milflyr

I'm a 12 year Air Force guy with about 2700 hrs, some in heavies and some single seat, and my commitment should be up in a year or so. I'm contemplating leaving active duty. The politics, office duties, and general b.s. is hard to put up with. (I've come to this conclusion several times in the past, but have decided to stay because of civilian job market.) I really have no interest in flying U.S. carriers, because of the instability of the job market. Would it be possible for me to get a contract job in Asia or Europe without time in type (an airline contract, not a military type company)? Or, should I just suck it up and tough out the next 8 years? Thought I'd try this thread before I post in the foreign one. Thanks.

AirGunner

If you are truly fed up with the active duty Air Force, I can sympathize. A lot of people will tell you to suck it up and stay in. However, when it's time to go, it's time to go. I left Air Force active duty at 14 years and transfered to the Air National Guard via the Palace Front program. For me, it was by far the best choice that I have made both for myself and the Air Force part of my career. I left for a lot of the same reasons that you have mentioned. However, I planned and preppared for my departure from active duty about 2 years before my DOS. This isn't a choice you should make lightly as the repurcussions can be severe if you don't prepare for the transition...the job market still sucks. Go ahead and sign yourself up for the TAP breifings. Most bases give them out once a month. If you have a family, make sure to get their input and consider that you will have to pay considerably more for health and dental insurance. Additionally, make sure you have a job lined up BEFORE you pull chocks. Finally, don't listen to a lot of the doom and gloom some people will tell you. Leaving active duty can be painful but, if you prepare for it and it doesn't have to be. Best of luck to you.

pilot141

What's the biggest BS factor in the AF right now FOR YOU? Only you can weigh that against the positives and your situation.

Lots of guys hate being told where to live - find out what the requirements are for the foreign carriers you are thinking about.

If you really have no desire to fly for any US carriers but still are done with the BS in the AF, then get yourself into a nice stable non-flying job that pays you for your experience. Lots of guys do consulting work - with your combined single-seat and heavy time you should have some unique quals.

Finally, most guys who post here looking for advice already know the answer to their question - they are just looking for some validation.

My take - if you are so worried about US carriers (including FedEx and Southwest) being unstable that you are immediately going for the foreign carriers, just suck up the BS and get the active duty retirement. If you really wanted to bail you would have already.

Again, just my take. I'm sure others will join in with more to say! Edited to add since Airgunner chimed in: I bailed out of active duty in the AF at the 10 year point. My BS meter could go no higher back then.

Kikuchiyo

There are a very, very few foreign contract jobs that do not require a type rating, time in type, and recency up front. And even those few often require Part 121 (airline) experience. Check out the sites of the contract companies like PARC, CReW, etc, for their job listings. Peruse the jobs on climbto350.com. Check out the discussions on pprune and in the foreign forum here for more details.

One job that recently popped up that does not require a type is this one:

https://tbe.taleo.net/NA7/ats/career...S&cws=2&rid=16

chrisreedrules

I'm not military but I have been raised around military culture my whole life and I am a NavyBrat. Here is my .02, for whatever its worth: Your over the hump, wait out the next few years and get the retirement. I can't tell you how many guys I've met that wish they had done this after getting out around 13 or 15 years. You have put up with the BS this long, a few more isn't that big a deal and the retirement will be nice. Also, has some have stated... it isn't the best time to pursue a civvie aviation job.

jungle

Tough call, but getting on with a foreign carrier is not going to be easy given your experience. European carriers are going to be more difficult than Asian carriers because the Euro zone jobs are just about non-existent for non-EU citizens.

You may want to gut it out for the next eight, but there are no promises there either. Cuts are coming and a reduction in force gets more likely by the day.

Riddler

Some things to consider:
- Add about 25% to your military pay, and that's what you'd need to earn in order to maintain the same disposable income, due to tax free BAH and your lack of paying monthly medical insurance fees ($200-500 per month in the civilian world).
- If you do decide to stay in, you really need to "play the game," especially since we're going to be headed into a potentially significant downsizing event. In other words, if you get passed over for promotion, you will likely get separated. So you'll need a masters degree, you'll need ACSC completed, staff job, etc.
- If you get out, I'd definitely go into the Guard or Reserve.

I separated at the 11 year point. I'm now back on active duty after getting furloughed and also pseudo-losing another job (I worked for Boeing, was on extended military leave, and Boeing lost its contract while I was on mil leave. I was unable to interview for the "new" job because of the mil leave).

Good luck,
Riddler

ERJF15

I bounced at 13 years and 1 month. 5 years later I still miss it, but my grass has been a little greener. A different shade, but still greener.

F15andMD11

I guess it depends, 7 years is a long time, especially considering a hiring wave coming up. If you were at 15+ yrs I'd say stay no matter what . I got out at 12 and have been in Guard/Reserve since. If you can go that route do it! Get at least age 60 retirement.
Hopefully that will get better now. Like I said, in about a year the hiring will really be kicking in. It would be an excellent opportunity to get in early. At least start with U.S. carriers and then try to go overseas.

thrust

How certain are you that the retirement will be there in its current form in 5 years? 10? 20?

How certain are you that the other military benefits (Post-9/11 GI Bill, "free" healthcare for life, etc) will be there in 5 years? 10? 20?

There are ZERO guarantees. If you choose to stay on the sinking ship that is Active Duty USAF, then do it because you enjoy the people/ enjoy the job/ enjoy the BS/ etc. But whatever you do, don't stay (or leave, for that matter) based on some hypothetical retirement benefit package that WILL NOT be around for much longer, as much as that pains people to acknowledge.