USAF Force distribution: Does it seem too "hard" or "harsh"?

Wish I could plus this up a hundred times. It always drove me nuts that duty performance was just another equally weighted factor among other "whole person" factors.

MSgt Clute....my 2 cents is there are a lot of folks who like to say they work too long hours etc to volunteer....at the same time I see them playing video games on their time off, out partying etc....it doesn't take much to spend a couple hours 1 day to volunteer in the community/base.....I work plenty of hours, take classes, have a family and can still get out and volunteer....I even recruited my family to go along with me to volunteer at times so we can spend time together and give back so it's not like sacrificing family time to do it....all I'm saying is there are ways to git'er done....I don't care for the career volunteers either so I see what you are saying about those that volunteer for everything....

SMSgt Steve Pecht, I understand what you are saying, I truly do. There is always a way to get it done, but that will always come at the expense of something with family. Just one situation I deal with (volunteering) is a dual military couple, both going to school, and raising/managing 3 children with daily homework/projects, maintaing a household and family time. They literally have 0 time to compete with other members volunteer time. I don't believe volunteering should hold as much weight as it currently does.Members like this do a wonderful job in today's Air Force (at least mine do) and should not have to take a "penalty". Just my 2 cents. After all, according to CMSAF Rodney McKinley " Service before self does not mean you stop taking care of your families. Our families are a critical element of the Air Force family. Our service should enhance their health, morale and welfare – not take away from it."

Reference: http://secure.afa.org/EdOp/2009/Service_Before_Self_Perspective%20_17%20Feb%2009_.pdf

Well, we're acting like our commanders have never stratified people before. All officer promotions are based on stratifications. And we, to, often PCS right before the promotion recommendation is made, leaving a new commander to figure out where we fit into his already-decided stratifications.

On the plus side, an enlisted troop realistically has several chances at each promotion, whereas an officer is really one and done.

Lt Col (Join to see) Well sir it is not the commanders per say but the promotion system didn't do so hot in the past with enlisted stratification so thus the concern. Also unless things have changed greatly the officer OPR or whatever it is called now was designed for that purpose. In addition if you don't get promoted to the SNCO ranks the first couple of times you are pretty much done. I am curious though, for Lt and Capt unless you really screwed up you were going to get promoted. Major was about 3 or 4 chances then after that you had basically 2 chances at Lt. Col and Col depending on your career field. What is the process now?

Oh, no. If you don't make captain, you have really screwed something up. The promotion rate to major is actually fairly high (92% last year), but the promotion rate for guys passed over on their first attempt is essentially zero. Technically four shots at LtCol, but that's because the really fast burners can get promoted up to two years below the in-zone promotion year. Not many people are even considered for that, and most who are considered don't make it. Then there's one below...slightly less competitive, but still a small number. Then in-promotion zone (IPZ). The numbers there are roughly 70% to Lt Col. Miss IPZ, and again, while you can technically be considered on future boards, the reality is you are done being promoted.

Thanks for the info Lt Col (Join to see)