Ask the Commander & Ask the Chief answers Published Jan. 31, 2020 By 433rd Airlift Wing 433rd Airlift Wing JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- 433rd Airlift Wing members can submit questions to the wing commander or command chief through the Air Force Connect app. Here are the answers for January 2020. Ask the Commander: Question: How can a member trust the EO/IG system in the Reserve when these individuals move in these positions within the Wing? The Reserve is a small entity and these people are more than likely friends with the people members may complain about. How can those individuals in those positions be biased? Or fair? I’ve seen a couple of complaints with no real action when an individual is wrong. Answer: I recommend the individual be referred to the Inspector General, if there is an issue where the individual does not want to go to the 433rd Inspector General, they can choose any of the following IG Offices: JBSA-Lackland at 210-671-3363 JBSA-Randolph at 210-652-7218 JBSA-Fort Sam Houston at 210-808-0169 To make an anonymous complaint, the individual can call 210-808-1000, or reach out to the DoD IG at their Hotline Phone Number: 800-424-9098 (Toll-Free) 703-604-8799 (Commercial) 664-8799 (DSN) Ask the Command Chief: Question: Why are reservists required to turn in quarterly award packets before the quarter is finished. It is unreasonable to submit someone for an award halfway through the quarter that's not finished. If reservists could submit quarterly awards in the quarter after, it would give airmen time to earn more impactful bullets. Answer: Thank you for the question, it encouraged us to review our timelines. Because of the recent changes to the recognition program that allowed us the flexibility to bend when we need to, along with your suggestion, the wing quarterly award board will now take place on the second month after the end of each quarter (May, August, November and February). More importantly, this will allow plenty of time for the groups and the squadrons to set a more realistic internal suspense. As a reminder, the quarterly award board wing policy changed in January 2019. Members are authorized to use information consisting of the current quarter along with the one prior to that quarter (a rolling 6 months). Annual awards will still be due in December of each year. Question: When is lunch? Answer: Please refer to your unit’s leadership for scheduled lunch times. Question: Why does it seem like we don’t have any money. All the time? It is frustrating not to be able to have more opportunities to help the mission. Answer: Unfortunately, we must make difficult decisions at times, keeping in mind the big picture of providing combat ready forces. While we truly appreciate your commitment to 433rd Airlift Wing along with all other wing members, due to funding constraints, we simply are not able to fund everything we would like to accomplish. Our 433rd AW Financial Management, group commanders, and group resource advisors work diligently within the current-day funding restraints. Mission priorities are racked and stacked constantly to ensure we are able to be the best combat ready force. Regarding current year fiscal constraints, by law we must operate under last year’s fiscal funding as we are awaiting our wing’s initial distribution. This means we have yet to receive Fiscal Year 2020 initial funding documents from Headquarters, Air Force Reserve Command. Once we receive our wing funding documents we (speaking on behalf of the wing commander) will once again meet with group commanders and resource advisors, review current year spend plans and then distribute funding appropriately. Question: Leadership plays favorites with delegations of RPA orders. I feel like I can’t move up in my career. What can I do? I want to make a career move. Low moral for sure. Answer: Wing leadership highly discourages unethical leadership practices. Please route your concerns up your respective chain of command or wing agencies (i.e. Inspector General, Equal Opportunity, etc.). You have the right/ability to utilize the 433rd offices or you can use any of the following IG offices: JBSA-Lackland at 210-671-3363 JBSA-Randolph at 210-652-7218 JBSA-Fort Sam Houston at 210-808-0169 To make an anonymous complaint, the individual can call 210-808-1000, or reach out to the DoD IG at their Hotline Phone Number: 800-424-9098 (Toll-Free) 703-604-8799 (Commercial) 664-8799 (DSN) Question: Hello ma’am, learned about this app from enlisted call. Currently we can wear boonie hats on the line during the summer months, obviously for the purpose of protecting our heads from the sun. My question is could we bring back flight line ball caps with the squadron or career field on the front. I think it would provide the dual purpose of head protection as well as a boost in morale. I also believe something like this could easily be crowd funded. Answer: Please refer to AFI 36-2903 for appropriate use of “boonie” and “ball” caps. “Boonie” hats are authorized for flightline use per Air Force Reserve Command directive. Currently, with few exceptions, “ball” caps are NOT authorized. There has been official feedback pushed up to higher headquarters with the recommendation that ball caps be authorized. If we get any updates to this policy, we will get it out to the masses ASAP. Question: My question is, can we apply for another position in the reserve other than just doing our UTA's monthly? For example, say I am interested in doing chaplain work. If there is a full-time position are we allowed to apply for it and work there and then do our UTA's or does that interfere with our contract? Answer: As long as you are fulfilling all of your primary career field, squadron and group responsibilities you are allowed to work outside of your squadron but within other military units. With saying that, members are typically going to be required to continue to attend and participate with their squadron during the UTA. I would highly encourage you to speak to your first sergeant and/or your squadron/group career advisors. They can narrow down different opportunities that would apply to you specifically. Do you have a question for the commander or the command chief? Submit your question through the Air Force Connect App! It is available through the Apple App Store or the Google Play store.