Reservists, are you too busy to do military professional development? Senator Graham was too busy and was promoted anyway.

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 07:48:06 -0400

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/for-lindsey-graham-years-of-light-duty-as-a-lawmaker-in-the-air-reserve/2015/08/02/c9beb9fc-3545-11e5-adf6-7227f3b7b338_story.html?postshare= [login to see] 449063

Sen. Graham moved up in Air Force Reserve ranks despite light duties

While in Congress, the GOP presidential hopeful was promoted twice despite years of little or no work.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2015 7:49 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 07:49:28 -0400

Do you think you would have been promoted to LTC and COL if you had not finished Command and Staff College and War College? Senator Graham says he is so busy that the expectation is unrealistic.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 3 at 2015 7:54 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 07:54:47 -0400

No military member should be too busy for professional development. No excuse. He skated by because he's a senator.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Aug 3 at 2015 8:19 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 08:19:20 -0400

This is a rather interesting debate here. On one hand, I ask myself is his time better spent doing his work as a Senator or as a JAG? I look at pictures of him walking about with other AF Personnel and he is the only one to have a weapon on him so then I ask myself is he only in the uniform so he can check a box on his forms to be reelected? The I think of others like Congressman Tim Murphy who is still able to do his military stuff which includes treating Service Members at Walter Reed and is still able to complete his duties as a Congressman. He wears the uniform because he enjoys it. He understands his role as a Service Member on Capital Hill and uses his position to be one of the few with a true voice for Veterans and Active Duty Service Personnel.

I think one should be careful when making claims as Sen Graham has made, you know people will fact-check you and this might end up hurting him more than he thinks.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2015 10:12 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 10:12:47 -0400

Since I have been too busy the last 15 years. If I get back in the service, I fully expect a battlefield commission to Major.

All kidding aside. If you can't put in the effort to advance your career, you shouldn't be advanced in your career, no matter what office you hold!

Response by MSgt Robert Pellam made Aug 3 at 2015 2:44 PM

MSgt Robert Pellam — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 14:44:50 -0400

As a voting resident of South Carolina, I have run across Sen Graham quite a bit. Since being voted into the Senate he has not shown any stand out notions, and has disappointed me in his voting record. When I learned he was running for president, I did some more digging into his records and I see more and more disappointment. The article in question was something I never really dug into. I figured as a Air Force Reservist, he is afforded some luxuries serving in public office and such. I assume from being around active duty and reserve officers that there is a lot of politics involved with Ranking up.

Again the more I learn the more I am disappointed in Senator Graham. I know a few LTC in the Air Force reserve who bust their butts for the Air Force. They have gone above and beyond, have all the blocks filled and are outstanding members, respected by their active duty and reserve peers. But apparently they just don't do enough or too much.

I see a growing trend in the military. The ranks are becoming more political then skills based. Both Enlisted and Officer. Leaders are getting passed over for Managers, and Managers are finding themselves in positions of Leadership where they lack the skills to Inspire. While it won't happen anytime soon, if the Air Force continues down this trail, most of the good Leader/Managers will leave for the Civilian world, and when things get tough, there will be no one to Inspire the followers to follow.

Just my perspective. As for Sen Graham, He is a politician. Any thing he says or does is suspect, despite him serving in the Air Force. I will never vote for him again.

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Aug 3 at 2015 6:19 PM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 18:19:44 -0400

Of note, I missed it when I first read the article, but COL(R) Graham was in an IMA slot for the last X number of years. With that context, it is clear that sometimes there is smoke because somebody is trying to burn some wet wood. There is no story here with his duty performance, other than "he performed it." (The PME question remains interesting and relevant)

For those not familiar with the reserve systems, what that means is that he was filling a slot that if not needed in peacetime, but has a reservist slotted against it so that they can easily surge when needed. This is significantly different than a traditional "TPU" assignment with monthly drills.

When the article talks about a "no show" job at the JAG school, it incorrectly leaves the impression of someone who is getting paid for not working or who is skipping mandatory training. That is incorrect. An IMA will generally do two weeks +/- (Some will manage to get around 40 days, sometimes all in a stretch, some will do little bits here and there) of training with their "assigned" unit, often negotiating the time and duties (yes, I said "negotiating") with the unit and around the unit's needs and their civilian job. It appears that COL(R) Graham negotiated/volunteered to do duties other than those specified by his billet (rather than teaching/writing classes, he was doing whatever he did overseas), but still relevant to his branch.

Far from being a "no show job" he was performing as an IMA in an IMA slot and using his initiative to attempt to line up his military duties with his private & professional interests.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2015 9:44 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 21:44:47 -0400

I think this is a little blown out of proportion but at the same time he does need to realize that if he's emphasizing his service (which shouldn't be detracted from) he will be under higher scrutiny.

In the long run it sounds like he was very good at his job and the promotion to Lt Col is probably a result of that. The promotion to Col could have been a follow on in a community that has a very high promotion rate (it does) and it could have been political. It was probably a bit of both. I'm ok with that.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Aug 3 at 2015 9:56 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 21:56:21 -0400

LOL.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2015 2:49 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 02:49:48 -0400

As a currently serving reservist, I will say that it is difficult to find the time. I am already PME complete for the next grade, but then again, I am a Mr. Mom/ full-time student. I think it's messed up that active duty marines are ordered to do the courses during normal working hours at some units, but even if they have to do it on their own time they are still being paid. Reservist do not have that luxury; if your wife leaves you, your car breaks down, your child gets sick, and all the other features of a stereotypical country song happens to you on active duty, you will still have a nice barracks to sleep in and food available, with free medical care. Reservists in the same scenario will be sleeping under a bridge. Sorry, that isn't equal or fair to expect the same. What motivates me is that WE STILL DO IT despite those problems amongst others.