Did Chief Cody do a good job with Enlisted? Or did he cut too many gutting the AF?

MSgt Robert Pellam — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 21:38:46 -0500

http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/2016/01/18/chief-codymy-top-challenges/78844240/

I read this article and since I am retired I want to know what the AF Enlisted think. He seems to be emphasizing his EPR programs, and trying to play down the under manning and Ops tempo. Did this Chief do right by the AF?

Chief Cody: promotions, EPRs and more

Few enlisted leaders in recent decades have had as great an impact on airmen as Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Cody.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jan 19 at 2016 9:44 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 21:44:31 -0500

As far as I know Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Cody did as well as he could as the chief NCO of the U.S. Air Force could do in the current environment MSgt Robert Pellam. Reducing force strength is a very difficult task which relies on experience and has to predict what will be the near term and mid term requirements for the USAF.

Response by MSgt John Carroll made Jan 19 at 2016 10:24 PM

MSgt John Carroll — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 22:24:44 -0500

BLUF: Good idea, poor execution.

My personal opinion is it was an idea based on good intentions but not realistic long term. Force distribution may work in some Squadrons with a few AFSCs but how well will it work in a Squadron with 13 AFSCs? CE for example has 13 AFSCs and that doesn't include shread-outs. Good luck if your Squadron doesn't have 11 promotion eligible TSgt (for example). For those that don't know, I will try to explain it as best I can without missing something. First off I must express that selection for promotion does not happen at Installation level. Big Blue does that and I really don't want to get in to that. The point I am really trying to express is Big Blue promotion selection is based on quotas per AFSC and does not happen at the base level. With that said, hold on and try to follow.- 5% of promotion eligible TSgt, SSgt, SrA will receive a rating of Promote Now (PN). 10% (15% for SrA) will get Must Promote (MP), the rest will get Promote, Not Ready, or Do Not Promote. These percentages are set in stone by AFI. If a Unit has 11 promotion eligible TSgts for example, 1 gets a PN, 1 gets a MP, the other 9 get something else. If a Unit has 10 or less, the Squadron Commander can no longer make that decision. It now has to be made by the Installation Commander. Not Group CC, Wg CC. He has to use these quotas to rack and stack all promotion eligible TSgts from every squadron that had less than 11 eligible. This will benefit the guy who sticks around and volunteers for everything. The Wg King will know him, he gets face time. The guy out doing work, deploying, and taking care of his Joes will get the shaft.

Another thing about the EPR that is frustrating is the execution, or lack there of, on releasing it. Really, every TSgt (and TSgt select)in the Air Force had an EPR due on Monday 30 November. We all knew it. We all saw it coming. We all prepped for it...except Big Blue. Big Blue released the new form on Wednesday 25 November. The day before Thanksgiving. Who thought that was the best time for release? The fact that Version 2 was released later that day and Version 3 was released on 1 Dec adds even more frustration. Then after all that, we are told that we can use ANY version if we can get the form to work properly. Why, because the form is broken. So far this system has been a Train Wreck.

I honestly hope that no one takes any of this as offensive. I am not trying to insult anyone, I just had to get this off my chest. I probably shouldn't type under the influence of pain meds but I had to get this off my chest. Oh yeah, I may have broken spell check. LOL

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Jan 19 at 2016 11:20 PM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 23:20:06 -0500

Somehow this quote keeps running through my head: "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions"

From what I can see from conversations with some of my old troops, the new EPR system had the best of intent but looks like will end up being the azz-kissers and boot-lickers that get the nod from the Boss. The folks that get stuck in the duty section making sure the mission gets done will be passed over as they won't have the "exposure" from the Head Shed needed for the promote statements.

Response by SSgt Jim Gilmore made Jan 19 at 2016 11:37 PM

SSgt Jim Gilmore — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 23:37:30 -0500

First and foremost, anyone in this position is a politician. They are suppose to represent the enlisted folks but I seldom saw any of them during my tenure really listen to the troops. IMO, he listened to much to his bosses and has done hard to undo damage to the force.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jan 19 at 2016 11:40 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 23:40:40 -0500

MSgt Robert Pellam The King is dead, long live the King!

Response by SMSgt Tony Barnes made Jan 19 at 2016 11:42 PM

SMSgt Tony Barnes — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 23:42:38 -0500

I serve with CMSAF Cody on the AFEV board and have had dinner and sat at the bar with him on more than one occasion. There are a lot of pressures that come from Congress and at his level often they just have to play the best they can with the cards they have. The increases to military salaries through the Bush years were unsustainable at that growth. Personnel budget would taken away from weapon systems dollars which we can ill afford in today's world. He has done well.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Jan 20 at 2016 1:49 AM

SrA Matthew Knight — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 01:49:57 -0500

I've never met Chief Cody nor even seen him in person, only CMSAF I ever saw was Chief Roy who seemed great but left not long after I entered the service.

Here's what I am going to say about Chief Cody, I think he is a great man and as others have pointed out he has had good ideas and intentions. The problem, and I don't blame him, is that regardless of his title and rank he still needs approval for anything he comes up with and I have no doubt he probably presented what would have been great ideas only for them to get shot down or altered beyond what he intended. He is top enlisted but still has far more people above him on the totem pole that actually decide whether or not his ideas go forward so again I won't blame him for anything presently wrong with the AF. As far as the EPR system, I still don't like it at all, in fact I think it's garbage personally but even with that I won't blame Chief Cody. He was given the task of trying to make changes to a system that's been in place since he was an Airman if not even before his time. Regardless of whether or not the EPR system needed a total redo he himself could only do so much to make changes where he could essentially without scrapping it and coming up with a completely new system. He did what he was tasked with doing, it may not be perfect but given the current status of the AF I'd say he did a half decent job with what he had to work with.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2016 8:18 AM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 08:18:21 -0500

From what I understand, Gen Welsh has admitted that he cut too many people too fast. Although I can't find the quote, so that may just be hearday

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Jan 20 at 2016 9:54 AM

MSgt James Mullis — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 09:54:03 -0500

I would say that Chief Cody is typical of the high calibre of men who have made it to the highest enlisted position. Under normal circumstances we would look back on his tenure and say he did a great job. However, under the dire circumstances the Air Force has faced and is currently facing, the Air Force needs an exceptional Chief. A man for his time, who not only "gave" his best, but "did" the very best that could be done. A great Chief leads those around him to perform better they could without him. The large number of faux pas' that have occurred under his tenure (for whatever the reason), have placed his tenure at the level of average.

Response by MSgt Devon Saunders made Jan 20 at 2016 10:08 AM

MSgt Devon Saunders — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 10:08:59 -0500

I'm just glad I'm retiring. No comment on this topic.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2016 2:05 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 14:05:09 -0500

I haven't had a chance to read the article, but to be honest the change needed to happen! Also the manning cuts come down from way higher pay grades then even the CMSAF.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2016 3:15 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 15:15:45 -0500

It's business as usual. Manning has always been an issue for the Air Force. The problem with the service is Congress mandates manning and the Air Force along with other services have to comply with the mandate. Therefore, Chief Cody is not playing down the manning issues and lets be honest what can he do besides yell out loud. He is not in charge manning and he definitely can't overturn a congressional mandate. Moreover, Ops tempo has been up and down over the past decade or so. We have been engaged in two wars, multiple conflicts, and contingencies. Due to the previous engagements some missions beefed up with manning, along with ops tempo, while other missions faded away until we uncovered critical failures like the Nuclear Surety mission. All in all, I believe we give Chief Cody too much credit for things that is not in his control. The EPR system is something Chief Cody championed and we will have to wait to see how it affects the force. It may be good for the force or it may turn out to be bad, but only time will tell.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2016 6:58 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 18:58:59 -0500

Chief Cody did an excellent job with the new system...but handed it off to people that can't change the old ways of doing business. The individuals that got promoted on the old "flawed" way. There needs to be more direction for the squadron commanders on how to rate individuals. It still seems like members who volunteer/go to school get the highest marks just as before. I got marked down because i haven't completed my CCAF & not been apart of the 5/6 club even though it isn't a requirement for Msgt. I have shown progress towards my CCAF as the little brown book states and been apart of professional organizations but "he" determines that as a failure. I had a discussion with him about it and his mind changed within the hour. Seems like he didn't really know how to rate anyone on the new system, i consider this a failure on the policy maker to portray their true intent and the senior enlisted of my squadron to be involved. I'm positive that others will be marked down due to similar "personal" values of their command. So overall, this new system is just as terrible as the last!! Rant over.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 21 at 2016 1:26 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 13:26:19 -0500

No, he did not. First he gutted the e listed corps them have us an EPR system that places the responsibility of rating job performance in the hands of the people least qualified to sleep on it. In some cases, people at a completely different installation. As MSgt Holt said, he meant well, but my career being in someone else's hands REALLY bothers me.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 21 at 2016 9:37 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 21:37:44 -0500

The "quota" system has never work. I believe that it should be either Promote or Do Not Promote. If someone is really worthy by consistently going above and beyond here are the other options to get them promoted: A) STEP promotion. B) A medal for specific achievement(s).

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 23 at 2016 10:43 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 10:43:44 -0500

I see it like this. If your teacher gives you the guidelines required to get an A+ and everyone in the class gets an A+, is there a problem? Do you change the grading because everyone got an A+ so that only a certain quota can get an A+? Probably not. See the problem was not that a lot people were getting Fire Wall 5's, it was that a 3 was not a 3, and 4 was not a 4, in the eyes of the Air Force, so supervisors were forced, in some ways, to grade on a curve because of how the Air Force weighed 3s and 4s. So instead of changing the culture about how the Air Force viewed 3s and 4s, they basically created a system by which a person that meets all the requirements to earn a fire wall five can't receive one because his political skills aren't up to par. When I say change the culture about how 3s and 4s are treated, I mean change how special duty assignments, and similar things, treat 3s and 4s....make these rating acceptable. Chief Cody's legacy will be these EPRs, and when we look back 10 years from now, it will have been the worst thing to happen to the EPR system. I feel sorry for the people who do the mission but refuse to play politics. Their careers will suffer.

Response by TSgt Keith Wright made Jan 26 at 2016 10:50 AM

TSgt Keith Wright — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 10:50:37 -0500

I think that the DOD needs to reform to how people are treated across the Board. I don’t think its right to keep someone at a E-4 or E-5 pay grade for 20years just because their the type of person you can take advantage of and keep around for cheap labor.
Besides these are Budget Issues not Human issues. We send People to do a Humanitarian Mission’s that we are not Humane to. The Folks that control the USD need to learn our Mission in Afghanistan and that is to gain the Hearts and Minds of the ones were protecting. We need those in Control to treat the Military as a loved one, not as a number or folks who can be mistreated.
I think Chief Cody is under a tremendous amount of Pressure to carry out Tough Budget Demands from a source much higher then any US Senator, or even any Pentagon Official. Follow the Dollar and you will find your answer.

Response by SMSgt Roy Dowdy made Jan 26 at 2016 11:44 AM

SMSgt Roy Dowdy — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 11:44:46 -0500

Like every individual in his position pure politician! Spoke the party line and everywhere he visited for Q & A forums the questions were scripted or censored. When asked about the return of organizational ball caps for home station wear, wouldn't even place it up for consideration, just one example mind you! Red carpet treatment everywhere he traveled just to voice company policy when thousands of dollars could have been saved by VTC or email.

Response by TSgt Will Garringer made Jan 26 at 2016 12:23 PM

TSgt Will Garringer — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 12:23:32 -0500

My biggest disappointment with Chief Cody is him not making the Air Force Special Duty Ribbon retroactive for the eligible AFSCs.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Jan 26 at 2016 1:06 PM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 13:06:07 -0500

He was put in a difficult position with mandates from way above his paygrade. I don't believe that he had any input or control as far as the manning situation. The budget restrictions are congress' responsibility. As far as the new EPR system, only time will tell if it will be a success, from what I have seen so far, I doubt it.

Response by 1stSgt David Welch made Jan 26 at 2016 1:46 PM

1stSgt David Welch — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 13:46:53 -0500

He's a politician, and like most politicians, he's a sheep, not a sheepdog. He doesn't think like a warfighter, therefore his decisions were less about war fighting capability and more about playing nice with the Pampered Princes of the Pentagon and the anti-military staff of our Commander-In-Chief. He didn't even want to discuss individuals with vaild conceal carry being able to do so on base after the run of attacks on various bases, and the more recent attacks on recruiting stations. The most vulnerable I was, was on base, in uniform, because he didn't want "a bunch of armed yahoo's shooting at just anything during a crisis." After multiple deployments to FOBs in Afghanistan, pretty sure I have more experience shooting back at bad guys than your average "armed yahoo." Glad I'm out. I don't play politics well, and I'm not leaving my conceal piece at home to play nice with the false sense of security the base gates are supposed to provide.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2016 2:44 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 14:44:52 -0500

He is probably getting blamed for some stuff he did not do. It is his job to inform the boss and if the bass decides to go another direction it is his job to support that. However where I see a real failure was his goal to travel to every AF base, outpost, station wherever there was an AF person stationed. The amount of money he and his entourage must have cost the AF in TDY bills could have been have used for what I would consider more important things. I am sure some airman liked meeting him but my experience is most hate the dog and pony show, knowing he was going to show up.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2016 7:03 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 19:03:20 -0500

I was often told when I first came in there are chiefs and then there are E-9's. Now that I've been awhile and an NCO myself I see the difference. He is truly an E-9, he has left the Air force in worse shape than it was in. The new EPR system is by far the worst thing he has done, by rushing it into place has made it even more worse and has lost faith in our supervision even more. Between this and the new board for MSgt, has left the Air force in worse shape and even more less faith in our leadership. The manning is already below low this makes it worse and now our experience NCO's and Amn are now jumping ship due to our leaders.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2016 2:11 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 14:11:48 -0500

In one word NO! Worst CMsgt of the Air Force ever. He forgot about how his decisions might negatively effect the good hard working enlisted that were going to make a career of the Air Force.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2016 4:27 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 16:27:50 -0500

Highly disappointed in this thread.

Response by SMSgt Roy Dowdy made Jan 28 at 2016 2:06 PM

SMSgt Roy Dowdy — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 14:06:44 -0500

Cody treaded several miles of water attempting to "sell" the new EPR program at town hall visits, Wing Stand-ups, and AF wide news releases. If you revisit the majority of the Public Affairs releases or interviews he granted, he played the role of the "town crier" announcing that manning challenges were part and parcel of the nature of the beast. Budget considerations were solely led by weapons recapitalization and personnel just had to take a backseat to the "Golden Calves" of the F-35, next generation bomber X and other programs. Shortages in personnel were to be faced with a "gut check" attitude and the rank-and-file masses should be encouraged by SNCOs to persuade them to accept these inevitabilities in order to meet the mission! When the massive RIFs were enacted in 2013-2014, and some 25,000 airmen were given the ax to meet Congressional personnel ceiling level mandates, HQ AF couldn't sent out RIF notices quickly enough to meet those reduced force levels. Fast forward to a year later, fall 2015 and all of sudden the AF finds itself in a massive shortage of personnel across the board, particularly aircraft maintenance career fields, and they again throw good money after bad to entice people to join to replace the highly trained personnel they just finished divesting themselves of not quite a year earlier! Leadership will tell you that's it the name of the game, but there is no excuse for sheer mismanagement when A-1 fails to communicate with A-3 adequately.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2016 7:46 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 07:46:59 -0500

Re: MSgt Private RallyPoint Member and my original post. Thank you to those of you that are being constructive in your criticism not just negative black holes.

No, it is the overall tone of our SNCOs that in a public forum are only griping and not discussing solutions to what is perceived as shortfalls. I would hope for better.

As for new EPRs.Perfect system? No, no system is. Improved? Absolutely. For 85% of the 85% that got "5"s in the previous system, nothing has changed. The are still equally great amongst their peers. Now, the 2-3 people in each grade that you can walk into any unit and point to as absolutely being ready to promote, they get a leg up rather than being lost in the crowd. If you CANNOT separate this from the old system, think of it like this: no one is move no down...the 85% of the 85% are still getting "5"s, and the commander can now give a select few truly exceptional performers "6"s and "7"s. I've read those EPRs and advised my commander. The right people are being recognized.

As for the Duty Performance debate, read your little brown book. The AF pays you to be a technician in whatever AFS you are in. Do that, and do it well. Or I don't care what else you do, hence the form grayed out below that point on the 910. If you ARE excellent at you job, show me that you are growing yourself and growing others. Not specifically as a Vol. nowhere does it say volunteer. But as an involved leader helping the base and community and unit grow in other ways, PDCs, mentoring, developing programs outside your niche, stuff not on your CFETP or 797s. 8 bullets vs 2 should speak to that alone. It is icing on the cake, the garnish on you meal. It doesn't make a crappy meal good, but it enhances already great ones.

This does affect their livelihood, but not negatively. Your standing among your peers only changes based on your efforts or lack thereof, not because the commander can recognize someone as being better than you. Own your successes and shortfalls equally.

I'm not sayin no buy in blindly, but get into the AFGM, PSDM, & AFIs and provide your Command Chiefs feedback on where this system fails, and how to correct it. Don't just gripe in front of our junior enlisted.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2018 2:02 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Dec 2018 14:02:55 -0500

What this chief did was give the too much control to commanders who have no idea who their people are, have questionable integrity to put aside personal aspirations for a global/mission gross benefits, and exponentially empowered the good ole boy system behind a mask of “worthiness”. He also put careers at risk via “virtual board” that cannot come close to representing an individual’s potential or benefit to service, but rewards plaque chasers subsidizing activities with no impact to the mission and putting a face in front of those with power, all the while, those making the mission happen are veiled behind the curtain of dismissal. In addition, he affirmed failure in the very system under which he was promoted. Virtual boards, virtual inspections, table top demonstrations of readiness...all of without merit and easily corruptable.