brabus

Great American, fighter pilot and friend. He'll be greatly missed.

And more things the CAF has to teach...why am I having to teach a kid how to fly an ILS, do a normal landing and fly basic formation in the CAF? The AF is a leading expert on kicking the can down the road and refusing to acknowledge quality short comings. I hope FTU washout rates significantly increase - they certainly need to.

Valid, BUT note the "through the secretariat process" comment. What that means is you must write a memo to SAF requesting you receive full "normal" PCS entitlements and explain your reasoning (i.e. why this is better for the AF, because SAF doesn't give a shit about your personal problems); this memo will have to be SSS'd (most likely unless your wing really doesn't give a shit, but it's AD, so....) from your SQ/CC all the way through the wickets. I've been down this road (for a different reason) before; it ultimately worked out in my favor, but it was a massive PITA and something I never wanted to do again. So, keep in mind whether the asspain is really worth it. In my final PCS case it was not because all I really missed out on was DLA, and DLA was not worth the headache. I've heard changing HOR is much easier than going down the SAF path, but haven't done it myself.

Partially - if you have proof of full time employment (an intent-to-hire letter from your future CC suffices), you can skip day 2-5. You still have to suffer through the first day and you still have to have a meeting with a separations counselor, which should only take about 20 min if you have all your paperwork in order. That meeting is something that is signed off on your outprocessing checklist - can't scoff it.

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.

I think the most you're going to get is: not needed for most part; some very few cases it would be...from your CC"s perspective, those very few cases probably do not warrant getting you a TS prior to CSO school.

Need a herc guy to weigh in, but I do have several friends in Hercs and all of them initially had TS that was allowed to lapse. Don't need it to fly Hercs directly; potentially could need it for future opportunities/non-flying work (i.e. working with other services where you need to be in a SCIF for mission planning, etc.) Overall, I don't think your CC is necessarily off base regarding your lack of requirement for a TS (to specifically fly Hercs), but at the same time if there's any way to get it you should, to provide flexibility for yourself and your squadron when the need arises to send a Herc guy to fill X role and a TS is required.

I only had to show a mil ID to the guy at the store when I bought the 43 through the blue label program - I think it was around $350. The prices are not set by Glock, so they may vary between stores, but generally ~$100 off normal prices.

Your need for a TS will be dependent on what airframe you go to after Nav school. I assume nav training is like pilot training - probably barely any secret discussed, let alone TS. I imagine the most correct answer is you do not need TS for school, but you may need it post-school. Are you staying in the ARC/know what airframe you're going to?

Or if you are interested in the assignment, you could threaten 7 day opt or say you'll accept the assignment with 0 ADSC. Seen it done, but make sure you get the 0 ADSC part in writing from AFPC.

Have carried a 43 for the last 1.5 yrs...I like it. My wife also carries it in her purse when she's not with me (e.g. I'm carrying). I put the +2 mag extensions on not only for capacity, but for a better grip. They do not make a big difference in terms of printing/comfort while wearing; I use an IWB holster from crossbread.

HARM office had me fill out 781s to match the time written in my personal logbook that was not reflected in my flying records. They had no issues with it being the only source.

To my knowledge, Osan still receives short tour credit as long as you don't bring your family command sponsored. That's probably not a bad way to check this container - you can always bring your family over on your own dime (and you still get OHA).

According to the guys here, all funds are properly loaded, but AROWS is messed up, so we have to wait until it's fixed. Classic cross-finger pointing. Anyone had success with the updated AROWS?

You can absolutely turn down the offer, but clearly you risk going to UPT at all (if you don't subsequently get hired by another unit). Do it before swearing in, and nobody should care that much (as you said, alternates), do it after and you might piss people off. It's your life, don't let a few people possibly being pissed drive your decidion, but also know if fighters don't work out and you're back applying for heavy units, I have to imagine you may face an uphill battle (the new prospective units will find out, whether you tell them or not). Hard call, good luck.

Thanks...guess another trip to finance is warranted.

Tried to log an AFTP yesterday and got something about funds not available, contact the budget office...before I could sign it. ??? abound at base agencies. Anyone dealt with this?

The two closest potential bases are 3.4 and 6 hrs driving, both with several non-stop flights each day out of my local airport. So, I guess about as reasonable as it can get without living in base.

It is a TX+seasoning (~2.5-3 yrs total). Not co-located, but a "reasonable" commute.

Valid...and no it wouldn't take me all the way to retirement, but it does put me closer. The "issue" is the AGR is tied to a TX, so unless I want to full up stop working for the guard and not TX, then I "have to" go with the 2.5-3 yrs AGR. I do recognize I could full up quit the AF or move to another location to forego a TX, but neither are something I or the family want to do, regardless of what we are considering for the next job down the road. Thanks for the info dudes, glad to be smarter on the whole thing; certainly have some thinking to do.

Copy shots...I was not aware there was profit sharing, etc. immediately following hiring. In my mind it was purely a number on a spread sheet and nothing more (e.g. no loss for the company in the short term); now I'm more educated (but still pretty dumb on the whole process). I don't know exactly when the orders will start, but even if I'm hired quickly, I probably wouldn't be able to get through more than 4-6 months of probation. Is at least some amount of probation OK or are you guys saying do all or don't even try for the airlines until you have the full year (or more) to commit?

Orders for ~3 years. Makes sense what you guys are saying. Seems like a company would benefit by spending very little on a guy to lock him in down the road, i.e. another body on the books which isn't going to a competitor.

How do the different majors look at/feel about mil leave IRT timing of indoc/training? Part of me is starting to think it'd be a loss to not get the foot in the door now, but on the other hand I'm not ready to be a part timer, at least for the foreseeable future. Meaning, I don't want to go fly the line for a year, then drop orders, preferably would do it far earlier than that. Is that a pipe dream? Depend on the company? The alternative is shitcan the idea, but then I'll likely be 40-something and wishing I'd done it earlier (get a line # that is).

And there's the problem, people think sniper/litening pods are good for CDE scans. Real big picture sure, but FAR from the fidelity/accuracy of scans accomplished by the guys who actually are meant/built for such a thing. A buff should never be doing those scans, and its overselling capability to say to the Army a sniper/litening can effectively accomplish scans (especially to the level the army wants/expects). Again, we need to tell the Army to fuck off and play each asset to what it's for, not try to make everything persistent ISR...those assets already exist.