Light Chop

So if you get the VSP, and then later draw a military retirement or disability from the VA, the retirement/disability payments are reduced until the whole VSP amount is paid back. The problem I see in that is that when you receive the VSP in 2014, you pay income tax on that amount for your CY '14 taxes. Someone mentioned on here that if you receive the VSP and then later have to pay it back, it is like receiving an interest free loan for X number of years. However, wouldn't it be more like a <insert your CY 14 tax bracket amount> loan? Doesn't seem like all the great a deal *financially speaking* unless you could account for the re-payments 30 years from now by taking a deduction for the amount you've paid back to the gov't... edited to add the assumed *financial* impracticality. If all you're looking to do is get out and don't care about the money (or plan on drawing a mil retirement down the line), it is a great deal.

Updated...middle of the PACAF TFI base... We're the little spoon in the TFI relationship....and just found out it is a Navy reg....and we have to abide by it. After a lot of commotion from yesterday's e-mail, there was a clarification e-mail that was sent out today...bold/italics for emhasis: "IAW Navy HHQ regulations (CNICI 5530.14, CNIC Ashore Protection Program), cellular phones can be used on base when using hands free devices. Hands free devices include console/dash mounted or otherwise secured cellular phones with integrated features such as voice activation, speed dial, speakerphone or other similar technology for sending and receiving calls. There is no requirement that it be built into the vehicle. However, driver use of any portable, personal listening device worn inside the aural canal, around or covering the driver’s ear (including wired or wireless earphones and headphones, Bluetooth® or similar technology) is not authorized on base while operating a motor vehicle, except for fire and emergency response or law enforcement/security purposes. Hearing aids or devices designed and required for hearing enhancement are exempt from this prohibition. As for the penalty, violation of the cell phone policy on xxxxx warrants a mandatory Joint Base Traffic Court appearance. It is up to the Traffic Court Administrator to determine what sanctions to impose. However, three points will be assessed against a driver's base driving record for violations of the cell phone policy. Ladies and gentelmen of the jury, exhibit 448 as to why joint basing is less than desirable....

I didn't see any other categoies other than the "WTF" thread perhaps...mods, move if you see fit. Received this gem of any e-mail today. I'm curious if this is a AF-wide push or the result of being the smaller unit in this awesome joint-basing experience... "Effective immediately, you cannot operate a motor vehicle on base while using a Bluetooth ear piece. According to Security Forces, the only acceptable hands free device is one that is built into your vehicle. The first infraction for getting caught operating a motor vehicle on base while using a cell phone or an ear piece is losing your base driving privileges for 7 days. The second offense would result in a 30 day suspension of your base driving privileges. Please ensure your folks are made aware of this, thank you!" edit for the size of the font

Revival: Anyone have an Amex Gold or Platinum card? There are two gold cards...depending on the reward percentages the annual fee is $125 or $175 while the platinum is $450 a year. While the main purpose for me is to go to Costco, they both have advance purchase capabilities for ticketmaster events (ever try logging on to ticketmaster as soon as tickets go on sale to find out you're already in nosebleeds?) and the platinum has several more, to include free access to all the airline lounges at the airports, no matter the class of ticket purchased. My wife and I travel enough on the civil side to get our monies worth...but are the lounges alone worth the annual fee? The platinum has a concierge, which may be nice, but I'm already used to herding cats and can fend for myself when it comes to planning an evening. The platinum also has free companion tickets....free companion ticket when you buy a business or first class unrestricted ticket... Both are "Charge" cards...so balance must be paid off at the end of the month...a non-factor for us.

Altus allowed me to "check-out" of my room for x-mas leave. All my stuff stayed in the room, but I had to turn the room key in. That way I would not accrue 8 days of lodging fees that I would eventually have to pay out of pocket for. You aren't entitled to per diem (food and lodging) while in a leave status.

I've already got my wings and am currently flying in my MWS (multi-crew member aircraft...not pointy nose type). I've suffered many ankle sprains playing football in college. The orthopedic surgeon at one time suggested that I would need to seriously look into have a "modified brostrum" procedure to be performed on my ankle. If I lay down on a table, with my ankle overhanging the edge, all a doctor would have to do is place his one hand and push down on my shin, and with the other, pull up behind the heel and see my enitre foot slip up and down about a good inch or so. I guess this is due to the amount and number of times the ligaments on the outer portion of the leg have been stretched. I can do low impact cardio (nautilus machine)...and only do running when absolutely required (PT test and wing "fun runs"). I can do the low impact stuff without any problems, but running has been, and is increasingly growing more and more painful. My question is this: If all the above info is mentioned to a flight doc, is there a possibility that I will be grounded until this is surgically corrected? I ask because at one time I was told that "ankle instability" can be grounds for DQ, but this was mentioed prior to me receiving my wings. Is it possible that I can have it documented that due to this issue, I would not have to run, but perform all other physical tasks required (nautilus in the place of running?) Or, would I open a can of worms and risk a LONG TERM DNIF (6 months or more with a surgery, rehab, and requal in the jet) if I go to the doc. I am of the type that I will not go tot he flight doc unless my left nut is falling off, but being in my mid 20s and my ankle gradally getting worse, I am contemplating my "don't go to the flight doc" policy. Thanks for the help in advance.

*Searched this site as well as the 800 pages of JTR and 450 pages of AFI 36-2110 to no avail* (so if i missed it, I apologize) I just PCSed and was given 6 travel days. I intentionally took 7 days to PCS knowing I would be charged a day of leave. So I was surprised to see on my May LES that I had been charged 3 days of leave. So I went into finance and after waiting for over an hour to talk to them, I was told that it was because I had singed out of my previous base on a friday afternoon - even though I didn't start driving until about 0600 monday (I've got the rental truck receipt from Budget showing I picked up the truck on Saturday...but no proof for sunday). So they charged me for leave for Saturday and Sunday as well as the additonal day I knew I was taking. I was told that I had to "sign out" of the losing unit the same day I start travel in order to not be charged any leave (even though I was on the road before the MPF opened so i could be through the monday morning traffic) So I called back my old base (which had told me that it was ok and customary for people to sign out the day before they start driving...and in my case, I could sign out on Friday close to COB for a monday departure). They again confirmed what they had previously told me. (I had also used this maneuver on a previous PCS with no issues, and no additional leave charged). So, I again went back to finance here at the gaining base and again waited over an hour with rental truck receipt in hand (to show I was still at my duty station that weekend and that I wasn;t just trying to get a few free days of leave), and the finance person seemed rather irritated that I was asking her to point out where in the reg that I had to "sign-out" the same day I started driving. She told me she didn;t know where it was but could probably e-mail it to me "later". All right, I know it is only 2 days of leave here, but after spending over 2 hours in finance trying to get answers, and having the supposed SME tell me she didn't know where in the reg it stated what she was claiming and that she would have to find it, it is now a matter of principle (and as of right now, she is subjectively charging me 2 days of leave). Has anyone else signed out at COB and then left the next morning? Does anyone know of another AFI that could provide guidance. My squadron is deployed and only a few CGOs are around (so no ADOs who can go into leave web and "fix the glitch").

Bendy- Totally agree with your counterpoint- "but not at the expense of gettin f- over" Agreed- We shouldn't take it in the exhaust before raising a fit. Let me clarify the last sentence, if i may. I'm just asking people (some - not all - aircrew) not to kick doors down, guns-a-blazin before they dismiss the posibility that the person they're talking to is actually willing to help them.

I agree with the posts that complain of apathy in non-flying career fields in the GENERAL sense (whose primary responsibility is to support aircrew - or the "mission" in the bigger sense). However, as a former shoeclerk (acquisition officer who was at the ass end of the spear; yet worked to directly support aircrew - i.e. give Link 16 for the fighter folks or BLOS to the bomber dudes (those who have worked with it know what I am talking about) please give people you haven;t had a run in with the benefit of the doubt. I've seen both sides...and as an acquisition officer, nothing turned me more bitter towards aircrew (a person who I was so desperately trying to become) than those who didn't know me or what I was trying to do to help them - ***** or complain to me. They became nothing more than a prime example of something that I did NOT want to be should I be fortunate enough to become a pilot. And now as a pilot, I still try my best to keep my promise (unless that above mentioned apathy kicks in and there is absolutely no excuse for being stupid). Give people a chance until you know personally they dont't give a f---. Not ALL shoeclerk folks suck. From the outside, most pilots are viewed as pompous asses...prove 'em wrong until they f- you over.

I had a Jepp one that ran about $115 or so. The damn thing fell apart. A lot of the stiching that kept the straps in place came undone. The zippers are also INT. They would glide along the track but they wouldn;t necessarily close the zipper. Stay away from Jepp...just paying for the name just my 20 centavos

About a year after graduation from the zoo, I turned to USAA to get an auto loan for approx $15k. They declined my application because of the combination of A) Already having the academy loan with them and B) a "lack of credit history" (even though my score was great). So, i went back to the dealership and was a bit nervous cause i had the car all picked out. So the dealership shopped around for me and got my loan through Chase Auto Finance. (at 4.5% mind you..not a bad rate at all). So, I was a bit disappointed in USAA for that...and what shocked me was shortly after getting financed through Chase and driving away, I kept getting the e-mails, hyperlinks whenever I logged into USAA, or the insurance agent asking if I needed to be transfered to the bank for a loan that i was pre-approved for after I was done talking to them about renter's/auto insurance. I am kind of anxious to see what happens when I apply for the mortgage in a few months (declined again and forced to go local bank or what?). That's been my experience for loans with them..but renter's and auto insurance have been great otherwise.

IIRC, the JFTR stipulates the TDY pay/reimbursements. The $35/pers or $70 total was in effect when I was there (as mentioned above). They claimed lack of funds for the restriction - but the 20 or so 42" plasma screens peppered through the squadron sure were nice. ( I know...different colors of money). My guess is the AETC waiver is the reason.