bunk22

Smart move. I tried for TAR (what it was called not to long ago) twice but was turned down.

Codguy

I thought the same thing, until I was up for orders at the end of my first FTS tour. Was told straight up by the detailer and the wing CSO that I could sacrifice my career and push for one more set of flying orders, but after that I was done flying anyway. It was explained that the "B track" no longer meant simply accepting your fate as a terminal O4 and bouncing from squadron to squadron for the last 7-8 years. Whether it was true or not, that was the party line we were fed at the time.

Don't get me wrong, I would have gladly taken non-flying orders to the right location and/or job. However, with no guarantee or likelihood of ever seeing the inside of a Navy cockpit again, that pretty much pushed me off the fence. The two other senior DH's in the squadron made the same decision in short succession and I know of a half dozen or so others around the FTS world who bailed last year as well under similar circumstances. Who knows, maybe enough of us left to open up some of those FTS flying billets that "just aren't available right now"...If so, you're welcome .

That was what we were being told in VR-land at the time...I'm sure VT may be/have been another ballgame entirely.

Anyway, back on topic...have they brought back the straight 3-yr and 5-yr ACCP program for next FY? The year I would have become eligible, they switched over to the new 12/24/36 month DH and command tour bonus system.

I had just transitioned over to FTS and wasn't able to take the DH bonus since I incurred a 2-yr obligation upon accepting FTS conversion. By the time I became eligible for the "new" bonus, I had 13 months left in my DH tour, and would have needed to take the 24 month bonus. That left a convenient 11-12 month block of obligation past my PRD. Didn't take me long to think of lots of "opportunities" the Navy could find to fill those 11-12 months. I respectfully opted to decline the bonus .

BravoBackup

The Air Force is currently offering a Bonus to pilots who completed their first UPT commitment, but it's a year to year guessing game. Last year the Air Force not only paid pilots to get out of the Air Force they also paid them to stay in. Go figure. So folks who were already fed up with the system and getting out woke up one day and realized they could actually get paid to get out of the Air Force and go to the reserves. Once again placing all our most experienced fly in the Reserves and decimating the Active Duty. A few months later (around January) the $125K/5yr bonus was offered. I can't believe there hasn't been a single congressman asked WHY. Basically I see the Air Force self destructing as we continually retain the best and brightest folks who recycle bad ideas, while those with common sense are forced into mediocrity, get fed up and leave. No one knows if next year the Bonus will be offered or not, but if it I'm not sure it will be enough (at least in AMC) to retain folks not wanting be deployed with their squadron and then again a few months later for a ground duty, while their kids complete year another year of school without them..