NotADude

Ah, the irony.

I've been thinking about this statement a lot these past few days, as I'm sure others have, and the utter condescension packaged up into a tidy little sentence just irritates me. Then today, it hit me as I read this sentence from the current VSP/RIF guidance: "AFSCs may be removed from eligibility with little or no notice based upon the needs of the Air Force." Anybody who was around during the last round of VSP will remember the staggering amount of rated folks that applied for VSP and the very limited number that were actually approved. Something I predict will happen again this time around as the military seems doomed to repeat history. This holiday season when you're pissed about the late notice and terrible information released right before Christmas about force shaping, just remember this: the Air Force needs pilots right now a lot more than pilots need the Air Force.

The thing that kills me about this is that a lot of us have been trying for the last few years to get out, but the AF keeps saying no. On the one hand, leadership can't wait to get rid of us, while on the other, we're too valuable to be let go. I don't know any Capt right now (pilot/rated type) that has any desire to serve past their commitment, and I know quite a few who are actively looking for ways to separate early. Just don't be too peeved if you get what you ask for...

I recently re-saved my portal e-mail link as the new wrightpatterson.mail.af.mil/owa, but I'm in the same boat. No worky for the last few days.

That just doesn't even make sense. How would the AF know when to promote you then?

If I didn't have zero faith in AFPC's ability to make long-range decisions, I would almost think this was timed to hit the news right when they were announcing new FY14 Force Management programs. Raise your hand if you want out now!

I have no idea. My one concern after talking to the IG who told me AFPC would process my application while deployed (when I apply again in March because I wont' be able to separate earlier than my return date), was "what if they change their regs in the meantime?" Welp, looks like that's happened. I honestly don't believe for a second that come March, they'll remember and keep their word. The good news for me, is maybe I'll be eligible for VSP, expanded PC, or a LADSC waiver. I've been trying since the last VSP to do help the AF out and separate early, but they keep denying me! I think we'll have to wait for more info to become available, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if they told pilots they were eligible for VSP, only to deny every single one of them. Vprdrvr, have you already applied for PC or were you waiting for 180 days out? You might be eligible for expanded PC...

Quote: "In July, Air Mobility Command launched its “Fatigue Modeling” program after years of development, said Col. Mark Hale, an expert on aviation operational risk management. “This program is a step forward in understanding and alerting our crews and our command and control system to aircrew fatigue challenges during mission planning and execution,” Hale said in an email." Here's a hint: a 22-hour duty day=tired pilots. give me money now!

Update: after a conversation with the IG, and some calls made by them and my MPS to AFPC, AFPC has begrudginly agreed to process my application while I'm deployed. They recommend that I re-apply as they thought it would look fishy if they re-opened my closed application (no sh!t-it was fishy when you guys refused to process it, not in accordance with YOUR regs). So since I'm deployed until May, I have to wait until 180 days from my requested separation date before I can re-apply. For those of you getting close to a deployment, I would apply for PC now and hope your leadership doesn't send you while it's pending, because as I'm learning, they're not going to send you home from deployment so you can separate. The crappy thing is, the reg still says you can get sent TDY/deployed while it's pending, so... Also, for the guys (aircrew) currently deployed looking to submit an application, if you're getting any pushback, I recommend going to the IG. AFPC isn't following their own regs and the IG is probably the only way you can get them to do their job. AFPC basically told my MPS that they didn't want to set a precedent by "deigning" to process my application while I'm deployed. side note: If I followed my regs like AFPC, I wouldn't have wings anymore.

Unfortunately for me when I called AFPC to check on my application after they'd had it for two months, and I told the guy I was deployed, he cancelled my applictation. Not denied/approved, but just closed it. He said it's because I'm deployed and they can't touch me and to re-apply when I get back stateside. When I pointed out that the reg says exception for aircrew underneath the caveat that you can't be deployed and apply or can't be deployed while you have an application pending, he just told me that there's a draft IC in the works that clarifies it to TDY for 30 days or less for aircrew. Standing by for words from the IG because generally, we don't follow draft guidance... Happy Holidays to me!

I guess my assumption was that this person had been flying said plane for a while, then did something so heinous as to potentially drive an FEB. (Clearly I don't know the details) I realize there are people who wash out of initial qual courses, and while still relatively rare in the rated world, it happens. Yes, pilots have varying skill levels, I never said they didn't (that's what track-specific out of UPT meant). My point was that it seems akin to the thought process that when somebody in UPT isn't very good, leadership says "it's okay, we'll just send them T-1s and they'll have an AC to watch over them!" What about when it comes time to upgrade to AC themselves? Do you trust somebody to lead a crew of up to 40 if they could barely fly a T-6? and yes, hopefully they will have grown as a pilot and developed their flying skills in the interim, but I feel like it was used as a crutch sometimes, when before SUPT, that person would have washed out.

It was bro-speak that I got (fairly removed) from someone who is a WG exec (Maj type). I believe it's all his personal analysis, so definitely not AFPC (although let's be honest, those guys have no clue what's going on in the AF right now)

just wow. This is akin to the argument of "we need good pilots in every platform!" If they're not good enough to fly anything (track-specific) out of UPT, they shouldn't be graduating. If they're bad enough to warrant an FEB, they probably shouldn't be flying anything.

2!

I got an e-mail the other day about this. The attachment is pretty long and in-depth, so I didn't glean too much from it (although I know enough about statistics to know that you can get them to back up almost any hypothesis), but the originator of the e-mail had this to say: "It seems like AFPC doesn't always show us their manning cards, but fortune favors the bold. Attached is an analysis that someone took some time compiling. It definitely puts to rest some of the WOMs we've been hearing, so take a look at your leisure. Here's a Cliff Notes version if you want a quick snapshot: The overall Aviator Retention Pay (ARP) so far is 68%; however, if you dig through the tables, Fighter take rate last year was 59% and this year is 62%. Now, if you look at the number of eligible fighter pilots, it is 211 with 131 takers. I don't think this number includes those who are getting out (eligible until they drop their paperwork for Palace Chase, 7-day opt or 3-day Deployment opt). Taking that into account would drop that percentage to a more realistic number. Overall fighter pilot loss for FY13 (up to 30 Sept 13) is 59%. Out of 461 eligible, 276 got out. Now, take the original 131 takers of the bonus and divide that by 461 (most eligible to get out also are eligible to take the bonus assuming they are on a 10 yr pilot training commitment). The more accurate bonus take rate is about 28%. Since 2011 our continuation rate is dropping as well as our average active rated service. Basically, 60% are getting out, only 28% are taking the bonus and our overall continuation rate is dropping. So, this paper validates that 11F manning will continue to be a problem for AFPC and that the increased bonus is not meeting their intent. Remember, AFPC wanted a 65% take rate for the bonus, and is not achieving near that number of fighter pilots. Something will have to give and something has to change. What that is, who knows...your guess is as good as mine. Can we really sustain our current fighter force with 60% getting out?? Please share this with the bros as you see fit. I hope my queepery gives ya'll some SA on what our career field is facing." I'll post the actual document once I figure out how. the internet is hard.

I just heard of this same thing with someone else. He got a call saying denied, but...they ended up moving his date back 6 months to get rid of TA ADSC and right at 1.5 years left on UPT ADSC. (I'm not sure if the ADSCs are why they moved them back, I just know those are the ones he had). I'm hoping this is good news for me as I should have a decision in the next 5 weeks, and my separation date has me right at 1.5 yrs UPT (but 2.5 GI Bill transfer...)

Did you tell him you didn't have a deck since you're not on a BO-AT? What a douche. I hope nobody flew that day for busted crew rest.

This is no joke. I called the Lt Director of Staff to ask about my PC app, and she not so politely asked if I'd contacted my Group yet. Umm, no, my SQ/CC already coordinated with him (to my dismay) and it's on your boss' desk, not theirs. Un-effing believable!

Yuuupp!!

^^I've been wondering about this too. I wasn't sure if it was quite IG-worthy

From 36-3205 1.5. Active Duty Air Force Losing Commander. the Squadron commander for enlisted members, the Wing or comparable commander for officers: 1.5.1. Completes the first endorsement of the enlisted and officers’ AF Form 1288 within two weeks. 1.5.2. Completes section III of AF Form 780 for officers within two weeks. 1.5.3. Describes the applicant's service, if recommending approval. 1.5.4. Provides a full explanation, if recommending denial. 1.5.5. Ensures the applicant does not go on TDY during the application process without coordination with MPF relocations element (see paragraph 1.4.13.). I read this as the WG/CC has two weeks to either recommend approval or denial of your PC package. (of course, I could be wrong). Also, should we take bets on whether or not TDY coordination is being done since my application is still on the WG/CC's desk and I'm going TDY in 6 weeks through my requested separation date? It most likely won't matter as I'm expecting it to get denied (still 3 years ADSC for GI Bill, but only 2 for UPT!), but it will be an utter sh!tshow if it magically gets approved. Side note, is anyone else's OG/CC trying to insert themselves into the mix? Ours was apparently disgruntled becauase 5 or 6 applications went up to the WG/CC and he hadn't seen them. Not sure if he knows that he isn't actually part of the process or not... edit for terrible cut and paste skills

That's the question: if he wants the death penalty so he can still be a martyr, what do you do? Withhold it so he doesn't achieve his goal, or give him the death penalty (that he deserves) and potentially make him happy?

So I was bored on AF Portal waiting for them to post the Oct 13 increments when I decided to scroll down and read the comments. Then I saw this gem: "You can view officer manning by grade (authorized and assigned) and then break out manning by AFSC on this site: https://www.thrmistest.hq.af.mil/scripts/thrmis_report_loader.asp?ReportID=826" "Mr. McCarthy, Thank you for posting that link. Can you explain it a little bit? It looks like the AF is about ~1300 Majors under authorized end strength for FY14. Am I reading that correctly?" I'm assuming you need a CAC to access the report, but maybe not. The kicker is this: if the AF is under authorized end strength by ~1300 Majors, and there are still 1220 Capts that need to pin on just from LAF, what are the chances the remaining will pin on in Oct after a new FY has started? Or will it just be 113 again like every month since forever? It'll prolly be the latter, but still-what the eff is going on?

Yep, I'll be submitting my Palace Chase paperwork in a week and a half (which will get denied), and then I will keep applying until it's approved or my ADSC is up anyway.

So I'm guessing late 2016 is when AFPC will start thinking about their force management policies wrt pilots. Gee, it's really too bad my ADSC will be up by then, I'm really going to miss the leadership by knee-jerk! I really hope his last sentence was sarcastic.