18 replies to this topic

[PhillipB]

Well, the AF released the new assignment list earlier this week...hopefully the wife can return to her native land & I can return "home" to Turkiye.
Nothing was available for Izmir (unfortunately), but a few NCO jobs were open for Incirlik. Hopefully something comes available for me. Wish us luck!

[Abi]

Keeping everything crossed for you, good luck

[Ken]

Sorry you couldn't come to Izmir! If you do go to Incirlik, it's certainly nothing to cry about. You probably already know that... Good luck on your new assigment, you already have friends in this community.

[usacumali]

I just love the way you worded this "hopefully the wife can return to her native land & I can return "home" to Turkiye." I sure hope you make it back.
Where are you from originally?

[PhillipB]

Originally from Jamaica. But I consider Izmir my 2nd home now (even though I live in the states).

[Ken]

I know what you mean... Izmir really grew on me, I miss it when I'm not here.

[PhillipB]

Yes, its crazy...if all else fails, I'm pushing for a 365-tour and then a follow-on back to Izmir....

[usacumali]

Originally from Jamaica. But I consider Izmir my 2nd home now (even though I live in the states).

Thanks for the reply. i thought you may have been west indian. i am originally from Trinidad myself. Currently I am in Trinidad. I call Adana my second home.

[PhillipB]

lol...we seem to get the best of both worlds eh?

[Ken]

Just out of curiosity, PhillipB... are you talking about taking a short tour so you'll get preference for Izmir because you'll be coming off a short tour? Just wanted to tell you what worked for me. Now I've been out of the war for ten years now... and I don't know how things work any more... take this for what it's worth to you.

I was at Whiteman AFB for around three years. I had to go somewhere. But where I really wanted to be was California. Of course, everybody wants to go to California. Here's how I got there. I took a short tour to Lajes Field, Azores, for 15 months. Had a great time there by the way... But when I filled out my dream sheet at Lajes for my next assignment, I didn't put multiple bases. I only put one regional area, California. And that's all. No other preferences or choices. I intended to do exactly that, I had a plan to get to California.

I figured that the assignments guys got evaluated on the number of people they put in places they wanted to go. And everybody else was putting MULTIPLE locations on their dream sheet (I am sure many of them put California first or near first). But they could be placed in any one of five places. Me? I was the problem. because I was only requesting ONE place.

It would follow, according to my reasoning at the time, that the assignments guys would have to place ME in California, regardless of the slots available, while placing the others at any one of five bases, since technically, the others would be put in places they'd be happy with.

The assignments guys would get positive marks for placing everybody where they wanted to go, everybody would be sent to places they had said they wanted to go on their dream sheets, and I'd be in California.

And did I get California? Heck yeah. I got San Diego! Exactly where I wanted to be. There was a little OSI fraud detachment there (I was an OSI agent). I was happy as a lark, thank you very much!

Anyway you might try that if you want to go for Izmir. Do a short tour, get the short tour preference (if they still have that) then only put "Izmir" on your choice of destinations. No guarantees it will work of course, these days no telling where you might end up in the USAF. But coming off a short tour and having only Izmir on your dream sheet might do the trick and get you back here. If you try it, I hope it works for you.

And if it does work? Well, you owe me a beer when you get here. I will hold you to it!!!

We have another member here from the West Indies, forum name Lawman. An old friend of mine, formerly stationed in Izmir. Haven't seen him in the forum for quite a while though!

[PhillipB]

As for the short tours, yes that is the idea. You can pull off a short tour accompanied @ Incirlik if I remember correctly.

Its funny you mentioned your dream sheet...I had my first choice Osan OVER Izmir (6th choice) and got Izmir (the luck!)...so there's no telling, its wherever the AF needs you.
Right now I have about 6 short tours and 2 extended longs currently on my dream sheet.

I haven't heard anything yet & I'm up for my re-up in 3 months (that may be why). So hopefully I hear something between then or it will be the next assignment release. We'll see.

[sunny]

I can see why you were an OSI agent Ken! The word Machiavellian springs to mind!

[PhillipB]

^
lol

[usacumali]

Ken, I retired 1 December 1999, you said " Dream Sheet", remind me Ken, what is that again? smile. I must be getting older.

[Ken]

The sheet you fill out with your preferred next assignment, although I'm sure it's not a "sheet" any more. Probably don't call it that anymore, either...

[techguy]

It was an AF Form 392 back then

[PhillipB]

Was like that back in '01 when I came in...and now its all online.

[usacumali]

The sheet you fill out with your preferred next assignment, although I'm sure it's not a "sheet" any more. Probably don't call it that anymore, either...

Ken I was really being a Smart A@@ when i said remind me of what a dream sheat was. meaning most of the time, many of us just dreamt of what we filled in on the form and never saw the place but only in our dreams, sorry my humor or attempt at humor Ken.

[Ken]

Ya got me!