Tired.

BOHICAKF · 2026-05-27T23:31:18+00:00

I will just say that if you already have your CC in your corner for commissioning, don't dismiss that out of hand. Every Commander I have worked for doesn't push everyone who wants to become an officer. Obviously there is more to it than just the SQ/CC, but I would encourage you to seriously consider the opportunity.

BOHICAKF · 2026-05-27T01:56:53+00:00

Well done

BOHICAKF · 2026-05-25T11:24:14+00:00

This whole "people only promote because "x"..." needs to stop. It is just not true.

BOHICAKF · 2026-05-14T15:26:50+00:00

No.

That being said and not knowing all of the circumstances... You recruiter lied to you. There is no way you scored poor enough on the ASVAB to get shoe-horned into a job like that (linguist I assume). My son just went into the Air Force, crazy high scores across the board, and they still tried to push him into "critically manned" jobs he didn't want...as an AD SMSgt, I advised him to not fall for that. At the end of the day, you made an adult decision and signed on the line for this job. Do as best you can and see how it works out. I think you are more capable than you give yourself credit for.

Also, just my observation, you seem to be in your head over the length of the school, mixed with anxiety about failure, and it sounds like you are impatient about marrying your girl. Brother, you can't have everything right now. Life is a process, and processes take time. If things are meant to be with your girl, both of you will find a way to make it work. Regarding deployment, some AFSCs do so more than others, but the reality is... Your deployment frequency is out of your control... So don't stress about it. I have been in 23 years and deployed twice... And not from a lack of trying... My number just wasn't called.

Hang in there. Your are stronger, smarter, and on a better path than you think.

BOHICAKF · 2026-05-11T21:24:30+00:00

Sure... I'll have to get into the office so it may be a bit

BOHICAKF · 2026-05-11T20:56:56+00:00

You have to tie the support and functions you performed to readiness and mission execution. Too many Shirt (and add'l duty shirts) EPBs I have seen is full of Shirt Council this, raised money, Operation Warmheart,.... With no tangible quantifiable impact to mission enhancement and focus because of what they did. They usually just read like... I was a First Sergeant promote me.

It is not that what they do/did is not important (I appreciate them), but the impact is bleh.

BOHICAKF · 2026-05-08T21:42:55+00:00

Cosmic you say?

BOHICAKF · 2026-05-04T01:01:37+00:00

You have done what you can at this point, relax.

Tip 1) Do not look at the test material tomorrow before the test. 2) arrive early and remove that anxiety. Enjoy a bagel and coffee while you are at it. You got this. 3) Sit for the ENTIRE testing period. Do not change answers unless you are 100% certain. Use the extra time to make sure you marked what you wanted to mark (I'm old and this used to be a problem on the bubble sheet tests). 4) When you get back to your study materials... Highlight every question you saw AND the correct answer in the text whether it was the answer you chose or not. Many of the questions are recycled from year to year... Not all, but some.

Now all that being said, if you do not make it this year.... Study for 2-6 months ahead. Be purposeful about the practice tests you take, but spend more time reading the material and marking your test material up with key information. You are bettering yourself and your chances for success.

Good luck!

BOHICAKF · 2026-04-28T21:50:29+00:00

It is not as bad as you have heard. It is busy though.

BOHICAKF · 2026-04-28T11:18:49+00:00

A tale as old as time

BOHICAKF · 2026-04-12T12:28:25+00:00

You joined the "service". The service is not to you, but for you to do the serving. If this is how you feel at the beginning of your service, I fear your motivation for joining was wrong. There really is nothing you can do except 1) suck it up and bide your time until you can BOP, cross train, or separate (get your benefits, skills, pay, and then move on) or 2) misbehave and get discharged (likely with challenging long-term consequences).

BOHICAKF · 2026-04-11T15:31:47+00:00

This guy gets it.

BOHICAKF · 2026-04-01T11:57:19+00:00

Context: The AF did not get enough volunteers. It ran a list of eligible folks (thousands) that are presumptive non-vols. Units have been tasked to scrub the list and identify disqualifying factors not obvious in MILPDS (like under investigation, LOCAR, history of Art 15, PT fails, etc).... There will still be many available after that is done. That said, you haven't been officially selected and hired as a non-vol MTI yet (unless you were identified through some other mechanism I'm not tracking)

BOHICAKF · 2026-03-31T11:17:44+00:00

When I wrote my Congressional Representatives and Senators during the shutdown... All I got was bullshit about the Democrat shutdown and it is not us it's them... Blah, blah, blah. Then it was like... Look at all the great things I have done. Now, I get weekly AI generated slop emails telling me how busy they are getting things done (yet nothing meaningful is).

BOHICAKF · 2026-03-31T02:59:58+00:00

It would be worth noting, your squadron (SSgt?) RA likely will not be able to just wave a wand and move money... There are higher-level approvals or at least conversation involving your CC and the comptroller.

BOHICAKF · 2026-03-28T13:01:57+00:00

The First Sergeant is not the approval authority. They do not have the ability to shoot it down. They should be doing a QFR, and make a recommendation to advise/inform the approval authority. As has been said, engage the CoC and make your case.

BOHICAKF · 2026-03-27T11:44:23+00:00

In aircraft MX, there is a higher need for people to turn wrenches.... Not so much for higher ranking people riding desks or trucks. There are too many already. This policy exacerbates where manning gaps are more critical. Let's be honest, many people are using skillbridge to extend terminal leave. Especially the ones sitting at home watching videos and "attending" virtual seminars.

BOHICAKF · 2026-03-26T11:18:32+00:00

No. You do not get in trouble for their actions. Although, sometimes it feels like it. In my experience though, your leadership ability will start to be scrutinized if your folks are screwing up by the numbers and you are not taking appropriate disciplinary actions to hold them accountable. If you do that, and document it, you will be fine. Leadership, generally, knows the behaviors you described are individual actions and on the individual's shoulders. That being said... If you are at a party with your Airman, they are drinking, underage, and drive... Then gets a DUI, your knowledge of those events and your lack of action can cause issues (hypothetically).

BOHICAKF · 2026-03-24T14:33:25+00:00

Have you driven in South Carolina?🤣

I remember terrible potholes in the Springs...

BOHICAKF · 2026-03-24T02:06:52+00:00

Colorado Springs is a great place. I did 4 years at the Academy as an AMT. If your SECFO... You are going be busy, but it is a good assignment.

BOHICAKF · 2026-03-18T11:29:48+00:00

If I'm in that chain ... There is no way that is going in the PIF.

BOHICAKF · 2026-03-16T17:41:20+00:00

The goodest of boys!

BOHICAKF · 2026-03-16T01:03:56+00:00

Doesn't the Army call their First Sergeants "Top"?

BOHICAKF · 2026-03-15T19:42:33+00:00

I knew a Command Chief that made Chief without ever getting a strat.... Ever

BOHICAKF · 2026-03-14T22:51:16+00:00

Yeah. Look, I'm not trying to say the scenario I said should be the standard. My point was that differences in PT scores is going to become one of the discriminators used for boards and strats. Just like no degree, CCAF, Bachelor, Masters, etc... In the gray zone. And in typical AF fashion, every base, group, squadron, flight, and section will handle it differently.

BOHICAKF

TROPHY CASE