<p>Form 341s do not stay with you past your time here. Actually, not even all of them that get written even make it to your file as they sometimes get lost/"misplaced", partially because they're not taken seriously.</p>
<p>The creative punishments you mentioned are amusing to me, as that's some of the kind of stuff that hasn't been around since my four degree year. It'd take too long to explain the background of a lot of it, but I'll just say that it doesn't surprise me since my class is in charge now.</p>
<p>While not everyone abuses (or misunderstands) how UCMJ punishments should be implemented here, I have seen numerous instances where it was misused (in my opinion anyway). For instance, an LOC for a four degree not remembering to bring his book to class? LOAs for not going to a briefing? An LOA for forgetting to lock a computer or not signing out? An LOR and UIF for not maintaining room standards? These are extremes and do not affect a large portion of people, but when you look at case by case, it does make a difference to those people, including AFSC selections and such. On the flip side, I have seen where UCMJ was warranted, i.e. the steroid "scandal" about a year or so ago. Article 15s and courts martial were handed out, but this was obviously more extreme than not getting a haircut before an inspection or forgetting a book.</p>
<p>I don't think tours are the most effective use of time, and while the first few may be beneficial, dozens down the road (I've heard as I never got that many), they lose their meaning and just waste time. The cadet disciplinary system was a bit more concrete in what actions would get what punishments. This did cause some cost-benefit analysis, which wasn't the best, but cadets knew he consequences. For instance, spirit missions - we used to do a ton of them. We knew that if we got caught, we'd probably receive between 10-30 tours and the same amount of confiements and demerits. That was a risk we were willing to take, and the ones of us who did get caught (not me) were willing to "do their time" sitting confinements and marching tours. Now, however, no one knows he punishment for getting caught doing unapproved spirit missions. Some people may look the other way, but others may see it, for instance, as disobeying a lawful order (since it's understood they must all be approved first and going against this is forbidden). That's a bit of a tangent, but just one example.</p>
<p>I'm not a prior, so I'm not pretending to know all about how the operational air force works. However, from talking to people in the operational air force, graduates, and getting a few glimpses of it, I can attest that this isn't and never will be the operational air force.</p>
<p>Yes, I'm a firstie. 192 days...</p>