Obstacles/Roadblocks when entering active duty?

2d Lt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 16:16:52 -0400

Each year, thousands of new airmen join the ranks of the enlisted corps and thousands of new officers are commissioned. What are some of the challenges you faced when you first entered active duty and were stationed at your first base?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 26 at 2015 4:45 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 16:45:11 -0400

Honestly, being the cherry on the block and not having anyone to properly show me the ropes and let me turn and burn through trial and error because that is how they learned.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 26 at 2015 6:34 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 18:34:46 -0400

Ninja's...Always a problem at ones first command...

Now that I got that out of my system.

I was older when I joined so the biggest thing was I felt a need to lead by example and so I was way overload with qualifications and trying to get things done I almost had a nervous breakdown before someone in a leadership position sat me down and explained that I will not get everything done in a day.

Response by A1C Melissa Jackson made Oct 29 at 2015 2:53 PM

A1C Melissa Jackson — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 14:53:30 -0400

I was not immediately assigned to permanent housing. I was not well-briefed about the surrounding area, so I was lost and feeling at loose ends. I was just 18, and far from home. I mean, it was not a shock that I would be far from home when I joined the service- in fact, I was COUNTING on it! It is just that the lack of immediate support left me open to hazing and predatory behavior.

Now, things might have changed A LOT since then, but in retrospect these are the primary problems I faced.

Response by TSgt John Temblador, PI, CIPA made Oct 29 at 2015 7:44 PM

TSgt John Temblador, PI, CIPA — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 19:44:20 -0400

I had a sponsor from my Unit at Ellsworth AFB, SD.n (1985) That SrAirman sent me a welcome letter, and introduced me to the area and base when I arrived. Other civilian and military officers were helpful and there was an adjustment and culture shock at 21 and away from family into a new state and environment. Stay flexible, open minded and learn as you go! Never stop praying and leaning on Christ Jesus who loves you, never leaves you, and nothing can separate you from the love of God! This will be your strength and center and ground you! Learn that God has a plan and purpose for every situation and circumstance you encounter... Learn His will by reading the Bible and fellowship / prayer!

Response by SrA Joshua Hagler made Oct 29 at 2015 10:53 PM

SrA Joshua Hagler — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 22:53:37 -0400

Wow, well for me it was a mix of things. One was not having any NCO's to supervise me while working on aircraft. We either didn't have enough people to do over watch or young NCO's who didn't know how to be a NCO. Two was the intense lack of support when it came to being an Air Force Maintainer. Three, when I came into my unit in 2008 moral was low and no matter what was tried but direct supervision it did not get better, and ever year it was getting worse and worse. No unit cohesion of any kind, a lot back stabbing, and worse of all was the acceptance that the bare minimum was great and over achieving was wrong. It was a very confusing time, it was the opposite of what I was told the Air Force was.

Response by SSgt John Berry made Oct 29 at 2015 11:37 PM

SSgt John Berry — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 23:37:07 -0400

Confusion about the leadership tree. By the time I made E-4 the bottom rung of the NCO scale 15 of the 20 guys on the flight line were E-4's. There basically was no rank tree as it were therefore no chance to exercise and leadership abilities. To much glut at one rank.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 31 at 2015 10:38 AM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 10:38:29 -0400

There's always the money debacle--it takes a while for Finance to get a profile built into the system for the first time--so I had to go my first few weeks without pay; but thank God for a good sponsor, who set me up with a lodging room and a fully stocked fridge.

If you get the chance to pay it forward, be THAT guy, and the new person you sponsor in shouldn't soon forget it.

Response by SSgt Carrie Foster Campbell made Oct 31 at 2015 2:36 PM

SSgt Carrie Foster Campbell — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 14:36:01 -0400

I had no problems, my first duty station was a place where my dad had been stationed 7 years earlier it was like going home, except by myself :) btw it was Howard AFB, Panama, Canal Zone 1978-1980

Response by SMSgt David A Asbury made Oct 31 at 2015 3:50 PM

SMSgt David A Asbury — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 15:50:30 -0400

I was under weight by 2 pounds, had to get a waiver, I had to eat a lot of stuff the night before going to the MEPS. But still did not have the weight. By the time I got out of basic, I had gained 22 pounds. I felt good and friends said I even looked good.

Response by MSgt Jeffrey Glick made Nov 1 at 2015 4:28 AM

MSgt Jeffrey Glick — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 04:28:46 -0500

I did not have a great first supervisor, He was kind of a DI#K looking back at him all these years later, I would say good morning SSgt DI#K and he response was FU. I think all front line supervisors need some sort of training other then Airmen Leadership school. I think it should be the SQ responsibility to make sure all their front line supervisors have some sort of training. I PCSed as soon as I could and learned what not to do from my first supervisor and thank god for a bunch of great Chiefs that I met along the way when I met them not all of them were chiefs but everyone was on his/her way