US Air Force reviews

Decisions are most often, not your own. Yet you must carry them out to best of your ability anyway. Advancement to higher levels is often plagued by frequent roadblocks or setbacks. Traveling on military deployments presents multiple challenges -particularly to families. There are long periods of time spent thousands of miles from family and friends. You do and go where you are told. Life in a warzone is indeed a unique and difficult challenge. Doing without what most of the American and European populations consider normal life comforts and expectations becomes second nature. Many people can become...indoctrinated in thier modes of thinking and acting. Ones self identity becomes tied to the profession of arms, and stepping outside that mental framework becomes alien.

In the reserves you don't test for promotions. It is a strictly subjective area where promotions are given. Most of it based on years in service. My buddy and I did everything we could but had four or five people ahead of us with 10 or more years on us. As soon as I hit 20 years I retired.