Commentary

August 24, 2012

Are your Airmen ready for HYT changes?

Dr. Todd Fore
Executive Director, Air Force Personnel Center

Most Airmen affected by high year of tenure changes announced in December will have one more opportunity to test for promotion before changes take effect in September 2013. If they don’t make it, they’ll be separated from the Air Force.

Are your Airmen ready? As commanders, first sergeants, supervisors, leaders and mentors, we all play a role in our fellow Airmen’s success.

Promotion testing is very strict – no group study or study support is allowed – so maybe you don’t think you can do anything to help your people prepare. But, the fact is we have responsibilities, and with only one more shot at promotion, your Airmen need you now more than ever.

Educate and communicate. Those are your responsibilities.

Promotion tests are hard. They require serious, long-term study. To do well, Airmen must develop and stick with a study routine. Do your Airmen understand that? If they’re approaching HYT, they may not, and they may not know where to start. You must educate them on how to develop, implement and follow through on their study plan.

Have you spoken personally with your Airmen about this issue? Do you know why they haven’t been selected for promotion? Do you know if personal or professional barriers are inhibiting them? If the answer is no, you are failing to communicate. Sure, it’s a two-way street, but as a leader, your job is to grow and develop Airmen. You can’t do that if you don’t communicate with them.

We cannot afford to lose valuable Airmen because they didn’t know how to prepare or were unable to overcome barriers on their own. You can’t study for (or with) your Airmen and you can’t take the promotion test for them, but you can help them learn the formula for success if you take the time to communicate with them. Will you pass the leader/mentor test?

For HYT details, go to the myPers website at https://mypers.af.mil, select the “search all components” option and enter “Enlisted High Year Tenure” in the search window.




All of this week's top headlines to your email every Friday.


 
 

 
Lockheed Martin photograph by Tom Reynolds

F-35 ITF works towards night, weather certification

Lockheed Martin photograph by Tom Reynolds The F-35 Integrated Test Force is completing a series of night flights, testing the ability to fly the jet safely in instrument meteorological conditions where the pilot has no externa...
 
 
memorial-day-edit

Memorial Day a time to reflect on service and sacrifice

Throughout my Air Force career, I’ve often reflected on what it means to serve. I’m proud of the work we do and the sacrifices we make every day so all Americans can continue to enjoy our many freedoms. However, eac...
 
 

Law Day 2013: The Case of the Big Bad Wolf v. Curly Pig

May 1, Law Day was recognized across the country. It is meant to encourage citizens to reflect on the role of law in the foundation of the country and to recognize its importance for society. For Law Day 2013, the Edwards†legal team†went to Branch Elementary School on base to put on a mock trial with...
 

 

Team Edwards recognized during American Red Cross awards ceremony

The Team Edwards community is known for its willingness to help others, especially during American Red Cross blood drives hosted on base. May 16, that willingness to help others was recognized during the Seventh Annual Battle of the Badges Awards ceremony at the Grove in Los Angeles, Calif. “The Battle of the Badges is an...
 
 

UnitedHealthcare, TRICARE expediting referrals

UnitedHealthcare Military & Veterans began serving the TRICARE West Region April 1, 2013. Since then, some beneficiaries and providers have experienced service problems relating to an increase in the volume and delays in processing referral and care authorizations. UnitedHealthcare apologizes for any delay in services that TRICARE beneficiaries and providers are experiencing as a result...
 
 
summer-edit

Edwards Critical Days of Summer campaign launches this weekend

Team, We are approaching the Memorial Day weekend and this year’s Critical Days of Summer campaign. We’ve worked hard this year and you all deserve some relaxation with your friends and families. I just ask you to k...
 




0 Comments


Be the first to comment!


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>