Jun

26

Air Force Medical Promotions!

Filed Under AFMS People, Air Force News | 1 Comment

One of the happiest days in any Airmen’s life is finding out that you have been selected for promotion, and today the Air Force Personnel Center released the list of personnel who have been selected for promotion to the ranks of Technical Sergeant (TSgt) and Master Sergeant (MSgt). Here is the entire TSgt list, and here is the entire MSgt list. If you only want to know about the MEDICAL promotees, keep reading here…!

Jun

5

AF Medics Role in CSAF/SecAF Firings?

Filed Under AFMS News, Air Force News | Leave a Comment

Most of you by now have read or seen the remarkable news about Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynn and AF Chief of Staff Michael Moseley being fired by Defense Secretary Gates. There are plenty of undercurrents to the situation, but the one that the public is primarily focused on - and the one getting the most press - is the two high-visibility incidents involving nuclear weapons and equipment. There is some speculation that the zero-defect standards (and adherence to same) that Strategic Air Command (SAC) was famous for have become somewhat degraded in the years since SACs demise.
One mil-blogger’s analysis of the situation involves the Personnel Reliability Program (aka PRP)…and where there’s PRP, there’s Air Force medics:

3) The Medical Corps Takes a Pass. In many cases where medical conditions should have prevented PRP certification, the Chief tells us, Air Force medical officers refused to take a stand. “They complained a lot because it put the monkey on their backs to do their duty,” he remembers. “I had medical folks tell me: ‘Chief, your standards are too high.’…The mental health folks were the worst. I can count on one finger the number that did their duty. It was both the officers and the NCOs.

Naturally, I’m a bit biased in favor of the AF medics (docs and all). Yes, it’s possible that the AFMS plays a role in this, but if so, it is a VERY small piece of it. I work directly with medical PRP folks, and I am continually impressed with how diligent everyone is when it comes to PRP. Everyone knows the rules and the reasons, and I have never witnessed any AF medic compromise on PRP. Of course, my direct knowledge is limited to my experience at my base; I know that other bases have their own quirks and culture, so of course PRP might be an issue elsewhere, albeit a very small issue as I noted above.

Apr

24

New AF Nurse Corps Chief

Filed Under AFMS Careers, Air Force News | Leave a Comment

kimberly siniscalchi Some surprising news in the world of the Air Force Nurse Corps! With the retirement of Maj Gen Melissa Rank, who served as the Chief Nurse of the AFMS, the position has been filled by Colonel Kimberly Siniscalchi. Yep - you read that right: a Colonel is being promoted to Major General, bypassing the rank of Brigadier General. I’ve never heard of someone skipping the one-star rank, so this is amazing. The position of Chief Nurse (aka Corps Chief) of the Air Force became a two-star job several years ago, when then-Brig Gen Barbara Brannon (who I had the pleasure of working for briefly) was tapped to fill the slot and became the first-ever 2-star AF nurse. Congratulations to Maj Gen-select Siniscalchi on her promotion and new position!

Feb

12

Falcon Loans: Better Than “Payday” Loans

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Note: this isn’t AFMS-specific, but it does apply to all Airmen and might help some folks. In light of the many stories of Airmen (and other military personnel) becoming ensnared in high-interest “payday loans” and sometimes getting in over their heads financially, the Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) has stepped forward with a possible solution: the Falcon Loan Program. Understand that I’m advocate of the free market, and have in the past occasionally used “payday” lenders with no harmful repercussions…but there are lots of young Airmen who might not have the discipline or knowledge to deal with such lenders. So in that context, I’m glad to see the AFAS offering an alternative.

The bottom line: if you get in a financial jam - car breaks down, emergency travel, unexpected insurance bill, etc - you can get up to $500 from the AFAS Falcon Loan Program with NO INTEREST or fees. You have to pay it back via allotment over 3-10 months, but again, there is NO INTEREST or fees. Applying for a Falcon Loan looks pretty simple, too - you don’t need to fill out long budget worksheets, get your commander or first sergeant to approve the request, or wait for days to get an answer.

The Air Force Aid Society is pleased to announce its new Falcon Loan available to Air Force members beginning in March 2008. The Falcon Loan is a loan of $500 or less that can be used for emergency needs such as basic living expenses (rent, utilities, food), car repairs, emergency travel, or other approved needs. Applying for a Falcon Loan is as easy as 1-2-3:

1. Download the application off the AFAS website at www.afas.org
2. Get your ID card and current LES
3. Go to your Airman & Family Readiness Center (A&FRC)

The streamlined application process for a Falcon Loan requires no budget information, backup documentation, or First Sergeant/Commander approval. Minimal information required to process an allotment or Paymatic transaction (automatic withdrawal from bank account) and your signature is all that is needed to complete the application.

The AFAS is a great organization - Airmen taking care of their own. I’ve benefitted from AFAS - many years ago, they helped me in a pinch with some groceries and gas money - and during my AF career I always made sure to donate to AFAS during Combined Federal Campaign. If you’d like to contribute to the Air Force Aid Society, visit their site and give what you can.