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1. Sign up for TAPS immediately (via AF&RC) - you can get it done at any point within a year of DOS and I promise you there's no way you can get out of it (I tried). Those classes fill up quick and I know several dudes who got hosed out of significant amounts of terminal leave because they could only get into a TAPS class that was a few weeks out from their DOS. This situation can also jack up your moving plans. Just ride the pain train now and be done with it. 2. Take as much leave during terminal as you can - I took 60, sold the rest back...wish I had taken the rest and not sold it back. Two months off over summer with the wife and kids was the best two months I've had since joining the AF. I was fresh and ready to go when I started working in the guard instead of jumping right into it. 3. You get 180 days of TAMP starting on your separation date, so no need to look into healthcare right now. When you're about 2-3 weeks out from TAMP ending, seek healthcare (unless you're going AGR, then nothing changes regarding Tricare). Cost depends on how much your employer subsidizes, but I pay ~$400/mo for my family right now. 4. You'll only get reimbursed for your move at cost of the government moving you from current base to HOR. For me it was N/A since the distance was almost equal, but it could really suck if you're moving 1500 miles, but your HOR is only 250 miles from your current base. It is possible to change your HOR - keep this in mind and act now if required. 5. Finances (mostly assumes you're not going AGR): - Plus up the savings account if you haven't already - moving, buying a house, potentially making less than you do now for a period of time, etc. are all expensive. If you plan now and save, you'll have way less financial stress. - Do whatever you can to have no debt when you transition - ideally the only debt you have is a mortgage. The importance of these first two are variable depending on what type of position you're going into (AGR vs. temp technician vs. full time technician w/ higher step+bonus vs. DSG+1st year airline pay, etc.) - Take some time to do a realistic budget. It is quite a shock to see how much you get taken in taxes when you don't have non-taxable income, BAH, etc. It's not terrible if you've planned accordingly, but you could be in for some serious financial stress if you don't plan ahead. The finances will normalize after a few months generally and you'll get past the initial stumbles of figuring financial life out without AD paychecks 1st and 15th. 6. Medical - You need to get copies of your medical record (both flight med and the regular records people). Standard shit of "that'll take 69 weeks"...so get on it now. Can't remember what you need to initiate it, but start it as soon as you can. I almost got delayed because I apparently hadn't done my 100th "do you feel like killing yourself" meetings after the last deployment - make sure you don't have any surprises like that coming up. 7. VA Claims - If you are not going to make a VA disability claim, then you do NOT have to go see the VA person. My last base made it seem like it was mandatory regardless and I got the standard "I have an appointment in 3 months"...fuck off, I'm not taking an appointment that's 1.5 weeks prior to my DOS. I didn't do a VA assessment for disability, so saved myself there. Plus, you can always go to a VA clinic at a later point post-separation and do the same thing. 8. Standard out processing shit...get the list done ASAP. I've blown off many lists throughout several PCS; what are they going to do, stop me from going to my next base? Well, that works fine when you're staying on AD, not so much when you want to GTFO and put AD behind you. This is the one time to not fuck with it - get it done so there are zero problems with your outprocessing appointment - walking out of that office into the parking lot was one of the best days of my life.

Everyone got this volunteer solicitation email chain today; apparently we can't staff the DFACs but we can clean commercial airplanes?!

True statement, however those of us paying an ex boat anchor from divorces finalized prior to the end of 2018 will be grandfathered into the old rules.

The skeleton that lives by the entrance to Indy got a new patch recently... At least I don't think he was rocking it a week or two ago

Tone on the internet = damned near impossible. Phasers set back to stun. Acquiring new worthwhile targets to show “what for”. - old man OUT

your sarcasm detector is operative...i was typing tongue in cheek but didnt hit the right tone. #TryingToBeFunny

Big Base Motherers? How about instead of accepting the bullshit saying “It could be worse”... we always shoot for “it could be better”? The mentality that I just have to deal with shitty conditions because someone else in the world has it worse is not valid. But leadership at these places sure wants me to internalize that. All along the same lines of taking a shitty assignment is good for my career, etc. In the past, I’ve had to struggle with not allowing the AF’s priority list to merge with my own list. This is just another example of guys settling for total bullshit because...it could be worse.

Aa is hiring anyone and everyone !

There's a couple of us... Started Indoc 23 Jan, currently in the sim phase now. Interview gouge on the internets is pretty spot on. If you've passed the video interview and have been invited for the face to face, the odds are in your favor.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say pretty good by deployed standards... Have you ever Ron’d at OAIX? Ever been to the dining hall at ORBI? Ever got the flyers per diem or drank unlimited beers at the bowling alley in Turkey? So the Deid has a pool a Dairy Queen, some condemned buildings and no tobacco, pretty darn good... Granted it’s no FOB but if I wanted to sleep in the dirt and eat MRE’s I would have joined the Marines...

Are you going to yell at someone to get off your patch of sand next?

It’s a shame that won’t stop them from being terrible. Nothing better than a C17 pilot trying to load 7 pallets on a c130H. ;)

I think we all know the answer to that. It's pretty satisfying that the guy he was criticizing got the invite but he didn't.

Anyone know if our favorite Buckley applicant got the call?

When you get your training paperwork, there will be a list of thing to accomplish before reporting. Do those. If submitting security paperwork clearance is required, that will be on the list with specifics possibly in an attachment. When you report to training, you'll have more to-do lists. Again, do those. If doing security paperwork is a requirement, it will be on there.

How do you think I feel...I thought I was really good at flying and I made O-6 BPZ...I guess I am lucky I haven't crashed into a tree yet.

alright ill be the asshole...i don't think dual qual RPA/light attack makes sense GENERALLY (key word GENERALLY) the pilots sent from UPT direct-> RPA are not your top sticks...i'll just leave it at that throwing that dude into a dual qual to fly light attack would be asking for trouble when he's splitting his time on a robot. light attack ain't flying from point A to point B...CAS deserves specialists not generalists and not guys fcking off half the time just so they can "fly in a cockpit" the guys i've encountered in their post-RPA duties are 70-30 not sharp/low aviation SA-descent stick good SA. that's just my experience. the talent isn't there for dual qual. hurt feelings RPA guys flame away! and +1 for moving RPA bases to cool locations...too bad congress will get in the way.

Probably unpopular opinion here, but here goes. In a typical UPT class there are the top sticks who are easily identifiable, the anchors or the class who again are easily identifiable by everyone (and they know who they are), and then there is the center of Mass (around 75-80%). These middle of the bell curve guys could end up flying fighters or end up in an AWACS or Tanker or whatever else. Having been a flight commander at UPT, it's tough watching those middle guys go up on assignment night knowing their dreams are about to be crushed and they have no idea. I wish we would be more transparent about the MASS and make it public. Post the list maybe once a week and definitely let the studs know before assignment night. If they know they are 15/20 (ENJJPT) then they know it may go either way. But #18 knows it's gonna take a miracle. Less heartbreak in public in front of 300+ people and strangers. Always thought it was ironic back in 09-11 when we dropped guys Preds and told them to act professionally while crushing them in public with no foreknowledge. Some may disagree, but coming from a class with a ton of Preds, it hurt to watch guys get blindsided like that. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

There's one aspect everyone keeps overlooking: you only get one chance in your life to fly fighters, if you're lucky. Definitely not for everyone but, if pay, hours, or lifestyle have anything to do with whether or not you want to join the club, then we don't want you and you probably won't make it anyways. There will be a time when I'm done flying fighters and I'll leave this all behind. I won't miss the long hours, all the hard work, or the stress that is intrinsic to the job. I will miss the flying, shooting the gun, lasing bombs in, Turkey shoots, BFM, roll calls, naming ceremonies, and all the shenanigans with the bros. When the time comes, I'll move on, but I'll really miss all the amazing shit I did with all the amazing people. All the hard work is definitely worth it. Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

I didn't even apply and I got one. I must really suck!