Phillip's Weblog | USAF

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Air Force Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Air and Space Campaign Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon Air Force Training Ribbon

The United States Air Force

I joined the USAF in mid April 2001. Like every new enlistee, I attended six weeks of Basic Military Training (BMT) at Lackland AFB, Texas. You can read my journal of the experience. I next attended twelve weeks of Tech School for the Communications - Computer Systems Operations (3C0X1) career field at Keesler AFB, Mississippi. I am now at my first permanent duty station at Schriever AFB, Colorado, although I live on Peterson AFB, since no one lives on Schriever.

You can initially enlist for four or six years. I enlisted for four. I enlisted mainly for a job, a monthly income. Two other things I have gotten from the Air Force is more self-discipline and better posture. One of the main reasons other people join is for money for education. And if you want to go to college but are poor, I think joining the military is the best ways to get money to pay for it. The Montgomery G.I. Bill is a deal that just can't be beat. You put in $100 a month for 12 months, and then when you get discharged you get over $30,000 for educational purposes.

If you stay in the Air Force long enough, say, more than four years, there is a good chance you will serve an overseas tour in South Korea. I read or heard in the news that there are almost 40,000 U.S. troops South Korea. In fact, to get out of Schriever AFB you almost have to go to Korea.

A 50 SCS Below The Zone (BTZ) board met on 26 Nov 2002 with seven A1Cs going up for one available stripe. That was in the middle of some leave which I had had scheduled for months and already had bought my plane tickets. So I went on leave and missed the board, but I was the one to get the stripe anyway. Apparently your EPR has the most weight. I was promoted to Senior Airman in Feb 2003.

2004-08-06 Air Force officials announce E-5 promotion rates. The Air Force has selected 13,625 of 33,306 eligible senior airmen for promotion to staff sergeant, a 40.91 percent selection rate.

In August 2004 I was selected for promotion to the rank of Staff Sergeant with a line number of 6801 out of 13,625.

TOTAL POINTS & SCORES
TIME IN GRADE:   14.5
TIME IN SERVICE:  8.66
DECORATIONS:      0
EPRs:           135
PFE:             65.62
SKT:             66.66
TOTAL:          290.44

CUTOFF SCORE:   261.32 (those with less are not promoted)

PROMOTION CYCLE SUMMARY
TOTAL ELIGIBLE IN YOUR AFSC:    1027
TOTAL SELECTED IN YOUR AFSC:    416
YOUR STANDING AMONG OTHER SELECTEES:  40

PFE AVERAGE FOR YOUR AFSC:      54.07
YOU SCORED:
 HIGHER THAN 88.12% OF ELIGIBLES
 EQUAL TO 1.85% OF ELIGIBLES
 LOWER THAN 10.03% OF ELIGIBLES

SKT AVERAGE FOR YOUR AFSC:      47.55
YOU SCORED:
 HIGHER THAN 96.49% OF ELIGIBLES
 EQUAL TO 1.27% OF ELIGIBLES
 LOWER THAN 2.24% OF ELIGIBLES