My grandfather served in the Air Force sometime in the '50s and '60s and died before I was born. My mom and grandma have jokingly said he was Army Air Corps before he decided to join the Air Force and that he was a Colonel's aid.

This was his uniform and I would like to know what all the ribbons and rope means. I believe his rank was a technical sergeant.

hello, i am currently on my first deployment and my hair density has changed DRASTICALLY and it is honestly frightening. my hair noticeably feeling and looking much thinner is starting to take a toll on me. is this a normal experience? did you guys lose hair on deployments? did things return to normal when you went back home?

I just joined and my fss was completely empty. I told my supervisor and the ptl about it and they told me that I wouldn't be testing till February.

I was messing around and familiarising myself with portal today and it turns out I have to test before the end of this month. Aside from a little nervous about the waist measurements (I am unfortunately build like a rectangle but I've slowly but surely am losing the extra inches).

Am I supposed to get an email or any notification about upcoming PT tests? I wouldn't have known or thought to double check after I was told it wasn't till Feb 😅

my husband is coming home for a family situation, he is stationed on kadena. he does not have his passport yet. only his orders, leave orders, and CAC. he is flying commercial, with a layover in Seoul. will that be enough? does anyone have experience with this? i’ve seen posts about people only using those three documents, but i assume that is with layovers only in japan and the U.S.

thanks for any help

Currently in tech school and I got washed back about a month for failing a block test since there were no other open classes below me. Just started classes back up last week and I was called to the MTL office for an assignment brief with some other new airmen but I’ve been here since July and already know my base but they said my new RTNLD was December 19th when it was originally November 30th. Obviously I know it’s gonna change because I got washed back but I heard from other airmen that your RNTLD is supposed to be around a month to two months after you graduate tech school. Is it possible that my RNTLD will change when I get my orders or is it gonna stay as December 19th ? Only wondering this because I want a fair chance to take RAP and then be able to take some leave and be home for Christmas as well.

Just curious given so many people talk about how amazing it is to retire at 38, 42, etc.:

Who knows anyone who actually retired…in the true sense of the word…after 20-25 years of service? Seems to me that most of the people who sing the praises of retiring young still end up working until they’re 55 or 60 because they’re bored, broke, or otherwise.

I have only met a few who really retired (stopped working entirely) after their 20+ years. They typically had a bunch of BS VA claims netting them a nice check alongside their regular retirement or were just content with the money a USAF retirement pays.

Hello everyone! My husband and I will be PCSing to JBA. Both military, no kids, 1 dog, looking to rent. Never have I ever been to the east coast. Any recommendations on where to live? I know traffic will be a shock as someone coming from the Midwest. We’ve looked into places in Alexandria, Brandywine, and Waldorf. We really just want an ~okay~ commute and an easy to get around place to live. We are drawn to the suburbs, only because I truly don’t know how I would take to “city living”, not that I’m opposed to giving it a go. Would love any insight on the area!

Okinawa shouldn't be a first duty station for military members, in my opinion. A lot of these young men are women are away from home for the first time, getting a steady paycheck, and adjusting to a completely different environment. None of that would be a problem if the leadership here wasn't so out of touch.

I've been stationed at five different bases, and the leadership here is by far the most disconnected I've experienced. I think part of the problem is that some leaders have been here for 7–8 years and have gotten too comfortable.

I've been here for seven months, and I just met my section chief for the first time this month(mind you he's been stationed here for 6 years). That alone says a lot. How can you mentor and develop young Airmen when you barely know them?

Now there's someone who passed away this Wednesday. Okinawa isn't the problem. It's the lack of leadership, mentorship, and accountability in an environment where young military members need it the most.

Bases like Cannon, Minot, Grand Forks, Edwards, Holloman, Dyess, etc. You would think if there wasn't much to do off base the on-base club would be more popular, like how the old timers talk about what the base clubs used to be.

Once this lawsuit finishes up, what can I do?

AMRO denied me going to a IDES/MEB process while Active duty because they said that my depression and anxiety wasn’t severe enough for the combination effect in the AFI.

I was Administratively separated Honorable RE-2C JFV for ADHD (unspecified type) earlier this year. The diagnoses was during service in late 2024. (I joined in early 2023)

How all this is going to potentially work out for all of us?

The C&P examiner and my local VA mental health said I didn’t have ADHD at all.

Right now I’m going through the Air Force discharge review board with my lawyer.

For the bigger guys out there. Just did my PT test, clocked a 16:30 2 mile time at 39 years old and weigh 235 lbs, 6 ft 2 in. 51 push ups, 52 sit ups.

My program that got me there:

Monday/Cardio

Treadmill, 2.0 incline

5 minute walk 3.5

10 minute jog at 5.6

15 minute run at 6.5

5 minute walk to cool down

35 minutes total, over 3 mile total distance.

Start practicing breathing through nose for 30 seconds to 1 minute at several points during run.

Tuesday/Weights

Bench press, 3 sets

Standing military press 3 sets

Bench press with dumbells, 3 sets

Triceps pull downs, 3 sets

Around an hour total time

Wednesday/Cardio

Treadmill, 2.0 incline

4x4 Nordics

5 minute walk 3.5

5 minute jog 5.6

3 minute walk 3.5

4 minute run 7.5

3 minute walk 3.5

4 minute run 7.5

3 minute walk 3.5

4 minute run 7.5

3 minute walk 3.5

4 minute run 7.5

5 minute walk cool down

Practice nose breathing for 30 seconds each run segment.

Thursday

Repeat Tuesday weight day

Friday

Repeat Monday cardio

Saturday

2 sets push ups, 3-5 minutes between sets, aiming for 40 push ups in 40 seconds (nonstop 40).

Just curious if anyone has experience with this. I can load myfss and such with my personal laptop and a cac card reader. But VMpf won't load.

There is a base, not one in stationed at, about 3 hours away. Will I be able to get to vmpf from the base library or should I find the comm squadron and hope they can help me?

I need my orders so I can get my HHG scheduled while I'm on leave because the wait-list is about 90 days tmo told me.

I’ve read through the 36-2606 but I just wanted the minds of some of you folk. So thanks for taking the time to read this!

I’m a first-term Airman currently retraining. My retraining was approved, and I’ve now secured the retainability I need for tech school through an extension. My DOS is now December 2028.
Around the same time, I applied for a Base of Preference and was approved. From what I’ve been told, I would most likely have to reenlist for 4 years to accept/keep the BOP.
I’m trying to understand what would happen if I decide NOT to reenlist.
A few questions for anyone who’s been in a similar situation or knows the AFIs:

If I don’t reenlist for the approved BOP, do I simply lose the assignment to Shaw, or are there other consequences?

Could declining the BOP reenlistment affect my approved retraining, even though I’ve already secured the retainability required for tech school through an extension? Also can that extension for retainability not be canceled? They say since I’m actively retraining it can’t be canceled.

Since the BOP was approved in conjunction with retraining, does DAFI 36-2606 paragraph 3.6.1.1 mean reenlistment is mandatory in my situation, regardless of my existing extension?

If I decline the BOP, could I still complete retraining, receive another assignment through the normal assignment process, and separate when my current DOS/obligations allow?

Is there any way to keep the retraining approval while declining the BOP without having to commit to another 4 years?

I’m grateful for the opportunity to retrain, and the job is something I genuinely want to pursue. I’m just hesitant about committing to another 4 years on top of the extensions when I’m still weighing my long-term plans.
I’m not looking for someone to make the decision for me. I mainly want to understand the actual rules and consequences before I commit.
If you have personal experience with this, especially if you retrained while having an approved BOP, I’d really appreciate hearing how it worked out. Please include the applicable AFI or DAFI paragraph if you know it.
Thanks!

I have an upcoming CONUS to CONUS PCS and was hoping to use a pet sitter on Rover to look after my dog while I pack the moving truck. Does the $550 cover sitters on Rover or just boarding facilities?

The Air Force had been practicing low-level flying for years to be able to fly under the Russian radar systems.

When the exercise was underway, the B-52 pilot contacted the aircraft carrier and asked if he could do a fly-by. The Navy responded to the B-52 pilot, saying something like,

"We can't spot you anywhere," to which the B-52 pilot responded dryly,

"You should look down."

When the B-52 passed by the aricraft carrier, it was so low that it was below the flight deck of the carrier.

Yes, I realize I could ask someone in an official capacity. However, the don’t want to raise flags if the answer could be “yes”.

I want to retrain into intel, possibly 1N0. However, I’m starting to think that life could be easier in general if I actually treat the ADHD that doctors have, throughout my childhood, strongly suggested to my mother I should get screened for.

ADHD diagnosis and treatment is a hurdle to just get into the Air Force, but I understand it’s different once in. Would an actual diagnosis and treatment while enlisted wall me off from Intel jobs or holding TS?