Valerie... Hi.
I THINK I understand Your question... but please restate it and include a little more info. I may have been frustrated by simmilar issues.
NOTE: I worked for AFLC (now AFMC) for 19-yrs starting at SA-ALC/MMSRA, then AFCMC-Kimhae (now DCMC-Kimhae) and finally OC-ALC/LAY-SCP (at Kadena AB)... before moving on to private sector employment (reluctantly). I left Civil Service as a GS-861-13-7.
Regards, Wil Taylor