FLY6584

Why do people keep saying that VSP payments are taxed at 40%? Is that true? Why is it so high? I will be a seven year Capt when I take the VSP and the formula says $60k. I can't imagine only walking away with $36k...

I'm not sure I'd be willing to bet on a stop loss happening just yet, but I'd wager 1.5 times my annual salary that we won't see anymore force shaping happening to 11X's unless we are talking about programs to try and get Lt Col's and Maj's to call it quits and retire/palace chase. Those of us with 10 year UPT commitments are safe, if you want to call it safe, from force shaping in my opinion. This airline hiring boom is good for everyone except Big Blue. It's good for the guys that want to get out and fly for the airlines and it's good for the guys that want to stay in the AF and make it a career. It will be easier to make rank, AFPC can't keep kicking people in the nuts and expect them to stay in, and bonuses will have to go up. Big Blue has won for the last 10 years due to the economy, but it's almost time when we start winning again.

Who cares. Pilots won't be eligible for them. AFPC may be the dumbest, most mismanaged program in the United States Military, but it doesn't take a genius to know that a mass exodus of pilots is going to happen soon if it hasn't already started. I highly doubt we will see any pilot force shaping for the next 10 years and I'm actually more worried about a stop loss.

If I could have done this is a 1LT I would have.

The Air Force giving you the option to stay on the payroll as an O-3 after being twice passed over for O-4. And if you decline their offer to stay on then you are out 6 months later without the separation pay. I've just been hearing that twice passed over dudes have not been offered continuation lately and I believe there is also even a thread on here about getting passed over and likely not being offered continuation. Thank you for the heads up though. That certainly is one more ###### you on your way out.

You really think so? I heard no one that was passed over twice is being offered continuation?

The 4 dudes with no SOS and no AAD are probably the smartest and luckiest dudes on that list. They will be allowed to separate in about a year and a half with a fat check for around $75k and plenty of hours to get hired at a major airline at the beginning of a hiring wave which will be very beneficial to them for seniority and upgrade to Captain. When I meet the board I will fall into the category of SOS In-Correspondance and no AAD so I hope I am not one of the 21% selected for Major. I may just have to ask the commander for a DNP to assure chances of being passed over.

I live in Byron. I have a boat and a jet ski and wanted to be halfway between the base and Lake Tobesofkee. I'm 20min from base and 20min from the lake, but keep in mind once you get on base regardless of the gate it is still a 10min drive to the flightline.

Is there a reason why at Robins AFB O-3 w/dep went down $153, but O-5 w/dep went up $87? How is it that a Lt Col's cost of housing increased, but a Captain's cost of housing decreased in the same zip code?! Wtf? Glad I'm grandfathered in under the old rate.

Subscribing to this thread... I have a feeling I'll be in your shoes here in a of couple years. I'm hoping to get passed over twice to get out 1.69 years early and I'm also hoping they do not offer me continuation so that I can get the involuntary separation pay which I feel would be equal to the amount I would have contributed to a 401k if I had worked in the civilian world for the past 8 years. Best of luck to you dude. Keep us updated as to how it pans out!

Also to piggy back off that when you do transfer your benefits list everyone possible on the transfer. Your, wife, kids, grandkids, your dog, whatever. It doesn't matter who gets what amount and in the end all of it can go to one person or each person can get a portion, but the key is they have to be listed on the initial transfer or you won't be able to transfer it to them without another additional ADSC. So wife gets listed as 50% and son gets listed at 50% initially, but 15 years down the road you can give 100% to your son if you choose to do so.

Does anyone know of an under the wing engine'd airliner that has a rear door that the pilots could have egressed from? I also agree it would have been better to have used something with engines under the wings, but without a rear door like the 727 I don't see egressing the aircraft safely as a viable option.

Great info! Thanks man! That would be great if they didn't offer me continuation. So if my first board meets in November of 2015 and the second board meets in November of 2016 it sounds like the earliest I can be out is between November of 2016 and May of 2017. So about 4.5-5 years from now. I was just afraid that after being passed over they could send me to a RPA and I'd be stuck on AD for another 3 years. I'm obviously not going to be a $hitbag on AD... I'm just choosing not to check the boxes. Second question... I've got a Reserve unit in my hometown that said they would hire me tomorrow if I could get off AD. If I get passed over twice for Major on AD and the Reserve unit still wants me is it possible to meet another Major's board in the Reserves? Thanks!

Yeah I've wondered the same thing. I've got exactly 6 years 9 months left on my commitment. I have 5 years and 1 month in so I assume I'll meet my first majors board in approx 3 years and 4 months from now. I have no doubt I want out of the Air Force and I know I will not make Major because I am not getting my Masters or doing in SOS in correspondence (current commander wont send you in residence unless you have it done) and I just showed up at my next assignment so I'm hoping to make this my last assignment in the Air Force. Is that possible? If I'm supposed to be here for 4 years and I'm passed over for the first time 3 years and 4 months from now will they PCS me again and tack on another ADSC even though I'll get passed over again and hopefully not offered continuation? I know everyone says hold your cards close and you never know what the future holds, but I don't care if I have to instruct in a damn cessna or take some crappy regional job, I just want out of the Air Force.

Is it possible? I've heard some people say it's definitely possible and others say don't bother until you're within 1 year of your ADSC.

But how will you operate them with gloves on?

That would be great! I'm a Capt with 5 years of service that would love to get out. I've yet to find a way to do it though while I watch good dudes that want to stay in get kicked out.

Hey I'm a T6 FAIP and I'm interested in applying for the B2. Still haven't brought it up to my commander nor am I even close to putting in a package, but I heard you should start on these things very early on and try to set yourself up for it. The only problem is I came through T-1's. I have talked to a couple people that have said, though it may be difficult, it's still possible and the T-1 is not neccessarily a disqualifying factor. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Definitely drive if you can. It's really nice to have a car out there though usually quite a few people have cars out there also that you can hitch rides with. Just nice to have the freedom to go when and where you want.

That would work great if I knew someone at OSAN, but unfortunately I don't. There has got to be another way to order one of these bags.

Does anyone know how I go about ordering a bag from Royal Bag? This website seems to be down or something because every time I try and go to it it says I don't have permission to access this server. Anyone else get that? Anyways I ended up finding an email address for them and emailed them to order a bag and I never heard back from them. Are they still in business? I read somewhere that their bag that is identical to the $110 Flyboys bag is $28 so I would really like to order one. I also saw one today at the squadron and compared it to a Flyboys bag and they look almost identical and the Royal-Bag looked to be very well made. Thanks for any help!

Just recently finished up Phase II and this is what I saw in regards to prior experience... -Private with a decent amount of hours proved to definitely help in the Contact Phase. -Instrument Rating DEFINITELY helped in the instrument phase. -No amount of hours or ratings will help in the Formation phase. This is the true equalizer because 99% of the dudes at UPT have never flown formation. I saw some people who had only 25 hours at IFS struggle through the Contact Phase, but then really pick it up by the end and excel in the Formation Phase. Aside from that I can't really tell you how it affects Phase III yet, but my guess is that the majority of the no time dudes have caught up to the experienced dudes. my .02 Also keep in mind no amount of hours will help you if you have a piss poor attitude and think you are better than everyone at UPT because of your experience. I really didn't see much of this though. Most of our high time dudes were pretty humble about it.

CAFB 09-06 Track Select: 2 AD 38's 3 T-44's 1 UH-1 The rest T-1's

The only thing that tops that is how Columbus is referred to as "The base of choice in the command of choice".

Yeah, but at least with Tones you'll probably have about a 1 in 15 chance of getting a UAV compared to the 1 in 3 to 1 in 2 chance you have with a 38. Personally I have always wanted to fly fighters and never even thought I would consider not putting them first, but I'm coming up on track select and it looks like I'll be putting Tones first and 38's second. Of course I would still love to fly fighters and it's been tough letting go of that dream, but sometimes you just have to face reality. Honestly I still think there are plenty of dudes that will still put them first because of the chance that they will get fighters. I know I'm just not one of them. It's more important to me to actually fly a real aircraft than to roll the dice on the 38 side and maybe get a fighter or maybe get a UAV. 2 years ago dudes worried about dropping a buff out of 38's which really isn't that bad because at least your still flying something and blowing shit up. Now this year dudes had to worry about dropping a U-28 or NSA which sucks, but is definitely doable because once again you're still flying, but now dudes are going to be facing UAV's out of the 38 side and I just think that is where I personally draw the line. Yeah sure I would love to be able to say I'm going to work my ass off in Phase 3 so I don't end up with UAV's, but the truth of the matter is you're going into Phase 3 with 2 other dudes who are probably shit hot pilots and to say you're going to be better than them is just impossible to say and not to mention would be arrogant and out of line. Some may be able to predict whether they have what it takes to get a 38 out of Phase 2, but to be able to predict that you're going to be number one in Phase 3 is bull $hit because you're probably going to be with 2 other great pilots and chances are your scores might be very similar when it's all said and done. Anyways thats my take on it. I really hope it works out for the dudes that do take the chance on the 38 side. It's just not a chance I'm willing to take, but in the end I wish them the best.