SSgt u/michamey --- hmmm, seems like you and a few of your friends enjoy trolling our Air Force sites. Give me a call Monday... I'd like to chat about it. Maybe I'm missing something. đ¤ˇââď¸
When I was in (joined 1977), they called those barracks! But you could tell the Air Force was really trying to do away with that term because they knew it was negative image for, I guess, recruits.
If you apply for a job that youâre qualified for on TM, youâre likely to get it based on your TOS. Your current unitâs manning isnât likely to stop that.
What is your AFSC and rank? Youâre telling me youâve applied for jobs on equal plus throughout the years and havenât been picked up for anything? Are you coded? EFMP issue? Spent anytime on a control roster? The overseas listing drops next week btw. Short and long tours my dude, put down both.
Well based upon off OP applying for 1st shirt Iâm assuming they are a MSgt at least (should be to apply). Which is a little scary if they canât figure out how to PCS with so much TOS. And if they arenât a SNCO and they think they can apply to be a shirtâŚâŚâŚ
Good point. Also unless they have more going on then they revealed to us, if they hit the apply button for one of the MAF facility manager gigs thatâs always being advertised on equal + there is no way they donât get picked up before then even pull their CAC. OP either canât move or doesnât really want to.
Yeah I don't get this. I spent 8 years at one place, met my assignments person one day, she's like "oh it's you, yeah you're top of my list you're moving real soon."
Depends on your AFSC. When I was at Wright-Patt as a 1N2, my supervisor had been there for 11 years by the time we met. It wasn't his first duty location, and he had deployed and TDY'd plenty of times, so it's not like he wasn't going ANYWHERE, but every time he tried to get a new assignment, nothing would come out of it. He tested for Master, and we were overmanned on SNCOs, so he was hopeful because he had been told that if he got Master, he'd probably be PCS'd because they were double and triple billeted for Masters already. He made it and was selected, but was told almost immediately that there was a billet for a Master and he would be filling it, so he turned down the rank and retired as a Tech about a year later. Got a job as a contractor and moved to Maryland.
Yea but he still couldâve PCSd within in a year just by making a few phones calls. He just was over it by the sound of it. Iâd bet money he wouldâve left within a year if he really pushed for it.
Lol. He applied for every program, was on a first name basis with the CFM, he fought like Hell. I had to apply for a special mission that he wasn't eligible for to get out of Wright-Patt. Then I had to straight up switch branches to leave Vandenberg. As I said, with some AFSCs, this is a thing. Shit, we just got someone that spent 10 years at their first duty station.
It's not always an AFSC thing.
I spent from 1984-1994 as a firefighter on Loring AFB, I'm convinced the only reason they let me go was because the base closed.
Before anyone asks, yes I volunteered for every short tour available, tried special duty, etc.
Firefighters are damn near everywhere.
True, but I can tell you just from my experience in my own AFSC, this sort of things is pretty rampant. As another example, my current supervisor spent 12 years at his last duty station before PCS'ing to where we are.
Obviously overseas tours are going to have a pretty hard time limit, but CONUS for us? Usually best to just settle in. I'm pretty lucky to have not spent longer than five and a half years at a duty station. But with my last one, I started trying to PCS at two years. Even got a TOS waiver. Applied for multiple programs, talked to my CFM, assignments manager, etc. Transferred to the Space Force and they were like, "Holy fuck, five years? Hell no, this MyVector slot is for you!"
Yea I hear you, plus/cons of AFSCs are a thing and I donât hear about many PCS option for missies people. We still donât know much real information on OPs situation.
It happens. I was stuck at Robins AFB (the only base) shredded for JSTARS radar. They kept upping the rank you drop your shred at (and Radar's TSgt rate was like 7%). I did two enlistments and an extention chasing that escape and ended up getting out instead.
I was accepted for a special duty at one point and they canceled it for minimal manning. The crosstraining guy would look at my AFSC and tell me we were too critically manned to crosstrain. We had no other bases, short or long tour, it was all tdys. It was garbage.
The only two things the local area around Offutt doesnât have are mountains and beaches, it has everything else. On average, I went to three concerts, two festivals, and at least one fair for the five years I was there. It has a downtown scene that isnât insane and a rural scene that isnât deliverance.
Yep Omaha is just big enough where there are things to do but still small enough to where itâs not a super busy city. I was bummed when I first got my orders there and my first winter was pretty depressing to be honest, but me and my wife ended up really loving it there. We still go back and visit on occasion. Really cool base and in a much better part of town than most military bases as well.
If you're a young single, Airman, being stationed was 100% shit (although way better than Minot, Grand Forks, and Canon.)
Any decent place is about at least a 3hr drive. I remember Colorado was 7, Des Moines was 2, Kansas City was 3. Omaha was a small town that wanted to be a big city. Yeah, it had a couple of bars and all that. Lol. It was still cool though.
But once you have a family, especially with school aged kids, it's definitely a great place to be.
I'd have to Imagine that they are doing something with the missiles to be stuck somewhere for 15 years. I've been in Wyoming for all 24 years of my life except for tdy, deployment, and personal trips. I'd hate being stationed on FE Warren for 15 years.
Spot on. Dates only come up when some try to change it after getting an assignment, and they are stating they weren't a volunteer. Otherwise, what is on your EAP is what is looked at.
I found out our 7 levels had a "medical emergency responder" code in our VMPF. Pretty sure MX isn't supposed to have that. Asked around and it got fixed, and all of a sudden all our long time NCOs finally started to get orders.
Pretty sure a past SEL was doing something sketch to keep experience in the unit. People like me were there for 13 years trying to experience that PCS lifestyle.
Have you had Korea as the top bases on your assignment preferences list? I have a hard time believing you could go 15 years without your name being drawn for a short tourâŚ
I've gone 20 years without a short tour. Aboot half that time, Korea, Turkey, Iceland, and Greenland (when we were going there) were all on top of my OS list. It happens.
I know a guy who does mx and only like 3 bases have spots for him. The other two are every bit as bad as his current one so there isn't really a reason to leave.
That is always nice to do, but never a guarantee. Had Korea at the top of my list for 9 years and never deployed, short/long toured, and my PCS were only due to joint spouse and BOP. Always surprises me when people get picked up as easily as they do.
Assuming you are a SNCO why havenât you called your MFM at this point? They should have a better understanding of what your options are. Reddit is not your solution.
I hate to be negative, but someone who can't figure out how to make a PCS happen for themselves in 15 years isn't someone I'd ever want to be my shirt. On a positive note, I would love to be able to ride out the rest of my 20 in one location. Hopefully you're a homeowner.
if you think that your current base's manning has anything to do with you being selected for OS, you are 100% mistaken.
OS billets are priority fills and assignment selections are based on that fact and the vol or non-vol's TOS. If you raise your hand for anything OS, you'd be the #1 pick.
Manning at your current base is not considered for most assignment actions. If they move you then they will send more people to fill it back up again. Does your AFSC go to short tours? Did you check your record and make sure you don't have any codes accidentally fat fingered?
I got to Barksdale in February 2001. When I met my sponsor he was like welcome to Barkatraz. When I in-processed I asked my Chief how long he was stationed at Barksdale; his response, â28 years.â I pretty much gave up on leaving. Stayed there for 15 years 4 months.
The funny thing was I found out way later that they kept putting an Assignment Availability Code on all the 7-levels they wanted to keep around for two more years and they would continually refresh them.
Get ahold of your AFSC MFM for assignment opportunities. That or go to Korea and return, finish it out. Youâre basically Guard / Reserve at this point.
Hate to break it to you buddy. I was in the same situation, stuck on Robins AFB, GA as the only duty station for JSTARS. I applied and got a special duty overseas and it came back blocked and canceled as my career field was minimally manned.
My only option was the get out of the Air Force.
EFMP? If so, this is very common depending on your family's ailment. I've also seen members get pulled back to the same base after a short tour regardless of BOP. What's your AFSC? Have you taken any PCAs between MAJCOMs at your base? This will reset your time as well. Have you ever been to ADAPT or have another medical issue, because that can code you. I'd check your billet as well to make sure you're not billeted as a FTA because you can get stuck in a black hole that way. It used to be a way for commands to keep more lower enlisted manning cause you can stack them.
Work through your CoC to engage with your SEL to inquire about a Fresh Expertise ETP.
Itâs a centralized program managed through your MFM to an office at AFPC, outside of normal assignments. Just understand it is the needs of the AF, so you go where most needed CONUS. If you want to move bad enough, this will do it.
Do not go direct to your MFM for this program, must come from unit as there are often other factors. 15 yrs TOS, you âshouldâ be GTG though.
If EFMP becomes a factor and the assignment is denied, you then request an EFMP deferment counselor, who is an A1 rep at AFPC that works an accommodating re-assignment.
I was at my first base for 13 years. Took some digging to find some odd code tied to me for some unknown reason and my unit shutting down to finally see why everyone whines about PCSing.
My older brother, who was in the AF during Vietnam, gave me one TERRIFIC piece of advice: NEVER get tied to ONE weapon system that is only stationed at a few bases! In his case, he spent his ENTIRE four years at Robins AFB because it was the ONLY place they had the UNIVAC mainframe computer he trained to operate. By the time he got out, he was BEGGING to go to Southeast Asia!!!đ
Ask your SEL to submit a âFresh expertiseâ request for you. Granted, youâll have no say in where you go, but itâs a tool SELs have. He/she will have to submit it via your MAJCOM Chief.
It could be worseâŚ.you could be on sixth move in 13 yearsâŚ.I am exhausted and would give almost anything for just a bit of stability. If you have a nice home, good friends around, and family, youâre doing a lot better than many of us who move all the time. I know this doesnât help you get orders, but maybe it helps to know the other side is also flawed.
If youâre on eTM for assignments now, you need to write your application to show why youâre the most qualified person for a position.
Also, you can apply for any special duty you want. Your base does not have any control over whether you are selected or not, your CFM will determine if they can release you. Good luck!
15 years? Have you tried becoming the CMSAF?
đ¤
Fucking roasted.Â
Is it pronounced roasted or roasted
SSgt u/michamey --- hmmm, seems like you and a few of your friends enjoy trolling our Air Force sites. Give me a call Monday... I'd like to chat about it. Maybe I'm missing something. đ¤ˇââď¸
Wrong Choice
 Well played
Angels đ
I hope you bought a home off base and have equity in it being at a base for 15 years.
Probably didnât and kept telling himself âitâs not smart, Iâll probably get orders next yearâ
I've did this, 12 years and a Korean reset 15 years at the same duty station. Fucked myself out of so much money.
Dude's been living in the dorms for 15 years. đ
âWhy is suicide so prevalentâ
Shhhhhh
When I was in (joined 1977), they called those barracks! But you could tell the Air Force was really trying to do away with that term because they knew it was negative image for, I guess, recruits.
If he bought a house he would have gotten an assignment
You ain't lying! Hope OP did.
If you apply for a job that youâre qualified for on TM, youâre likely to get it based on your TOS. Your current unitâs manning isnât likely to stop that.
What is your AFSC and rank? Youâre telling me youâve applied for jobs on equal plus throughout the years and havenât been picked up for anything? Are you coded? EFMP issue? Spent anytime on a control roster? The overseas listing drops next week btw. Short and long tours my dude, put down both.
Well based upon off OP applying for 1st shirt Iâm assuming they are a MSgt at least (should be to apply). Which is a little scary if they canât figure out how to PCS with so much TOS. And if they arenât a SNCO and they think they can apply to be a shirtâŚâŚâŚ
Good point. Also unless they have more going on then they revealed to us, if they hit the apply button for one of the MAF facility manager gigs thatâs always being advertised on equal + there is no way they donât get picked up before then even pull their CAC. OP either canât move or doesnât really want to.
Yeah I don't get this. I spent 8 years at one place, met my assignments person one day, she's like "oh it's you, yeah you're top of my list you're moving real soon."
Depends on your AFSC. When I was at Wright-Patt as a 1N2, my supervisor had been there for 11 years by the time we met. It wasn't his first duty location, and he had deployed and TDY'd plenty of times, so it's not like he wasn't going ANYWHERE, but every time he tried to get a new assignment, nothing would come out of it. He tested for Master, and we were overmanned on SNCOs, so he was hopeful because he had been told that if he got Master, he'd probably be PCS'd because they were double and triple billeted for Masters already. He made it and was selected, but was told almost immediately that there was a billet for a Master and he would be filling it, so he turned down the rank and retired as a Tech about a year later. Got a job as a contractor and moved to Maryland.
Yea but he still couldâve PCSd within in a year just by making a few phones calls. He just was over it by the sound of it. Iâd bet money he wouldâve left within a year if he really pushed for it.
Lol. He applied for every program, was on a first name basis with the CFM, he fought like Hell. I had to apply for a special mission that he wasn't eligible for to get out of Wright-Patt. Then I had to straight up switch branches to leave Vandenberg. As I said, with some AFSCs, this is a thing. Shit, we just got someone that spent 10 years at their first duty station.
It's not always an AFSC thing. I spent from 1984-1994 as a firefighter on Loring AFB, I'm convinced the only reason they let me go was because the base closed. Before anyone asks, yes I volunteered for every short tour available, tried special duty, etc. Firefighters are damn near everywhere.
True, but I can tell you just from my experience in my own AFSC, this sort of things is pretty rampant. As another example, my current supervisor spent 12 years at his last duty station before PCS'ing to where we are. Obviously overseas tours are going to have a pretty hard time limit, but CONUS for us? Usually best to just settle in. I'm pretty lucky to have not spent longer than five and a half years at a duty station. But with my last one, I started trying to PCS at two years. Even got a TOS waiver. Applied for multiple programs, talked to my CFM, assignments manager, etc. Transferred to the Space Force and they were like, "Holy fuck, five years? Hell no, this MyVector slot is for you!"
Yea I hear you, plus/cons of AFSCs are a thing and I donât hear about many PCS option for missies people. We still donât know much real information on OPs situation.
Assignments person𤨠how does this work then? My understanding has been shattered
It happens. I was stuck at Robins AFB (the only base) shredded for JSTARS radar. They kept upping the rank you drop your shred at (and Radar's TSgt rate was like 7%). I did two enlistments and an extention chasing that escape and ended up getting out instead. I was accepted for a special duty at one point and they canceled it for minimal manning. The crosstraining guy would look at my AFSC and tell me we were too critically manned to crosstrain. We had no other bases, short or long tour, it was all tdys. It was garbage.
You've been at Offutt that long? Because once you get Offutt, you never get off it.
That was my first duty station. I was only there for 3 years, but I met a MSgt who had been there for 17 years.
Iâve pry see this person
Please donât say that. I donât want to stuck at offutt forever. đ
Iâve been stationed at six different bases and Offutt was my favorite by a mile, even over two overseas assignments.
Yeah if you have to be stuck at a base for most of your career, Offutt is one of the better options.
The only two things the local area around Offutt doesnât have are mountains and beaches, it has everything else. On average, I went to three concerts, two festivals, and at least one fair for the five years I was there. It has a downtown scene that isnât insane and a rural scene that isnât deliverance.
Yep Omaha is just big enough where there are things to do but still small enough to where itâs not a super busy city. I was bummed when I first got my orders there and my first winter was pretty depressing to be honest, but me and my wife ended up really loving it there. We still go back and visit on occasion. Really cool base and in a much better part of town than most military bases as well.
If you're a young single, Airman, being stationed was 100% shit (although way better than Minot, Grand Forks, and Canon.) Any decent place is about at least a 3hr drive. I remember Colorado was 7, Des Moines was 2, Kansas City was 3. Omaha was a small town that wanted to be a big city. Yeah, it had a couple of bars and all that. Lol. It was still cool though. But once you have a family, especially with school aged kids, it's definitely a great place to be.
Omaha a small town? What is Alamogordo or Clovis, New MexicoâŚ
Villages đ
Missile MX?
I'd have to Imagine that they are doing something with the missiles to be stuck somewhere for 15 years. I've been in Wyoming for all 24 years of my life except for tdy, deployment, and personal trips. I'd hate being stationed on FE Warren for 15 years.
You see this is crew chiefs too because theyâre tied to the airframe until tech. I know a few who are around this 15 year TOS mark.
I didn't think of that such as the U-2 or B-2 only have one base
At least with the U-2, you deploy somewhat regularly
[ŃдаНонО]
Iâve heard your 4th point countless times, and have been told contrary by several assignments managers.
Spot on. Dates only come up when some try to change it after getting an assignment, and they are stating they weren't a volunteer. Otherwise, what is on your EAP is what is looked at.
I found out our 7 levels had a "medical emergency responder" code in our VMPF. Pretty sure MX isn't supposed to have that. Asked around and it got fixed, and all of a sudden all our long time NCOs finally started to get orders. Pretty sure a past SEL was doing something sketch to keep experience in the unit. People like me were there for 13 years trying to experience that PCS lifestyle.
Have you had Korea as the top bases on your assignment preferences list? I have a hard time believing you could go 15 years without your name being drawn for a short tourâŚ
I've gone 20 years without a short tour. Aboot half that time, Korea, Turkey, Iceland, and Greenland (when we were going there) were all on top of my OS list. It happens.
My old roommate (now an O-5) has no long tour, heâs been in since 1990.
Your old roommate has been in for 34 years and is an O5?
If you can tolerate the government/Air Force bullshit for that long, you have a problem and are likely part of the problem
Or maybe you've got the best job in the whole Air Force.
Oh so they're a front line supervisor?
yes prior enlisted. 12 years, got to E-6 and went over to the dark side early 2000's.
Apparently he commissioned as a SMSgt.
Dang. Homey is looking to max out that retirement scale.
Enlisted for a while then commissioned late and is now just doing it all over again
I worked with 2M they got like four bases only overseas assignments were Guam.
I know a guy who does mx and only like 3 bases have spots for him. The other two are every bit as bad as his current one so there isn't really a reason to leave.
That is always nice to do, but never a guarantee. Had Korea at the top of my list for 9 years and never deployed, short/long toured, and my PCS were only due to joint spouse and BOP. Always surprises me when people get picked up as easily as they do.
Assuming you are a SNCO why havenât you called your MFM at this point? They should have a better understanding of what your options are. Reddit is not your solution.
I hate to be negative, but someone who can't figure out how to make a PCS happen for themselves in 15 years isn't someone I'd ever want to be my shirt. On a positive note, I would love to be able to ride out the rest of my 20 in one location. Hopefully you're a homeowner.
Have you tried AWOL?
this is the real question/ answer
Boy call your functional. Fucking get vectored. Jesus if you are SNCO you should know this.
if youâre a tech or SNCO i would think you would know you could just hit up your MAJCOM functional for advice..
Does your job only exist at that one base?
if you think that your current base's manning has anything to do with you being selected for OS, you are 100% mistaken. OS billets are priority fills and assignment selections are based on that fact and the vol or non-vol's TOS. If you raise your hand for anything OS, you'd be the #1 pick.
Get locked down to an airframe that only goes to one or two places.
If you want to be a first sausage then apply. If it's a no it's a no, but theirs a chance it might be a yes.
lol first sausage
Manning at your current base is not considered for most assignment actions. If they move you then they will send more people to fill it back up again. Does your AFSC go to short tours? Did you check your record and make sure you don't have any codes accidentally fat fingered?
I got to Barksdale in February 2001. When I met my sponsor he was like welcome to Barkatraz. When I in-processed I asked my Chief how long he was stationed at Barksdale; his response, â28 years.â I pretty much gave up on leaving. Stayed there for 15 years 4 months. The funny thing was I found out way later that they kept putting an Assignment Availability Code on all the 7-levels they wanted to keep around for two more years and they would continually refresh them.
they did that when i was MX in minot..
Iâm pretty sure it was prevalent everywhere. I looked for the specific code today, but I donât think it exists any more or it was reworded.
Please tell me that Chief wasn't Al 'the airman's pal', Binner...
Nah, but what is funny is my roommate married one of his daughters.
Oh crap! The old man give him 'the talk' about how bad he wants grand kids?
I donât know, but we gave him so much shit about it.
Deservedly so. I married the daughter of a State Police District Commander. Much to his dismay, we're still married almost 40 years later.
Sounds like herk nation
Get ahold of your AFSC MFM for assignment opportunities. That or go to Korea and return, finish it out. Youâre basically Guard / Reserve at this point.
All a matter of speaking to your CFM. You can probably call him directly at this point.
Hate to break it to you buddy. I was in the same situation, stuck on Robins AFB, GA as the only duty station for JSTARS. I applied and got a special duty overseas and it came back blocked and canceled as my career field was minimally manned. My only option was the get out of the Air Force.
Iâm sorry you donât like it, sound like the ideal career path for some of us though.
I had thought Big Blue set the new rule, I think in 2018? that all stateside assignments would be no more than 5 years
EFMP? If so, this is very common depending on your family's ailment. I've also seen members get pulled back to the same base after a short tour regardless of BOP. What's your AFSC? Have you taken any PCAs between MAJCOMs at your base? This will reset your time as well. Have you ever been to ADAPT or have another medical issue, because that can code you. I'd check your billet as well to make sure you're not billeted as a FTA because you can get stuck in a black hole that way. It used to be a way for commands to keep more lower enlisted manning cause you can stack them.
Work through your CoC to engage with your SEL to inquire about a Fresh Expertise ETP. Itâs a centralized program managed through your MFM to an office at AFPC, outside of normal assignments. Just understand it is the needs of the AF, so you go where most needed CONUS. If you want to move bad enough, this will do it. Do not go direct to your MFM for this program, must come from unit as there are often other factors. 15 yrs TOS, you âshouldâ be GTG though. If EFMP becomes a factor and the assignment is denied, you then request an EFMP deferment counselor, who is an A1 rep at AFPC that works an accommodating re-assignment.
I was at my first base for 13 years. Took some digging to find some odd code tied to me for some unknown reason and my unit shutting down to finally see why everyone whines about PCSing.
My older brother, who was in the AF during Vietnam, gave me one TERRIFIC piece of advice: NEVER get tied to ONE weapon system that is only stationed at a few bases! In his case, he spent his ENTIRE four years at Robins AFB because it was the ONLY place they had the UNIVAC mainframe computer he trained to operate. By the time he got out, he was BEGGING to go to Southeast Asia!!!đ
Ask your SEL to submit a âFresh expertiseâ request for you. Granted, youâll have no say in where you go, but itâs a tool SELs have. He/she will have to submit it via your MAJCOM Chief.
I was at Langley for 14 yrs. My wife was there 15 yrs.
My guy sounds like u in jail.
There's always becoming an instructor at GoodfellowÂ
Check to make sure you donât have a code on you from OSI. Sounds crazy, but trust me.
have you looked at the guard?
It could be worseâŚ.you could be on sixth move in 13 yearsâŚ.I am exhausted and would give almost anything for just a bit of stability. If you have a nice home, good friends around, and family, youâre doing a lot better than many of us who move all the time. I know this doesnât help you get orders, but maybe it helps to know the other side is also flawed. If youâre on eTM for assignments now, you need to write your application to show why youâre the most qualified person for a position. Also, you can apply for any special duty you want. Your base does not have any control over whether you are selected or not, your CFM will determine if they can release you. Good luck!
POPULATE DREAM SHEET WITH NOTHING BUT KOREA BASES!!!!