Ask the Commander & Ask the Chief answers Published Feb. 28, 2020 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 answers to the questions submitted in February 2020. Ask the Commander: Question: Just wondering what the holdup is for getting OPRs (officer performance report) through vMPF management? Several have been sitting there for 30 days and these OPRs are months overdue. Answer: Submitting enlisted and officer evaluations to the Force Management office through the Virtual Personnel Center system for review is optional. However, those that are submitted are processed as quickly as possible. Question: Why does it take so long to process flyer medical waivers? There seems to be no transparency in the process, paperwork gets lost, etc. As a result, I have guys who have been DNIF (duties not including flying) for multiple years while cases are processed, all for relatively minor medical issues that are handled very quickly by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) for our airline guys? Answer: Fly waivers are processed according to specific medical guidelines listed in the USAF Aerospace Medicine Waiver Guide. Each fly waiver involves 60-90 days of Reserve Medical Unit review/processing time. This timeframe may be extended based on the need for medical stability, specialty evaluations, or additional medical documentation. Once the fly waiver has been deemed complete by the RMU, it is then forwarded to HQ Air Force Reserve Command/Surgeon General for final review/disposition. This step can take an additional 30-90 days. Additional time may be required if any condition requires higher specialty consultation to be coordinated with AFRC/SG review (30-60 days) or if HQ AFRC/SG returns the fly waiver to the RMU for additional medical documentation (TBD). Members are highly encouraged to contact the RMU with any questions or concerns. Recent changes to AFRC/SG has improved the timeline, but it is still a lengthy process. Question: A. Why do I always hear the wing is out of money? Especially when it is to fund taskings or TDYs (temporary duties) that have already been performed? Wasn't a budget signed into law? B. Why do we have the biggest defense budget in American history and the squadrons have not received the allocated funds directed by congress thru the Department of Defense? Answer: Once the appropriations bills are passed and signed by the president, the execution phase begins. Before funds can be obligated, the Office of Management and Budget apportions the funds to DOD and Treasury warrants must be issued. DOD, in turn, sub-apportions for further allocation to operating agencies (i.e. Air Force Reserve Component (REC)). REC, in turn, allocates to HQ AFRC. HQ AFRC sub-allocates to the Numbered Air Forces, who in turn allocate to the base-level activities (wings). Once the wing receives the funding document the Financial Management Board meets to determine the distribution amongst the groups. In the interim, until base-level activities (Wings) receive funding documents, continued operations at some designated level for a specified time are carried out. Fiscal Year 2020 funding documents were received mid-February 2020. FY20 operations and maintenance funding documents were received late-February 2020. Question: Why are members still consistently being sent on MPA-funded (military personnel appropriation) missions with VOCO (verbal orders of the commander) orders that haven't been published prior to the mission’s departure? Answer: AFI 65-103 chapter 3.1.14. states: “do not issue verbal orders unless absolutely necessary.” Wing leadership encourages safe and reasonable business practice while considering mission requirements. We have recently implemented changes in financial management personnel and processes, which should improve the rate of approved orders prior to mission start dates. Question: Heard our budget got cut another 20 percent this year. Who made that decision and why do they want us to fail? Answer: Department of Defense and Air Force leaders will continue to work with Congress on final appropriations that will support the National Defense Strategy. Air Force Reserve Command and AFR leaders are supportive of a budget that enables a Total Force Air Force capable of competing, deterring and winning in an era of great power competition. AFRC determines spending priorities and reserve personnel appropriations funding allocations to each Numbered Air Force. The Numbered Air Force commander then determines any budget allocated to our wing. Ask the Command Chief: Question: How do you become a drill sergeant? Answer: Please contact 210-671-2410 for all military training instructor opportunities in the Air Force Reserve. Question: Do you know if/when the fitness assessment scorecard will be updated on this app? The scorecard that is available here on the app is outdated and no longer accepted for the PT test. Answer: Thank you for bringing this to our attention. The app is updated with the current scorecard and fitness screening questionnaire. Question: Why we do not have organization chart contact for 433rd Airlift Wing? Answer: To ensure operational security compliance, we are not publishing an organizational chart on public-facing platforms. The wing’s SharePoint page, which is accessible from Air Force-owned equipment, is currently being revised. We’re working to get the chart on the wing SharePoint site as one of the updates. 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.