TFOT Guide Conflict – AF56 Item 22

Members on Facebook have identified a conflict in the TFOT Guide.  As you identify more conflicts and receive guidance from AFRS, let me know and I can do posts to archive their response.  Here is the conflict.

AF Form 56, Item 22 (Non-Rated/Rated Age Statements)

The latest TFOT Guide provides guidance on how to fill out the AF Form 56.  In Chapter 7 of the guide, it states the appropriate rated or non-rated age blocks must be initialed.  In the TFOT QC/Submission Checklist also found in the guide, it states to put N/A for Item 22A and for all rated applicants except RPA to initial.  Which is correct?

For the conflicts I have seen over the years, I considered how easy it is for AFRS to update the source documents.  After they changed the age from 35 to 39 for non-rated applicants AFRS updated the questionnaire 2 only and posted it separately on their SharePoint.  This along with other conflicts I have seen over the years leads me to believe it is relatively difficult for AFRS to update the TFOT Guide itself because it likely requires a lengthy internal coordination or approval process.  Approval of individual forms or attachments, however, could be approved much more quickly.  Given all of this information, when there are conflicts I tend to shy toward the newer or smaller source being more accurate vs. the TFOT Guide itself.

A second reason I am leaning toward the QC Checklist being the correct answer is because I compared the verbiage of that paragraph in the previous revisions of the TFOT Guide.  The language between the 6 Feb 17 guide and the 28 Aug 18 guide are almost identical.   This leads me to believe that they may have overlooked this section in the TFOT Guide when they were updating the guide.  This is completely understandable, because it was likely only one or two people who were responsible for this massive update.

A third consideration is found in paragraph 8.1.3.2 of the TFOT Guide dated 28 Aug 18.  In my opinion the below highlighted portion of this paragraph means that regardless of which you are applying for block A or block B must be initialed.  It states the following:

8.1.3.2.  Item 22 is completed in paragraph format and applies to both Rated and Non-Rated applicants.  State your objectives and reasons for desiring an Air Force commission and address any concerns you
may have about your Application (e.g. low AFOQT, GPA, and/or PCSM scores).  If you are a Rated applicant you will also use this space to express why you wish to be a Rated officer in addition to the above requirements.  Ensure that you initial next to the Age Statement pertaining to your application (all need to initial regardless of age).  The objective statement will be copied and pasted into the Application Profile.

Conclusion

At the end of the day I don’t think it really matters which guidance you follow.  The purpose of these statements on the AF56 is to document your acknowledgement of the age restrictions for application.  Because there is more flexibility with age now, there is going to be more flexibility with who needs to initial this block.  For example if you are 38 and applying for non-rated it doesn’t make sense to initial because you are already past your 35th birthday (hence the Place N/A guidance); if you are an RPA applicant under 30 and you initial you will probably still make it through QC.  Just think this through, be deliberate, and don’t be blatantly wrong.  For example if you are a pilot applicant, be sure you initial the rated block.

All of that said if this really bothers you and you are in a situation where nothing makes sense after considering this post, use the appropriate chain to contact AFRS.  Once you get clarification please let me know and I will add it to this post.  My goal is not to become an official source or anything, but to decrease the monumental amount of email and call volume AFRS has to handle on a daily basis.

TFOT QC/Submission Checklist (From 28 Aug 18 TFOT Guide)

TFOT Guide, 28 Aug 18

TFOT Guide, 6 Feb 17

AF Form 56, Page 4