Air Force
Air Force
Posted on Jul 17, 2015
Thoughts on PRP status and whether or not you think the program is a good idea?
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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.
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.
Mental Health Services
Barksdale AFB
Air Force
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 14
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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...
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...
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Suspended Profile
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)
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)
MSgt Matthew Meindl
Then you might want to contemplate a quote from a wing commander in the late 80's, "If you don't wake up in a cold sweat, in the middle of the night, thinking about PRP, then you don't understand the program.".
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SSgt Ryan Jones
i had a question on the matter of disqualifying information. I am prior service from the navy now entering the air force through the prior service program. I am having an interview tomorrow and I wanted to know if an NJP I had 3 years ago would disqualify me from the program?
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Suspended Profile
Short answer is maybe......probably no.....obviously it was not something to keep you from service or you not have been able to rejoin......remember it's a commander's program and it's there decision......whatever you do DO NOT LIE or try to HIDE OR COVER IT UP.....be honest upfront and show that your remedial punishment did what it was suppose to do and made you a better person who will not repeat the same mistake.
Suspended Profile
SSgt Ryan Jones - Short answer is maybe......probably no.....obviously it was not something to keep you from service or you would not have been able to rejoin......remember it's a commander's program and it's there decision......whatever you do DO NOT LIE or try to HIDE OR COVER IT UP.....be honest upfront and show that your remedial punishment did what it was suppose to do and made you a better person who will not repeat the same mistake.
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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.
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SrA (Join to see)
Yes, Sir. That's it.
I've just heard from a lot of people that you can't sneeze without getting eyeballed and it puts a lot of pressure on Airman who are on it.
It makes me nervous to know that there might be other Airman who have something going on that they're not willing to talk about because theyre afraid they won't be able to do their job anymore.
Even aside from being PRP, the stigma about going to mental health to talk or whatever is overwhelming.
It's everyone's job to be a good a Wingman to one another and ask the questions when we think someone seems like they're not on the right track anymore. We need to learn to be approachable and learn to actively approach people so that if someone needs to talk, they can if they feel like going to mental health will cost them their career.
And a lot of situations they're in very well could cost them their career, but much cheaper than the cost of their life. Mental health isn't there with a big boot wound up just waiting kick people down the their slide.
I wish more people saw past that idea.
I've just heard from a lot of people that you can't sneeze without getting eyeballed and it puts a lot of pressure on Airman who are on it.
It makes me nervous to know that there might be other Airman who have something going on that they're not willing to talk about because theyre afraid they won't be able to do their job anymore.
Even aside from being PRP, the stigma about going to mental health to talk or whatever is overwhelming.
It's everyone's job to be a good a Wingman to one another and ask the questions when we think someone seems like they're not on the right track anymore. We need to learn to be approachable and learn to actively approach people so that if someone needs to talk, they can if they feel like going to mental health will cost them their career.
And a lot of situations they're in very well could cost them their career, but much cheaper than the cost of their life. Mental health isn't there with a big boot wound up just waiting kick people down the their slide.
I wish more people saw past that idea.
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SSgt (Join to see)
@TSgt Williams, you are correct in that the program for those with TS//SCI is not called PRP. However, there is a program in place that does evaluate the psychological fitness and trustworthiness of those entrusted with sensitive information. Just so you know, I had a TS//SCI up until this year. I was also an Analyst that worked at an NSA facility as well as JIEDDO.
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COL Charles Williams
SrA (Join to see) - Hooah... with nukes gone from day to operations in the Army, the only place I know of we do PRP is in our Chemical Defense facilities and depots.
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Maj John Farese
I was on PRP for a long time as a Bomber pilot and it seemed like a good program to me. At least it seemed like a first line of defense to ensure those who came in contact with nukes were initially screened, and subsequently monitored to ensure safety and weapons integrity.
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