Bergman

I Palace Chase'd about 18 months ago. I've got a few points for you to ponder: 1) The functional manager will most likely NOT recommend Palace Chase. I talked to mine directly and he made no qualms about telling me that. Of course, this was in a rated career field. It might be easier for non-rated types to leave. The bottom line is, I was approved for Palace Chase even though my functional manager and his boss both recommended disapproval. 2) Before your package (STS) gets to the functional manager/AFPC, it has to leave the Wing. In my interview with the WG/CC (he met with anyone applying for this sort of thing), he told me that he was only supporting my application because I already had an ANG UPT slot arranged (and a letter from my ANG WG/CC to prove it). If you're just trying to leave with no cross over to the ANG, it might be difficult if not impossible. 3) Even though I did get the Palace Chase, it was only for 6 months early release (kinda like from prison!). I was told by the Palace Chase people at AFPC that 4-6 months is the longest time to request with any hope of getting approved. Of course, individual results may vary. You know the AF - as the people change every 2 years, the policies change!

Agree completely! This should have been written more clearly and explained up-front. I have zero trust in the AF to do the right thing by their people, thus my belief that this is yet another shady tactic to screw airmen in order to prop up percentages on some bullshit slide at HQ. RUN! Fucking run!!!

Would you be willing to bet 2-3 years worth of airline seniority on this? I hate to say it, but I just wouldn’t put it past the AF to remove a simple sentence like that specifically to back-door (no STS required) a bunch of unsuspecting Capt/Maj types.

My ANG unit is almost 20% under-manned, even if we count the people still at pilot training as being "in the unit". By the end of this calendar year we will have had over 70,000 flying hours of pilot experience leave. Yet our OG is still kicking guys out he doesn't like! 20 degrees nose low and adding power....

Meh. I know where I, and about 75% of the other dudes in my guard squadron, finished in our UPT classes.

Okay. I’ve read that entire article 3 times today hoping my conclusion would change. It hasn’t. “What fucking planet are you on, dude?!” I want to drive to his house with a 12 pack and invite myself in. “My man! We need to talk!” Because clearly NO ONE he has talked to has given him the straight scoop. He might as well have said, “Well, based on my two 15 day deployments in the last 20 years, THIS is what the rated force means”. YGBSM.

It’s a toss up between scuba diving in Curaçao, driving around Western Europe, or drinking Mai Tais in Waikiki. I wasn’t built to fly, but I sure was built to go TDY!

Names released. 9 guys. C-130 Crash Victims Identified

It is bone chilling. FML. 🍻

I thought it was "It's better to get lucky than be good"?

Always a light moment when taxiing in near view of the tower and announcing that we had our tickets... They were still doing the Gun Show at Al Udeid in December. FWIW I've seen the TN adjutant general in action for quite a number of years and this didn't really come as a surprise. A tragedy, for sure. But he doesn't like the Air component one bit to begin with, and has a very low tolerance for "flyboy shenanigans". It's interesting to note that he is one of the most old-school relics I've ever run across (and I'm pretty damned crusty myself). The stuff I personally have heard him say about women and minorities, out loud, and in public, made me and several others literally wince. Rule #3: There is no justice! How he has made it this far is somewhat of a mystery to me, although admittedly I don't know much of his career prior to being a two star. (Rule 1 being Timing is everything, Rule 2 Life isn't fair. The three rules of an Air Force career) I already thought the guy who runs the snco/nco Facebook page was a complete Nonner tool, and this whole episode confirms it. This shitbag literally ruined these people's careers, and in the case of the MSgt who tried re-enlisting, perhaps her entire life (she is a single mom whose only job was full-time ANG) and now tries to backtrack for fear of losing his precious clicks and Likes. You, sir, can eat a bowl of dicks. I'll never read or comment on anything he posts again.

Agreed. Maybe I’m just getting old, but the idea of more money to spend...in a place I didn’t choose to live, and getting deposited while I’m away from home for months on end AGAIN, all the while working for narrow minded leadership that doesn’t value my effort, just isn’t worth it. The fact the airlines offer significantly better stability and also the same, or possibly much higher, salary makes this a no-brainer. I will say I remember leaving AD and the fear of the unknown. It took a couple years to realize that yes, I can say NO to things, I can live wherever I want, and my life can be about things other than work.

That is equivalent to 3rd year pay at the airline, assuming you work 15 days a month. And you’d still have no control over your life (179s, 365s, PCS, RPA, etc).

This video sums it up

Hey! This was in Nashville!! Nothing to do with the flying units...it was either HQ or 118th (RPAs). EDIT: just read they are TN HQ people.

Well damn if I don’t have vacation from the airline that week. 🤔🤔🤔

This might be a good opportunity to not tell the VA your plans wrt not living there. None of their business and if you don't offer it up, doubt they'll ask. I'd probably pull the trigger as well, assuming you know what you're getting in to. It's only money after all! haha. Honestly, you'll be paying the principle down for an extra year or more and also gain the interest deduction (not sure how that changes with the new Trump plan).

Oh the irony, eh? We seriously can't even make this shit up anymore. I'd say it's impossible to get any more out of touch than this statement, but the douchebags running the USAF these days would take it as a challenge. I weep for our service.

IMHO this is an almost unbelievable perk. My parents are able to come visit as often as they want. I fly literally all over the place on a whim. Booking non-rev on other airlines is easy and free if you’re traveling by yourself. You learn the ropes pretty quick. Take the earliest flight possible, as once the first operational hiccup occurs, you could be SOL all day. Keep an eye on the weather and plan accordingly. Obviously some places are easier to get to than others but if you’ve got time and plan ahead, you’ll love it.

It’s Al Udeid...”Always different, never better” FWIW I got the $60/mo plan in Oct-Dec and it worked great for my laptop and phone. It is a PITA to log in every time you switch buildings/routers but at least it works well once you’re logged in.

Same here. 16 years between two ANG bases and never been searched leaving the base. I have, however, been searched getting on the base several times. The guards say, "Just go ahead and unload your handguns and put them on the front seat. We won't take them" Gotta love the Guard. Sometimes.

Is there a way we can print this, laminate it, and send it certified mail to Gen Goldfein to ensure he gets it? Then hold his Exec's family hostage at gunpoint until he makes the general actually READ it.

Agreed. This dude nicely summarizes thousands of angry Internet rants. I’m hopeful the clowns in charge read and heed, but doubt they will.

Okay! I made $130k at the airline and worked an average of 11 days a month last year. Many of those were half days, as I had zero report times before noon. At least 2 of those 11 per month were “off days” on 30 hour layovers. Oh hey, I’m on one right now. Drinking Guinness for $2.35/hour per diem and $1000/ day pay. Meh. i mention this not as a brag (that’s chump change for airline guys) but as a data point. Run! Fucking run! You’re treated better and well compensated. The Air Force no longer deserves the sacrifice so many good people endure to serve. The O-6s and above just don’t care about anyone but themselves. I can’t stand their bottom-shelf management (leadership nowhere to be found) and the self-serving buffoons in charge constantly crushing what little morale and QOL we have left. Calling it a career (AD/ANG) later this year.

This is 100% accurate. Worth the read. http://www.aviationbull.com/2018/feb/26/airline-pilot-second-year-review