Air Force Good Conduct

[sandman]

For you members who are also in the USAF....in case you didn't get the message last month....

(From my AF portal account)

/r
Sandman

UNCLAS

171430Z FEB 09

FROM:  HQ AFPC RANDOLPH AFB TX//DPS//

TO:   AL ALPERSCOM
AIG 10607
AIG 9360
AIG 8106
AIG 7309

INFO: SAF ANDREWS AFB MD//MRBP//
ZEN HQ AETC RANDOLPH AFB TX//A1KKM//                         
HQ USAF PENTAGON WASH DC//A1DO//
HQ AFPC RANDOLPH AFB TX//DPS//

SUBJECT:  REINSTATEMENT OF THE AIR FORCE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL (AFGCM)

REF:  062000Z FEB 2006 ALPERSCOM MESSAGE, HQ USAF WASHINGTON DC//A1//, 97TH
AIR FORCE UNIFORM BOARD (AFUB) RESULTS

1.  IN FEBRUARY 2006, THE AIR FORCE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL (AFGCM) WAS
DISCONTINUED PER THE RESULTS OF THE 97TH AIR FORCE UNIFORM BOARD THAT
OCCURRED ON 20 OCTOBER 2005.  AT THE JANUARY 2008 AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
SUMMIT CURRENT CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT OF THE AIR FORCE (CMSAF) RODNEY J.
MCKINLEY RETABLED THE DISCUSSION TO REINSTATE THE AFGCM.  BY MAJORITY
DECISION THE VOTING MEMBERS OF THE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS SUMMIT RECOMMENDED
REINSTATEMENT OF THE AFGCM.  ON 22 NOVEMBER 2008, THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR
FORCE (SECAF) REINSTATED THE AWARD OF THE AFGCM TO USAF ENLISTED PERSONNEL
WITH A RETROACTIVE DATE OF 6 FEBRUARY 2006.

2.  THE AFGCM IS PREDOMINANTLY LIGHT BLUE, WITH NARROW VERTICAL STRIPES OF
RED, WHITE, AND BLUE TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT OF THE CENTER OF THE RIBBON.  THE
AFGCM IS AWARDED TO PERSONNEL IN AN ENLISTED STATUS FOR "EXEMPLARY CONDUCT"
WHILE IN THE ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES.  IN A QUALITY
FORCE ENVIRONMENT, IT IS REASONABLE TO EXPECT THE GREAT MAJORITY OF
PERSONNEL TO QUALIFY FOR THE MEDAL; HOWEVER, COMMANDERS MUST AVOID AWARDING
IT SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF MINIMALLY ACCEPTABLE PERFORMANCE; THAT IS, MERELY
STAYING OUT OF TROUBLE.  INDIVIDUALS MUST DEMONSTRATE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE
TOWARDS THE AIR FORCE AND THEIR JOBS.

A.  DEVICES:  THE ONLY AUTHORIZED DEVICE ALLOWED ON THE AFGCM ARE OAK LEAF
CLUSTERS (OLC). 
(1).  THE AWARD OF THE BRONZE OLC (BOLC) IS FOR EACH ADDITIONAL AFGCM EARNED
AFTER THE BASIC AWARD (I.E. 2ND-5TH AWARD, 7TH-10TH AWARD, ETC.). 
(2). THE AWARD OF THE SILVER OLC (SOLC) REPRESENTS THE AWARD OF 5 OLCS
EARNED (I.E. THE 6TH AWARD, 10TH AWARD, ETC.)

B.  NOTE:  ONLY FOUR (4) DEVICES MAY BE WORN ON EACH RIBBON OR SUSPENSION
MEDAL.  SHOULD MORE THAN 4 DEVICES BE AUTHORIZED ON THE BASIC RIBBON OR
MEDAL, THE INDIVIDUAL IS ENTITLED TO WEAR AN ADDITIONAL RIBBON OR MEDAL NEXT
TO THE BASIC AWARD.

3.  THIS MEDAL IS AWARDED TO AIR FORCE ENLISTED PERSONNEL EVERY THREE-YEAR
PERIOD OF ACTIVE MILTARY SERVICE DURING PEACE TIME OR FOR A ONE-YEAR PERIOD
OF SERVICE DURING A TIME OF WAR ONLY WHEN DECLARED AND APPROVED BY THE U.S.
CONGRESS.  AIRMEN AWARDED THIS MUST HAVE HAD CHARACTER AND EFFICIENCY
RATINGS OF EXCELLENT OR HIGHER THROUGHOUT THE QUALIFYING PERIOD INCLUDING
TIME SPENT IN ATTENDANCE AT SERVICE SCHOOLS, AND THERE MUST HAVE BEEN NO
CONVICTIONS OF COURT MARTIAL DURING THIS PERIOD.

4.  RESPONSIBILITIES:

A.  HQ AFPC:  HQ AFPC WILL BE UPDATING MILPDS IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH 2009 TO
ENSURE ENLISTED AND PRIOR SERVICE AIRMEN'S AIR FORCE PERSONNEL RECORDS ARE
UPDATED; TO INCLUDE AIRMEN ENTERING ON OR AFTER 6 FEBRUARY 2006 AND THOSE
AIRMEN WHO HAVE SINCE SEPARATED OR RETIRED FROM ACTIVE DUTY.

B.  ACTIVE DUTY AIR FORCE MEMBERS:  YOUR RECORDS WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY
UPDATED; YOU CAN LOG ON TO THE VIRTUAL MPF TO VIEW YOUR AUTHORIZED AWARDS
AND DECORATIONS.  FOR OFFICERS THAT QUALIFIED FOR THE AFGCM IN AN ENLISTED
STATUS, TAKE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION TO YOUR SERVICING MPS FOR YOUR
VERIFICATION AND ASSISTANCE.  SHOULD YOU BELIEVE YOUR RECORDS ARE NOT
PROPERLY UPDATED, CONTACT YOUR SERVCING MPS FOR ASSISTANCE.

C.  COMMANDERS:  UNDER THEIR COMMAND ALL ENLISTED RECORDS WILL BE AWARDED
THE AFGCM AUTOMATICALLY.  HOWEVER, GOOD CONDUCT DATES MAY BE ADJUSTED BY A
SIGNED LETTER FROM THE COMMANDER.  THIS WILL BE UPDATED IN MILPDS IN THE
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS AREA, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.

D.  MPS AND PSM:  AFGCM UPDATE WAVE WILL COME IN 2 PARTS:   
      PART I:   AFPC WILL RUN A DATALOAD IN MILPDS TO UPDATE AIRMEN EARNING
THEIR BASIC AFGCM OR DEVICE IN FEBRUARY 2009 ONLY.   PART I WILL BE
COMPLETED NLT END OF FEBRUARY 2009. 
PART II:  IN MARCH 2009, A SECOND DATALOAD WILL BE RUN IN MILPDS TO UPDATE
ALL OTHER AIRMEN TO CURRENT, ALSO INCLUDING NEW ACCESSIONS ENTERING IN MARCH
2009.

THERE WILL BE NO OUTPUT PRODUCTS PRODUCED FOR FEBRUARY 2009 UPDATES.  THE
FIRST PRODUCTS PRODUCED WILL GO OUT IN MARCH 2009; TO INCLUDE MONTHLY UNIT
AFGCM VERIFICATION ROSTERS.  NOTE THESE UPDATES WILL NOT CORRECT THE PRIOR
AFGCM RECORDS WHERE THE NUMBER OF DEVICES AWARDED WAS OFF BY ONE.  THOSE
RECORDS WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MPS TO UPDATE.  VIRTUAL MPF
RECEIVES ITS DATA FROM MILPDS.  VIRTUAL MPF WILL ALSO BE CORRECTED BY MARCH
2009.

E.  SEPARATED OR RETIRED AIR FORCE MEMBERS:   THESE RECORDS WILL ALSO BE
AUTOMATICALLY UPDATED.  AIRMEN WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT SF 180, REQUEST
PERTAINING TO MILITARY RECORDS,
http://www.archives.gov/research/order/standard-form-180.pdf TO HAVE THEIR
DD FORM 214, CERTIFICATE OF RELEASE OR DISCHARGE FROM ACTIVE DUTY UPDATED.
SEPARATED/RETIRED AIRMEN CONTACT THE AIR FORCE CONTACT CENTER 800-616-3775
FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE.  (EFFECTIVE 22 FEBRUARY, CONTACT 800-525-0102)

F.  RESERVE, AND GUARD PERSONNEL:  RESERVE/GUARD AND VETERANS/RETIREES UNDER
THE AGE OF 60 MAY ADDRESS QUESTIONS TO THE RESERVE PERSONNEL CONTACT CENTER
800-525-0102.  RESERVE/GUARD AND VETERANS/RETIREES OVER THE AGE OF 60 SHOULD
ADDRESS QUESTIONS TO HQ AIR RESERVE PERSONNEL CENTER AT (303) 679-6134. 
 
5.  INDIVIDUALS WITH QUESTIONS SHOULD ADDRESS THEM TO THEIR LOCAL MPS.  MPS
SHOULD CONTACT THEIR MAJCOM COUNTERPARTS TO RESOLVE OR ADDRESS
QUESTIONS/COMMENTS OR OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.  MAJCOMS MAY ADDRESS
QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ON THIS MESSAGE TO HQ AFPC/DPSIDR, (E-MAIL:
UNITAWARDS@RANDOLPH.AF.MIL) DSN 665-2516/2520.

EARL V. MCCALLUM, COLONEL, USAF
CHIEF, SUSTAINMENT DIVISION
DIRECTORATE OF PERSONNEL SERVICES

UNCLAS

[sandman]

...and black boots aren't completely going away...for now

UNCLASSIFIED//

PRECEDENCE TO: ROUTINE     DTG: 132024Z FEB 09
PRECEDENCE CC: ROUTINE
TYPE: DMS SIGNED/ENCRYPTED
FROM PLA: HQ USAF WASHINGTON DC//A1//
FROM D/N: C:US,O:U.S. Government,OU:DoD,OU:AF,OU:ORGANIZATIONS,
   L:PENTAGON WASHINGTON DC,OU:HQ USAF A1(uc)
SUBJECT: WEAR OF BLACK BOOTS WITH ABU IN INDUSTRIAL AREAS
TEXT:
UNCLASSIFIED//


SUBJECT:  WEAR OF BLACK BOOTS WITH ABU IN INDUSTRIAL AREAS

1. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, MAJCOM COMMANDERS MAY TEMPORARILY AUTHORIZE WEAR OF BLACK BOOTS WITH ABUS IN INDUSTRIAL WORK ENVIRONMENTS.  BLACK BOOTS SHOULD ONLY BE AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR IN WORK CENTERS WHERE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS OR PROCESSES CAUSE IRREPARABLE STAINING TO THE SAGE GREEN OR TAN BOOT.

2. THIS POLICY IS NOT SPECIFICALLY RESTRICTED TO FLIGHTLINE ACTIVITIES.

3. MAJCOM APPROVAL AUTHORITY FOR WEAR OF BLACK BOOTS IN INDUSTRIAL AREAS WILL REMAIN AN OPTION UNTIL STAIN RESISTANT SAGE GREEN BOOTS ARE AVAILABLE.

4. QUESTIONS REGARDING IMPLEMENTING THIS POLICY SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO AF/A1SOU AT AF/A1SOU.WORKFLOW@PENTAGON.AF.MIL.

[PaulR]

I am glad to see that you Flyboys are getting your GCM back.  I am still perplexed as to why it was discontinued to begin with. 

[Stonewall]

I've never been a fan of the Good Cookie Conduct Medal.  You get a medal for not being bad?  What's that all about?

Audie Murphy, the highest decorated soldier from WWII had a lot of medals, but not the GCM...just a fun factoid.

[Gunner C]

I've never been a fan of the Good Cookie Conduct Medal.  You get a medal for not being bad?  What's that all about?

Audie Murphy, the highest decorated soldier from WWII had a lot of medals, but not the GCM...just a fun factoid.

I believe he was commissioned before he was eligible.

[PHall]

I've never been a fan of the Good Cookie Conduct Medal.  You get a medal for not being bad?  What's that all about?

Audie Murphy, the highest decorated soldier from WWII had a lot of medals, but not the GCM...just a fun factoid.

Kirt, don't worry about it, you don't get one while you're in the Guard or Reserve.
You get the Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal instead.

[Maj Daniel Sauerwein]

I've never been a fan of the Good Cookie Conduct Medal.  You get a medal for not being bad?  What's that all about?

Audie Murphy, the highest decorated soldier from WWII had a lot of medals, but not the GCM...just a fun factoid.

I believe he was commissioned before he was eligible.

Plus, given his wounds, which caused him to be discharged, he would not have completed the required time. However, it is interesting to consider that he may be retroactively eligible for the GCM.

This makes me wonder if CAP has an equivalent to the GCM, or if we should consider creating one.

[Stonewall]

Kirt, don't worry about it, you don't get one while you're in the Guard or Reserve.
You get the Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal instead.

Yeah, but I got an Army Good Conduct Medal. No different than the AF GCM.  One day I was sitting in the barracks and my squad leader came by and handed me a GCM certificate.  I just don't see the point today, just like I didn't then.

I didn't get an Article 15 so I get a medal.  Nice.

[Pylon]

This makes me wonder if CAP has an equivalent to the GCM, or if we should consider creating one.

Effectively, that's the Red Service Ribbon.  Though there's no requirement for "good behaviour" to rate it, but like the GSM in practice it's given to pretty much everybody for a certain period of service.

[Major Carrales]

This makes me wonder if CAP has an equivalent to the GCM, or if we should consider creating one.

Effectively, that's the Red Service Ribbon.  Though there's no requirement for "good behaviour" to rate it, but like the GSM in practice it's given to pretty much everybody for a certain period of service.

No need to create such a thing, we all do our work without pay.  When we mess up it is a demotion (and a demotion is a bit of a dishonor), when we do exceptionally well we are rewarded with a slew of Merit awards.

A Good Conduct medal for CAP Officers might be a bit much.  Such a thing for cadets?  That might be different.

But, generally, I say no GCM for CAP.

[PHall]

This makes me wonder if CAP has an equivalent to the GCM, or if we should consider creating one.

Effectively, that's the Red Service Ribbon.  Though there's no requirement for "good behaviour" to rate it, but like the GSM in practice it's given to pretty much everybody for a certain period of service.

No, the Red Service Ribbon is the equalivent to the Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon.

You get the AFLSAR for four years of service and an oak leaf cluster every four years after that.

[lordmonar]

The point....is that NOT EVERYONE gets one.  Sure you did your job, stayed out of trouble and got handed a dinger......well now you can stand next to the other guy who did not stay out of trouble but managed to stay in and/or not lose any stripes and there is a visible difference between you.

Everyone get the longivity ribbon (or hash marks for you army types) even if you were a bad boy...but not everyone automatically gets the GCM.

[Short Field]

I was more proud of my one AFGCM than any four of my DMSMs.

[Cecil DP]

I've never been a fan of the Good Cookie Conduct Medal.  You get a medal for not being bad?  What's that all about?

Audie Murphy, the highest decorated soldier from WWII had a lot of medals, but not the GCM...just a fun factoid.

That's the excuse the Air Force used to get rid of the GCM. Audie Murphy was awarded the GCM according to the Audie Murphy web site.
http://www.audiemurphy.com/awards.htm

[Stonewall]

Audie Murphy was awarded the GCM according to the Audie Murphy web site.
http://www.audiemurphy.com/awards.htm

I certainly don't claim to be an expert.  I actually learned this fact information from a Pentagon Tour Guide in 1988 when the tour stopped at the Hall of Heroes.  I just took it for what it's worth back then; had no reason to research it or question.  That's what I get for listening to an Air Force Tour Guide...

[Stonewall]

The point....is that NOT EVERYONE gets one.  Sure you did your job, stayed out of trouble and got handed a dinger......well now you can stand next to the other guy who did not stay out of trouble but managed to stay in and/or not lose any stripes and there is a visible difference between you.

Everyone get the longivity ribbon (or hash marks for you army types) even if you were a bad boy...but not everyone automatically gets the GCM.

In a lot of cases, if you have an Article 15, you won't be able to reenlist, get promoted or any other favorable action.  I'm sure not getting the GCM is the last of a bad boy's worries.

[Hawk200]

In a lot of cases, if you have an Article 15, you won't be able to reenlist, get promoted or any other favorable action. 

A single Article 15 that doesn't take rank is probably not going to be something that would bar reenlistment, but it might delay promotion. I've seen a few Staff Sgt's without Good Conducts, and known more than a few people that didn't get one at their initial three year.

However, from what I've seen, if you got your first one and screw up after that, then you'd be looking at the exit door.  Doesn't look good for NCO's getting in trouble.