Grumble

Aloha, thanks for the long post. Hopefully informative for more people than just myself. I totally get what you're saying about having that AD retirement as a new hire at a follow on job (i.e. airline) however based on my math the earning potential to age 60 is significantly higher going the reserve route. Seems to be agreed upon by the reserve guys I know. The safety net factor is obviously huge.

So here's the big question, if not co-located would you live in domicile or where your unit is? Initial thought would be where my unit is, just to allow for easy access on days off from the primary job, rather than commuting on days off. Thoughts?

KC10 FATboy

Well I don't see military pay being cut, but I can definitely see a reduction or cancellation of bonuses.

Additionally, the USAF's new Fit-to-fight program is going to be a hidden RIF. At a time when the administration can't announce a RIF, they're going to use the F2F program to thin the herd. If you are due a F2F test just prior to your OPR (think fitrep) is due and you fail it, bad things are going to happen. And the sequence of letting people go is shortened and pretty much out of the hands of the local commander.

nwaf16dude

Agree with both points. I've frankly been amazed that the AGR/Active pilot bonus has been renewed annually for the last few years considering the lack of major airline job opportunities. Anyone know if it was renewed again for FY11? Kind of been out of touch with all that stuff since I called it quits.

It will be interesting to see the pass/fail rates of the new fitness program since they're handing the testing over to contractors.

nwaf16dude

Look at it this way. If you live in domicile (unless you are on airline reserve) you're most likely out of town on your days at work. Then you're out of town to do mil duty as well. When are you home? My first year at the airline job I worked just about every day trying to make ends meet on first year airline pay. If I hadn't lived at my mil base I would have never been home. Also, I'd usually drop at least one 3 or 4 day trip at the airline every month just for a few extra nights at home (and the extra pay.)

Then, later on in your career when you're just trying to make it to mil retirement and you've finally gotten to the point where the airline is paying you more than the military, it's going to become much harder to convince your self that you need to keep commuting to that mil job. I've heard many stories from guys that regretted giving into pressure from the wife to quit a good reserve gig because of the extra nights away from home.

That's my .02 cents... hope it helps

Edit: My wife just asked me what I was typing, so I explained it to her... she told me to tell you to live where your wife and family are happy. Good advice; got to keep mama happy

KC10 FATboy

At my base, McGuire, the fail rates have declined to 25%. I say declined because initially they were extremely high. That was due to people not taking it serious and the testers being extremely anal. Calmer heads have prevailed; however, a lot of people are still failing it. I know other bases have higher and lower percentages.

MILPILOT17

Who's going to fight if no one is fit? They can only "kick-out/RIF" so many people before something has to give.

KC10 FATboy

AFRC briefed our base that funds are going to be drastically cut here shortly. Lots of consolidation and a reduction in bodies. One war is ending. The other will ramp down soon since it is extremely unpopular.

nwaf16dude

I've heard several times over the past few years that "the man-day gravy train is ending." It hasn't happened yet, but I heard it again this weekend from a guy that I would consider a very reliable source.

Tractor Bob

Definitely live near your Guard/Reserve unit if you have to choose. Commuting to both is a great way to put an overwhelming stress on a family/marriage. The Mil leave and doing duty around special days (birthdays/anniversaries) are a great fringe benefit of continuing to serve your country and build time/points for retirement. Of course the holy grail is sitting reserve for your airline while in your reserve squadron drinking coffee.

UAL T38 Phlyer

OK, now that I have your attention...

I think there may be a LOT of hiring in USAFR units soon. Reason: AGR positions, at least in my former chain of command, are planned to be converted to "Technician" status. (Not sure if this is a done-deal or not).

(For the Navy guys, AGR=TAR..but I don't think there is an equivalent to Technician).

If this proposal comes to fruition, full-time Reservists (or Guardsmen, if this goes USAF-wide) will get paid day-by-day, just like part-timers(TRs)...they'll just do it every day, for the duration of their contract.

HOWEVER: supposedly, Technicians are not Protected by USERRA...which means they would not have protection of their airline jobs. They also lose the full-time mil-benefits (medical), and have to wait until age 60 to get retirement pay.

It's all the disadvantages of being a TR and none of the advantages.

We have several folks at CBM who are wondering whether to stay and get the mil retirement, or bail and go back to their airlines.

I could see lots of full-timers quitting, and the USAFR, unable to recruit folks to fill these Technician positions (for the same reasons that these folks quit in the first place), would have to expand the TR population.

In theory, this would save money, but I see it as penny-wise; pound-foolish. But it could be a hiring opportunity for some of you. Stay tuned.