USAF voluntary officer recall (including retirees)
11-22-2009, 12:06 PM
#691
Moderate Moderator
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: Curator at Static Display
Posts: 5,681
Gate Months
Rimfire:
I have about 310 gate-months. I've been getting conditional for the last 9 months, and I'm not a General, so I'm hoping I'll still get it when recalled (since I'm expecting a flying slot).
I have about 310 gate-months. I've been getting conditional for the last 9 months, and I'm not a General, so I'm hoping I'll still get it when recalled (since I'm expecting a flying slot).
11-23-2009, 12:18 PM
#692
Line Holder
Joined APC: Oct 2009
Posts: 25
Any recommendations from you guys that have gone back on AD as to whether it is easier to go TDY enroute to a PCS, or PCS, then TDY. I'm going to the 617 AOC at Ramstein. The month long TDY to Hurlburt would be my first activity on AD if I decide to go TDY enroute (4 Jan class). AFPC is offering me the choice, but from reading on this forum, it seems that there are significant issues on getting into the system if you do the TDY first. Any feedback from those that have gone back on AD would be greatly appreciated.
11-24-2009, 12:21 AM
#693
Line Holder
Joined APC: Apr 2009
Position: Retired back on AD enjoying Germany
Posts: 68
TDY Enroute
Just my 2 cents...
I went TDY enroute, otherwise my family would have been left to do the household shipment all by themselves. If yours is up for that, then maybe you want to leave them behind. They will have to do that, because you will have RNLTD of just a couple of days after you graduate from school.
If you go TDY enroute, this gives you the opportunity to get your stuff headed this way and there is a good chance that it will be here soon after you arrive and before you move into your housing of choice.
A drawback to TDY enroute is what to do with your family. I was told by AFPC, "You are not authorized to take your family TDY." I took them anyway. I found an extended stay hotel, the Cayo Grande on Racetrack Road, that was cheaper than what they were going to pay for me at another hotel, so they gave me my own on-availabilty letter.
I wasn't able to get Hurlburt to help me out with my pay, but then again, I was the first guy to come back and go thru the school enroute. It took me a while to get paid once I got to Ramstein, but I believe the Lt Col who just arrived last week was able to get his pay started at Hurlburt, so I think things have changed.
Your EAD date will be the day before you travel to Hurlburt or how ever many travel days they give you to get from where you are at to Ramstein. They won't give you a lot of leeway.
I recommend flying the rotator out of BWI directly into Ramstein. It is so much more convenient that flying commercial into Frankfurt. The flight is decent and no worse than any commercial coach class flight would be.
Welcome back and I know the 617th will be glad to get you. I know several folks over there and they are anxiously awaiting the arrival of extra bodies.
Snacks
I went TDY enroute, otherwise my family would have been left to do the household shipment all by themselves. If yours is up for that, then maybe you want to leave them behind. They will have to do that, because you will have RNLTD of just a couple of days after you graduate from school.
If you go TDY enroute, this gives you the opportunity to get your stuff headed this way and there is a good chance that it will be here soon after you arrive and before you move into your housing of choice.
A drawback to TDY enroute is what to do with your family. I was told by AFPC, "You are not authorized to take your family TDY." I took them anyway. I found an extended stay hotel, the Cayo Grande on Racetrack Road, that was cheaper than what they were going to pay for me at another hotel, so they gave me my own on-availabilty letter.
I wasn't able to get Hurlburt to help me out with my pay, but then again, I was the first guy to come back and go thru the school enroute. It took me a while to get paid once I got to Ramstein, but I believe the Lt Col who just arrived last week was able to get his pay started at Hurlburt, so I think things have changed.
Your EAD date will be the day before you travel to Hurlburt or how ever many travel days they give you to get from where you are at to Ramstein. They won't give you a lot of leeway.
I recommend flying the rotator out of BWI directly into Ramstein. It is so much more convenient that flying commercial into Frankfurt. The flight is decent and no worse than any commercial coach class flight would be.
Welcome back and I know the 617th will be glad to get you. I know several folks over there and they are anxiously awaiting the arrival of extra bodies.
Snacks
Any recommendations from you guys that have gone back on AD as to whether it is easier to go TDY enroute to a PCS, or PCS, then TDY. I'm going to the 617 AOC at Ramstein. The month long TDY to Hurlburt would be my first activity on AD if I decide to go TDY enroute (4 Jan class). AFPC is offering me the choice, but from reading on this forum, it seems that there are significant issues on getting into the system if you do the TDY first. Any feedback from those that have gone back on AD would be greatly appreciated.
11-24-2009, 06:22 AM
#694
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Position: B717 CA
Posts: 447
Snacks, why would the family be left alone to do the move if you did the PCS first as opposed to the TDY? How long did it take you to get your stuff? I'm finally talking to Maj Burkhalter, so I'm making some progress.
Has anyone going overseas heard if the AF has started shipping two cars over or still just the one? Thanks.
Has anyone going overseas heard if the AF has started shipping two cars over or still just the one? Thanks.
11-24-2009, 09:35 AM
#695
Line Holder
Joined APC: Oct 2009
Posts: 25
Just my 2 cents...
I went TDY enroute, otherwise my family would have been left to do the household shipment all by themselves. If yours is up for that, then maybe you want to leave them behind. They will have to do that, because you will have RNLTD of just a couple of days after you graduate from school.
If you go TDY enroute, this gives you the opportunity to get your stuff headed this way and there is a good chance that it will be here soon after you arrive and before you move into your housing of choice.
A drawback to TDY enroute is what to do with your family. I was told by AFPC, "You are not authorized to take your family TDY." I took them anyway. I found an extended stay hotel, the Cayo Grande on Racetrack Road, that was cheaper than what they were going to pay for me at another hotel, so they gave me my own on-availabilty letter.
I wasn't able to get Hurlburt to help me out with my pay, but then again, I was the first guy to come back and go thru the school enroute. It took me a while to get paid once I got to Ramstein, but I believe the Lt Col who just arrived last week was able to get his pay started at Hurlburt, so I think things have changed.
Your EAD date will be the day before you travel to Hurlburt or how ever many travel days they give you to get from where you are at to Ramstein. They won't give you a lot of leeway.
I recommend flying the rotator out of BWI directly into Ramstein. It is so much more convenient that flying commercial into Frankfurt. The flight is decent and no worse than any commercial coach class flight would be.
Welcome back and I know the 617th will be glad to get you. I know several folks over there and they are anxiously awaiting the arrival of extra bodies.
Snacks
I went TDY enroute, otherwise my family would have been left to do the household shipment all by themselves. If yours is up for that, then maybe you want to leave them behind. They will have to do that, because you will have RNLTD of just a couple of days after you graduate from school.
If you go TDY enroute, this gives you the opportunity to get your stuff headed this way and there is a good chance that it will be here soon after you arrive and before you move into your housing of choice.
A drawback to TDY enroute is what to do with your family. I was told by AFPC, "You are not authorized to take your family TDY." I took them anyway. I found an extended stay hotel, the Cayo Grande on Racetrack Road, that was cheaper than what they were going to pay for me at another hotel, so they gave me my own on-availabilty letter.
I wasn't able to get Hurlburt to help me out with my pay, but then again, I was the first guy to come back and go thru the school enroute. It took me a while to get paid once I got to Ramstein, but I believe the Lt Col who just arrived last week was able to get his pay started at Hurlburt, so I think things have changed.
Your EAD date will be the day before you travel to Hurlburt or how ever many travel days they give you to get from where you are at to Ramstein. They won't give you a lot of leeway.
I recommend flying the rotator out of BWI directly into Ramstein. It is so much more convenient that flying commercial into Frankfurt. The flight is decent and no worse than any commercial coach class flight would be.
Welcome back and I know the 617th will be glad to get you. I know several folks over there and they are anxiously awaiting the arrival of extra bodies.
Snacks
How long did it take for your HHG's and auto to arrive in Germany?
11-24-2009, 11:29 AM
#697
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2006
Position: 747 FO
Posts: 256
Chris,
Still only one car. Expect it to take 45 days. I was very lucky to live at a port (CHS) so I shipped one a month before we left, and lived with one car till close to the time to leave. The one I shipped arrived just 2 weeks after we got here. Rentals over here are more expensive than in the states.
I think what Snacks meant was that your family would have to do the move by themselves while you were TDY unless you brought them to FL like he did. They don't give you enough time to go back home and pack out the house between school and your RNTLD at RMS.
There are 2 shipments of HHG - the "express" took about 3 weeks, and the main shipment took about 6 weeks.
I still haven't seen an LES, tho I came back on AD on 23 Sep. My pay got severely delayed by the MPF girl typo-ing my SSAN when she tried to create the request for a pay record. So nothing happened for 3 weeks while they kept telling me "it takes time..." I did get a manually computed partial payment, and expect to see a large payout and an LES on Monday. IF you're coming to a non-flying job, it may take a while for flight pay to start.
I didn't go TDY enroute, since I'm on the USAFE staff, not at the AOC. There's a couple guys here that have PCSed here first and will go TDY back for training. I think coming here first can be a good way to do it. You can get settled, get your house, car, driver's licenses, and get kids in school. Snacks doesn't have kids in the schools here, so that was not an issue for him, but it was a significant issue for me. It all depends on your situation as to which option is better for you.
Still only one car. Expect it to take 45 days. I was very lucky to live at a port (CHS) so I shipped one a month before we left, and lived with one car till close to the time to leave. The one I shipped arrived just 2 weeks after we got here. Rentals over here are more expensive than in the states.
I think what Snacks meant was that your family would have to do the move by themselves while you were TDY unless you brought them to FL like he did. They don't give you enough time to go back home and pack out the house between school and your RNTLD at RMS.
There are 2 shipments of HHG - the "express" took about 3 weeks, and the main shipment took about 6 weeks.
I still haven't seen an LES, tho I came back on AD on 23 Sep. My pay got severely delayed by the MPF girl typo-ing my SSAN when she tried to create the request for a pay record. So nothing happened for 3 weeks while they kept telling me "it takes time..." I did get a manually computed partial payment, and expect to see a large payout and an LES on Monday. IF you're coming to a non-flying job, it may take a while for flight pay to start.
I didn't go TDY enroute, since I'm on the USAFE staff, not at the AOC. There's a couple guys here that have PCSed here first and will go TDY back for training. I think coming here first can be a good way to do it. You can get settled, get your house, car, driver's licenses, and get kids in school. Snacks doesn't have kids in the schools here, so that was not an issue for him, but it was a significant issue for me. It all depends on your situation as to which option is better for you.
11-24-2009, 03:09 PM
#698
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Position: B717 CA
Posts: 447
11-24-2009, 09:57 PM
#699
Line Holder
Joined APC: Apr 2009
Position: Retired back on AD enjoying Germany
Posts: 68
Kikuchiyo is correct about the ability to get kids settled and in school, etc... Being a homeschooler, I forget about the school thing. ACC has also said that they will nowpick up the tab for the round trip ticket back to the states to attend the AOC school, so units are more likely to let you come here first.
I still have to sit down with the finance folks and have them explain what I got paid and why. You don't get COLA until you get to Germany but you should get BAH for the month you are in FL. I don't know if I did or not and that's one of the things I have to ask finance about.
I still have to sit down with the finance folks and have them explain what I got paid and why. You don't get COLA until you get to Germany but you should get BAH for the month you are in FL. I don't know if I did or not and that's one of the things I have to ask finance about.
11-25-2009, 05:36 AM
#700
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2006
Position: 747 FO
Posts: 256
I did get an LES today. Flight pay's not there yet, cause of a snafu over my position number. I'll be going to Finance next week to get them to explain what everything is. For me (straight to RMS from home), I did not get BAH, and OHA started on the day I moved into my rental home. There's a one-time Move In Housing Allowance of $843. Not sure how that's calculated. I found the reg about the uniform allowance. My interpretation would be that we are entitled to $200 (not the full $400), but we may have to wait until we've served 90 days for it to show up. Again, I'll ask Finance next week.
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