crewdawg

..........x2!

crewdawg

Deployments are slowing down...lets hope we don't get too wrapped up with Syria. If it's a fighter unit, you'll deploy for <3 months every 1.5-2 years (3 years if you have an ORI). That's IF you decide to go on the trip, most are not mandatory as we usually fill the trips with volunteers.

What he said...you won't last long with the double commute. We have a few guys that commute to their airline job and seem to have a good schedule down. The happiest guys are the ones that don't commute to either. Those guys live the good life! Bidding reserve, not being called much and knocking out training squares on the days they don't get called. These dudes have a ridiculous amount of time sitting at home with mom and the kids!

This may be more in the Reserves...I haven't really seen much of this in the Guard. I have yet to see anyone get a masters, unless it's for their civilian job. Basically, we all do our PME via correspondence, and that's about it as far as promotion (unless you want O-6). If you're a part timer, you'll most likely have no additional duties...maybe a flt/cc.

What he said!

The one upside is that if the furlough does come, there are usually orders to be had...if you're willing to travel. You can pick up orders flying with other units (alert/deployment), going to the state/national Guard Bureau, ACC (or whatever MAJCOM), overseas, etc... Not all are ideal, but it puts food on the table.



Goodluck!

dtfl

Good points, but name one airline commuter that lives in Clovis, NM, Altus, OK or Minot, ND!?!?

Albief15

I did it for 6 years in the FTU. Goods were no combat deployments, chem gear, etc. Bad news is there are no "easy" wingman positions...its IP level every day as you are responsible for the B-course and TX students. You had to be able to lead any/all missions, and be ready for same as you rolled in from a spell of airline flying. We tried not to hand a TG the pens on a tough mission after a cold start, but as anyone who has worked in a squadron understands sometimes you are the last man and it just happens. Overall, however, it was a great ride and living in the town with the unit made a lot of the stress go away. Additionally, family kept same friends, church, schools, etc while I went off to learn the airline gig.

One consideration not mentioned is future tax liability. At 125-150k as a Maj/LTC, it may not seem like the driving issue. If you are thinking long term, however, salaries at the legacies have rebounded on the last contracts and making 200k between the jobs (eventually) is not out of the question. Add in a working spouse and bam--you are high income for tax purposes. If you are getting clobbered with state income taxes, you may find your guard job is just there to pay your taxes (think California). I have a friend that was an O-5 Squadron Commander living in SOCAL, and paid well at FedEx. I'm sure his tax bills are tough. If he was flying out of Nevada at Fallon or Florida out of PNS he could save a lot of money. Now--that may not be driving factor, and it may not be a player for a few years, but for those of you with O-5 or O-6 in the total force in your sights it might be a legitimate consideration for future planning.

HuggyU2

I know two that live in Minot.

Lobaeux

Unless they changed the instructions, and someone who knows more than I can correct me, but unless you are within 5 years of retirement you won't be continued.

If you take a bonus for 9 years, that's not a contract for the AF to keep you in for 9 years, under the continuation pay instruction, if YOU don't fulfill the contract, you will forfeit any upcoming yearly bonuses and pay back the prorated amount.

Being separated due to RIF, retirement or other reasons will NOT give you a respite from paying the prorated amount (of just that current year) back, nor does it guarantee you'll stay in for the length of the contract either.

And, under most circumstances, the entire prorated amount will be deducted from your last check. I believe there is a provision to have the payments back to the AF stretched out over a period of time, but I'm not sure how you go about doing it.

snolat

"A guard/reserve gig and an airline job are the best of both worlds if you can land them."

Actually the best of both worlds is to get out between year 13-15 and get hired by a major airline. Then after a year or two you take a mil leave of absence to go back on active duty to finish out your 20. I know a couple of guys who have managed to pull this off. It is pretty much the sweetest way to maximize pay/retirement/QOL. It is by no means easy to accomplish though. If you are the type that burns bridges on your way out the door you probably can't find anybody that will by name request you when you try to get back on AD. However, this is the time period when some of your good buddies will be becoming DO/CC types and could ping AFPC on your behalf.

As for flying majors and reserve, one of my buddies has been doing that with FedEx for years. Absolutely hates it. He's trying to find a reserve gig that will remove him from the cockpit. When I was deciding on the bonus or getting out his advice was to stay in until 20 that way I'd always have only one job at a time, but 2 sources of income.

Take this for what it's worth. There is certainly no reason to stay in purely for the financial security if the QOL is crushing you. Trade in the TOD-mobil if you have to. Life is too short to spend it unhappy.

crewdawg

Is he a single or double commuter? The double commuters absolutely hate it...the single commuters seem to not mind as much. If you can manage to live in base for both jobs it's actually a pretty good life (not talking just FedEx).

We've had a few guys snag non-flying jobs. Didn't seem like they had a hard time finding a gig. Two sources of income are always great options. If you don't stay until 20 then I would definitely find a Guard/Reserve gig. It's great piece of mind that if my civilian job tanks, I can still buy my hookers and blow.

snolat

He lives at his reserve base and commutes to Fedex. I think part of the issue is staying up on the C-130 which is way more systems intense than the MD-11.

FlyFastLiveSlow

I just left a super tanker wing, and for the past several years, we were getting T-38 guys and even 1 or 2 ENJJPT guys. If there is a fighter pilot shortage, why are they sending fighter track guys to heavies?