Personnel and Administration Programs
What to know
Know the major personnel programs: assignments, evaluations, promotions, separations and retirements, awards and decorations, and casualty and survivor benefits. Understand the role of the Military Personnel Flight and the commander in personnel actions. Know the difference between an assignment cycle and a voluntary assignment, the purpose of the Enlisted Performance Report, and the function of the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records. Candidates should understand the leave program, the evaluation appeal process, and the role of the Inspector General and equal opportunity offices.
Traps
Frequent traps involve confusing the appeal channels for evaluations or mixing the roles of the IG (complaints and inspections) with equal opportunity (discrimination complaints). Another is assuming a personnel action is automatic when it requires commander endorsement or board review. Watch for items about leave accrual or the difference between administrative and punitive separations.
Worked example
If a member believes an evaluation is unjust, the remedy is an appeal through the evaluation appeal process, not an IG complaint. If the concern is reprisal or misconduct, the IG is the appropriate channel. The discriminator is the nature of the issue.
Rule of thumb
Match the issue to the channel: evaluations to the appeal process, discrimination to EO, misconduct and reprisal to the IG.