Thoughts on PRP status and whether or not you think the program is a good idea?

2015-07-17T19:53:12-04:00

I find myself thinking about the whole PRP status deal a lot. I myself am not PRP, but I feel like the people who are PRP are ticking time bombs for some sort of disaster whether it only affects themselves or it affects others.

People on PRP status, according to those who are on it and what other health care professionals have discussed, apparently never suffer from any form of stress, have no family issues, no financial hiccups, never suffer headaches or any aches and pains for that matter and are never sad or feel angry among other things.

I think that's complete crap.

Everyone goes through something eventually. Not everything a person faces leads to depression and inhibilitating anxiety, but some do. And those who are on PRP are scared to ever open up about it. You can't even take Tylenol without the fear of someone finding out you got a headache from even too much brain freeze.
This is just what I've been told from a few people on PRP status.

I wish that when you in processed to a new base, everyone had go through mental health. That way it's in everyone's file. So if someone who might need to talk about something serious or even semi-serious that they have going on that wouldn't normally go to mental health for it, will feel more comfortable going later on since it's already in their record that they've been seen by mental health.

I hope people leave their opinions and different perspectives on this. I could be way off about how the program is. I know I can't speculate too much since I'm not PRP status anyway.
From what I understand, PRP status says that you're always 100% and ready to respond to certain things. (I dont know how much is allowed to be discussed outside of work so I'll just leave it at that).
I just want everyone to be safe and know that they can talk when they feel the need to without the guilt, weight, fear and thought of the possibility of getting discharged over telling someone at mental health that you had a rough week and miss home like so many others.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jul 17 at 2015 8:08 PM

2015-07-17T20:08:40-04:00

PRP is a good and necessary program, for certain sensitive jobs. I am not sure who in the USAF is in PRP; I suspect Nukes? I had PRP Soldiers and Civilians in my Battalion, as a Battalion Commander. The zero defect PRP approach, may be tad too steep and difficult. All US Army MPs need a Secret Security Clearance, but still, some could not qualify under PRP. I assume you are talking about the Personnel Reliability Program.

Response by MSgt Matthew Meindl made Jul 17 at 2015 9:23 PM

2015-07-17T21:23:05-04:00

Most people on PRP do suppress the little stuff and have to deal with things or "come off PRP" until situation dealt with. You can't get any GOOD medication without being seen. Things that would not affect a NON-PROFIT persons career can end a PRP career in a heart beat. And add in that a person in missiles must be "world ready" (fit to deploy anywhere), even though we don't deploy anywhere but to the missile sites state-side, equals a lot of dealt with stress working in the "perfection or bust" atmosphere.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 17 at 2015 9:36 PM

2015-07-17T21:36:56-04:00

I was a medical PRP monitor for a few years.....yes the program is critical......yes the program is necessary.

Yes people on PRP have h/a, stomach aches, get sick, have family issues, hit their head, have financial problems....they are not perfect......nor does the system lie about people or cover things up. They have all the same health issues everyone else does.

Hell at one point I had cleared so many for PRP the had experimented with POT in school..... I started to think is was a requirement to be on PRP.

What you have to understand is that the primary purpose of the program is to identify PDI (Potentially Disqualifying Information) for the commander, after all it is his/her program, so that an informed decision can be made as to the level of access an individual needs. It is not to scrub peoples records or hide things.

I would strongly suggest you get with your local PRP monitor and better educate yourself on the purpose of the program as, at least according to your post, you many be very mis-informed.

Good luck in your career, and God bless (even if you don't believe in him or her)

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 17 at 2015 10:38 PM

2015-07-17T22:38:08-04:00

First. Why do you think they are time bombs. I have seen some people on PRP go get help and others who are not on the program freaked out by the thought of seeing them.
Second. You are not expected to be a perfect shining example all the time. It just means that you have to take more care. More care in what you say and do. what you put in to your body and what might affect you.
Third sending everyone through mental health when they in process would do very little when you are on a base a couple of years.

Response by SSgt Anthony Parmenter made Jul 18 at 2015 1:05 PM

2015-07-18T13:05:11-04:00

Response by SSgt Eric Bainbridge made Jul 18 at 2015 1:10 PM

2015-07-18T13:10:59-04:00

I would disagree. I was on PRP more than once in my military career and feel it's a vital program. There were never any stigmas for self-identification when an issue occurred; you were simply put in an area that was not PRP until the existing issue was resolved. Consider what the PRP individual is working with and around. Don't you want them to be individuals with the highest possible mental and physical readiness?

Response by TSgt David L. made Jul 18 at 2015 8:58 PM

2015-07-18T20:58:06-04:00

I was PRP for about 13 of my 23ish years. I got sick, had personal and money issues, and was angry. The program falls on the individual and his/her Commander, Period. There are monitors, as MSgt Ronald Stacy has noted, and they (medical/mental health providers) recommend/advise the Commander on what to do with the SM status. Temp Decert is a good way to deal with most short term issues. That gives the SM time for whatever the PRP team decides the course of action should be. For more serious issues Permanent Decert might be the course of action.
PRP, especially in light of the last decade of issues (minor or not), is probably the most monitored and scrutinized program in the DoD. I'm positive that any real issues would be brought to light and corrected.
As MSgt Ronald Stacy said, familiarize yourself with the process as it should be run, get with the Wing or Squadron PRP monitor, or read (especially just before bedtime! LOL) either DoD 5210.42-R or AFMAN 10-3902 and your command supplement.
Just my 2 cents...

Response by TSgt Gwen Walcott made Jul 19 at 2015 12:51 PM

2015-07-19T12:51:42-04:00

I was on it for decades and then removed when I went through an "extreme weight loss" program, cause the doc (DO) thought that was a deviant thing for someone to do.

(ie --> OP has a valid point)

PS ==> The EXTREME loss of weight was 55# over a year; reducing my BMI from 29.0 to 20.4
(very deviant indeed!)
(Department of Energy doc, not a DoD physician)

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2015 8:54 PM

2015-07-19T20:54:48-04:00

Thank you, Sir

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2015 11:49 PM

2015-07-19T23:49:41-04:00

Quite simply, you don't know what you're talking about. If a person in PRP has an issue, they temporarily remove themselves from it when they see the doc. When the issue has passed, they get added back into PRP with no hiccups. It's a non issue.

Response by Capt J A made Jul 20 at 2015 1:19 AM

2015-07-20T01:19:03-04:00

A1C Strong: as a former ICBM combat crew commander, I concur with the others in this forum: PRP is essential for sensitive programs, to include handling of the most destructive weapons in the world.

I won't argue that there is a stigma that can be associated with being taken down for PRP; after all, one can immediately run the short list of possible causes, and suddenly people can start talking. Also, unit scheduling changes often occur as a result, and the member can feel that he/she is not pulling their share or preparing themselves for higher responsibilities. Keep in mind that as far as ICBM officers go, I'm talking about competitive 2Lt-Captains that work hard to develop and maintain their proficiency.

However, it's the responsibility of airmen assigned to missions requiring PRP certification to have a mature approach to the program's requirements. Command and control of nuclear weapons is a responsibility requiring the highest reliability. Self-identifying issues that could affect one's PRP status is critical to ensuring that our troops are ready to execute without fail.

http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/473435/af-improves-its-personnel-reliability-program.aspx

AF improves its personnel reliability program

Changes are coming to the Air Force’s program used to ensure personnel who perform nuclear-related duties are of sound mind and body on the job.

Response by SMSgt Art Gordon made Jul 21 at 2015 8:33 PM

2015-07-21T20:33:00-04:00

I was on PRP back in the 80s while stationed at Ellsworth AFB crewing the Looking Glass. We were required to have it due to the mission of the aircraft. The codes were locked up in an onboard safe while on alert, flying operational missions. To be honest i wouldn't have known what a code looked like it someone had hit me across the face with them. I don't know if the crew chiefs needed PRP because we were never on the aircraft without at least 2 officers. The only time i was taken off PRP was when i had my wisdom teeth pulled and it was only for 2 days. There were certain medications we couldn't legally take but i don't know of any maintainers that got into trouble self medicating. People mainly got into trouble for other reasons, the one i can remember most was financial management. Alot of people lost their PRP due to bouncing a few checks.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2015 8:19 AM

2015-07-26T08:19:11-04:00

Me being on of those people, I feel that is an inflated system just as well as the EPR system. Individuals on PRP are supposed to be the best of the best. I feel as though the Air Force needs to stop art view people as people and not machines that don't make mistakes ales. But as the Force is right now everyone is trying to protect their own asses other than doing what by terms is the right desks ion rendering the people in the position to lax thin integrity that we are charged with to ensure that we can do our jobs without administration difficulties.appologies on the speeding euros rally point and my phone do not get along.

Response by PO3 Rob Conklin made Sep 25 at 2019 11:35 AM

2019-09-25T11:35:04-04:00

It was a 5 day course and many practices of doing what had to be done. As for personal issues, if you showed signs of distress you were removed, but if you knew what needed to be done and did it as ordered without questions and hesitation, you kept the clearance.