Voluntary Recall to AD?
10-14-2008, 07:03 AM
#41
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Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: Legacy FO
Posts: 4,105
Sorry to hear about your story -- I hope all works out for you in the end.
That having been said, I think the AF would set an interesting precedent for itself if it offered early outs to folks without a monetary incentive. Then it becomes, "How come you let that guy out early but you won't let me out early." The answer is, "Because we had a special program, and he was paid a bonus when he left."
Not saying its right or wrong, but by paying a bonus and making it a "limited time offer", the AF gets to know more quickly that it will meet its end of FY goal.
I don't know a lot about Palace Chase, etc, but my guess would be that those programs are a two-way street, requiring active interest from Reserves, Army, etc. Were those organizations prepared to offer jobs to XXX number of separating AF pilots? I don't know ... maybe they were, maybe they weren't.
At that time, the decision was made to separate XXX number of pilots by the end of the FY. That didn't leave much time to go through a couple programs to get the numbers down -- unfortunately, the cost of doing business under the existing fiscal system imposed by our government.
That having been said, I think the AF would set an interesting precedent for itself if it offered early outs to folks without a monetary incentive. Then it becomes, "How come you let that guy out early but you won't let me out early." The answer is, "Because we had a special program, and he was paid a bonus when he left."
Not saying its right or wrong, but by paying a bonus and making it a "limited time offer", the AF gets to know more quickly that it will meet its end of FY goal.
I don't know a lot about Palace Chase, etc, but my guess would be that those programs are a two-way street, requiring active interest from Reserves, Army, etc. Were those organizations prepared to offer jobs to XXX number of separating AF pilots? I don't know ... maybe they were, maybe they weren't.
At that time, the decision was made to separate XXX number of pilots by the end of the FY. That didn't leave much time to go through a couple programs to get the numbers down -- unfortunately, the cost of doing business under the existing fiscal system imposed by our government.
Time constraints shouldn't have been a factor. The entire process from the first round of VSP to the closure dates I believe was over a year. And there was no decision to separate XXX pilots. Each AFSC was broken down by year group and the staffing levels were determined. If there was an overage in your year group, then you COULD apply to get out.
In my year group, we started off with 7 available slots to get out. Then during the second round VSP, they opened up 21 additional slots. However, over the entire course of the VSP, the numbers went to a negative 35 (the last time I checked). Additionally, there were people in my very unit who applied for VSP even though their year group was already at a negative number, and within two days, they were approved. This is why the USAF denied guard/reserve outs and normal separation outs. They f*cked it up. Now we are seeing the recalls.
Of course the reserve and guard wouldn't have been able to accept all of the pilots who ended up getting out. Together with the other programs, this would have supplemented the total numbers. My beef about how they went about doing VSP is that guys like me, who had been trying to go guard and reserve and to continue serving (even before VSP), were told to pack sand because we would rather pay someone $120K to leave even though there were guard and reserve units who needed people.
Finally, why would you pay someone to leave who is already on the books as leaving, or has said that they intend to leave after their military service is up, while at the same time you are paying people to stay in (the pilot bonus)???
I just received my recall letter this morning.
-Fatty
10-14-2008, 10:22 AM
#43
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Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Position: B717 CA
Posts: 447
Yes, right now it's just a call for potential volunteers, but where there's smoke, there's fire. I looked at AFPC's website and there was no information on it. Is there another website you know of? Still no response from AFPC...
10-14-2008, 11:26 AM
#44
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Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: KC-135/ANG/CRG
Posts: 86
10-14-2008, 04:09 PM
#45
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Joined APC: Feb 2008
Position: On the Rock
Posts: 162
As in involuntary recall--come back or we'll come get you? Are we that short of folks? With the drastic increase in manned and unmanned ISR requirements starting next month through the spring, more folks are going to turn down the non-vols. Dark times...
10-17-2008, 06:54 AM
#47
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Joined APC: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,238
Though I just read that there is a change to the VSP that says if you go back to Active Duty regardless of service, you have to pay back the VSP. That was not in the original contract.
10-17-2008, 05:34 PM
#48
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Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Position: B717 CA
Posts: 447
If they don't reach thier target they will start recalling IRR but would have taken so long that the 3 year IRR is expired and they will have to offer 100K to bring people back. Poetic.
Though I just read that there is a change to the VSP that says if you go back to Active Duty regardless of service, you have to pay back the VSP. That was not in the original contract.
Though I just read that there is a change to the VSP that says if you go back to Active Duty regardless of service, you have to pay back the VSP. That was not in the original contract.
10-18-2008, 02:45 PM
#49
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Joined APC: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,238
It was always written that if you came back to AD voluntarily you would have to pay back the VSP. I don't know if it would be the same if THEY asked you to come back to AD. I asked them in an e-mail, but of course they're too busy to write back. BTW, even after the three years are up, they still can recall you unless you resign your commission...
10-20-2008, 02:17 PM
#50
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Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: 737 FO
Posts: 185
WarE
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