SocialD

Just be careful of the state you choose. Some states, as a matter of practice, force guys to ROPMA even to major, which is ridiculous. I pinned on major 2-3 years before quite a few of my officer school classmates because of this. The only guys in our squadron that went to ROPMA for major were the guys that didn't do SOS. Maybe we're lucky that we don't have a bunch of O5s that just hang around forever, but few guys have to wait too long for O5 as well. Occasionally a year wait, but few guys are actually forced to ROPMA.

Agreed 100%, I actually had to use that last week to get them to relent on a minor clerical error (no money) made by the hotel desk clerk. I have 4-5 days/month to get 6 sorties, knock out queep and fight these battles. Honestly, anymore I don't care which one takes priority, I'll just roll with whatever the leadership wants at the time, but I'm still only showing up 4-5 days/month...their choice. In the end, I've never been denied payment, but the constant battles are tiring. Preach brotha! One finance officer has already been fired...I think more will follow when we get our next WG/CC. You're right though, we should actually force someone from finance to go on every 2-3 week TDY we do as a unit.

Wow, and you were paid without issue? Our finance would have denied my voucher a few times, threatened to not pay for not using my GTC. I'm still trying to get a voucher through from a TDY over 3 months ago. Our FM once tried to force me (a part-timer) into paying by saying I wouldn't "be able" to go TDY because my card will be shutoff. I don't think me laughing uncontrollably and letting him know that is perfectly fine with me, was the reaction the FM was looking for. This is one of the few downsides to Guard units. Sometimes someone gets dug in and builds an empire...then his proteges take over and continue it. Their biggest concern is the dreaded "audit," which drives their overly cautious nature. There is hope that the next in line for WG/CC will fix this. LOTS of people on base have started saying no to TDYs simple because it's such an ass pain to get paid anymore. Next voucher, I'm thinking of attaching a MFR with a narrative of events for the TDY, with "READ ME FIRST." I've already started attaching my cell number with a note to call me before rejection. I wish they'd just bring back 1351-2s...paper vouchers!

I'm with Brabus on this one, that's how we've always operated. In this type of thing, you can never go wrong by following "the process." Sadly this is almost never efficient and often an extremely painful experience. We've recently added numerous callsigns for our local and XC flying. Then we followed up with going through the process of making it official. Guess what, the world kept spinning and anarchy did not take over. The old bossman has already told us to not blindly follow ridiculous rules...do what makes sense then work on getting it changed (note: the latter being an important step). I'd say this falls squarely into one of these situations. This is especially true in this case since the manager seems to be following an reg that is no longer applicable. This change will not harm anyone and if it's truly based off heritage, it seems like a no-brainer. I mean some bases use the pilots callsign as their flying callsign...it's not like we're redesigning an arrival/departure procedure. I get there are some battles not worth fighting for, but this seems like an easy kill that can only help with espirit-de-corps.

NGB: Good news guys, we're giving out a part-timer bonus! Pawns: YAY!!!! NGB: Ya, it's going to be totally awesome and will help retain our peeps...here you go. Pawns: (reviews eligibility requirement)....dude, like 3 people in our squadron are eligible, and they're not leaving anyway. NGB: .... NGB: Oh and btw, we need to review some things... Pawns: Opens up retirement donut of misery chart. NGB: So here are our new requirements... Pawns: (reviews new requirements)...dude, now only 1 person is eligible. Flips table! We seriously only had 2 guys eligible in a squadron of ~40 pilots and neither of them have heard anything either way. I really hope this is bad gouge, but no skin off my back, I was prior-E and not eligible anyway. Well it's a gorgeous day here in Barcelona, time to meet the crew for beach/wine/tapas.

Not saying you're AMC, but a buddy was just telling me about a recent CC directed Q3 in AMC. Naturally there are 3 sides to every story, but this isn't the first time I've heard stories of seemingly ridiculous sounding Q3s in AMC. Some of the stuff I've heard would have just been a few days non-flying and maybe a briefing in front of the squadron...seems like AMC uses it more as a punishment tool.

They're just getting you conditioned for the rest of your career.

Had iPhones for years, then switched to the S7, now the note 9, and I couldn't be happier. If you really want to nerd out on your phone, you can unlock developer mode which lets you tinker with a few other things. Camera is insanely better.

Not to worry, guys over on other aviation forums/FB groups have already figured out it was a false flag operation so we can get involved in yet another war.

100% agree with losing your cool = lost credibility. That said, the few times I've dealt with DOD civilians have mostly been extremely frustrating. The most painful being a particular USAFE base civilian who seemed to not have to answer to even the WG/CC. Sure this dude has "served" a long time, but they sometimes lose sight of the real mission and/or are doing "tactics" from 3 rewrites ago. It's made worse by civilians whose view on the ARC is still that of years gone by and thinks we know nothing...worked out great when our people ended up teaching his people how to do their fucking jobs.

We've had a few sign the bonus, I'll ask at drill today if they've received the cash yet.

Farts and darts vs no farts and darts.

Shouldn't have been that big of a surprise. Our (ANG) mx force is ridiculously experienced and skilled.

It's that Wiley's 180? RVs are awesome. I know the owner of this badass RV. He's not a Viper guy, just loves/appreciates what the military does and sees it as a tribute to the military. Great dude that built an immaculate RV-8, with a ridiculously awesome panel. That thing can fly full coupled ILS approaches and even has a freaking go-around button (only need to add power). What's crazy is that everything you see on there (patches/numbering/tail letters) was all hand painted...no stickers. You can't see it, but it even has the refuel door painted on the spine.

In a club flying 172/Cherokee 180/Cherokee 6 and as long as the pre-buy goes well, I should have a J-3 Cub next week. Hoping to make it out to Sentimental Journey in a few weeks. Planning on flying to the Stearman Fly-In in Galesburg, IL in September and maybe Oshkosh. I think there are only 2 of us in my squadron who love GA. YouTube Trent Palmer if you want to watch some great GA videos.

Leave reg mainly. It can be mitigated, but you still have touch work every 4ish days (depending on how you swap alert) to stay stay legal. Other than that, as long as you've done the proper paperwork like Smokin mentioned, I haven't seen any good/logical reason why someone couldn't do this. I've had a few leadership types at DAL quote things like AirGuardian mentioned, as well as a few other minor things which are all totally bogus. What it boils down to is there were a few management types that just can't stand the thought of dudes being paid by two masters. Sadly, the worst one (now removed from that position) is a former AF Reserve pilot. On the other hand, I don't understand why you'd want to ruin the best gig going (part-timer) by trying to work both gigs full time....WAY too much work!

And this is a main reason my last sim partner (fellow FO) left the Navy even though he was on the fast track to command. I guess making more than an admiral (before adding his pension) to work 12 days or less a month in the right seat of a WB isn't a bad tradeoff.

Penny Benjamin?

How long until we see another commander drop? The twitter comments are priceless!

What he said! Wait, actually yes please do switch...then send us your Snipers.

If true, that's great to hear. After reading your post and reading the reg again I guess I see it, but it seems to be a grey area. I actually like grey area because we'll interpret it the way that seems logical as it is read and works best for everyone. That said, it's not very clear and there are several units (just that I know of) that are not interpreting it the way A1 conveyed it to you.

Everyone is desperate....

Did you tell said support shirt that he's in the wrong fucking section and firmly, yet politely, advise him that he can STFU? I would like to see his face when he sees the same attendance at drill going forward. What so many on base don't realize is that we have to show up 5ish times a month, and we can't fly everyone on a drill weekend. You should ask him if he's in the habit of bringing his people in on days where they accomplish zero training? At the same time ask him, aside from the shirts course, how many nights he's spent away from home over the last few years. Though that will likely be changing with all the 6 month RCPs the AD is dropping to the ANG these days. Drill weekend for pilots, made sense when we were used as a "break glass in case of...," and a true part time force. We also had quite a few jets that were fairly new, no alert mission and very few depot upgrades, so flying a 12x12 both days on drill weekend was no big deal. Now we're saddled with aging jets, never ending depot inputs, an alert mission stealing jets, reduction in total number of jets (PAA) and non-stop TDYs/deployments. Putting up enough sorties is just not possible. I truly appreciate the extra AFTPs, but let's be honest, it's really just finally giving us the required number of pay cards to accomplish our minimum required training. Trying to strong arm us and hinder our ability to UTAs is just working contrary to what they're trying to do by giving us extra AFTPs. I wonder how many of these staffers have spent any time as a part-timer in a fighter squadron. How about you spend your time seeking out shit that helps our flexibility and/or fight shit like this that makes no sense. Here's hoping that many of the Commanders out there are taking their ability to approve rescheduled drills and running with it. Oh ya, get the fuck off my lawn! Stuck at home sick today...on a roll!

I'll caveat the follow with the fact that this is my personal opinion and not necessarily how others will view it, so take it for what it's worth... I've sat on numerous ANG UPT interview boards and been in the military long enough to know that you are the only one looking out for you. Interview at both and see what happens. If you get both, then you'll have a decision to make and I would go with the one that fits you best. We completely understand that we may not always be the first choice of everyone, but I will still pick the best possible candidate. Personally, I respect the honesty if a candidate is upfront about their desires, but I also understand if they hold their cards close. Either way, that's why we pick an alternate. Best of luck!

Words and platitudes don't represent shit. I've heard all kinds of inspiring shit from CSAFs that never came to fruition. I wouldn't stick around based on hope of what one of them says.