<p>I’ve got a question about how people get chosen to get leadership within the cadet wing. I understand that the first class cadets act as the officers of the squadrons, second class cadets as the noncoms…</p>
<p>But I guess I’m wondering how the actual leaders of the squadrons and the entire cadet wing are chosen(example:the cadet in charge of BCT). It just seems choosing ‘leaders’ for a group who should be some of the best leaders in the country, would be…difficult.</p>
<p>also with this topic...</p>
<p>i THINK only the top 10% of USAFA grads. actually start with a "regular commission" the rest are reserve commissions.</p>
<p>from my knowledge... the top 10% are usually the wing staff folks.
?</p>
<p>With the exception of honor reps, all positions are chosen by the cadets in charge (squad/group/wing commanders) and for group/wing that includes officers. Firsties are "officers" and 2 digs are senior "NCOs." </p>
<p>zzz, WRONG. All of us receive active commissions. </p>
<p>I can give better details soon. I have an interview for a Wing position on Thursday. ;)</p>
<p>Good luck with the interview Hornet. Will make for a busy year. Duckie was saying she just doesn't have a minute anymore. More reponsibilty less time. You'll be fine though.</p>
<p>
[quote]
With the exception of honor reps, all positions are chosen by the cadets in charge
[/quote]
</p>
<p>By that do you mean the classes above you the previous year?</p>
<p>Like, the leadership for next year, you're going to be interviewed by this year's firsties.......I hope that makes sense. :)</p>
<p>I don't think that zzz meant that not everyone was "active" but that not everyone received a "regular Air Force" commission. As an officer I was active duty with a reserve commission. After I had been in for a few years I applied for a "Regular AF commission." My understanding at the time was the Regular commission indicated that you were willing to stay for the long term, the Reserve commission was basically for those not planning to stay for the long haul.
So I have the same question, do all cadets graduate with a "Regular" AF commission?</p>
<p>The Air Force eliminated the difference between a Reserve Commission and Regular Commission a couple of years ago. Officers awarded a reserve commission were basically on probation until the reached Major. Had to complete SOS Squadron Officer School, and have good OPR's, check off all the correct career boxes, and then they would get a regular commission. A reserve officer could only serve 20 years, and a regular officer could serve longer. After they changed it all officers were awarded a regular commission. Correct me if I'm wrong about this bullet or some of the others lurking about. We didn't have officers in my chosen career, one of the few that way in the Air Force.</p>
<p>If you are on Active Duty you will be a Regular Officer. If you are in the Air Force Reserve you will be a Reserve Officer. Since you would have a 5 year AD obligation you will be a Regular Officer.</p>
<p>If everyone remembers the RIF back in 92, all of the acad grads in the classes of 85-86 were safe. The AF got rid of 95% of their active duty reserve commissions from the same class yrs. Having a regular commission saves you from a RIF. Bullet graduated from an ROTC, he was given a reserve commission for active duty. When he hit the 7 year mark he was given a "regular" commission. As I understand it now, the academy, ROTC and OTS all get the same commission. They are active duty, but not a full commission, in other words they can be rif. For flyers back in the old days that received their commission from ROTC and OTS, that was the scary fact, because if you wash out of training, they can say sayanora! We personally knew one guy who graduated with Bullet went to UPT and washed out, forced to seperate from the AF and got picked up by the Delaware guard for UNT. Remember just recently the AF determined they were doing another rif for the class of 2000 (?). There is a professor at AFA right now, who also washed out of UPT, he was picked up for acquisitions, and the closest he got to a plane ever again was as a maintenance officer. Remember if you wash out of UPT, they do not have to offer UNT. It is probably more uncommon nowadays than common if they did, you would have to ask Bullet if that is true, or not. I am only speaking from a wives point, since I know many wives with similiar stories about washing out.
Also to be promoted to major you must have a regular commission, at least that was how it used to be. If you don't make major, you are allowed to stay until 16 years (?), if you don't make LTC, you can stay until 20, and yes there are flyers who don't make LTC. Typically it is because they never step out of the jet, get a Masters and do PME. One guy here will be reitring shortly. When he was a captain, he stated I don't care if I am not promoted to LTC, as long as I get to fly my entire career...he got his wish, unfortunately, his retirement pay will be about 7K a year less for the rest of his life, than the LTC pay.
If you make LTC, but not Col. you can stay until 25, unless they have a SERB. Most guys punch at the 20 yr marker, because it is clear whether or not you will make Col. by then. Also many leave because airlines want the 42 yr old compared to the 47. Our friends also did it for fear of being medically dq by the airlines. Airlines do the same thing in regards to medical clearance....vision is a biggie!</p>
<p>Wow! Between ds and b&p, and others you guys have such a wealth of information to offer of "things to come".</p>
<p>As a non-military parent of a cadet, I so appreciate all your information. Gives insight to the future of our cadets possibilities and responsibilities. </p>
<p>I love hearing what the cadets have to offer, and all the parents, and as a 2010 parent am glad to pass the torch to 2011's class parents to help the rest along so I don't jump in and post much.</p>
<p>Please keep the info coming and much appreciated! I will keep reading.</p>
<p>Welcome to the big blue family. You, and your son will learn it is a very small world. Everywhere you go you will find someone who has been there too.</p>
<p>^^^ so true</p>
<p>The true beauty of the AF is that they look after each other. Great examples, in AK and the UK we all celebrated the holidays together. </p>
<p>At SJ, our daughter was bit by a copper head snake and hospitalized for 4 days. She received flowers from both Bullets flying squadron and his other squadron. Bullet rode with DS to the hospital by ambulance, I followed by car ---waited for my girlfriend to drive @ 15 min. Before I got there his Commander had already checked in with Bullet at the hospital to see what he could do and make sure that DS was getting proper treatment. Flight Surgeon called the next morning on Bullets cell phone to check in. </p>
<p>For every parent worried about their child...I will say that the AF cares more about them anyone else would ever care. Remember, the USAFA has a large financial investment with ea. cadet.</p>
<p>The other thing to remember many services tease the AF about how they have the best golf courses, base housing, medical services. Why? because they spend alot of money on training their flyers...if the families (spouses and children) aren't happy then they are more likely to leave. When we went to CGSC at Leavenworth (sim. to ACSC) the Army would tease Bullet about the AF having an easy life and lots of bonuses, his answer was always..."I chose wisely" (Indiana Jones)</p>
<p>Thanks for the welcome to the "Big Blue Family". I appreciate that welcome very much and I know my cadet has chosen wisely.</p>
<p>I realize both of you, ds and b&p, have a special interest in this forum but you take the time to help the "whole lot of the family members" and you really didn't have to. You could just sit back and take care of your own kids and not worry about any others but as has been clearly displayed, it is not your style!</p>
<p>Our cadets are very lucky to have you around and I for one am grateful for the mentoring as I know these kids are in good hands. Thanks!</p>
<p>What BP said about the squadrons has always been echoed for us. Both potter and her little sister were very small when they were born. They required more than the usual babysitters when we got out. We had a list of nurses from the hospital they were born in who went out of thier way watching them for us. </p>
<p>The Firehouse always had a family Christmas for both the married and single firefighters. Not to mention BBQ's, Softball, and Basketball teams. You name it one big family is what it is.</p>
<p>The one thing I was always taught was make sure the person coming up behind you can do your job. On the outside that can be scarry, while I was in I had great mentors, and friends. I never would have gotten to the rank I did without them. So you learn to share. Our kids will too.</p>
<p>Fast foward your child to active duty life. Bullet and I are calm about DS's future family. We always had xmas eve at our house, 1 year we had over 100 people. Squadrons have monthly coffees for the spouses. Anything that goes down on base, wives recalls start rolling very quickly. In a short while Bullet will do his finnie flight, I will cry hysterically. I am crying now, knowing that this beautiful chapter will end...no more naming ceremonies, no more crud tourneys, no more promotion parties, no more hearing a certain squadron get the whole club singing Dennis Leary's song I'm an a******. This has been the best years of my life, yes, I will complain about how the movers steal stuff, and that the commissary has a line that wraps up and down aisles, but I have stopped complaining about the retirees at the pharmacy, seeing is I will be one.</p>
<p>The only way your child and any cadet will enjoy this life is to get involved. Go to the Warrior Banquets, go to the naming ceremonies and sing the songs. This is the best family anyone could ever have, except for the ones they are born into. Nobody else will understand the fear you have as you wait to see if you got a P or a DP, or an X by your name for PME, trust me that wait is just as bad as the wait to see if your child makes the AFA, probably worse since it is your paycheck :eek:</p>
<p>ds, bullet and I all have the same mentality. Tell you the good, the bad and the ugly. I guess we just have so many fond memories, that all we really remember is the good.</p>
<p>My very best memory, is when DD was born. I was OCSC president and Bullet was flying. We were in the UK and it was foggy that day. I showed up for a board meeting, one of my members told me I looked like crap, I said that was because I am labor. The Vice Wing Kings wife quietly walked out of the room, called her DH and said check the schedule is Bullet flying. He said yes and is taking off, she told him that I was labor and get him back. As Bullet was taxing on the runway, they called over and told him to report back to the squadron...they didn't say why. when he reported back to squadron the next day after our daughter was born, the vice wing com. told him the story...Bullet was a Capt. So the morale of the story is they care about ea and every guy, they really treat ea other with camaraderie. I am proud to be an AF wife, I am also proud of our son for choosing the AF</p>