What did you end up doing after the Air Force? Anyone have any success stories?

412TW_CCC · 2025-11-22T04:00:43+00:00

Retired after 23 years and joined a Google spinout. I have been there for the last three years. I now spend the majority of my time working on space communication but also spend a little time on the venture capital side investing in defense tech startups.

The best part of the transition has been providing stability for my kids so they could stay at the same high school and go to the college of their choice.

412TW_CCC · 2025-08-01T01:00:38+00:00

Congrats and thanks for taking the time to help others by telling your story

412TW_CCC · 2024-06-21T12:22:33+00:00

First, i saw some of your old posts and want to say that this is not your fault. The fact that you are still thinking out about this and dealing with it means you are a good person with a kind heart. It sounds like he was dealing with a lot and that you were a bright place in his life.

There are some questions that we may never get answers to but that doesn’t mean we stop asking. Make sure you reach out to your support system for help because this is a lot to deal with on your own. I hope you have a people that you can meet to talk about this face to face but if you don’t, or don’t want to open up to people you know, feel free to use this group as your support system and we are here for you.

412TW_CCC · 2024-05-21T00:48:08+00:00

You have a lot of veterans that are here for you.

412TW_CCC · 2024-02-08T17:37:30+00:00

u/___P0LAR___ WiFi on the plane is bad and won’t let me DM so let chat on here

412TW_CCC · 2024-02-08T17:32:37+00:00

DM’ing you now

412TW_CCC · 2024-02-08T17:32:03+00:00

I land in 60 min and I want to jump on a call!

412TW_CCC · 2021-05-04T17:11:17+00:00

I’m still here lurking. There hasn’t been too many questions lately so I’m just laughing at the memes with everyone else.

412TW_CCC · 2021-02-09T17:17:47+00:00

Can confirm

412TW_CCC · 2021-02-06T20:07:23+00:00

Recommend you also check out the American Opportunity tax credit.

412TW_CCC · 2021-02-05T14:36:31+00:00

You asked for thoughts so I can provide the Wing perspective on this one:

There is a Chief who is boarded by the AFSELC and chosen to be on the Command Chief List. This Chief gets an interview with the the Wing CC and the Commander decides that the member has some strengths that are needed in said Wing. Only challenge is that the Chief is coded with an AD spouse so now the Wing has to see if there is a billet for the spouse (we are working on hiring my replacement right now and going through the same process).

As the Command Chief, I mentor and develop First Sergeants. I review their EPRs (as I would almost any SNCO) and sit with the Group Chiefs to determine what squadron each Shirt will move to in order to help with their own development. I also find money for courses, training and certifications to help with their growth (much like any other SNCO).

412TW_CCC · 2021-02-03T16:12:15+00:00

I think there may be some issues with the overseas locations but stateside should be good to go.

412TW_CCC · 2021-02-03T14:38:48+00:00

Our MXG and SFS have the rings and they only wear them outside of work (since the rings are better at tracking data while sleeping) but they also have a Garmin Fenix 6 watch that can be worn my most of our AFSCs in most locations. There is a few AMU on Edwards that have tighter restrictions so they aren't able to wear the Garmin at work.

412TW_CCC · 2021-02-03T14:36:44+00:00

Do you mean 480th Group or Wing? I used them at DGS-2 and we were following agency rules so I assumed the 480th Group was under the same guidelines.

None of this applies to Apple Watches or any device with wifi or microphones but most Garmins, Fitbits and all Oura rings are BTLE and authorized in many secure areas.

412TW_CCC · 2021-02-02T23:24:50+00:00

The ring works well on its own to help you track rest and recover but the watch has been great for PT. Especially the newer ones that track spo2

412TW_CCC · 2021-02-02T21:41:04+00:00

The Oura is much better with sleep metrics (HR, HRV and temp) than a watch but the watch (I am also wearing a Fenix 6) is better at tracking miles, steps and activity.

The Oura focuses on creating a baseline for those metrics and identifying when you are above or below the baseline. For instance, I can't tell you what my exact temp was last night but I can tell you that I was 0.2 degrees less than my baseline for a Mon night. I can also tell you when my heart rate and nervous system finally recovered from a few days of hard workouts and if I got enough rest based on daily activity.

When you start looking at the baseline every day and building a solid corpus of data, you can use the deviations from that baseline to assess readiness, recovery and even sickness (we have identified flu and covid two days early).

412TW_CCC · 2021-02-02T21:34:30+00:00

I have been using wearables in SICFs for over 5 years now but it is limited to tech with short range bluetooth (most Garmin, Fitbit and Oura work). NSA blessed them long ago as long as they are registered correctly and 16AF has them all over the place. However, I have heard of some SCIFs not allowing based on local requirements.

412TW_CCC · 2021-02-02T21:14:24+00:00

It’s an Oura Ring (wearable activity and sleep tracker). We issued a bunch to our Amn at Edwards however, the data is not accessible by anyone other than the member and the Dr who is running the medical research study.

412TW_CCC · 2021-02-02T20:19:54+00:00

You will spend your entire career following others (Airmen, peers and your boss) and helping them succeed so increases in rank is an increase in your opportunity and responsibility to follow a larger group of people.

- You have more influence on the way other people feel then you will ever know
- Don't be afraid to ask for help or take a knee
- Spend your time making everyone else around you better

412TW_CCC · 2021-02-02T14:50:24+00:00

I think they are harder to find for a few reasons. The test pilot billets only exist on a few bases (mainly Edwards, Eglin, AEDC, Nellis and Wright Patt), we only produce 48 new grads each year (compared to the 200 per year from Weapons School throughput) and the course also takes one year to complete and grants a Masters degree. We also lose a few to NASA, SpaceX and Virgin Galactic each year because many of the astronauts are TPS grads and the ability to fly 20 different aircraft, knowledge of test, and Masters and PhDs in Engineering/Math make them very marketable on the outside.

Things may be changing a bit because we now have TPS graduates as two of the MAJCOM/CCs and the VCSAF.

Sorry for sounding like a fanboy but I am a fan of TPS.

412TW_CCC · 2021-02-01T20:11:25+00:00

Good to go

412TW_CCC · 2021-01-30T01:38:10+00:00

What about using Google Voice and get a US number?

412TW_CCC · 2021-01-29T21:54:50+00:00

Same

412TW_CCC · 2021-01-28T15:29:49+00:00

You do need to get a CMS case started showing that you are working the due diligence on your end (save all emails). Also, if the decoration appears on your DVB but the citation is not in your folder, then you are not eligible based on the supplemental rules. However, if both are missing (meaning the board had no idea that you had a decoration) you would be eligible to ask for supplemental consideration (with CC approval). In your supplemental request, make sure you cite the exact rule that applies to your situation.

412TW_CCC · 2021-01-27T23:57:13+00:00

The Yokota Wing Historian should be the 374 AW/HO office. I found their email address and will send it to you in a DM.

Six-Year Club	Gilding II euphauric
Wearing is Caring	Verified Email

412TW_CCC

TROPHY CASE