970358. Realistic career expectations set tone for successful career
WASHINGTON (AFNS) - Lt. Gen. Mike D. McGinty, Air Force deputy chief of staff personnel has released three messages to improve communications to the force on realistic career expectations.
Sent to general officers, senior civilian executives and other personnel officials, these messages specifically address officers, enlisted and civilian careers and are designed for use by commanders and supervisors during counseling and mentoring sessions.
"Senior leadership wants to ensure all members of the Air Force team have the 'facts' so they can set realistic expectations and career goals. This initiative will help people make the best individual career decisions and establish their own definition of a ';successful' career in personal terms," McGinty said.
Some members measure success in terms of the highest grade held or the length of service, but these "may not be the only determinants of a successful Air Force tour or career," McGinty said.
Not everyone can be a colonel, chief master sergeant or GS-15, the general explained. For instance, personnel figures show that only 32 out of every 100 new officers can expect to make lieutenant colonel, while 17 out of every 100 new enlisted members will reach master sergeant.
For civilians, only 13 out of every 100 general schedule members can reach the GS-13 and above levels. Comparatively, only 14 out of every 100 members in the trades and crafts population become wage leaders or supervisors.
Most Air Force careers end after 20 years of service, with most officers retiring as lieutenant colonels and enlisted members retiring as master sergeants. Civilians usually retire between 30 to 35 years of service.
In the military messages released by the deputy chief of staff for personnel, some information is general, like the promotion rate and opportunity at each grade. Other pieces of information are very specific, such as the average number of times a staff sergeant tests before being promoted to technical sergeant (five).
The civilian message provides grade-level demographics and discusses the dual career track of members involved in primarily base-level work, versus those involved in Air Force-wide assignments on the corporate leadership track.
"This is the beginning of our overall effort to better inform Air Force members," McGinty said. By the end of summer, he added, personnel officials will have updated the career paths and charts found in many publications and carry this word to the field with briefings whenever possible.
In exploring examples of what people view as their measure of a successful career or tour in the Air Force, McGinty said, "Success in the Air Force can mean many things".
For military members, "some define success as honorably serving through their initial commitment, separating after completing four or six years and transitioning to the civilian sector as productive citizens," McGinty said.
"Other military members may separate from active duty and then join the Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve," he said. "Still others continue to serve but transition to be civil servants on the Air Force Team. Many Air Force members may set retirement as their measure of a successful Air Force career."
"Civilians, on the other hand, may view success as attaining the highest grade available in a specific career field at an installation," McGinty said. "Others see job satisfaction and contribution to the mission just as importantly."
As leaders counsel, mentor and develop their people, the general said, they should distinguish between institutional requirements of the Air Force and individual career goals. Then, each member needs to strike a balance between his or her aspirations and realistic career expectations. Every member defines success differently.
"First and foremost is keeping our people focused on the Air Force's institutional needs," McGinty said. "We must develop people skilled in the employment and support of air and space power who understand operations and how they are part of the Air Force's contribution to national defense."
The general said, "There is nothing wrong with lofty goals and a genuine desire to serve the nation, grow as an Air Force team member and progress up the military structure. We should, however, temper career expectations with reality based on fact."
"We owe it to our people to ensure they realize how attainable - or how ambitious - their goal may be", McGinty said.
The messages addressing officer, enlisted and civilian realistic career expectations are now accessible to anyone with Internet access and can be found on the Air Force DP Home Page . They are also available at installation personnel offices.