That's just it though the person rating Brian's performance isn't the one who decides if he is promoted.  All the board promoting sees is a code DP (DEF promote), P promote, or DNP (do not promote.)  Then there are like two lines of bullets, usually recommending what should happen next in his career path.  That's it.  No one will ever know he went to VMI unless he tells them, and he won't be talking to the promotion board ever.  They decide what to do based on performance reports.

In the other services it may matter, but in the AF it doesn't matter at all.  So Brian's performance once he gets into the military is what will count, and only that.  If say someone from a community college with a degree in English is in his field, they have exactly the same shot at promotion all the way to Lt Col because it is based on performance only.  Once Lt Col rolls around things change a little, but they aren't going to go back 15 years to see what Brian was doing then. They will look at his more recent accomplishments.

That is because military colleges are viewed as a way for students to learn discipline, not real world military knowledge. 

I know its disappointing to know this.  That is probably why a lot of VMI grads go into the other services?  Maybe it counts more in other services?

Brian sounds like a go getter, and honestly all the way to Major is a done deal as long as you aren't getting into legal trouble.  So he has around fifteen years to get all the schools he can, do a good job, learn all he can, so when Lt Col comes around he is on top of his game.

It doesn't sound like he will have a problem staying on game.

This is a picture of the new Wright Field housing..if it doesn't turn out have him check this link

http://www.wpafbhomes.com/#

Even if it turns out, this link will give him all the info he needs.  He can put his name on the housing list for on base (not the new housing)30 days before he gets to W-P for school. He put his name on the brand new off base housing list as soon as he gets orders. Which means he could have a house before he even gets here, because they will call him when one opens and send him pics and let him decide if he wants it.

There are contact numbers here as well.

I haven't spent much time on W-P but I have friends who lived on base before moving off.  All the housing for junior officers on base is older and close to the railroad track and the trains run about every 30 minutes until 11pm....and if that isn't bad enough, between the railroad tracks and housing is a 4 lane highway.  Very loud.

But when a couple doesn't have kids they can make due with just about anything.

This new housing area is also on a 4 lane road but if they don't get a house facing the highway it shouldn't be too bad....very small yards though.  Not a good school system either, but they don't have kids so they don't have to worry about that!

I live in Beavercreek, its an affluent suburb with great schools.

But if there are no kids and no worry about schools, living in the new construction would be great because you won't find anything that new here for a 2nd LTs BAH.  Granted, you can rent a 1960ish house with a 1/2 acre yard in Beavercreek for little more than BAH, but they are hard to come by in the summer/fall time frame.  But there does seem to be an abundance of apartments, but I don't know much about them.  The ones behind Target are really nice.

The new construction costs BAH and utilities are included.  A nice perk when just starting out.  I know for us utilities run about $400-$500 a month for everything.  (Electric, trash, sewage, etc)

Hope this helps.

We have electric heat/ac, which is pretty common around here.  (Though our neighors paid $500 a month for gas this winter, so we pay less than a house with gas at least).  Our bills for heat were around $350 a month this winter keeping it at 68(some higher some lower) and run between $200-$300 a month in the summer for a/c (keeping it on 75).  So that's for heating and cooling averaging about $300-$350 a month.  Ohio gets VERY hot in the summer and pretty cold in the winter...its the dampness that makes it so pervasive.

We also have awesome well water but pay city sewage, $50 a month.  But most people pay for water and it runs for a family of three about $30-$40 a month.

Trash pickup depending on the company you use, $45-$65 a quarter, so about $20 a month after taxes.

So you can see it hits $400 to $500 very easy and I am not including cable, phone, and net.  That's another $150 for BASIC cable, digital phone (for unlimited long distance) and cable internet.  You can get these cheaper of course.

If Brian rents he will have to pay utilities.  Unless he wants an apartment, he is not going to be able to rent anything decent in Beavercreek on a 2LT BAH, he will have to pay above the BAH and then pay utilities.

If he lives in an apartment I think most of them still have you pay heat/air bills but I am not sure.

If he lives in new housing, he pays his BAH and no utilities, though that is supposed to change soon too but I don't know enough about it to comment here.

He has so many choices, I am sure he will find the perfect fit.

That was a great explanation D.

Also butterbar is a term that announces to anyone who is listening...."newbie, inexperienced, probably has stars in his or her eyes, etc etc"

It can be derogatory, but mostly it is descriptive.

Lts (1st and 2nd) are usually over a flight to get experience leading a small group of troops (from 2-150)before they make enough rank to lead a squadron, wing, or base.  A lot of what they learn comes from that flight's Senior NCO's.  While the commander of the squadron will tell the LT specifically what he wants seen done and what he expects of the LT as an officer, the LT has to trust his Senior NCO's to get the job accomplished.

This usually works very well unless a Lt comes in thinking he is "in charge."  While "technically" he may be the top ranking person and if there is a problem with that flight he will be the one who suffers, his accountability is directly to the commander which means it can affect promotions...he should never lord it over anyone.

A smart Lt or even a Capt with no experience in that flight, will come in humble, listening, asking questions, and learning.  He will watch to see who performs the best and has the best judgment and knowledge and then establish a strong professional relationship with that person.

Because if the Senior NCO's think hes a know-it-all, they aren't going to teach him.  And if he doesn't have a good grasp of the job (obviously a general over view not the actual nuts and bolts) then he can't lead effectively...again going back to promotions.

I had a Captain once come in and tell my Chief MSGT to move his desk.  The Capt was just assigned to our flight and thought he should have his own office.  So he made the Chief move his desk out by the secretary.  Could he do this legally?  Of course and the Chief obeyed.  But officers rarely stay in a flight more than 18 months before they move on to another flight in their field.  Enlisted folks stay much longer and are considered the "get it done" people.  Officers are the arrows that point the way, getting this info filtered down from the top brass, and then the enlisted troops do it, and for the most part, do it VERY well.

But I can tell you this.  That Capt had nothing but trouble out of the enlisted folks from then on out.  They HATED him.  And they didn't do as he asked, oh sure enough not to get in trouble, but not above and beyond.  So he was constantly before his commander explaining why his flight was "marginal".  And he didn't get a def promote to Major because of it.  He still made Major later, but not the first time.  You get three shots, then you are out!

If Lts learn early to take care of their enlisted folks, listen learn and go to bat for them, they will go far.  The best leaders in the AF are really the best in SERVING their enlisted troops.  Anytime an officer starts believing the AF couldn't function without his awesome leadership, or the enlisted troops couldn't do their jobs without him, or that he has to remind someone to salute him because he thinks he "deserves" it......he's done.  Put a fork in him. 

If they don't get that experience leading a flight as a Lt, then they are behind and they are not on the "track" to becoming a commander.  Because by the time Captain rolls around a bunch of required schools come with it so the opportunity is not there as much to lead actual troops (but it depends on the field and how many schools are required.)

I think the best thing a Lt can do is check his pride at the door.....come in with his mouth shut, eyes open and a desire to serve his enlisted folks.