brabus

Makes too much sense, and threatens the Marine's MEU woobie. They'll continue to prioritize protecting cultural norms and politics over fiscal responsibility and combat capability. The best way to resolve this problem for all is shitcan the B-model and buy the Marines light attack (boat capable) to replace Harriers. Everyone wins...which is why it won't happen.

From memory when I read it ~1.5 weeks ago (probably not 100% accurate, but you get the gist): Tier 1: $35k/yr for 2-6 years. Only for permanent AGR 11F. Tier 2: $25K/yr for 2-6 years. Only for permanent AGR 12F, RPA, and I think one other AFSC Tier 3: $15K/yr for 1-3 years. For DSGs on orders (ADOS, temp AGR, etc.) that meet the required period of service. All paid in arrears.

The B model is a perfect example of how fucked our requirements/acquisition process is. That said, I bet they’ll fly well past 2100 hrs, with a substantial profit for LM on the back of SLEP-related work.

Nobody can predict the future - I was told in FTU to expect one assignment, maybe back to FTU IP, and after that I'd be screwed. We'll here I am having flown fighters for my entire career with no school or staff in sight (knock on wood). I am not at all special in this regard. So what any of us say now is a 100% guess on what it'll be in 5-20 years.

Spot on post. The new guys are doing just fine going straight to advanced shit (way more advanced than I had at their age). Their airmanship and decision making with degraded systems, shit WX, etc. is lacking. The naturally highly talented guys overcome at a decent rate, but the average guy today is far more dangerous than the average guy 10 years ago, and it takes him much longer to get to a reasonable level where myself and my counterparts across the CAF can finally stop watching the guy like he's going to kill himself or me any second for the entire sortie. I bet NEXT type stuff will work well to prep guys for advanced mission systems and employment, but their tactical knowledge and capability will rest on a foundation of balsa wood stilts stuck in the sand at Mexico Beach - good luck when that next hurricane hits.

See my example above, and what guardian said for another example. It is plainly spelled out in the bonus language - bottom line there will be some payback if you don’t do a min amount of your total years you originally signed up for (based on bonus type/length), BUT there is also a time point where if you pass, you can keep it all and still not do the entire length you signed up for. Infinitely better than the AD bonus, which makes me laugh (and feel bad for my AD bonus friends)

Yes, you can curtail your orders/turn off the bonus. Caveats: Curtailment requires TAG approval (I haven't heard of it being denied before, but it could be), read the bonus paperwork for specifics, but there is typically some min amount of time required to avoid having to pay back bonus. Example: You sign a 6 yr $35K bonus; it requires you to serve at least 4 years to keep that $35K/yr. If you curtail your orders at year 2.5 you are now only eligible for the $15K bonus, which means you were overpaid $40K (received $70K, but now are only owed $30K under your new, self-imposed bonus tier). If you serve 4 years and curtail the last 2, you keep everything.

ANG is absolutely serious - lots of ANG bros deployed every day of the year, flying TDY, etc. Whatever you've heard, it's probably completely wrong. Navy - Never have been it, but have worked with them a good amount. Their flying career is generally not as good as an AF flying career (e.g. Navy is faster to kick guys to non-flying jobs for "career progression"...at least from what I've seen with multiple friends in fighters, heavies, and helos). Believe it or not, I think the Navy is worse with queep than the AF. They seem to value career progression/grooming even more than the AF. QOL factor of living on a boat for 6-9 months, spending a lot of time flying admin which eats into tactical training, etc. Doesn't mean you can't have an awesome time doing it, but they're legitimate considerations. Hopefully one of the ex-Navy guys on here can give you a better comparison. Army - Similar comments as Navy, but even worse. You're a company commander as a Capt, good bye to much flying. Maj? Yeah, you're flying days are pretty much over. Army is the master of queep...unbelievable. If you want to go Army and kill shit, go enlisted. Overall, your best flying as an officer is generally AF. As a general statement, you'll spend more of your career flying and also have greater options for aircraft/mission types and basing location options that are in decent places (subjective). Seems like my Navy friends live west or east coast for most of their career, with maybe an assignment at China Lake (no thanks). If you love San Diego or VA Beach, maybe that's a huge positive for you. The Army has 90% shitty bases.

Great. So now the question is, sign up for > 1 yr of orders at $15K/yr or just sign up for 1 yr and hope the ANG follows the RES next year re: 35K/yr?

Wood working, gun smithing, welding, A&P, etc. There's some cool stuff you could learn, just need to think outside the container and get away from the standard degrees.

You don't need to, and can't, do anything specifically about it pre-swearing into the ANG. You will PC your remaining GI bill commitment to the ANG at a 2:1 ratio, i.e. if you have 6 months remaining ADSC when you swear into the ANG, you owe 1 year of service to the ANG (a "good year," doesn't have to be full time). You will see your GI bill ADSC show up on your PC paperwork alongside UPT and any other ADSCs you may have. When you swear in, you fill out one form with your ANG recruiter who handles all the transfer paperwork and that's it. Of note, I think you need to make any desired changes to your GI Bill (i.e. add a new kid) before you leave AD, but I'm not 100% sure on that. Probably worth doing anyways to avoid any possible, future hassle.

Unknown, but regardless, doesn't it make sense to wear ear/cranium protection? One concussion, one ruptured ear drum, etc. may be all it takes to DQ you from flying. This is like when I finally decided in college to stop doing big jumps, etc. on snowboards after watching a few guys get pretty jacked up...wasn't worth more than my dreams of flying.

Has the age limit for UPT changed? Last I knew you had to start UPT by 30 without needing a waiver (waiverable up to 35). If that is still accurate, you have about 6-12 mo to get hired before you enter waiver territory. Requiring a waiver is not a show stopper overall, but it will be for many units. I understand your conundrum - at least consider giving fighter-only a shot for about 1-1.5 years, then expand to heavies. Opinion only of course, but the closer you push towards age 32-33ish makes your waiver likelihood significantly less, regardless of fighter or heavies.

Considering your age, I recommend applying to heavy units as well; you have very little time to rush, get an interview, and get hired (at least without an age waiver). Take the first job offer you get and don't look back. Fighters are great, but will you be OK with never flying any mil aircraft if you aren't hired by a fighter squadron?

I especially like the ANG’s approach of offering $35K to permanent AGRs, but only offering $15K to anyone else on full time orders. AGRs need to be retained, sure, but you’re going to convince a bunch of DSGs to take multi-year orders to be the exact same as a perm AGR for al intents and purposes, with $20K less? Yep, makes sense.

Gotcha - follow on question, why would you sign a 5 year GS contract...job security?

Has AFRC stopped getting seasoning orders for new guys out of FTU...i.e. why would you willingly accept a GS-11 job? Is it simply for a "guaranteed" job beyond the normal 2 years of seasoning or do seasoning orders no longer exists for AFRC? I find the latter hard to believe, but not impossible (i.e. I can't imagine they can provide no seasoning and legally "force" a new guy into a civilian GS job).

My opinion - Don't go enlisted when you're college complete / near to it. You know what you want and time is currently on your side. Enlisting for MAYBE a minimal increase in hiring preference is not worth the couple years you just set yourself back. It makes more sense for someone heading to college/early in college who also wants help paying for school. I think most units will hire off the street for the right guy...some put more weight on in-house interviewees, but it's not a guarantee they'll be hired or an off-the-street guy won't be hired. Apply everywhere, regardless of what rumors you've heard about off the street hiring, etc. For Stearman's question - if you're young and dead set on chasing fighters, then skip applying to heavies for now. When you're starting to get closer to the age limit, throw heavies into the app mix. If you apply for both right now and just want to go to UPT ASAP, then I'd take the first job offer and don't look back. I wouldn't apply yet to heavies if you already know in your heart you're going to ditch their job offer in favor of a FS offering a similarly timed job. Technique only.

True about the AFTPs - my basic point is the math is not necessarily as simple as ART pay + allotted AFTP/AT = year gross. Lot of variables (alert options or not? Availability of orders to scab together 31+ days or < 30?, etc.). The more important part is the buy back consid - good to hear you can get it refunded, I didn’t know that. But, still better to never go down that road in such a case.

For those reading, keep in mind you only get 120 hours of mil leave, so any DSG work done after 3 weeks worth of work is not double dipping - the math may not be as simple as ART pay chart + DSG pay = Gross Pay. You may actually make less from your ART job than the chart (but maybe in the big picture make more if you were on extended MPA, etc. orders). Only consider this if you seriously think you're going to be an ART for the long term, retire, and understand you won't collect until around 57-60 yrs old. That buy back is a terrible idea if there's even a half way chance you'll not be a permanent ART in a couple years (i.e. take an AGR position in the future and get to a 20 yr AD retirement). If the latter happens, you would have been significantly better off putting that money in an investment vehicle. I think it was a much better deal in the past when getting an AGR retirement was very difficult and the airlines weren't hiring. Bottom line, recommend any new ART give it some time and make sure long term ART is what you want before you make this move. I think you have a couple years to make the decision before the option is off the table.

So why do people not like PBS (so I've read)? It seems like a nice ability to list all of your desired trip criteria, then get some % of your list based on seniority. Seems like it allows for more customizability of trips vs. having to choose between pre-determined, monthly schedules, though it does seem like more up front effort required.

I don't think there is a financial justification for staying past 20, you do it because you have a desire to continue serving/flying that is more important than maxing out your pay for the period of time you go past 20. To each their own.

In my experience the majority of RAs don't care - the conservative route is use the GTC for the big items like airfare, lodging, rental car. More risk if you use personal card for those things, but still over all pretty low risk. FWIW, 13 years and a metric shitload of TDYs (with friends in the same boat) and I don't know a single one who got in trouble for using their personal card on a multitude of things. Doesn't mean it can't happen, but overall threat is very low. What's your risk tolerance?

It never hurts to apply as long as you meet the requirements (if you don't, then not worth your effort). If you do go to the interview, at minimum it's good experience/practice for future interviews, or maybe you'll be pleasantly surprised by a job offer.