Just incase you guys haven't heard it in a while, THANK YOU!!! From someone who has wanted to serve in the USAF since a child, this channel is an invaluable resource in planning to chart my own path
From the perspective of one who had 27 years in the Air Force: Nothing is guaranteed regarding promotions. It all comes down to the needs of the Air Force. If the Air Force has to do a Reduction in Force then one good way to get rid of people is to not promote them. I was recruited into Air Force ROTC in 1972 to meet the needs of the Vietnam War. When I got commissioned in 1974 the war was over and the Air Force had twice as many Second Lieutenants as it needed or wanted. The promotion rate from First Lieutenant to Captain? 50%. Most of the time, yes, your first two promotions will be automatic. But will this always, always be true? No. The needs of the Air Force come before your promotion does.
Interesting, but they didn't talk about what my experience was in the officer grades. I was in some time ago (1971-1991), so things may have changed since then. Promotions occur as stated with respect to what they said about 2ndLt through Capt. However, to Major and above, the promotion board looked at Officer Performance Reports (OPRs), your assignment history, education level, military PME completion, and who were your reviewing officers on the OPRs. The level of command of your reviewing officers recommending promotion carried a lot of weight and the way the report was written was done in such a way, almost in a code, that communicated you should be promoted above all others. The higher the command level in your reporting chain your OPR was signed off on, the more sway it could have with the board. 🙂
Good video. can you make a video on how and what 'below the zone' means? I had a relative who served 20+ years as a reservist on active duty. He was a JAG and did will at promo boards. Actually better than peers.
I have seen perfectly good officers passed over to Captain the first time. Reason? Poor supervisors. I have seen people get picked above the zone to Major and LtCol. That pigeon holes their career. I have seen people in "Operations" (pilots, Missiles) get BTZ promotions and have no idea that Enlisted people beyond maintenance actually existed. The AF has made it so hard to get into the Officer Corp from the enlisted ranks. Nothing is automatic.
Back when I was in, the automatic promotion to first Lt was a temporary promotion that didn't go permanent till about the time for a temporary promotion to Capt? Is that still the case?
Hello! I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. in computer science, but I am also interested in joining the Air Force. I would like to know what rank I could attain as a fresh starter with a Ph.D. in the Air Force? Additionally, I am curious about the ranks I can achieve after years of service and whether I can advance to higher positions, such as Lieutenant Colonel or Colonel is it possible? Thank you for your assistance!🌹
not an Air Force program, but the Army will direct commission cyber experts into higher grades: www.arcyber.army.mil/Resources/Fact-Sheets/Article/2060387/army-cyber-direct-commissioning-program/
Here is how it REALLY is from a 23 yr LtCol. Your post- grad stuff doesn't really matter AFA suitability for commissioning. Where it MAY be a factor is in your AFSC, i.e. job. A PhD in CS, will get you a cyber and engineer slot. Needs of the AF come into play, so you could be a cyber dude in a comm squadron that does direct support of deployed forces. Or you could go to the test world, or the lab. It's also possible 2Lts are full up in those specialities and you will end up on something else.😮 That's how it is
If a major gets passed over twice for Lt. Col. prior to 18 years of service, are they forced out, or allowed to stay in long enough to qualify for retirement? Are officers who are forced out due to not qualifying for promotion eligible for severance pay?
if they get passed over, but approved for selective continuation they can stay for another year and meet the board again. eventually they will not be approved for selective continuation and will need to separate or retire at that point.
Typically its 4 chances: Below the Zone, which means you are so awesome you get picked up a year early in the Zone which is what they discussed, and Above the Zone which is what you refer to. If you dont get picked up at 2 ABZ then depending on how close you are, and to be blunt how much your O6 and GO chain will fight for you you can definitely be continued to 20
it works almost the same way. the main difference is after Captain, you need to be in a billet that is coded for a higher rank in order for you to promote.
But you should also know that for those of us who were direct commissioned to higher ranks have different timelines for boards. I entered O3 and after 4 years left as an O3 (along with many of my peers in the MSC) because promotion to O4 was VERY difficult at the time. Of course I didn’t care much because I wasn’t staying in as a career, and only wanted my student loans repaid lol.
i don't think that's a new thing or that most jobs require a specific degree. you can see for yourself here: www.milvet.state.pa.us/DMVA/Docs_PNG/hro/AFOCD.pdf
Only time you need a specific degree is if you want to be a test pilot, or a specific thing! Buts that’s it, you can still do everything without that specific degree but having that degree makes it just a tad easier in some cases!
Yes, for stuff like Cyber or Engineer, you need STEM. To fly, you really dont anymore though centuries ago when I commissioned it was a plus on your package.
Are you referring to specifically Air Force? If so, I’ll start with saying that Officer and Enlisted promotions are similar in a lot of ways, but they’re still completely separate from each other. To answer your question, the short answer is yes. The long answer is that you will promote the same as far as process, it’s just the timeline is different. You will obviously be eligible for the next rank sooner if you join as an E-3 versus joining as an E-1. Technically, everyone joins as an E-1, but depending on certain stipulations and your contract, your DATE OF RANK will be back dated. The most common example of this is 4 Year vs 6 Year enlistees. A 6 year will be promoted to E-3 upon completion of Basic Military Training. However, you will not wear the rank until completion of Technical Training (or 20 weeks from Basic Graduation, which ever comes first). 4 Years will receive the rank of E-2 upon graduation of Basic Training but will sew on 6 months after the start of basic. Basically, a 4 year will sew on rank sooner, but a 6 year gets a higher rank faster and puts you in a sooner window for E-4. Then E-5. E-6…..and so on.
Good evening Sirs, Question : prior service ARMY , now Air Force reserve, with 2 years of college . Also need a age waiver … if accepted into Afrotc , what should I expect ? I.e , do I keep my rank ? Can i still work full time ? Do I still drill with my current unit ?
@@airforceofficerpodcast If you can't make 0-4 just get out lol But with such a high promotion rate enlisted members obviously question any officer abilities especially if they have a non-technical degree. If you got a pulse you can lead a squadron.
Just incase you guys haven't heard it in a while, THANK YOU!!! From someone who has wanted to serve in the USAF since a child, this channel is an invaluable resource in planning to chart my own path
😎
From the perspective of one who had 27 years in the Air Force: Nothing is guaranteed regarding promotions. It all comes down to the needs of the Air Force. If the Air Force has to do a Reduction in Force then one good way to get rid of people is to not promote them. I was recruited into Air Force ROTC in 1972 to meet the needs of the Vietnam War. When I got commissioned in 1974 the war was over and the Air Force had twice as many Second Lieutenants as it needed or wanted. The promotion rate from First Lieutenant to Captain? 50%. Most of the time, yes, your first two promotions will be automatic. But will this always, always be true? No. The needs of the Air Force come before your promotion does.
Interesting, but they didn't talk about what my experience was in the officer grades. I was in some time ago (1971-1991), so things may have changed since then. Promotions occur as stated with respect to what they said about 2ndLt through Capt. However, to Major and above, the promotion board looked at Officer Performance Reports (OPRs), your assignment history, education level, military PME completion, and who were your reviewing officers on the OPRs. The level of command of your reviewing officers recommending promotion carried a lot of weight and the way the report was written was done in such a way, almost in a code, that communicated you should be promoted above all others. The higher the command level in your reporting chain your OPR was signed off on, the more sway it could have with the board. 🙂
Good video. can you make a video on how and what 'below the zone' means?
I had a relative who served 20+ years as a reservist on active duty.
He was a JAG and did will at promo boards. Actually better than peers.
In the reserves, just do your PME and you'll be promoted.....at least to O-5
I have seen perfectly good officers passed over to Captain the first time. Reason? Poor supervisors. I have seen people get picked above the zone to Major and LtCol. That pigeon holes their career. I have seen people in "Operations" (pilots, Missiles) get BTZ promotions and have no idea that Enlisted people beyond maintenance actually existed. The AF has made it so hard to get into the Officer Corp from the enlisted ranks. Nothing is automatic.
Back when I was in, the automatic promotion to first Lt was a temporary promotion that didn't go permanent till about the time for a temporary promotion to Capt? Is that still the case?
Nooo. Temporary promotions aren’t a thing anymore.
Hello! I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. in computer science, but I am also interested in joining the Air Force. I would like to know what rank I could attain as a fresh starter with a Ph.D. in the Air Force?
Additionally, I am curious about the ranks I can achieve after years of service and whether I can advance to higher positions, such as Lieutenant Colonel or Colonel is it possible? Thank you for your assistance!🌹
not an Air Force program, but the Army will direct commission cyber experts into higher grades: www.arcyber.army.mil/Resources/Fact-Sheets/Article/2060387/army-cyber-direct-commissioning-program/
Here is how it REALLY is from a 23 yr LtCol.
Your post- grad stuff doesn't really matter AFA suitability for commissioning. Where it MAY be a factor is in your AFSC, i.e. job. A PhD in CS, will get you a cyber and engineer slot.
Needs of the AF come into play, so you could be a cyber dude in a comm squadron that does direct support of deployed forces. Or you could go to the test world, or the lab. It's also possible 2Lts are full up in those specialities and you will end up on something else.😮
That's how it is
If a major gets passed over twice for Lt. Col. prior to 18 years of service, are they forced out, or allowed to stay in long enough to qualify for retirement? Are officers who are forced out due to not qualifying for promotion eligible for severance pay?
if they get passed over, but approved for selective continuation they can stay for another year and meet the board again. eventually they will not be approved for selective continuation and will need to separate or retire at that point.
Typically its 4 chances: Below the Zone, which means you are so awesome you get picked up a year early in the Zone which is what they discussed, and Above the Zone which is what you refer to.
If you dont get picked up at 2 ABZ then depending on how close you are, and to be blunt how much your O6 and GO chain will fight for you you can definitely be continued to 20
So officers dont take tests to get prompted unlike enlisted?
that’s correct.
Do you have one for the reserve officers ?
it works almost the same way. the main difference is after Captain, you need to be in a billet that is coded for a higher rank in order for you to promote.
@@airforceofficerpodcast thank you! I was slightly confused because I’m just coming to the Air Force reserves!
Is this the same process for air national guard?
some nuance applies to field grade promotions, but it’s generally the same.
But you should also know that for those of us who were direct commissioned to higher ranks have different timelines for boards. I entered O3 and after 4 years left as an O3 (along with many of my peers in the MSC) because promotion to O4 was VERY difficult at the time. Of course I didn’t care much because I wasn’t staying in as a career, and only wanted my student loans repaid lol.
Is it new that most jobs require a specific degree type or is that not true ?
i don't think that's a new thing or that most jobs require a specific degree. you can see for yourself here: www.milvet.state.pa.us/DMVA/Docs_PNG/hro/AFOCD.pdf
Only time you need a specific degree is if you want to be a test pilot, or a specific thing! Buts that’s it, you can still do everything without that specific degree but having that degree makes it just a tad easier in some cases!
Yes, for stuff like Cyber or Engineer, you need STEM. To fly, you really dont anymore though centuries ago when I commissioned it was a plus on your package.
if you join as an e3 do you still get promoted the same as you start as an e1
E-3 is an enlisted rank and they get promoted altogether differently than officers.
It's still depends on time in service to get E4 unless you get BTZ
Are you referring to specifically Air Force? If so, I’ll start with saying that Officer and Enlisted promotions are similar in a lot of ways, but they’re still completely separate from each other.
To answer your question, the short answer is yes. The long answer is that you will promote the same as far as process, it’s just the timeline is different. You will obviously be eligible for the next rank sooner if you join as an E-3 versus joining as an E-1. Technically, everyone joins as an E-1, but depending on certain stipulations and your contract, your DATE OF RANK will be back dated.
The most common example of this is 4 Year vs 6 Year enlistees. A 6 year will be promoted to E-3 upon completion of Basic Military Training. However, you will not wear the rank until completion of Technical Training (or 20 weeks from Basic Graduation, which ever comes first). 4 Years will receive the rank of E-2 upon graduation of Basic Training but will sew on 6 months after the start of basic. Basically, a 4 year will sew on rank sooner, but a 6 year gets a higher rank faster and puts you in a sooner window for E-4. Then E-5. E-6…..and so on.
Good evening Sirs,
Question : prior service ARMY , now Air Force reserve, with 2 years of college . Also need a age waiver … if accepted into Afrotc , what should I expect ? I.e , do I keep my rank ? Can i still work full time ? Do I still drill with my current unit ?
Lmao we just gone skip past Satan?
GTFO here Major is a 99% promotion rate...competitive my ass
it was competitive for the 1% who didn't get selected.
@@airforceofficerpodcast If you can't make 0-4 just get out lol But with such a high promotion rate enlisted members obviously question any officer abilities especially if they have a non-technical degree. If you got a pulse you can lead a squadron.
My Group got 2 our of 6 Captains that didn't make O-4. LMAO
@@dougdelane3642 You sound jealous as hell lol
Earlier, not sooner!