ROMAD
FREQUENCY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

The Techschool  Also a news article about it AETC Torch

     A.  That is really unit dependent.   All of the units have PT (Physical Training) in the morning from 0XXX to 0900.  Some units do it 5 days a week, some do it 3, some do formation PT all week, some have formation on M,W,F and Tue,Thur are up to the flight NCOIC.  And of course at the far end of the extreme are the SOF (Ranger and SF) sections that do it everyday, twice a day.

            After PT its very unit dependent.   Some units are more into training than others, but all of them have vehicles and radios to maintain (IE Clean, inspect for damage and operate).  On Mondays we usually do radio checks with each other, and once a month we would try to contact the ASOC where-ever it's located at.  End of the day depends on what's going on.  Could be 1500, could be 1800.  Could be we are rolling out the door for locations unknown.

     A.  Yep,  I believe its currently a 3 for Zone A, 2 for Zone B and zero for everyone else.  To figure out how this works, take your base pay, multiply it by the Zone number and multiply that by the number of years you sign up for.  So for a first enlistment (Zone A) you sign up for 6 years.  Lets say your base pay is 500 (just an even number, not a real pay), So it would be 500 X 6 X 3 =  9000.00 bucks.  You get the first « ($4500) right then and then you receive a portion of it for the next 5 years on your anniversary month ($900.00).  

Update 4.23.2004  1C4X1   TAC AIR COMD & CONTROL  5.0     4.5     2.5

ZONE A:  17 MOS - 6 YRS SVC; ZONE B:  6-10 YRS SVC; ZONE C: 10-14 YRS SVC. B.  AN "X" SUFFIX INCLUDES BASIC AFSC AND ALL SHREDS UNLESS SPECIFICALLY INDICATED. C.  MAXIMUM BONUS AUTHORIZED IS $60,000.00.

     A.   We currently support missions everywhere you see on CNN.  We have standing presences in Bosnia and Kuwait.  We deploy to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam to name a few of the odder ones.  This is also unit dependent.  Some units move around more than others, some have just gotten "Out of the Zone" because they have spent the last 6 months doing heavy TDY's and group is giving them a break.  METT.

A.  No.  There are several requirements to work with the Special Forces (SF, not to be confused with the Security Forces which are not even in the same league with my army buddies). What you need to have is maturity, in both actions, rank, and experience in the career field.  What makes us different in the way we support SF as opposed to some other AFSC's, we have tryouts, we have a minimum rank requirement and we validate our selections that we send there.  When supporting a "conventional" unit you are going to have a team of guys with you.  An ALO is going to provide the Liaison function between the TACP element, the Army Ground commander and the entire USAF.  Your play will be as part of a team.  When you go to the Rangers or the Special Forces, You Da Man!  You will be operating as part of a Special Forces A team or as part of a Ranger Company.  You will be the only "blue" suit within miles.  You will be filling the role of ALO, TACP, ETAC, CINC everything Air Force and, oh by the way, will be expected to know everything Army.     

Hit this page for the latest on Special Forces TACPs 

     A.  Actually this one is pretty standard.  We, the 1C4X1 AFSC, are required to pass the US Army Physical Fitness test every year.  The events are (drum roll), 2 mile run, sit-ups and Pushups.  Pretty simple really.     Here is a minimum you should be at before you show at Florida.  (this will allow you to focus on your classroom learning and not be stressing over the "gig pit" or the PT you will be doing at 0400 tomorrow morning). 

Run 2 miles in 15 minutes or less.  (I'm 37 and I can do it in 14:50 without pushing hard)

Do 70 sit-ups.    This is almost double what is required for the PT test but realize that you will be doing sit-ups over several revolutions and then do the PT standard.  So during a typical PT session you will probably do 200 sit-ups, just not all at once.

    WARNING WARNING.  PERSONAL OPINION 
     A.  This one I added.  Its only come up once as a question, but here is the deal.  You join us, (or the military for that matter) you should be prepared to go into a hostile region and give an enemy soldier the maximum chance to give his life for his country.  You need to understand that I don't give a shit about your religion, your personal belief on killing or anything like that. I don't care if you are a tree hugger or you want to drill gaping holes in national forests.   It doesn't matter.  You do your job to the best of your capabilities and the mission will handle itself, the good guys will win, get the girl and go on to do beer commercials.  You go slack or refuse to do your job and someone else has to take it up for you.  I will personally seek you out and... well use your imagination.  Your failure to do your job could get one of my brother's killed.  That is unacceptable. If you are joining my job to get your college degree, peachy, go for it, lots of guys are, but when the mission comes down you had better be there with your ruck on your back and your weapon in your hand.   Remember this.  You asked to join us, we did not come looking for you.  We are professionals here, losers need not apply.  Thus enduth rantings.

     A.  When you graduate from techschool you will be placed in charge of a Battalion.  You will have anywhere from one to five studs working for you.  In the first couple of months I suggest that you listen to everything they tell you.  Sure they will try to get over on you but take heed.  An Airman with 6 months in the job has 6 months more experience than you do. After you have gotten your feet wet, reign in the studs and get down to some serious training.

     A.  Check out the ROMAD.COM Phone book page.  Notice that there are not a lot of Air Force bases.  Unless you have married a Army chick you may have problems.  Now some of the guys married Admin or supply folks.  Each TACP has an Admin and Supply position (there are exceptions such as SF and Ranger units, who have no internal support).  Ft Bragg and Ft Carson are two installations that have a Bases VERY close if you can swing it that's a solution.  But remember, you can't homestead in this job like most other AFSC's.  Our guys move around A LOT.

     A.  All army schools and most Marine Schools.  Ranger, Pathfinder, Mountain Leaders Course, Marine TACP, Static line Parachuting, Scuba, Sniper, HALO etc.  The only limitation you have is, of course the unit you are attached to (not a lot of armor guys need scuba  or airborne qualifications) and the budget of your supported unit.  I got most of my schools on the Army Dime.  I talked the S-3 into paying for them and off I went.  I think Specials Forces paid for my Pathfinder slot.  I don't remember.  Most of my other courses that I attended were local and incurred no real cost.  Its all on you to work it.  Its your future, you set the path.  I do recommend, however, that you complete your CDCs before you even start badge hunting.  You are useless if you have a stack of badges and can't even turn on your radio.

     A.  That varies.  Lets put it this way.  Missions to Irwin can be from 14-35 days, Kuwait : 90-120 days.  Brightstar: 40 days.  Ulechi Focus Lens: 15-30 days.  Cobra Gold: up to 30 days.  Bosnia: 90 Days.  Kosovo: 90/120 Days.  Italy at the AOC: 90 Days.  Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC): 30 days.  There are a lot more but you get the idea.  When I first got married I was home 6 weeks of that first year.  When I was with SF I was TDY about the same for almost 4 years.  The job is what you make it.

     A.  No surprise.  Most don't.  We are slowly getting the word out but it takes time.  They, the recruiters, are still stuck in the paper age and are slowly moving into the digital era.  Send me the recruiters email address and I'll send them this FAQ and few other documents from the formal school catalog and they can "make a note of it".   Charlie.Heidal@romad.com   Realize, however that they are working to fill quotas and if there is no quota for 1C4X1 then they are less apt to spend the time updating the information they have.  You can click this link to get more information about the techschool