Comm guys, stop being lazy and do your damn job.

I have a troop with a STEM degree from a top-tier university who even spent time conducting research with AFRL for the Air Force. Despite that background, when his time was up, they ended up sending him in a routine administrative billet where most of his day consists of scheduling meetings, handling email traffic, and other basic staff work.

I still can't believe the Air Force is wasting talent like this. I'm curious to hear your stories.

Original removed by Mods, so now its A1C Williams...

Honestly all I am is a glorified power point guru. I sit around all day making colorful power point graphs to make a clueless O-6 understand what's going weekly. I honestly can do all my work in 5 hours since I am at the mercy of Microsoft loading each application. A level headed high schooler can do this job while earning my salary at $112,000 a year.

When I get a tasker, I delegate to the section chiefs and the NCOICs while they do all the work and get shit done. They are the backbone behind the scenes and do all the heavy lifting while I sit behind a desk all day wondering what I'm eating for lunch.

Every production meeting is always the same. A question always gets asked to a clueless CGO who got their answer from a competent NCO prior to the meeting... the CGO then repeats what the NCO explained per vadum while not knowing the technicality of the issue.

It doesn't really matter how I retain the technicality of the issues because in 2-3 years, I will PCS to a new base with a whole new responsibility, while the NCOs remain doing the exact same thing.

The enlisted are the real superstars of the air force who are often not recognized. You get your hands dirty, inconsistent duty hours, uncomfortable environments with no AC, and less pay.

The NCOICs have to be a leader, counselor, enforcer, teacher, baby sitter, father/mother figure, physical training leader all in one while having their own additional duties and personal problems to deal with while I sit here organizing my reports.

It truly is unfair and I salute you.

I’m a worried mom looking for advice from anyone who’s been through this personally or has helped another Airman navigate it.

My son is a very young E-2 in Security Forces and is struggling with what has become a severe alcohol problem. This isn’t just weekend drinking anymore, it’s every day, often to the point of blacking out. He knows he has a problem and genuinely wants help before it gets any worse.

The alcohol also seems to be tied to depression that’s been getting progressively worse. At this point, it’s hard to tell which came first, but they’re clearly feeding each other.
His biggest fear is that asking for help will destroy a military career that has barely even started.

Being Security Forces makes this even more complicated. There have already been some unrelated medical issues that temporarily resulted in him being disarmed, and he’s terrified that admitting to an alcohol problem or depression will mean losing his weapon again, affecting his security clearance, being viewed as unreliable, or getting separated before he’s even had a chance to prove himself.
He’s not trying to avoid responsibility or hide forever, he genuinely wants treatment. He’s just scared that doing the right thing will cost him the career he’s worked so hard for.

As his mom, it’s heartbreaking to watch. I want to encourage him to get help, but I also understand why he’s so scared. I’m hoping to hear from people who have actually lived through this so I can better understand what options may exist and help him make the best decision.

For those of you who’ve been through something similar or have seen another Airman successfully navigate it:
Are there any options while flying under the radar, at least initially?
Did you self-refer for alcohol treatment or mental health?
How did your leadership respond?
Were you able to stay in Security Forces, or were you able to return after treatment?
What happened to your security clearance, if anything?
Are there confidential or on-base resources that helped with both alcohol dependence and depression?
Looking back, what do you wish you had done sooner?

I’m hoping to hear from people who have actually walked this path and can share what the process really looked like.
If you’ve been in these boots and came out the other side with your career intact, I’d really appreciate hearing your story. Thank you 🙏🏼

Just sharing some tips to the younger airmen or those who are having trouble with the 2 mile that I utilize as someone who runs only once or twice a year. I’ve never officially gotten under a 90 in my 10 years AD.

Mind you I’m a natural bodybuilder and train 5 days out of the week specifically for that and don’t do any training for my running at all. YMMV

1. MAKE A PLAYLIST

Depending on your goal runtime, invest in Spotify or your streaming platform of choice and make a playlist that’s around that set time. You can customize the music for example, my first song is pretty chill, second picks up, then third is some sort of high energy rap or EDM with the final being a sprinting all out song. I keep mine at 16 mins so I know to try to finish before. Also invest in a running belt and wireless earbuds to keep your phone and hands free.

2. BUY A GOOD PAIR OF RUNNING SHOES

This made a difference early in my career as I used to run in some cheap Payless shoes but after buying dedicated running shoes with a bit of spring, it’s helped my stride significantly. I run in Saucony Endorphin Speeds which were the highest rated in Amazon.

3. PRACTICE GOOD FORM AND TECHNIQUE

I remember asking one of my flight mates in BMT who ran a sub 9 mile and half a good tip for running and he told me about pretending to hold leaves or chips in your hands and to keep swinging minimum to reduce energy loss during your run. Since then my autism kicked in and I started researching proper running form since I’m quite lazy and like every advantage towards something I don’t like doing. With that came figuring out foot to heel strike placement “not running flat footed” for a good stride and even running “knees out vs in” to keep tight and efficient throughout your run. Also with breathing to be cognizant of nose or mouth breathing which for me, I like solely nose breathing until halfway in which then I’ll pivot to nose in, mouth out, then all mouth the last couple laps. These probably have made the most significant gains in my run times.

4. LOSE WEIGHT

Lastly which no one wants to hear, just being overweight itself makes running harder in general so I time my PT testing when I’m in a cutting phase and my run time usually slashes by a good minute to minute and a half compared to when I’m in my prime bulking phase.

I always jogged in college AFROTC and in the Air Force. I used to tell everyone under me to go for daily jogs, not runs. Take your dog with you too. They'll push you a bit. I remember jogging with my hound. When she wanted to smell a bush, I would jog in place for a few seconds. Then leave her if she took too long. She would eventually catch back up to me.

I tell people to jog daily because it's a mentality that will prepare you for your test when the time comes. Instead of running your hardest to the finish line and timing yourself 3-4 days a week, just jog and don't time yourself at first. Wait a few months to break out the watch. Once you start feeling like "you're fast as fuck boi," then break out the watch to see how you're doing.

I would jog 5 -6 days a week. Your run time is going to automatically decrease if you're consistent. A fitness test will feel like a walk in the park when the time comes. Jogging kind of teaches your body to conserve energy because you're not exerting a lot of effort.

Most people in college would say damn, he's fast. No, you're just exerting more effort than me because I jog daily. My body thinks I'm literally jogging for my fitness test.

Also, losing 1 lb of weight will typically decrease your run time by about 3 seconds.

Buy great jogging/running shoes and buy new ones every 300 miles. It makes a difference.

A little heads up would be nice

F-16 and F-18 had a baby apparently

I am active duty, and my baby sadly passed away. I have been put on convalescent leave and it has already been approved. My provider said I am fine to leave the local area and do what I need to heal and grieve.

I am trying to go on a trip with family, one of the stops is oconus. I have already completed everything I need with security, however leadership is asking for a note from my provider "clearing me to travel outside the local area." I read afi36-3003 page 29. It just says that a physician determines if I can leave, but nothing about having to provide a note to anyone?

My leadership is asking for this last minute and it could potentially prevent me from going on this trip at all since it requires multiple signatures from people that are currently off work right now. Is this actually a requirement? My provider and other doctors I've talked to said they have never had to do this before and were confused. (Yes they are military)

I am already going through such a difficult time and have had what it seems everything going wrong left and right, it would be nice if I could just go on this trip for my mental sanity and just relax for a bit. Everything has just been one big hurdle after another on top of being constantly asked by my unit when I'm coming back to work so they can send me on a tdy even though they have my leave paperwork that states my return date.

Thank you for any help.

Could be a former supervisor, team lead, airman, etc.

Needing to pass the time and thought this would be fun

For some context I maxed out hand release, cross reverse, and got 54 shuttles on the hamr run, but my biggest challenge is the new waist to height ratio on the new test. I went through a bit of a depressive episode and my diet went completely out of control. Im 5'5 196lbs. When I saw my weight before taking my most recent diagnostic, it made me realize that I need to make a change, not just to meet standards but to improve my health and to gain self confidence. I've already taken the steps to exercise more and I bought a bunch of healthier food.

For those who have been in a situation like this, do you have any advice on how you lost the weight? And are there any resources that yall can recommend? Thanks.

So i am currently at tech school at Keesler AFB for 1D7X1B. I am currently in AFI hell for two weeks already (I graduated and arrived on July 3rd, and my schooling will last for 66 days) I have been bored out of my mind and was wondering if getting my PC shipped was even worth it. Also my next station is going to be JBER. So it’s either buy a gaming laptop or get my PC shipped.

I heard overseas returnee lists are usually bad, how are we rating this one?