I stayed late after work today to take care of some paperwork and try to get my deployment travel voucher paid (still no luck), and because I was there, I got tagged for random (semi-random?) urinalysis.
I was in the seat for 5 1/2 hours today, so the first thing I did when I got out of the seat was pee. They handed me the letter about 45 mins later...the Air Force has a knack for this kind of timing. Same sort of thing happened at the Academy once. So I started drinking.
I was trying to think of the last time I had to do a test...it's been 4 or 5 years at least.
27 August 2008
23 August 2008
21 August 2008
af rumor
Heard a rumor that only 5% of staff jobs are going to be filled this year because they are so low on officers in my peer group. Surprise, surprise, who would have thought 7 years of war would tie up so many officers? I also heard they are considering paying to get back all the guys they paid to quit under the VSP.
AF career notes
Some notes regarding the AF vectoring process.
~~~
Developmental teams meet at random times at Randolph. They meet for different reasons (e.g. school, promotion, et cetera). And I don't think they make decisions. They merely give a recommended "vector" that real boards will use later.
For example, my IDE DT board is 4-8 August. But my promotion and school board (the people that make the decision) is 8-12 September. So the 4-8 August people are going to make a recommendation to the 8-12 September people.
Another personal example: When I was a 2 year captain a DT board met when I was nowhere near a promotion or school board. There they gave me a "vector." I assume they used that vector when my major's board met a year later. The vector used to be visible on the T-ODP. I can't find it on the ADP. Look at an old T-ODP or ask me and I'll bring in one of my old ones to show you.
Bottom line is that you need to make sure your ADP is correct. If you haven't updated your assignment preferences since the T-ODP became the ADP, I bet you they are jacked up (mine were...F-15E at Randolph?).
X's said something about him being a chaplain! And it takes awhile.
I updated my ADP last summer. I didn't get finalized with the wing cc's comments until January 08.
If the developmental team looks at your ADP and it says you're a chaplain who wants an F-15E at Randolph...your vector/recommendation might suffer.
~~~
The Vector can be found by going through the AF Portal under Top Viewed:
Career and selecting Assignment Management System (AMS). Once you open that link scroll over to the left where it says Personnel Information and select My Career Brief from the pop-up menu. Once you get into that, go to choose view and a menu appears with DT Vectors and Comments at the bottom. Now you're getting close! Choose that and click GO to see what your future holds. Mine is attached below for your viewing pleasure, not that I know what the hell it means.
Vector(s) Rec. Skill Pairing (If Appropriate) Rec. Specialized Studies (ACSC Only)
Air Staff
MAJCOM Staff
Chaplain - Wing
Development Team
***** 9/11/2007 12:00:00 AM *****
Notes: Wg Ch; assign at large base ( 8 or more Ch assign), Needs of the Air Force; Potential future senior leader
my intelink blog
~~~
Developmental teams meet at random times at Randolph. They meet for different reasons (e.g. school, promotion, et cetera). And I don't think they make decisions. They merely give a recommended "vector" that real boards will use later.
For example, my IDE DT board is 4-8 August. But my promotion and school board (the people that make the decision) is 8-12 September. So the 4-8 August people are going to make a recommendation to the 8-12 September people.
Another personal example: When I was a 2 year captain a DT board met when I was nowhere near a promotion or school board. There they gave me a "vector." I assume they used that vector when my major's board met a year later. The vector used to be visible on the T-ODP. I can't find it on the ADP. Look at an old T-ODP or ask me and I'll bring in one of my old ones to show you.
Bottom line is that you need to make sure your ADP is correct. If you haven't updated your assignment preferences since the T-ODP became the ADP, I bet you they are jacked up (mine were...F-15E at Randolph?).
X's said something about him being a chaplain! And it takes awhile.
I updated my ADP last summer. I didn't get finalized with the wing cc's comments until January 08.
If the developmental team looks at your ADP and it says you're a chaplain who wants an F-15E at Randolph...your vector/recommendation might suffer.
~~~
The Vector can be found by going through the AF Portal under Top Viewed:
Career and selecting Assignment Management System (AMS). Once you open that link scroll over to the left where it says Personnel Information and select My Career Brief from the pop-up menu. Once you get into that, go to choose view and a menu appears with DT Vectors and Comments at the bottom. Now you're getting close! Choose that and click GO to see what your future holds. Mine is attached below for your viewing pleasure, not that I know what the hell it means.
Vector(s) Rec. Skill Pairing (If Appropriate) Rec. Specialized Studies (ACSC Only)
Air Staff
MAJCOM Staff
Chaplain - Wing
Development Team
***** 9/11/2007 12:00:00 AM *****
Notes: Wg Ch; assign at large base ( 8 or more Ch assign), Needs of the Air Force; Potential future senior leader
my intelink blog
20 August 2008
Financial Advice
Sorry if people find this boring, but here's a few notes on investing and the economy.
There's always an inflation spike after a war (Wealth and Democracy, p36), due the excess gov't spending (and were making the record books on this one). How to protect against inflation? An inflation protected mutual fund, like this one by Vanguard. Bonds and gold traditionally do well in times of inflation and a slow economy.
If you don't really understand any of this, don't go out and bet the farm on this fund. Start studying.
A financial advisor I like:
Paul B. Farrell
There's always an inflation spike after a war (Wealth and Democracy, p36), due the excess gov't spending (and were making the record books on this one). How to protect against inflation? An inflation protected mutual fund, like this one by Vanguard. Bonds and gold traditionally do well in times of inflation and a slow economy.
If you don't really understand any of this, don't go out and bet the farm on this fund. Start studying.
A financial advisor I like:
Paul B. Farrell
Government Credit Card
Well, the mandatory US Government credit card changed again, from Bank of America to a Citibank Visa. It last changed in about 2005, I can't remember from what.
I've always hated the government card. In short, it is a card you are required by law to carry and use for all travel expenses. Here's why I don't like it: It works just like any other credit card but not as well. The government doesn't have a credit line, it's my credit rating the card is issued against, but I am required to use it. If the government is slow to pay my travel voucher (still haven't been paid for my deployment, due to DTS problems), it's my credit rating that takes a hit. I also have less control over viewing charges online than I do with my own bank (USAA). This thing is a waste of time for everyone except the youngest military members, who haven't yet established credit.
I've always hated the government card. In short, it is a card you are required by law to carry and use for all travel expenses. Here's why I don't like it: It works just like any other credit card but not as well. The government doesn't have a credit line, it's my credit rating the card is issued against, but I am required to use it. If the government is slow to pay my travel voucher (still haven't been paid for my deployment, due to DTS problems), it's my credit rating that takes a hit. I also have less control over viewing charges online than I do with my own bank (USAA). This thing is a waste of time for everyone except the youngest military members, who haven't yet established credit.
13 August 2008
SOS and masters credit
Another post of information useful to young Air Force officers.
If you don't have it on paper, it didn't happen, as they say. Here are websites and addresses to use in getting records of SOS (training reports and diplomas) and in submitting records of academic completion to get them on your military records.
AU/SOS/Maxwell Registrar; Another SOS link
AFIT link
Address to have your academic transcript sent to:
AFIT Academic Coding Branch
2950 Hobson Way
Wright-Patterson AFB, Oh 45433-7765
If you don't have it on paper, it didn't happen, as they say. Here are websites and addresses to use in getting records of SOS (training reports and diplomas) and in submitting records of academic completion to get them on your military records.
AU/SOS/Maxwell Registrar; Another SOS link
AFIT link
Address to have your academic transcript sent to:
AFIT Academic Coding Branch
2950 Hobson Way
Wright-Patterson AFB, Oh 45433-7765
American Military University, where I'm doing classes right now
Morons
Okay. Here's one reason why I hate watching TV news.
Just saw a story on a prominent 24 hour cable news station about how U.S. soldiers traveling to the middle east have to pay the airlines the extra bag fee for their bags. The VFW is angry about this, saying that a young soldier heading off to war shouldn't have to pay such a fee, and I would be too. In fact, I think I have more right, since I have been deploying for 5 years, and I've been paying overweight and extra bag fees the whole time. Except for one thing: The military reimburses us for all legitimate travels costs, including those fees. Everyone, when they travel on the government dime, has to file a travel voucher. So whether you get charged a fee (on your legally required government credit card) or not, you're still filing paperwork.
Clearly no one involved in publishing this story bothered to have even a 5 minute conversation about it with any military member. If you really want to find out about what you should be angry about, study up on the DTS system for filing travel vouchers and what a waste of time it is for all of us.
Baggage fee story
Just saw a story on a prominent 24 hour cable news station about how U.S. soldiers traveling to the middle east have to pay the airlines the extra bag fee for their bags. The VFW is angry about this, saying that a young soldier heading off to war shouldn't have to pay such a fee, and I would be too. In fact, I think I have more right, since I have been deploying for 5 years, and I've been paying overweight and extra bag fees the whole time. Except for one thing: The military reimburses us for all legitimate travels costs, including those fees. Everyone, when they travel on the government dime, has to file a travel voucher. So whether you get charged a fee (on your legally required government credit card) or not, you're still filing paperwork.
Clearly no one involved in publishing this story bothered to have even a 5 minute conversation about it with any military member. If you really want to find out about what you should be angry about, study up on the DTS system for filing travel vouchers and what a waste of time it is for all of us.
Baggage fee story
06 August 2008
Delicious
Okay, so nerding out the other day I started a Delicious account. I read a lot of news online, and I finally got curious about the logo I kept seeing everywhere. Trying it out for now. Seems cool, lets you keep you bookmarks apart from a specific computer, a way of becoming hardware independent.
Bookmarks
~~~
16 Dec 08:
Later post
Bookmarks
~~~
16 Dec 08:
Later post
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Dirndl said...
Sorry to say you have some incorrect information.
DTs meet at least twice a year, and they give guidance (i.e. vectors) to the assignment teams--or in the case of school, to the Developmental Education Designation Board (see http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil/docs/dpa/developed/6025_2008DRAFTIDESDECONOPS.doc). In each case, the DT makes a recommendation based on the officer's record, timing, and applicable endorsements; they do not get involved in the nitty-gritty of matching the officer's desires to the needs of the AF.
The 2008 summer DTs and later the 08 DEDB will send members to school in AY 09/10 from year groups 96-98 (who met boards in 04-06 and have DOR 1 Mar 06 to present) (see http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil/docs/dpa/developed/6025_Eligibility.xls).
Your promotion board (Maj LAF (P0408C)) meets in Dec 08 (see http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil/main_content.asp?prods1=1&prods2=2&prods3=10&prods4=475&prods5=480). Assuming you are selected for promotion, you will first be considered for IDE in 2010 for AY11/12.
But yes, always keep your ADP up to date, because the assignment teams may use those for out-of-cycle or oddball jobs that still have to be filled.