SocialD
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Posts posted by SocialD
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21 hours ago, slc said:
Ding Ding....to each their own but when you hit a certain age (as I have), you begin to realize that QOL is way more important that the almighty dollar. My colleagues look at me aghast when I tell them I'm happy working 2-4 days for the airlines per month. But what about all that money you're giving away?? My answer, don't need it, not gonna take it with me, don't have 3 ex wives, no loans/mortgages, no boats/airplanes, nest egg is built, etc etc. This is where I differ from the "norm" IMO. In that I mean my time spent w/ friends/family and doing hobbies that I may not be able to do when I'm 55-65 are the priority.
Nothing wrong with having those things (well, maybe besides multiple ex's), if you're smart about it. But ya, too many folks raise their standard of living right up to what the make. I flew with a guy who "needed" to make 86 hours/month as a 12+ year WB B, just to stay afloat...crazy. But hey, thanks to those guys, I can do my thing and work less.
On the flip side, lots of senior pilots have lived through a near 50% paycut, loss of a pension and/or a furlough. Some are in the "make hay when the sun shines," mindset, which I can certainly understand. Those of us hired since 2014 have experienced mostly great things.
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24 minutes ago, Guardian said:
Cool thing is in the guard you can get out of this bonus as it isn’t an ADSC
As long as your TAG signs off on curtailment. Watch out for those Army TAGs...they do some weird shit. Haven't seen it happen in our state, though supposedly we had a TAG threaten to deny curtailment. Sounds like someone talked some sense into him.
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8 hours ago, nsplayr said:
You…are having weird dark fantasies about putting hoods on people and conducting super weird interviews.
🤷♂️
This is what they'd do if they truly cared about removing bias and hiring the most qualified people. Anything that could lead to a conclusion on demographics would be masked on applications. The interviewers wouldn't see the person being interviewed and their voices would be modulated to avoid detection of any accents (tons of bias based on that). But that wouldn't meet the agenda, so it would never happen.
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2 hours ago, VolFan said:
Uhh…No. Gone for 3/4 of the month consistently? I’d find other work thanks.
This is a great job, but I can’t imagine being away from the wife and kids that much.
Honestly, I can't even imagine working 15 days/month at the airline. Homie do play that game...12 days is about my max. Much prefer to be down around 6-9. In base reserve or line holder, dropping trips is where it's at. Life's too short to be working that much, especially at our pay rates.
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5 hours ago, nsplayr said:
This man is a lifelong Guars Bum and invented time travel, bravo! 😆
Oh FFS, I wasn't even drunk!
But that's pretty funny right there!
Get off my lawn!
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2 minutes ago, nunya said:
God bless the full timers doing the j o b. Better you than me!
I'm a life-long DSG, just stuck in a full timer body right because of an activation. I'll soon be back to living the good life as a DSG for a few months until I retire. Even still, our FLT/CC's are all DSG's (by design) and still write almost all of the OPR's, I just verify and sign lol. The new myEval system will be my predecessors problem. But 100% agree with your sentiment!
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7 hours ago, Pooter said:
Here's a fun evals update for you. Hopefully it will be transparent to most people but if you have a lot of subordinates or if you're blessed with a queep lord position like me, get ready for a reaming. All of these OPR changes coming down the pike this year.
-A new form
-narrative format
-Static close outs (ever wanted all your captains to close out on the same day?! What a great way to spread out the work)
but wait there's more!!
Stay tuned for the imminent relaunch of:
Myeval 2, electric horse abortion boogaloo
Can't wait to spend all year figuring out how to hit this moving target.. rather than actually getting better at hitting real moving targets.
/EndExecRant
When's that POS turning back on? We're feverishly trying to get our OPR's done and in the system before the new one goes live (again...). We're "a bit" behind because we chose to scoff them until they figured out wtf they were gonna do with that coat hangar abortion that is myeval.
On another note, why do we even do an OPR every year, especially in the Guard? At least at my squadron, almost noone does any assignments (staff/NGB/etc...) off-station, we all know who should go where/when, so it seriously has no bearing on anything we do. I think every 3-5 year OPR's would suffice. Ever tried to write an OPR for a part timer who does exactly what is asked of a part timer and nothing more (most of our part timers have no other duties than flying)? "Makes his sorties....most months...."
4 hours ago, Pooter said:As for the static close out, I'd personally prefer an even workload spread around rather than the all out shitstorm the captain close out is gonna be. Maybe it'll work out nice some orgs but in my experience flying ops squadrons are ~75% captains, none of whom ever lead turn their OPR with enough time.
This is actually one of the nice things for the ARC units, at least mine. We're fairly evenly spread on rank, though we have about 1/4 the Captains as we do Maj and LT Col, which are even split. Rather than having dates strewn about the year, it's a bit more manageable knowing exactly when they all close out. Generally many of the items we have to deal with in the ARC and a royal PITA because it's designed by the AD, who doesn't think about our considerations. So this is finally one our favor...though, based on your example above, it further points out why we shouldn't be required to have the same setup as the AD.
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Story time...
One drill weekend circa 2014/2015, half the squadron is piled on a bus headed to some off-base training. I was a still in my first year at DAL and I didn't really talk much airline talk in the squadron unless asked. On the bus ride out, someone asks me something about DAL, so I answered. Suddenly, two of our full timers (so self pro-claimed, "never airline" types...) come unglued and bitch me out for talking airline talk. Until I saw their reaction to my laugh, I thought they were joking because I was simply answering a question. They were legit pissed and kept yelling...at which point I told them how, when, where and why they could go fuck themselves. The closest I've ever come to throwing a punch at work actually. I was a prior-e with one of them, so it threw me off guard. Anywho, fast forward a few years and those two fuckheads are flying for the airlines. I'm sitting in a briefing room, prepping for a sortie and I hear them chattering around the corner about airlines. I peak my ugly mug around the corner with a smug ass look and ask them to keep the airline chatter down, I'm trying to prep tactical shit here.
It's certainly not for everyone, but Brabus is right, for many years of our careers we've been conditioned against airlines. I guess that's why it's referenced so much now. Don't worry, it will stop in the next down turn...
Break Break
Some people need their work to give them a sense of purpose and a feeling doing something meaningful, which is great. This U-2 gig seems like a great deal for someone like that. Then there are people like me who do the airlines because it's the best money I can make, in the least amount of time away from home. I've got way too many things I want to do outside of work...no purpose needed for me. Not many places are going to be ok with me dropping my schedule and not showing up for the month lol. I'd rather spend my time traveling with the frau, volunteering at the local aviation museum and flying my own planes.
Neither is right...someone will be happy with this U-2 gig for sure.-
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5 hours ago, herkbum said:
Of the 3 units I was in, only 1 had a commute distance requirement and that was due to the alert mission.
I've only ever heard of one unit that had a distance requirement and it certainly wasn't for alert. We have alert on our base (fighters), but I can't imagine having a distance requirement. Many years ago, an OG/CC made a push for this, but he couldn't find a legal way to institute such a policy. Thankfully that dude was 100% by the book and since he couldn't find legal grounds to make it happen, he gave up. In all actuality, it isn't a big deal for my squadron because 95%+ of the squadron lives within 10 miles of the base, with a vast majority of those living within 5 miles. We're an odd spot where the area near the airport is actually the nicest part of the city.
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2 hours ago, nsplayr said:
Looks like the new Delta contract is done. Congrats!
Get ready for drill this weekend....
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpVNsWBD080/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
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8 days a month!?!? How do they even have enough pay days for something like that? Are they forcing them to only log 1 pay card/day...if so, bail asap. I guess they don't understand the "part-time" idea behind the Guard/Reserve. I wouldn't even work in a fighter squadron that required 8 days a month. My squadron (fighters) only requires 4 days/month, but most guys do 5 or so. Most of my heavy brethren are only required to work 2 days/month.
I'd recommend he try to get hired at a unit that is actually part-timer friendly, or look at an AOC or IMA gig.
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20 hours ago, Sua Sponte said:
He’s a contracting officer. I’m sure he’ll be enjoying his GS-13+ job in some SPO within a year.
Some day he'll look back on this a realize it's the best thing that ever happened to him. A contracting officer should be able to do better than a .gov job.
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6 minutes ago, nunya said:
https://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/retirement/
You know you want to. It'll feel so good! All your friends are doing it.
Already done! Got my retirement order yesterday. I just have another 1.5 months left on this activation, then I'm a ghost until my fini this summer. I'm actually quite shocked at how easy/fast the process was to apply for retirement and get my order. All told, I think I spent 10 minutes to fill out the request, then the order showed up a week later. If only the VA process was as easy...
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Let me give you an example of the bullshit dealt with just this week. For context, the member is activated stateside, but away from home. This is real life in the military...
Finance: Sir, one of your members has an unauthorized purchase on his GTC.
Me: What did he buy? *thinking this dude went to a strip joint*
Finance: He bought a fishing license with his GTC.
Me: *OK this dude clearly isn't as cool as I thought, but fishing is fun too...just not as fun as strippers*
Me: *laughs then thinks....oh shit, this guy is serious.*
Me: Does he have per diem to cover it?
Finance: Yes.
Me: Ok, then what's the problem?
Finance: It's not an authorized purchase location?
Me: Can I authorize it as his CC?
Finance: Ummm....
Me: I mean, the dude could have done a cash advance for the same amount, right?
Finance: Yes
Me: Then he could have walked from that ATM with said cash and bought said item, right?
Finance: Yes
Me: ...and that's authorized?
Finance: Yes
Me: ...............silence..........
Finance: ............silence............
Me: the why the fuck are we having this conversation?
Finance: The purchase location on his GTC isn't authorized.
Me: But an ATM at the same location would have been fine?
Finance: Yes sir.
Me: *stares through phone muthafuckingly*
Me: How much are we talking here.
Finance: $25 dollars.
Me: $%$%#&#*#((#
Finance: Sir?
Me: OK, what do you need?
Finance: I need this form filled out, which requires an investigation.
Me: WTF? Over $25, that is more than covered by his per diem?
Finance: Yes sir...we have to have it for the auditors.
Me: Can I just send you a memo that says it's good to go?
Finance: No sir, the auditor requires this form.
Me: Sure, I'll just clear my schedule of that unimportant shit like flying and launch an investigation into this great travesty that will certainly bankrupt the AF!
Finance: Is that some kind of joke, we weren't issued a sense of humor at finance school (ok, that part might be made up...10% rule applies).
So I spent a morning "investigating" a $25 purchase, where my comments were a veiled, I can't believe you made me do this and this is basically fraud waste and abuse of my time.
Meanwhile, at DAL... Stuck out in a wx event where I can't get ahold of anyone from the company, and without any approvals/questions/forms filled out (gasp). I slap my credit card down for 2 cabs and 5 hotel rooms for the crew at the nicest hotel I can find. On the way to the airport the next day, I file the receipts with a note saying that we got stuck and I procured transportation/lodging for my crew. I was never questioned and paid out within a few days. Crazy talk, I know!
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9 hours ago, Polar Bear said:
I’m assuming you’re on a wb living in base?
Bad assumption. I'm a 717 Captain, but I do live in base for both jobs and the reserve GS game was righteous last year. The GS's have dried up significantly (while I've been on orders), but a buddy at my seniority has hasn't turned a wheel since mid December. I used to be a WB FO before rona displaced me, but I opted to upgrade rather than reinstate back to the 330. That was a good life too, I just grew tired of the 6 day trips (and the fatigue that went with it) and/or the rat race it took to avoid those long trips (mostly not available these days due to staffing in my old category). As brabus eluded to...get/stay senior and your life will be infinitely better most anything else out there.
I was 13 years from an AGR retirement (after 13 years in) when I got hired at DAL, so that was never in the cards for me. I'm just not cut out for "punch a clock" style of work of full-time, it's worse than groundhog day to me...especially since most of my days are spent behind a computer and/or fighting battles that shouldn't have to be fought. On the upside, I just got my retirement order yesterday...the end is near!
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12 minutes ago, Chida said:
DFAS and ARPC are incredibly confused….
Technically they are correct in part, but due to inflation of the pay charts over a typical 16-yr or so stay in the grey-area, they are most likely (for the vast majority of typical part-timers) incorrect on this point. One can demonstrate using past pay charts to show their hypothetical actual high-36.
Where they are most definitely incorrect is the rank in the grey area. One holds their rank by achieving required TIG while in a participating status. If not, then you get bucked down for the entirety of the grey area.
Where does it say this? It's totally believable to me that DFAS could be putting out bad data, at this point in my career, I expect nothing less! But this would be an entire fuck job if this is floating around out there so someone reads it as the gospel and ends up screwed. It's extremely definitive in this brief.
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17 hours ago, Chida said:
Common misconception. You’ll be O-4 in Retired Reserve. Your high-36 will be calculated from the O-4 level for the 36 months pay charts preceding age 60 or your reduced retired pay age. This will be at the highest longevity (so topping out the O-4 payscale. This a key difference between regular and reserve retirement systems and why it is highly advisable for reservists to get TIG to hold their rank.
17 hours ago, hindsight2020 said:That's AGR/regAF retirement, not TR/DSG. For a TR/DSG retirement, the grey area (time during retired reserve, aka the grey years, which usually top most people out at 30) payscale longevity accrual is based on retired grade, which would be O-4 for an O-5 without 3 year TIG. See chida's response. As such, that's why this mickey mouse business about TIG potato has always been centric to TRs, not AGRs or regAF (a mere vanity on paperwork for the latter two).
Maybe I'm misreading your posts, but they way you explain it is how I always knew it to be. However, this is where the confusion lies with guys in the squadron. We received a powerpoint created by DFAS (DFAS 101 Retirement Services) provided to us by FM, that shows otherwise. They give an example where a DSG retires after 2.5 years as a LTC and 0.5 years as a COL. The examples shows that they continue in the gray area as a COL until they hit retirement age (age 60 or earlier as applicable), and that this counts toward their "high 3." It specifically says "all 36 months will be at the COL rate." This is all if you "stay affiliated" (stay in IRR) after retirement.
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On similar lines, can anyone back me up on this? If a DSG/TR retires after only a year as an O-5, their retirement paperwork will show O-4 (who really cares). However, since they live in the "grey area" and continue to accumulate years of service until they hit retirement age, their retirement pay is still all based completely off O-5 rates...right?
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11 hours ago, gearhog said:
Corruption runs in the family, apparently, and we get to pay for it.
Meanwhile, we'll fry someone who served honorably for 20+ years for piddly bullshit.
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So there I was, back in Afghanistan over a decade after my first trip in country. Not an American outside the wire, ROE so strict that pretty much all we could do is watch shit happen... JAGs/Engagement authority scared of their own shadows. Complete waste of money/assets, not to mention our time/morale. 6 months later, we dumped that place faster that your crazy ex-gf that keyed your car. Many who hadn't thought much of going to the airlines decided to make that jump because of that trip. The end.
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8 hours ago, Smokin said:
We just spent 1000x as much money shooting down the balloon as China spent launching it. If I were them, I'd launch 20 next week and just watch us waste missiles, flight hours, etc.
Don't do the math on how much money we spent killing a dude in a mud hut in the middle of nowhere Afghanistan.
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1 hour ago, FUSEPLUG said:
That's correct. I was denied a medical exemption in the fall of 2021 (far too long of a story to detail here). A Dec '21 memo from the SecAF basically said no/pay no points and eventual invol assignment to the IRR for TRs/DSGs. So I did no Guard duty from Jan 2022 until just recently after the NDAA eliminated the mandate, thus missing out on that good year.
Religious exemptions, on the other hand, were slow-rolled and eventually a court injunction paused adverse actions against members with a RAR. They were allowed to continue drilling/flying. I was offered the option to pursue a religious exemption after my medical was denied, but I had my hill and was ready to die on it. I am in a fortunate enough position with my airline gig to be able to push back on all of this without losing much sleep.
Ah ok, didn't realize there was a difference with the medical exemption guys as we just have religious exemption guys. Here's hoping you have plenty of time before your next "year" to get a good year now. Even more so, I hope they just go back and give you credit for that year.
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On 1/30/2023 at 2:29 PM, Swizzle said:
Great question therein: for Reserves and ANG, are they getting full time/credit regardless of what they would’ve normally completed. In others words, full/AD time/pay for a TR who typically min-runs his time? If so, what a deal…
On 1/30/2023 at 7:12 PM, FUSEPLUG said:No words yet from the ANG yet. All I want are the back points for a good year so I can get off this sinking ship posthaste.
Wait, were the people who didn't get the shot NOT supposed to be working over the last few years? You know, asking for a friend... Fuse, were you not allowed to drill/work? I know of one squadron would have had to cease operations if all their pilots who didn't vax weren't allowed to work. Either way, I hope you get your 50 points/good year. Best of luck!
In other news...if these fucksticks would have just used the least bit of common sense and let my dude fly 6-9 more rides, I'd have full up wingman about to enter the FLUG. I guess we can't underestimate the zeal in which some commanders will take to persecute anyone who dared question this bullshit. Now that 6-9 rides is costing them an entire B-Course lol.
On 1/31/2023 at 9:12 PM, hindsight2020 said:Don't look now, but you just described every fvcking airline pilot I've ever worked with. Talk about schemers, grey collar workers is the demographic bullseye of that remark my friend. 😄
It's in the job description!
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Do they get Berets? That alone would allow me to live my best life!
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The new airline thread
in Squadron Bar
Posted · Edited by SocialD
Just upgrade, then you don't have that pain anymore. Plus then you'd only have to work 1-3 days a month 🤣