Posted on Aug 1, 2018
20-year staff sergeants? Top enlisted leader backs change to high year of tenure
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The Air Force has probably the slowest rate of promotion and the up or out system is really problematic for the force as a whole. Having quota’s for pay grades in various career fields is also stupid. What if someone is a subject matter expert in their career field? They have to move out of their field of expertise in order to get promoted? What’s wrong with a 20 year E-5?
The other services have it right in that, at least in the Army, soldiers can apply to become a Warrant Officer (not everyone wants to start over as a 2nd lieutenant (or ensign). I’ve read of a few Air Force people who became Army Warrant Officers to get ahead. On a side note, my Dad was “appointed” a Warrant Officer, which was before they started the WOC program, based on his expertise. They are technical experts, so to speak. If the Air Force was to start using its authority to use the WO ranks again, they should start with appointing WO’s rather than sending people through basic training again (imho).
In any event, the Air Force is losing good people due to high rate of tenure.
The other services have it right in that, at least in the Army, soldiers can apply to become a Warrant Officer (not everyone wants to start over as a 2nd lieutenant (or ensign). I’ve read of a few Air Force people who became Army Warrant Officers to get ahead. On a side note, my Dad was “appointed” a Warrant Officer, which was before they started the WOC program, based on his expertise. They are technical experts, so to speak. If the Air Force was to start using its authority to use the WO ranks again, they should start with appointing WO’s rather than sending people through basic training again (imho).
In any event, the Air Force is losing good people due to high rate of tenure.
20-year staff sergeants? Top enlisted leader backs change to high year of tenure
Posted from airforcetimes.comPosted in these groups: SSgt
Promotions
Promotions
Edited 2 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 12
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In 72 at my first assignment (Albrook AFB, CZ) I worked with a SSgt who had enlisted in 1954 and (under the old board system) had made E-5 by 1960. The man knew the Military Personnel System (we were 732X0s) inside and out. But sit him down and give him a written test and he would freeze. In 73 he was facing his Up or Out threshold. Every one in the department took turns working with him prepping him for the test. It worked, he got his line # for Tech with 6 months to spare. I am sure there are many more just like him and their loss creates a void every day that the AF can not afford.
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ROFLMAO, if you want to be a leader, join a service that promotes leadership, no basic...yeah good luck with that.
On the serious side of things: Believe it or not the Army can only promote so many people at a given grade and MOS, and I am willing to bet the other services are not much different. I agree with you that the AF should bring Warrants back, for that matter Space Force should have them as well. I used to find it hard to believe the motor officer was an O-3 in an AF motor pool, waste of an officer at the 0-3 level, but then again, the paycheck would be nicer.
On the serious side of things: Believe it or not the Army can only promote so many people at a given grade and MOS, and I am willing to bet the other services are not much different. I agree with you that the AF should bring Warrants back, for that matter Space Force should have them as well. I used to find it hard to believe the motor officer was an O-3 in an AF motor pool, waste of an officer at the 0-3 level, but then again, the paycheck would be nicer.
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I agree with what you said. In my unit, my fellow E5s all work together and play on each other's strengths and help build each other's weaknesses. Some want to promote but some are fine being in the "grit" with the junior Airmen and training them, still being mentors and leaders but are pressured to get a promotion due to HYT. I myself, do want to promote but I have learned some people are completely happy with where they're at and don't want to deal with the admin/paperwork side of promoting further.
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