Hotel

It makes tons of sense since I only have bags in my closet and one set of blues collecting dust. It's an AAFES conspiracy to force us to buy a bunch of other uniforms we'll never wear again.

So, what is this PCO course going to look like? Same program and length as the current ACQ? Or is that all yet to be determined.

New Glarus Spotted Cow Leinie Sunset Wheat If there's nothing else to drink - Miller Lite

Awesome!

IMHO, I wouldn't be terribly concerned about the name of the school if you're doing an online program. To me, the importance of the name is the networking opportunities you have if you're physically attending classes at said school. So, a online MBA from Kelley School of Business out of IU (insert whatever school you're thinking of) would be great and have the name with it, but the real value would be driving to Bloomington or Indy and taking the classes for the networking with the classmates and staff.

Some of the ART guys in my squadron said the pay scales just got cut last year (or were going to be cut). Plus the fact that you were working M-F, UTA, and taking any open lines that couldn't be filled = out to way more hours a month than you'd have to put in working an airline gig and troughing for the same paycheck. I guess it depends on if you got an airline job offer and the troughing is good. If all I had was troughing and it wasn't that much I'd probably take the ART job despite the disadvantages.

"2" So, where's the Ike jacket and crusher caps?

So what's the definition of "contingencies"? 3.2.9. Socks. White socks may be worn with boots. During exercises and contingencies, wear black socks, or black socks over the white socks to preclude white socks from showing. Socks should be made of cotton or wool.

I just set up my accrual voucher with finance. They said when I found out where I was staying to call them to give them the daily rate of my lodging and they would pay me that each month + meals. I would then provide receipts when my TDY is over with since the accrual is merely an advance on the final voucher. Are you saying the lodging + meals per diem should be automatic? Is finance messing me up with this accrual voucher stuff? You're talking about $27 per day lodging. I was looking at the Little Rock rates and it shows max lodging at $82 and full meals $51, proportional $30. I took this to mean that finance would reimburse me for lodging costs up to $82 per day and I just needed to provide receipts to document this. Since the privatized housing was based off of BAH I didn't think it would be included in the per diem rates. I asked finance about this, but didn't get a clear answer they were convinced I wouldn't be eligible for housing anyway as a TDY Reservist. I'm concerned if I take base housing I'll loose the lodging portion of my per diem, but would get it if I stayed at the Razorback Inn or off base. Or did you guys get the $27 per day by taking O-1 w/ dependent LR BAH $829 and divide by 30 then get housing to provide receipts for this?

I was always under the impression that you could wear white socks with your boots when wearing the bag. I always do. What changed? And for doing a "sock inspection" how can you get. The last time anyone checked that was when I was an OT at OTS. I thought I was done with that BS. AFI 36-2903: 3.2.9. Socks. White socks may be worn with boots. During exercises and contingencies, wear black socks, or black socks over the white socks to preclude white socks from showing. Socks should be made of cotton or wool.

Drop is about 1-2 weeks prior to graduation. It's held during the day and nothing like Drops at the club at AF bases. Graduation here at Corpus is rather informal - I'd go so far as to call it hokey compared to the formality you feel at a AF UPT graduation. They happen at 4pm at the Bay Club on base with some opening remarks, a guest speaker, and the presentation of the wings. Which is a simple handshake and then you have your spouse (or whoever) pin them on and a guy takes your picture. Yea, it's not as formal, but it sure feels more family oriented - bring the kids, grab a beer from the bar and sit back and watch the graduation. Graduation lasts about an hour and then you're free to do what you want the rest of the night. There is no Dining Out, but there is an open bar at the club usually after 6-7 pm (most arrive closer to 8pm or 9pm), but everyone's in t-shirts by then. So, just plan dinner out someplace in town. Anything you'd wear to a Dining Out would be too formal. Something you'd want to have your picture taken in with your spouse who'll be in their blues. Maybe what you'd wear to church, a business meeting, or a college graduation would be fine.

Total bull. The earlier posts rebuking this guys story are right on, but this guys comments that he was at XL in '04 and '05 and then did advanced training in the '38 at XL after UPT. Well, kinda hard to do since the IFF program just started up down at XL. It wasn't in XL in '04/'05 timeframe. A subtle way to call him out - you might also ask him which trainer he flew (T-6 or T-37) and which class he was in at XL. They alternated the planes with each class till the full T-6 transition took place with 05-11. So you can tell if he's lying if he gives you a class for the wrong plane.

I went to OTS - nearly half our class was prior service so highly doubt this is the reason. From talking to friends in AMS - I think it's the same program, just the Guard figured out how to schedule it in 6 weeks instead of 12. OTS is suppose to go to 16 weeks in the near future - at least they were talking about it when I left this summer.

Are these residency rules the same for a Reservists?

So far we're batting 1000 for XL. My understanding was we only have VN, CB, and XL as options. I've only heard of Whiting for AD guys, but doesn't hurt to ask your unit about it.

Wright's Steakhouse (2 miles from the border on Hwy 90) was really good last time I was there. But I think most people don't think of it and go to the other steakhouse, but I can't recall what the name is.

Thread revival. I've searched on leave, and been reading through AFI 36-3003. Some questions for clarification... I'm coming from a civilian job where I get 10 days of leave a year. So, I only use this for M-F dates. Holidays and weekends are freebies. So, is it the same concept of M-F. Holidays and weekends don't count against my leave? The AFI was confusing on holidays: So, for example if I take leave from 3 July to 14 July the 4th of July, being chargeable (as I think it says in the AFI) would count as 1 day of leave. So instead of just having to take 9 days I would have to take 10 days. Also, if I take leave and there happens to be a UTA over the weekend. I can just split up my UTA and make it up or come in on the alt UTA for that month. In doing so I'm not actually taking leave for a Sat and Sun? Sorry, this AFI and the fact that military duty isn't a 9-5 M-F schedule made me wonder if leave is totally different than my civilian experience. Sounds like I'll have so much leave stored up it won't matter if I'm charged for holidays or weekends anyway, but wanted to clarify. Oh, and I see previous posts about not having to take leave over the weekends at UPT if you're within x hours of base. But, friend of mine who graduated last year never took leave (that I know of) for a normal weekend in San Antonio, or for a 3 day weekends due to Labor Day and the like. Thanks [ 24. March 2006, 13:04: Message edited by: Hotel ]

Wow...I think I have a spreadsheet to work on.

This was posted back in 2004 by someone who emailed Cynthia Freeman at AFRC about base assignment. This is what she said: "Our quotas are limited and based on track select unlike active duty where they do not have any idea what aircraft they may track select to. I will determine what UPT base you are assigned to based on availability." Still not sure about putting in a preference. I've talked to Chief Pilot, Squadron Training, Wing Training, Wing relocation, Wing Education - no one knows. I'd like XL - and 2 guys from my unit are going to XL. [ 09. March 2006, 12:05: Message edited by: Hotel ]

They dilate your eyes so that they can run some more tests - one of which is to check if you've had Lasik surgery - which is disqualifies you. Ya, that dilation - that was fun. Can hardly read anything. But it was a great excuse to wear sunglasses indoors. [ 18. February 2006, 13:53: Message edited by: Hotel ]

I've got a Vanguard Roth which seemed to have some of the lowest management fees. Plus, I'm more apt to invest post-tax and withdraw tax free. I don't like the idea of withdrawing from TSP and having to pay tax on that money. So, I agree on the Roth, but they only let you put in $4k a year I think. Seems kinda wrong that the gov't as a law limiting how much $$ you can save.

Ideally for me right now (having not moved to NC yet), I'd probably like to buy a house or build one in NC and then eventually retire to someplace like San Antonio. Hard part is figuring out if I should be buying land now on the front end of training or wait. Prices only seem to go up in real estate. So I take it if the furnace breaks in the middle of winter on the renter - the management company takes care of it (but you still pay for the replacement)? That sounds like a good idea.

A Reserve bum isn't going to get the BAH right? So, when I'm done with training and doing the bum thing it's not like I can take the BAH and put it towards a house instead of throwing it away on rent. Or am I wrong on that? Also, what is "maxing out TSP"? Is that 20% of all base pay and bonus pay? It's all pre-tax as I understand it. [ 11. February 2006, 13:06: Message edited by: Hotel ]

Thanks for the gouge on Hoke county. These other places such as Vass don't sound bad. I just wanted to avoid living in the city. I grew up in the country and like that rural atmosphere. You all in the 43rd? Probably another topic, but wondered about the BRAC decision. My unit is moving there and thought we would remain intact as the same unit, but with active duty mixed in. Reading the 43rd BRAC results makes it sound like both our units are getting disbanded into a new unit. If Fayettenam sucks - where do you guys go to do anything? The married couple routine that is - not the single guy bar-hoppin lifestyle - good restaurants, shopping, recreation (other than golf), that kind of thing. Do you use the facilities on base mostly? Sounds like Raleigh is a bit far for dinner and a movie. Gotta ask, will be married when/after I'm at Pope. [ 08. February 2006, 21:19: Message edited by: Hotel ]

Any comments on Hoke county, such as Raeford? I'm a good 2 years out, but will eventually be at Pope and just collecting intel for later.