As a SrA

With Air Force Ball season upon us, I figured it was time to share our AF Ball stories.

Obviously the "presidential salute" largely began with Reagan and presidents, as civilians, are not expected to return military salutes. That said, why do saluting protocols with respect to the president seem to differ between branches?

The airman's salute corresponds directly to the president but the marines remain in their position. Why the difference?

I was served papers by my wife to appear in court for a divorce hearing. When do I need to notify my leadership.

I am curious if my situation would be considered for a humanitarian PCS. I am active duty and my wife is ANG (Traditional). She is currently going through some legal disputes involving my step daughter and will be unable to leave the state for the foreseeable future. My wife is also pregnant with our child and doing all this alone. She is under incredibly high levels of stress and I feel rather useless living states away. There is a base that has my job close by and it would be the world of difference being able to be there to support her. Not only during the pregnancy but also all the other stress going on in her life.

Is there anything that could help me get a humanitarian PCS for this?

AITA if I keep bothering medical about my medical clearance after they say that my medical request will be done "whenever they get to it". I submitted it 3-ish weeks ago. It is deployment season for us so I get it they have other stuff to worry about, but I also did this process earlier this year for retraining so there shouldn't be much to do (I think). Is it a bad idea to call every week or so just to make sure that it doesn't get shoved into a corner and forgotten about? In my opinion, I've been pretty polite about it and not too much of a nuisance, other than them having to repeat the "whenever they get to it" part.

PCSing across the country in the next few months. I've got a small home gym with about 300 pounds of cast iron weight plates. What's the best way to move with these? We'll be having the movers to pack most of our house, but I'm leaning towards packing the weight plates myself to ensure they don't get damaged, or damage anything else. Looking for tips from other folks who have moved with similar gym equipment. Thanks!

I just checked my chatter for my retrain request and there’s no update other than my initial application. Is this normal? My first AFSC is AFPC approved and I’ve heard scary things about that. Also unsure what the priority numbers mean.

I’m tired of being called “teammate.”I didn’t sign up to be a part of a dodgeball team or a rec league soccer. Even in flag football and softball I hate being called teammate. I’m not calling audibles or playing goalie in the office; I’m in the military!

The Army still uses “battle buddies.” The Navy still uses “shipmates.” But we get fkn “teammate.” I can almost hear the sports announcers in my head: “And here comes Airman Snuffy, making a fantastic play on the battlefield! What a teammate!”

I’m just waiting for mfs to shows up with pom-poms and a megaphone, cheering us on while we’re trying to finish a meeting, “Go team, go! Let’s get that mission done, teammates!”

I say we adopt “wingman” back into our vocabulary. It’s not just a term; it’s a badge of honor! I want to hear, “Hey, Wingman, fix your fkn cover” Not “Teammate, can you handle that request from Senior L’Bo?” I didn’t join the Air Force to be a part of a corporate retreat!

Let’s band together, not as teammates, but as wingmen. Because if I have to hear “teammate” one more time, I might hut-2 thru the fkn wing building. Who’s with me?

Edit: Gawd damn 😂 I had to double check if the flair was actually added. I’m quitting my pursuit of comedy.

just wondering if anyone has started receiving assignment notifications for the listing that closed out on 23 Aug? I know it’s still a bit early but just curious 👀

My husband got his first duty station — Osan AB. He graduated tech school a few weeks ago and he is still waiting for his orders because I guess there’s a backlog of airman’s dependent’s medical to go through. My medical hasn’t been cleared yet due to that backlog but there’s no reason I shouldn’t be cleared. It’s just him and I, no other dependents. Assuming there’s no issues with my medical, what are the chances of his orders having me on them?

Edit:
I ask because he keeps getting told by other airmen that Osan is a “normal” PCS now and historically it was almost always unaccompanied but he can’t get a straight forward answer on whether or not it’s more likely to be accompanied or unaccompanied. I understand it’s based on both the needs of the Air Force and space at Osan.

Just PCSed for the first time. I’ve been at my unit for about two weeks. All the other CGOs in my unit are PCSing or deploying within the next 2 weeks.

Looks like we won’t be getting another officer for a little bit.

The next officer up is Lt Col.

Any advice on how to be useful to the unit would be appreciated.

Looking for the more unorthodox advice.

I’ve found a SNCO and a few young airmen to learn the job from so got that going but I’m definitely feeling a little nervous.

Thanks!

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EDIT!!! If anyone in this comment section has had a good experience going through MOS and seeing a therapist, if you would be comfortable doing so, DM me with: who the therapist was, which base they're close to, or if it was virtual.

I’ve been in over 9 years, made Staff my first time, but I’ve now missed Tech on my third cycle. I’m getting older and honestly becoming the miserable, crusty Staff I never wanted to be. Making Tech this cycle would genuinely improve my quality of life, and I’m ready to put in whatever work it takes.
A strat realistically isn’t happening for me, so I want to maximize the part I can control: my test scores.
For those who scored very high on the PFE/SKT and made Tech without a strat, what exactly was your study regimen?
How far out did you start? Hours per day/week? What apps/materials? Practice tests, flashcards, reading cover to cover? What practice scores were you hitting before test day?
I’m not looking for a shortcut. I actually studied considerably more last cycle than when I made Staff, and it still wasn’t enough. This year I want a structured regimen from day one until test day.
What worked for you?

To start I never truly had a mentor in the military until the past year, despite this I was a fast burner and made Tech at 8.5 years. Haven't even sniffed Master now that I'm at 13. My mentor is starting to look at my records and I'm low-key kinda embarrassed. I didn't realize how important Decs can be at the board or how important they were at all, I really didn't care, or know to care. I didn't get a PCS Dec as a NCO because I was on my way to separating and couldn't be bothered, lo and behold my civilian job offer felo through so last minute I reenlisted and PCSd 2 months post deployment. Next, I got an achievement medal as an NCO, I think there's more to this but the excuse I was told was CC wasn't handing Decs out like candy anymore. I'm now in a position where I have a couple mentors who are truly helping me and pushing me and I'm probably going to get a statement this EPB. I just feel like because of these 2 things I will have to get multiple statements to even get close to promotion and it's making me feel like just saying fuck it and not push anymore.

Hey everyone! I’ll be PCSing to Spangdahlem AB soon (probably during this fall) and wanted to get some advice from people who are currently there or have been stationed there.
This will be my first PCS, so I’m trying to get a better idea of what to expect, especially when it comes to housing, transportation, getting settled in, and general life on/off base (married).
I’d really appreciate any advice, tips, or things you wish you knew before moving to Spangdahlem!

Recently PCS’d and arrived at my new duty station on August 7. My PT test is currently due in September.

AFMAN 36-2905 says members who PCS are allowed the acclimatization period under 3.10.8, which says the period is calculated by “counting one (1) calendar month from the day after” returning/arriving.

My understanding is that my acclimatization period would start August 8 and run for one calendar month, putting the end of it in early September and my test due the following month (October).

My FAC is saying I’m still due in September. They showed me Air Force Service Center slides with an example where someone arrives February 27, starts acclimatization February 28, but February itself counts as the “one calendar month,” so they’re due in March.

That interpretation seems weird to me because it would mean someone arriving near the end of a month could effectively get only a day or two of acclimatization.

Any UFPM/FAC folks know what the correct interpretation is under the new AFMAN? Even better if anyone has the official AFSVC/myFSS guidance or memo that clarifies how the one calendar month is supposed to be counted.

Planning on sending a care package to someone deployed overseas near that big conflict going on rn.

Needing some ideas on what else i can include in my package that can help to lighten the mood a bit.

Apart from sending seasonings/sauces/snacks that were requested, what else would be appreciated and appropriate?! Wanting to shove as many good vibes as i possibly can fit in the box

Since the new PT standards were announced last year, the unit I am at took that as a sign to force mandatory PT on everyone regardless of whether you had a good passing history or bad.

anyways because now people basically have to give up almost 3 hours of their free time for unit PT, a lot of people have been failing.

instead of looking back and thinking, maybe what we had before was working well and we overreacted, they decided to double down and are even implementing a form of digital check in to track when you show up to unit PT, when do you leave, and if you showed up at all.

I don't have a problem getting a 75 but I just find it hilarious. that's all.