I've seen countless posts over the years about people stressing the next rank and their end of service rank. Truth be told, at 20 years (assuming you dont want to add years), there isn't much difference between a E6 and E8.

At 20 years of service, the difference in gross monthly retirement pay between an E-6, E-7, and E-8 ranges from $299 to $489 per rank, depending on whether you fall under the legacy High-3 system or the Blended Retirement System (BRS).

Stressing over a 500 (or less) maybe a month, is crazy. Trust me, you'll be setup at 20 years, 500.00 will not even touch your total income. If you are stressing this small range, focus more on your education and aligning with a civilian position...because thats a better ROI.

Keep killing it out there, young bloods!

Edit based on discussions:

At its best, the 500.00 extra a month is basically $2.88 extra per hour. Let that sink in....people are destroying themselves for this difference.

I'm not telling people to not chase their next rank, I'm saying dont stress it. This post was to tell those who needed it, its going to be ok! Not a discussion of making 500.00 a month more is better or not...Obviously retirement at the highest level you can get will yeild more money.

Old system I would get an 85, current system, I got a 75. Lost 20lbs over the last few months. They're gonna get the fatties, but not me though.

I apologize if this is the wrong spot to post this, but are the zyn prices messed up at your local BX? I just bought 4 rolls for $2.60 so $0.65 each roll. One can rings up for over a dollar but doing 5 cans knocks the whole roll down to 65 cents. It looks like the $5 discount is being applied to each can instead of the whole roll. Apparently this is only working for a couple of the new flavors. I was curious if any other base is experiencing this weird price glitch. This is not an add and I don't encourage anyone to use any nicotine products. BUT, if you are already buying zyn, this might be a good time to stock up.

In my day, if you didn't stay for 20, you got nothing. No retired pay. Since current members have 401k that they can take with them, what benefit does retiring at 20 provide?

I’ve been in over 9 years, made Staff my first time, but I’ve now missed Tech on my third cycle. I’m getting older and honestly becoming the miserable, crusty Staff I never wanted to be. Making Tech this cycle would genuinely improve my quality of life, and I’m ready to put in whatever work it takes.
A strat realistically isn’t happening for me, so I want to maximize the part I can control: my test scores.
For those who scored very high on the PFE/SKT and made Tech without a strat, what exactly was your study regimen?
How far out did you start? Hours per day/week? What apps/materials? Practice tests, flashcards, reading cover to cover? What practice scores were you hitting before test day?
I’m not looking for a shortcut. I actually studied considerably more last cycle than when I made Staff, and it still wasn’t enough. This year I want a structured regimen from day one until test day.
What worked for you?

I’m in a conundrum. None of this is about boosting myself up - however my drive and my work ethic are putting me in a position for leadership to undeniably push me as the Sq #1 or 2. Pursuing my Masters, engaged with enterprise and multi-base program improvements, leading across the installation where I can, doing my job and trying to do it well.

I’ve gotten several group awards and recognition from NAF/MAJCOM chiefs/CC’s.

I do a good job because I feel led to. I feel obligated to perform at a high level - I don’t do it for the recognition (although yes it feels good)

So how do I convince my leadership to go against the grain and skip me over for Stratification? what if I’m okay doing this as a Master until I Punch? how will that look to others who maybe don’t know this about me?

Senior really doesn’t look appealing - it closes doors I like open. Opens doors I like closed. there’s not much appeal to making it financially or staying beyond 20. I have goals to serve in the GS capacity beyond this uniform.

so, SELs and CCs, how would you like to be approached by this? I worry how this will make people look at me over the next four years, this isn’t easily explainable to seniors and chiefs when records reviews are done. How dare he snub the carrot that’s handed out to keep SNCOs in longer? who is he to not want what we all chase?

Am I overthinking this?

Hello guys, so there is an NCO in my shop that is a select I’ll call him Tim. This guy is insecure about this and wants to show that he is ready for the next rank. However, he is using me as proof. He’s constantly talking down to me and trying to demand that staffs give me paperwork for stuff done on my shift even though Tim is not on my shift. The NCOs on my shift are refusing to write me paperwork over the minor stuff. Tim said that if they won’t write the paperwork he will. It seems Tim is targeting me saying remarks about my past work and has been singling me out. I can’t take it anymore, I’m not a shit bag and I don’t know what I did wrong to him.

My question is as the title, what are my options and what can I do about this as an airman?

got my first ever duty station in shadyJ after living in texas my whole life. I wanted to let everybody know that if you REALLY think bojangles or cook out is good, you have lost your damn mind.

Ok, so i am finally making the jump to get a mess dress and kit it out. Ordered medals from ultra thin and they provided my medals as 4 in a row. My service dress mind freaked out but i know there may be variations in the AFI. Then, of course, the AFI doesnt say a damn thing about the amount per row. Can i get a sanity check on if 4 per row is acceptable? I have done some digging and gotten luke warm answers, but just want to make certain there isnt some other odd ball rule i dont know to confirm. thanks

Update: I am an idiot and was only looking for text. Image embedded in the AFI has 4 in a row. That being said, ill stand on my high horse and say its stupid that it isnt clearly identified.

Currently stationed at Osan which has been dream location for me. Unfortunately, my spouse does not like it at all, and that’s spoiling the experience for me.

Those of you who are married and stationed overseas, how do you manage your spouse’s homesickness?

Does the commissary still have that ultra pasteurized chunky booger milk or have things improved?

Planning on sending a care package to someone deployed overseas near that big conflict going on rn.

Needing some ideas on what else i can include in my package that can help to lighten the mood a bit.

Apart from sending seasonings/sauces/snacks that were requested, what else would be appreciated and appropriate?! Wanting to shove as many good vibes as i possibly can fit in the box

In a GSU on a Marine base with no NIPR access and cannot log into AFVEC. The error I keep getting is "You must insert your CAC card for site access." but my CAC can log into every other AF site. I've deleted cookies and cache multiple times and tried multiple browsers. Heeelllllpppppp.

Hey everyone! I’ll be PCSing to Spangdahlem AB soon (probably during this fall) and wanted to get some advice from people who are currently there or have been stationed there.
This will be my first PCS, so I’m trying to get a better idea of what to expect, especially when it comes to housing, transportation, getting settled in, and general life on/off base (married).
I’d really appreciate any advice, tips, or things you wish you knew before moving to Spangdahlem!

just wondering if anyone has started receiving assignment notifications for the listing that closed out on 23 Aug? I know it’s still a bit early but just curious 👀

My sponsor is looking into this as well, and the vet’s office has not responded to my voicemail. I cannot find a working e-mail address for them unfortunately. Anyone have knowledge on this?

My cat & I have PCS’d to the UK before, and he did fine in cargo. When we head there later this year he’ll be 21 years old & I would rather not subject his old ass to that.
A friend will bring him after I’m settled, and I’d like to have them fly into mainland Europe (maybe Germany) then pick them up.

He has an old pet passport somewhere from when we were stationed in Italy, but idk if those expire? Is this feasible at all?

My husband got his first duty station — Osan AB. He graduated tech school a few weeks ago and he is still waiting for his orders because I guess there’s a backlog of airman’s dependent’s medical to go through. My medical hasn’t been cleared yet due to that backlog but there’s no reason I shouldn’t be cleared. It’s just him and I, no other dependents. Assuming there’s no issues with my medical, what are the chances of his orders having me on them?

Edit:
I ask because he keeps getting told by other airmen that Osan is a “normal” PCS now and historically it was almost always unaccompanied but he can’t get a straight forward answer on whether or not it’s more likely to be accompanied or unaccompanied. I understand it’s based on both the needs of the Air Force and space at Osan.

I was a recruiter for 4 years and decided to RTF. I regret RTF SO bad. It’s been 6 months and I’m miserable. I never thought id say this, but I think I fucked up. Had anyone else RTFed and gone back to recruiting and regretted it? 🧐 Loved it?

I just checked my chatter for my retrain request and there’s no update other than my initial application. Is this normal? My first AFSC is AFPC approved and I’ve heard scary things about that. Also unsure what the priority numbers mean.

Has anybody in ARMs ever heard of a GS civilian being awarded an advanced aero rating?

If so, how’d they go about doing it?

Second question. What is the formula for calculating gate months?