an adversary that is escalating their activities. The military must be able to surge forces to protect U.S. interests, allies and partners, and the nation. DoD_Readiness_Fact_Sheet_FINAL.pdf DefenseBudgetPrioritiesChoicesFiscalYear2014.pdf

In response to your first point, the Air Force is not a business or a corporation and we are not out to make money to please the shareholders. It's foolish to blindly follow private sector business practices (downsizing, lean engineering, six sigma, TQM) just because you learned it for your masters degree. Businesses can hire and fire at will, but we can't due to our unique standards and requirements. Businesses like to look to the military for leadership lessons and best practices and it should not be the other way around. Now to your second point, it's actually a world of "insert large number here" Air Forces. We have to make everyone happy and "Fly, fight, win...in Air, Space, Cyberspace, ISR, Finance, Medical, CE, and etc." Everything and everyone is a weapon system or an operator. At the end of the day, we are an "Air Force" and there should be nothing wrong with preserving the flying mission. I've heard on a couple of occasions from non-rated O-6s that pilots only make up 2% of the Air Force and therefore it's not an important part of the "Air Force" anymore.

I thought she didn't say 25K for sure but it was a possibility. Of course my connection kept dropping during the force management discussions. Our leadership here has been telling us to expect the 25K cut upfront for over a month now, so it's been consistent. I understand them not wanting to put people thru the RIF boards year after year. The downside is how do they know that 25K is the right number? The budget landscape changes every year so the pendulum could swing the other way next year. If a major war breaks out next year, do they just recall everyone back to active duty? Without cutting the non-mission essential requirements (TIB, AF-level athletics, end of the year spending, commercial sponsorship) I just don't see an honest attempt to save $$. I often wonder how much of this proposed 25K cut is self-inflicted to make a political statement? This also reminds me of when Gen Moseley came out and stated his desire to cut people for the Raptors. How did that work out? Edited to ask the question: For the longest time we planned for the ability to conduct 2 simultaneous wars, that kind of went away a couple of years ago. What's the current goal and how will the 25K cut affect that goal?

Not bashing engineers or any particular AFSC at all. I was talking about the lack of a strategic vision. This is a difficult subject to explain over an open forum so I'll just stop here. I agree with you regarding the GBU-31, many cyber dudes can't comprehend or willing to accept that fact.

That's because if you are O-4+ then you are probably too old to understand cyber. Most cyber dudes in charge pretend to know cyber and make decisions based on the old COMM mindset. Some may be willing to listen and defer to the sharp CGOs/NCOs. The probelm is then their vision/mindset gets pulled down to the tactical level because those sharp CGOs/NCOs like to be down in the weed. Then there is the problem with the cyber chain of command. At this point, cyber is just a big money grab and job security for many people. Gen Welsh was right when he said he wanted to wait and see before dumping more $$ into cyber. The new 2-star in charge of cyber seems like a good dude though..

You missed the part where the civilian lady in black asking for change with the current communication practices; except she couldn't say if it's too much, too little, or not detailed enough. She just wanted change. It was awkward, yet hilarious at the same time.

Virtual Town Hall today w/ new SECAF. This ought to be interesting. Let's hope there is enough bandwith to accomodate everyone. http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/467898/afs-top-leader-to-host-online-town-hall.aspx WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Air Force’s newest and most senior leader will hold a service-wide, online town hall meeting Jan. 9 at 3:30 p.m. EST, addressing issues relevant to today’s Airmen. Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James will answer questions from Airmen at the Pentagon, and also speak to her goals and priorities as the service’s 23rd secretary. Viewers can live stream the town hall at www.af.mil/live.aspx, and a recording will be posted on www.af.mil for those who are not able to watch live. James was formally sworn in Dec. 20 in the Pentagon, making her the second female in Air Force history to serve in the role.

I've been told that the Es were notified last week. Os could be notified tomorrow. Anyone else hearing the same thing? NAF leadership telling people not to trust the 20 Dec matrix and just wait for the RIF list. The current state of confusion in the AF is comical... I think it would help to have Gen Welsh send out a statement (in plain language and not some PA release speak) on the force management status. I know his intent was to give people enough info and time to make a decision, but it seems like the opposite has happened. Since A1 couldn't get it done maybe Gen Welsh can address the concerns/issues and provide the info to help us make informed decisions. We shouldn't have to rely on anonymous people on the internet to find out whether or not we are getting laid off (but seriously, thanks baseops.net). I do believe this is another effect of AF promoting box-checkers/followers over performers/leaders. You see it in the way people perform or respond during a major event/crisis. The collective silence from AF leadership is deafening. Just be honest, your people will respect you more.

Sorry I didn't get a chance to respond sooner, but addict and others kind of spelled it out for me. I was looking at the difference in VSP & RIF pay versus number of work months left to make up that difference (plus Tricare). I still need to calculate if it's more tax advantageous to take or sell back your leave. *So if you are not in a hurry to separate or have a job lined up* you can easily make up that difference in pay in a matter of a few months or less. There is no financial incentive at this point to volunteer given the uncertainty over the 2014 Force Management programs. It's a reward versus risk equation, and IMHO the risk outweighs the reward at this point. I do vaguely recall reading an article where Gen Welsh said if you applied for the VSP and was turned down, you'd still get the VSP amount even if you got RIFed later on. That might be enticing to some people.

Unless you are just dying to get out (or have the next job lined up already), the 1.25 multiplier for VSP does not make financial sense. Not to mention showing your hands to the leadership. Edited to add the caveat.

Gc, since you are A1, please confirm whether or not people in the red block is still vulnerable to the rif board. Thanks

matrix here: https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil/app/answers/detail/a_id/26745 Chaplains are not eligible for voluntary or involuntary programs. All officers with greater than 19 but less than 20 total years of service may apply for TERA and other voluntary programs, regardless of AFSC. All Selectively Continued Officers with greater than 15 but less than 19 total years of service are eligible for TERA and other voluntary programs, with the exception of the following AFSCs: 11F/H/U, 12F/H/U, 13C/D/L, 18X, 52R All Selectively Continued Officers with less than 15 total years of service are eligible for voluntary programs, with the exception of the following AFSCs: 11F/H/U, 12F/H/U, 13C/D/L, 18X, 52R Information is current as of 20 December 2013. Please check back often, as eligibility will change over the course of the Force Management Program

So if you are in the red does that mean you won't meet the RIF board as well?

I don't know the General, but parts of the article/report read like a hatchet job on his reputation. There is no context. * July 14: Carey flew from Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C., to Zurich, Switzerland, on his way to the meeting. During an extended layover, Carey was seen drinking and at one point “talked loudly about the importance of his position as commander of the only operational nuclear force in the world and that he saves the world from war every day,” according to witnesses. He may sound arrogant, but not breaking any regs. * July 15: The U.S. delegation arrived at a Marriott hotel in Moscow and met in an executive lounge. Carey reportedly had several beers and “again, started in on the very loud discussions about being in charge of the only operationally deployed force and saving the world.” He began saying the airmen in his command have the lowest morale of any in the Air Force Again, sounds arrogant but are these not factual statements? And was he laughing about the low morale in his command? That night, the group went to a restaurant for dinner. The restaurant, La Cantina, was suggested by Carey because he and another member of the delegation tried to go there the night before and “the General really wanted to see this Beatles cover band.” Carey reportedly tried to sing with the band, and asked if he could play the guitar. What's wrong with this scenario? Back at the hotel, Carey had drinks in the lobby until approximately 4 a.m. with a lieutenant colonel and a woman who worked in the hotel’s cigar shop. Carey said that the “cigar sales lady’ spent most of the night with them and, “She was asking questions about physics and optics and I was like, dude, this doesn’t normally happen.” Carey turned in her business card to OSI when he returned, saying he had concerns about her intentions. He expressed his concerns to OSI, so what's the problem again? Did he disclose classified material?

Here is what someone sent me... 1) If you take the VSP and continue in Reserves - pay back is at your final retirement (60 years old if you stay as a part time reservist) spread over 4 years at 25% pre-tax value of original amount per year - you get "present value" of post-taxed amount upfront over at least 2 decades time (if you're 30, that would be 30 years time before you payback) - payback is at same amount but "future value" is likely to be less valuable - you get the benefit of the VSP AND continued service - you get a retirement check after 60 that includes your active duty service years/points (minus the 4 yrs of 25% pay back) Also see AFI 36-2005 and search for VSI