Robert Podboy Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 "The STEP program is a tool commanders can use to promote people that, in the commander's eyes, are deserving of immediate promotion." "When Airmen know that the possibility exists that they could be spot promoted, it gives them additional reason to do their best work." Anyone know someone who got a Stripe Through Exceptional Performance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizzard Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 "The STEP program is a tool commanders can use to promote people that, in the commander's eyes, are deserving of immediate promotion." "When Airmen know that the possibility exists that they could be spot promoted, it gives them additional reason to do their best work." Anyone know someone who got a Stripe Through Exceptional Performance? Wasn't anything like that back in my day. Would this be permanent and circumvent normal promotional procedures????? Sounds like something the Obama team came up with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmitch Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 In our day Giz the commander could stop your promotion just because he wanted to with no explanation. Your right it does sound like the obama team came up with this to go around people who doint agree with them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbsoto Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 Retired CMSgt Bob Macon (C-130 FE then later a C-17 Loadmaster) received a STEP back in the mid to late 80's at Little Rock AFB, AR. I'm sure I know several others but I'm drawing a blank right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry myers Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 Giz, I don't remember when the program started but it was several years before I retired. It came about as a result of upstanding troops that were doing outstanding work but were having a difficult time advancing in rank. Primarily because of difficulty taking promotion tests. I don't recall any maintenance or ops troops being promoted under this program. And I never knew anyone that had been STEP promoted. Mostly cops, admin. troops ect. The number of troops promoted via STEP was very small and did not count against normal promotion quotas. Promotions mostly involved SSgt, TSgt and MSgt with long time in grade. STEP was a beneficial low key noncontroversial program during my time. I'm guessing that hasn't changed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GVS Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 I knew some E5s and E6s who would have,should have benifited from this had it been in effect in the '60s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEFEGeorge Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Never knew anyone promoted through STEP, but I always figured it would be, like Larry said, mostly cops, admin. troops, people that never went TDY anywhere and were always around the CC. You know, the brown-nosing, suck-asses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mt.crewchief Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Never knew anyone promoted through STEP, but I always figured it would be, like Larry said, mostly cops, admin. troops, people that never went TDY anywhere and were always around the CC. You know, the brown-nosing, suck-asses. I don't know anything about the STEP program, but I do know SEFEGeorge has a way with words!!!! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Podboy Posted January 28, 2014 Author Share Posted January 28, 2014 Wasn't anything like that back in my day. Would this be permanent and circumvent normal promotional procedures????? Sounds like something the Obama team came up with. STEP was implemented on a permanent basis in 1982. Ronald Reagan was the President. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinwhistle Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Don't know anything about STEP, but I do know that when I rotated to Langley from CCK/Vietnam I had at least one performance report recommending me for early promotion. Not only did I not get the promotion, but I was removed from the flight line. That ended what I thought would be an Air Force career. It wasn't 'til very recently that I put the pieces together. It would seem that some commander at Langley (don't know if it was Squadron Commander, Base Commander, or what) at that time was of the opinion that no first term enlistee should be Crew Chief and that no first term enlistee should be ranked above E-4. Short sighted? I've attached one of those performance reports I mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobdaley Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 I knew George Geyer. He was a great guy. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mt.crewchief Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Don't know anything about STEP, but I do know that when I rotated to Langley from CCK/Vietnam I had at least one performance report recommending me for early promotion. Not only did I not get the promotion, but I was removed from the flight line. That ended what I thought would be an Air Force career. It wasn't 'til very recently that I put the pieces together. It would seem that some commander at Langley (don't know if it was Squadron Commander, Base Commander, or what) at that time was of the opinion that no first term enlistee should be Crew Chief and that no first term enlistee should be ranked above E-4. Short sighted? I've attached one of those performance reports I mentioned. Chris, nice APR! When I managed to get all of my records a couple years ago, I discovered I was recommended for promotion etc. etc. And--I did get promoted to E-5 before I got out at Dover. I was a Crew Chief there and at CCK and was ready to stay in until I met up with the C-133's!! Also, after 33 months in South East Asia , the stateside bullshit (pardon the harsh words), was more than I wanted to handle! I still would have re-enlisted if they could have promised or even lied to me that I would get an assignment where I could go to Europe on TDY's . They couldn't do it so I got out! I wanted to be a crew chief forever or better yet a FE. Also, I think the reason I got promoted to E-5 was my time in grade. I was sworn in on a 120 day deferment in 1966 before I went active in Jan 67. I would have loved to have given my promotion to somebody like you who was career minded! If only we could do things over!!, Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC10FE Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 If only we could do things over!!, Ken Ken & others, I guess I should consider myself pretty lucky after hearing your stories. I got out in 1967 after my first 4 years; where I was stationed at Langley and Clark on B-models. I was hired by Eastern Airlines working on Electras and Connies at Logan airport in Boston. After about 6 months, I decided I was putting up with the same BS as I was in the USAF. Me and a buddy of mine went to the local USAF recruiter and never looked back. Wound up with some of the neatest assignments in the world. Well, except for K. I. Sawyer in Michigan. Best decision I ever made! Don R. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spectre623 Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Same here Don. I took a 21 month break after my first 4 years and went back in in July 68 and left in 2003...I sorta liked the Air Force, AD,ANG and Reserves. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC10FE Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 With all the govenment cut backs and sequestrations, I think a young first-termer should think twice about getting out. Nowadays, I'm pretty sure there's no going back. My girlfriebnd's son is in the Army as a firefighter at Pope AAF and is coming up on that decision. He knows my thoughts on that subject. Don R. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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