Leaderboard

That’s laughable at first look, but I actually get it. Every group has some kind of bureaucratic boogeyman threatening an action that’s never really happened. It’s their version of getting “violated” by some third world ATC. The old guys perpetuate the myth to the new guys until the newest guys realize there’s not actually a monster under the bed.

True story: needed a midsize car for a 3-week TDY. Was already at location so I just went to the National desk, gave them my Emerald Club Executive number (because Amex), got a $630 estimate, and handed over my GTC for payment. Do the right thing, you know? As soon as the guy swiped the GTC, the estimate changed to $1250 because it automatically switched to the a government ”contracted” rate. So I elected to use my Amex to get the bill back down to $630, probably in violation of whatever kickbacks the JTR is supporting, but better for the taxpayer. There’s some kind of shady shit going on there.

But sometimes it’s worth it, got this last weekend in Los Angeles using Turo, rented for the weekend. Ferrari 488 GTB Spider.

Just be careful of the state you choose. Some states, as a matter of practice, force guys to ROPMA even to major, which is ridiculous. I pinned on major 2-3 years before quite a few of my officer school classmates because of this. The only guys in our squadron that went to ROPMA for major were the guys that didn't do SOS. Maybe we're lucky that we don't have a bunch of O5s that just hang around forever, but few guys have to wait too long for O5 as well. Occasionally a year wait, but few guys are actually forced to ROPMA.

Yes, just because you’re in the next-higher-grade billet does not guarantee PV eligibility. It depends on how many people in the next higher grade are assigned vs how many are authorized.

Born in 1996, legal to drink!! 🥃

PV promotions have to be leveled based off overgrades on the UMD and they are based off billet type, AGR/TR/ART, etc... Early pin on is something that still has to be requested from ARPC/whoever, but it's usually approved

Cannot emphasize this enough. This has been mentioned for years on this board, I'll let it percolate back to top. The timing on "in the zone" boards are much different in the ARC. I left Active Duty just prior to my 1BPZ LtC board. Because I had a firm separation date, that PRF went to the board as Recommendation Only (blank 9-lines, just a P). As with all the double speak with OPRs/PRFs, the message was sent. This person is not promotable. I was not on AD when that 1BPZ board convened, nor the following year when my commissioning cohort met our IPZ board. Then I get into the ARC, where everything is based on the FY in which I pinned on the current rank. ROPMA/DOPMA laws drive to 7 FYs in your rank. So in the fifth FY in my current rank, I meet the Position Vacancy (PV) board. My ARC PV board was roughly 2 years after my AD IPZ for LtC. The PV board is loosely equivalent to an AD BPZ board, but with different rules. There is only 1 PV board, not like the 2BPZ & 1BPZ boards on AD. In order for your PRF to meet that board, there is one big requirement--you must occupy that next rank's position number on your unit's UMD. For instance, if you're meeting a LtC PV board, you must be in a LtC position number on the UMD. That simple administrative act allows your leadership to push your PRF to the PV board. In the 6th FY in your current rank, you meet your "in the zone" ARC board. The universal requirement here is having a pulse, AND having your PME complete. That's it. Correspondence PME does the trick. After you've been selected for promotion and then enter the 7th FY in your current rank, your local leadership has the option to let you pin on at any time, not having you wait until the month where you'd actually be in your rank for 7 years. That's why you see a bunch of guys pinning on Maj / LtC on 1 Oct in the ARC...beginning on the 7th FY for those dudes/dudettes. The timing of these boards mean that you could be passed over on AD promotion board timing, and not even have met your PV/IPZ board timing for the ARC. So if the AD clownshow tells you you're a non-select, you know have actionable data to decline continuation and start getting prepped for interviews, both in the ARC and possibly airlines if that's your flavor. Don't forget...the pilot hiring era we are currently in is without historical precedent. There has literally never been a better time in the history of aviation to get hired as an airline pilot. It's a massive life change to get out, with a family or not...but try not to let the fear of the unknown drive your decision here. You've done harder shit than this. The time is now. If I've said anything incorrect here, please correct me ARC bros. This info needs to get out to the guys on AD who are at decision time. Thanks.

Well just got the word...second year with a Super P and a #4/42 Majors bottom line = passed over again. So much for APZ being looked at the same as IPZ. Good news...over 20 so somebody else will have to figure out how to fix it .

Coming this fall - I don't have Apple TV though. Spotted some T-38's in the trailer!