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.

TSgt Ian Patterson, a TACP instructor with Det 2, 6 TRS.

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?

Ace Combat 8 is phenomenal btw

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

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 😅

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!

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 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.

Why do some Airmen wear Velcro name/ Service Tapes but sew on your badges?

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.

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!

How often does a 3 month deployment get extended to 9 months?

I've always saw those signs at the commissary about baggers working tips only. I always thought it was weird and the sign was outdated.

Then I asked a checkout clerk, and she said it was still true!

So my question is...why? Baggers work pretty hard, and they are also the ones bringing in the carts from the outside(at least here they are), which they aren't getting tipped for. So...what's the deal?

It seems like all the waiver folks end up having to get their waist done anyways

I’m currently active-duty Air Force, and I’ve recently become curious about how prevalent HIV actually is within the military, specifically the Air Force.
I know HIV testing is part of our routine medical readiness requirements, but I’m wondering how often positive cases actually occur among active-duty members.
I’ve also been trying to better understand how an HIV diagnosis affects someone’s military career, including deployability, assignments, and whether they can continue serving.
For anyone who works in military healthcare, public health, or has firsthand knowledge:
How common are new HIV diagnoses in the Air Force?
Are there any publicly available statistics specifically for active-duty Air Force members?
Can someone who tests positive continue serving and deploying?
How does the military handle HIV-positive members in terms of medical readiness and career progression?
I’m genuinely interested in learning more about this topic, especially since it doesn’t seem to be discussed very often.