Boone Nicolls - Airmans Guide

Copyright 2011 by Stackpole Books

Published by

STACKPOLE BOOKS

5067 Ritter Road

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

www.stackpolebooks.com

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. All inquiries should be addressed to Stackpole Books, 5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055.

Cartoons by Jake Schuffert

Cover design by Tessa J. Sweigert

This book is not an official publication of the Department of Defense or Department of the Air Force, nor does its publication in any way imply its endorsement by those agencies.

ISBN 978-0-8117-0794-7

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Nicolls, Boone.

Airmans guide / Boone Nicolls. 8th ed.

p. cm.

Includes .

1. United States. Air ForceHandbooks, manuals, etc. I. Title.

UG632.43.N53 2011

358.400973dc23

2011032786

Contents

Preface

This eighth edition of Airmans Guide includes a wide range of information about current policies and procedures that relate to pursuing a successful career in the U.S. Air Force. It has been prepared for new airmen, airmen-to-be, career airmen, and family membersall of whom will find it a convenient way to stay abreast of formal policy changes and other matters.

Airmans Guide was written with two primary purposes in mind: to serve as a convenient personal reference, since most airmen dont have access to a five-foot shelf of all the pertinent directives and information that directly affect their careers and their families; and to present in one volume some of the most important Air Force programs and to discuss them in everyday terms. The guide also includes sources of further information.

Airmans Guide could not have been written without the strong support and input of many interested people, including noncommissioned and commissioned officers (both active-duty and retired), spouses and family members, civil service personnel, public affairs representatives, employees of Air Force-related private associations, and many others. All of them have given generously of their time and their thoughts to help ensure that the book is timely and that it represents current policies and guidance.

Stackpole Books has published The Airmans Guide through fourteen editions from 1949 through 1968. Publication resumed in a newly numbered series in 1988 as Airmans Guide, 1st Edition, in response to the continuing need for a first class reference work for the modern airman. The author and the publisher take pride in presenting this thoroughly updated eighth edition of the new series, to serve those who serve. We invite your continuing comments for future editions.

Acknowledgments

There has been a wide range of transitions since the release of the last edition of the Airmans Guide. Some have been evolutionary changes in internal Air Force programs and policies. Others have been much more far reaching, such as the advances in aerospace, communications, and information technology and the commitment of the U.S. Armed Forces to new engagements around the globe.

The United States Air Force continues to evolve and adapt, much like this eighth edition of the Airmans Guide, to meet the needs of the Nation we serve. Many thanks go to those who have made this work possible. I remain grateful to the countless professionals who have been everyday heroes in action by living out the Air Forces core values of integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all they do.

My wife Pam and children Christopher, Sarah, Catherine, Joshua, Elizabeth, Titus, and Levi have been a continual inspiration. They have endured many separations and hardships through the years. The Lord has been very kind to me in both my natural and Air Force families. I am truly grateful.

I must also acknowledge the work of Capt. Wayne A. Valey, USAF Ret., who authored the first through fifth editions of the new series of this book during the years 1988 to 2001. His understanding of the professional needs of airmen was unexcelled, and this edition contains much of the structure and content that he produced. Last, but certainly not least, I want to thank Kathryn Fulton from Stackpole Books for her counsel and guidance in producing this updated and expanded eighth edition.

Introduction

Serving in the U.S. Air Force is like embarking on a journey. Its a brand-new experience, full of opportunityan opportunity to serve ones country; an opportunity to participate in a team effort with people from all walks of American life; and, in the process, an opportunity to achieve personal goals and fulfillment.

Whether youre a young airman who just recently entered the USAF, a career-minded noncommissioned officer, or a family member, this book is for you. It talks about life on and off duty. It provides information about Air Force policies, programs, and opportunities. It includes examples that illustrate programs. And it answers commonly asked questions. Each chapter also includes references so that you can follow up if more information is required.

The term airman is used throughout the book, sometimes in a dual context. It specifically refers to enlisted personnel in grades airman basic through senior airman. Its also used in a universal sense to denote any military member in the USAF. Similarly, Airmans Guide has been written primarily for those presently serving in the grades of airman basic (pay grade E-1) through technical sergeant (pay grade E-6), and also for those who are looking toward the future in the broader context by pursuing a USAF career in positions that require further increases in grade and responsibility.

Air Force members understanding of their role, and the part they assume within the organization, increases the longer they are in the service. We can see this evolution in personal growth and commitment by comparing new trainees with those who have progressed in their careers. Initially, trainees have very little understanding of how the USAF as a whole functions. As they progress through training, they are exposed to wider ranges of information. They also learn teamwork and gain experience by performing tasks and communicating with others. By the time they graduate, they have a much fuller understanding of the USAF and the role they are expected to assume.

As airmen progress in their careers, they assume supervisory responsibilities and positions of leadership. They need to be technically competent within their career field and familiar with other aspects, such as security and facility management. They establish contact with their counterparts at other bases to get crossfeed and ideas.

Senior personnel have much broader responsibilities. They are ultimately responsible for ensuring that operational requirements are met, as well as maintenance requirements; support requirements ranging from medical to chaplain, finance, personnel, civil engineers, transportation, the base exchange and commissary, community relations, and protocol functions; and a variety of other activities. At headquarters levels, they oversee programs at many bases, ranging from personnel issues to deployment of weapons systems.

In the U.S. Air Force there are two commonly used terms