Posted on Apr 8, 2015
Do you think the Air Force is handing out E-3 too easily?
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Do you think the Air Force is handing out E-3 too easily?
Okay to start off I will admit this is kind of a "butt hurt" post but I'm curious of other opinions.
When I joined CAP at the age of 12 I learned if I made it to C/2d Lt I could automatically enlist in the USAF as an E-3. I thought this was really cool and it pushed me to get there. When I finally did enlist however, I was very disappointed that all my extra effort was really pointless. Half of not more than half the airmen I graduated BMT with graduated as A1C's and most of them had really done nothing to earn it except choose a job that offered it as an incentive. I spent 9 years as a CAP cadet and was one of the top 0.05% having earned my Spaatz award and making it to Cadet Colonel. I know the USAF is a whole different ball game from being a cadet but it was frustrating having put so much effort in for a long time and watching people who had only decided to enlist a couple weeks prior also getting the same promotion.
Do you think the Air Force is right in offering E-3 to just about anyone these days or should they scale back? What about the Army's system with a non-leadership E-4. I know people who went through Army Basic as E-4 Specialists. Would the Air Force benefit having a similar program?
Just as an example of how easy E-3 is these days, I personally had 4 things that could have gotten me E-3: College credits, ROTC experience, Civil Air Patrol and the job I chose automatically gave you E-3.
Okay to start off I will admit this is kind of a "butt hurt" post but I'm curious of other opinions.
When I joined CAP at the age of 12 I learned if I made it to C/2d Lt I could automatically enlist in the USAF as an E-3. I thought this was really cool and it pushed me to get there. When I finally did enlist however, I was very disappointed that all my extra effort was really pointless. Half of not more than half the airmen I graduated BMT with graduated as A1C's and most of them had really done nothing to earn it except choose a job that offered it as an incentive. I spent 9 years as a CAP cadet and was one of the top 0.05% having earned my Spaatz award and making it to Cadet Colonel. I know the USAF is a whole different ball game from being a cadet but it was frustrating having put so much effort in for a long time and watching people who had only decided to enlist a couple weeks prior also getting the same promotion.
Do you think the Air Force is right in offering E-3 to just about anyone these days or should they scale back? What about the Army's system with a non-leadership E-4. I know people who went through Army Basic as E-4 Specialists. Would the Air Force benefit having a similar program?
Just as an example of how easy E-3 is these days, I personally had 4 things that could have gotten me E-3: College credits, ROTC experience, Civil Air Patrol and the job I chose automatically gave you E-3.
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Enlisted
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 20
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It isn't just he Air Force that does this. I found out if I would have had a descent recruiter I could have gotten A1C out of basic also due to JROTC, college, or 6 year enlistment and that was in 95'. The first two I know are universal between the branches but all you need to do is be motivated. Take pride in the way you earned it but don't let that give you a chip on your shoulder when you put E-5 on.
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When I came in in (77) they gave the stripes to people in basic, that did go well for them they were targets for the TI's. We had one in our flight who did not make it through, our TI was miserable to him (our TI was a jerk).
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I was an SP. It was tough getting rank. I saw guys soar through and get rank quick. SP'S had to wait till someone retired or died to get rank. I served my time and got out as an A1C. I knew a Tech that had almost 30yrs in and he only got Tech a few months before I arrived. It was rough.
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Well, I'm not one to bitch, but there are those who put in a good deal more effort, time, military training and experience and got the same "E-3" in the USAF. I attended JROTC for three years in HS; making Cadet Capt as the BN Ops Officer. Because of my high GPA, Sons of the American Revolution award, and DeMolay affiliation, I earned a Cameron University tuition and books "institutional" award, then a 3-year Army Scholarship and attended 3.5 years of college (with ROTC) rising through the cadet ranks again to the command staff level, honor graduate of Army Officer Advanced Camp in Fort Riley, and earned one of only two active-duty commissions (signed by Jimmy Carter) of 47 ROTC class graduates. However, as I was NOT selected to Army Pilot training but being forced into Field Arty, I decided to resign my commission and quit college. Within six months, I was in the USAF recruiter's office with a "guaranteed job" and rank of A1C (E-3). Sure I bypassed AF basic and made Red-Rope (Top student leader) at Tech-School, but what a waste of my prior service experience and military capabilities...
Just make Chief and show them you have more to give...
Just make Chief and show them you have more to give...
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I was going to say no, but E-3 because of CAP?
I was a C/Lt Col in CAP and 1/2 way thru Spaatz testing and was awarded the wonderful rank of E-2 upon enlistment. E-3 came 6 months later when all the E-1s in Basic also got their E-3s. The others that also came in as E-2 were the JROTC people
I was a C/Lt Col in CAP and 1/2 way thru Spaatz testing and was awarded the wonderful rank of E-2 upon enlistment. E-3 came 6 months later when all the E-1s in Basic also got their E-3s. The others that also came in as E-2 were the JROTC people
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Hang in there! The majority of my service has been in the Guard and reserve, and yes, there are some challenges in getting promoted. The best advice I can offer in for you to be the best, possible Senior Airman that you can be, and you will be ready to be promoted to Staff Sergeant. Don't worried about what has already happened, or what could've been, eyes to the future. Remember that an individual's (enlisted AND officer) current grade doesn't reflect how smart they are, or how capable they are, it just shows their current level of responsibility.
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I can't speak for how the Air Force works, but with the Army all the E-2 and E-3 pay grade they give away doesn't affect a person's career in the long term anyway. The time in service requirement for advancement to E-4 means that a guy who enlists at E-3 is eligible for promotion to specialist at the same time a guy like me who enlisted as a PVT E-1.
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I enlisted for 6 years in a chronic critical shortage AFSC to get E-3 upon grad from Basic. In my case, it was just more pay sooner. At that time, the AF was playing around with the TIG/TIS requirement for SrA(E-4). I didn't really see on E-4 much sooner and when I did, I wasn't an NCO for another 12 mos TIG. Then I became an E-4 SGT. It was just an incentive to get my body in an AFSC slot.
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When I went in as an E3 I had similar notions. As it turned out half of my BCT class were E3's or E4's. This was largely due to college credits or civilian certifications in their field. The increase in rank is ultimately just another tool to recruit qualified people. Chances are you had similar opportunities and chose not to take them.
I do agree there are some fields it's more important than others. A college degree isn't going to make you a better Infantryman for example, yet they will still likely get E4 upon graduation. With as fast as we promote in the Army I don't know that it's all that important either way. You can go from E1 to E4 in around two years if you play your cards right. High speed troops can make E5 in three years. On the AF side I'm not sure why there's such a long TIG requirement. Are an E3's duties any different than an E4's?
I do agree there are some fields it's more important than others. A college degree isn't going to make you a better Infantryman for example, yet they will still likely get E4 upon graduation. With as fast as we promote in the Army I don't know that it's all that important either way. You can go from E1 to E4 in around two years if you play your cards right. High speed troops can make E5 in three years. On the AF side I'm not sure why there's such a long TIG requirement. Are an E3's duties any different than an E4's?
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SSgt (Join to see)
E3 and E4 duties are the same, pretty much just a pay raise. The long TIG is a guard thing, active and reserve can promote much faster to E-4.
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MAJ (Join to see)
That's downright strange. All of the junior enlisted slots on my UMR are able to be filled by anyone from E1-E4. Maybe someone with more experience on the ANG can chime in on why this is.
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1SG Joseph Cunningham
E1 to E4 is Time in service time in grade system of promotion. The Army at one time had a lateral promotion option for E4's who showed leadership potential "the rank of Corporal". I'm not sure if they still do this. As far as incentives go, I wouldn't sweat it, Take the hard assignments, volunteer for the hardest training and do your best. Hard work and a positive attitude goes a long way in the Military.
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