Quote:
Originally Posted by grigori
Could you please explain in brief.Is it not good to enlist in the USAF in any ranks or is it that its good to enlist only in officer ranks?
No matter what problems may plague it,you still can't change the fact it is the best Air Force in the world on a technological and numerical basis.
|
In my experience, the current climate promotes not the ones who do their jobs the best, but the ones that kiss ass the best, and are risk adverse.
The AF promotes E1-E3 and O1-O3 based on recommendations from supervisors. As far as this goes, if you don't get an Article 15 as enlisted and an LOR or Article 15 as an officer you are going to get promoted.
From E4-E6 you take tests based on your career field as well as PME and are pormoted that way. If you do not test well you have the opportunity to earn your stipes through a STEP promotion.
As soon as you start being boarded as an E8/9 and O-4 thru O-6 it depends on how you look on a piece of paper. I know some awesome officers that don't look too hot on paper because their rater is a shitty writer. I also know some shitty E-9s and officers that look great on paper because their rater can write well.
At all levels you are going to have good supervisors and commanders, and shitty ones. It seems to me that lately the AF is more likely to promote those that toe the line, don't shake things up, keep their mouths shut, and are risk adverse.
This is not meant to broad brush all leadership in the AF. But from my perspective right now we have a lot more E9s than we do Chiefs (their is a HUGE difference between the two). We also have Squadron and Wing Commanders that are more concerned about making their next rank, or their next position on the ladder than they are about the folks that work for them and making the position they are currently in better than when they arrived.
I was raised by a Chief, and my dad always taught me it was more important what the people who work for you think of you than what the people you work for think of you. It is something I have lived by my entire career. I could make O6 if I wanted, but I know that my mouth would get me in trouble, and I am not willing to step on people to get there. Additionally, I find very few O6s lately who are willing to make tough decisions because they think it will effect their very very very small chnace of making General.
I can effect change better as the Iron Lt Col, than I can as a Col, at least in the current environment.
So a long answer to the question, as of right now I would not suggest to anyone I care about to join right now. Until we get through the current leadership (next 2-3 years) it is going to be a tough place to live.
But that is just my experience. Others may have a different point of view.
Linear Mode
