VigilanteNav

I'm currently an AFROTC Det CC. I don't believe you should be considered prior service but I could be wrong in terms of how the Reserves look at you and on the medical side. When you contracted for the scholarship, you did enlist in the AF Reserves as an E-1, 2, or 3 depending on some factors. However, that was not active service time. When you were disenrolled, the contract was terminated and that should have been it. Now on the medical side, to contract for the scholarship, you would have been deemed medically qualified through the DoDMERB process. I believe that qualification would have expired by now as you said this is now years later. With some luck, maybe you won't have to go to MEPS and can just get the DoDMERB updated. Possibly that DoDMERB qualification is still viewable in the Reserves system and that is why they are saying you are prior service? I'm just guessing at that but I do know that Recruiters/Units/etc can have bad or not current info and use it to make bad decisions. I recommend to keep pressing the issue and possibly ask to talk to someone higher up if you are still getting the runaround. If at one point you were qualified for an AFROTC Type 1 scholarship, deemed medically qualified by DoDMERB, and now you have a degree, the Reserves would be very lucky to have you. If I may ask, what unit are you trying to join and what career field?

My two cents (maybe three since I'm in it to win it)... I was a Guard bubba (C-130 Slick Nav) and took a VLPAD 3 year tour (started July 2017) as a AFROTC Det CC. I had about 15 years total AD time when I started the tour so the long game was to get to the 20 year AD retirement. When the FY18 AvB Expanded Program was announced, I put in some questions to AFPC along the lines of "Hey, I'll sign a five year bonus if you just put me on AD and you can send me to whereveristan after my ROTC tour ends" to which I heard what amounts to crickets. Therefore, I believe AFPC currently has no program for anyone to go onto AD indefinitely from the ANG/AFRC. However, I wouldn't be surprised if they are considering it. So, it could open up anytime I suppose. During my AWC via correspondence course, one of the facilitators told me that is what got him to AD retirement (Reserve to Indef AD). Back to the Bonus issue for those scorekeeping at home, they gave me the bonus anyway until the end of the VLPAD tour. Yes, they gave me a bonus for doing what I was already committed to anyway (and for a rated position which actually no longer exists on active duty). I guess you could say I got a bonus for all those "Nav Bonus" jokes I got to listen to for all those years. For the original question, I recommend taking the VLPAD tour if they will give it to you and just consider yourself a "Free Agent" going forward. From where I sit on this VLPAD tour, I can start "negotiating" my next VLPAD tour about a year out from the end of this one assuming the program is still open. Yeah, no guarantees but I definitely hold the cards on the next assignment. If I don't like what they offer, I'll just go back into the AFRC/ANG. To be honest, is that all that bad? Cheers!

In the ANG, it's about a six month timeframe from when the unit submits the paperwork to getting the order. It's a byzantine process called Federal Recognition (Fed Rec) and I'm in no way qualified to explain it here. I've just watched the process unfold from the unit perspective enough times to know what the limfac is and the rough timeline. So, my story on a guard promotion is that I got off active duty with only four years TIG as a Capt. When I joined the Guard unit, they asked how much TIG I had and then without batting an eye told me they were submitting my promo paperwork. That was in November and I saw the promo order in April or May if I remember correctly. I also know a reservist who was passed over for O-5 on active duty and he's not only an O-5 now but also a squadron CC and could make O-6. Now, I would say that it will be best to find a unit that is under manned in your crew position. That will make the promo chances better as well as the opportunities for orders and a possible AGR tour.

I sure hope they can take advantage and do...and then properly invest it! I'm currently at the Rock and just saw a two-striper driving around some souped up muscle car...just shook my head. Unfortunately since I'm TDY, I couldn't pull up next to him in my '04 Volvo Wagon with dents and duck tape on one of the interior door handles and the transmission shifter. Would have been a great financial lesson...although probably would have gone way over his head.

Excess time on my hands...so cut and paste from the PSDM... Tier 9 bubbas... - AvB agreement of 3-years minimum which extends member to 22 YAS, 23 YAS, or 24 YAS; annual payments of $35,000 for Tier 1 community; $30,000 for Tier 3 community; or $28,000 for Tier 4 community - Aviators with greater than 21 YAS and less than or equal to 23 YAS at the time of contract signing may sign a new AvB contract that extends the aviator to 24 YAS. Aviators with greater than 23 YAS are not eligible for a new AvB contract in FY18 - In no case can contracts extend past 24 years YAS Cheers!

Termy, What a short-sighted decision on AFRC's part! They could have had the best recruiting officer for free. And, it hurts the AD as they can't get enough rated bubbas in those seats at a time they are plussing up rated accessions. You think a non-rated commander knows exactly what to say to a ROTC cadet to encourage them to go rated? In a weird, alternative universe kind of way, it appears to be easier to go VLPAD as a Guard bubba. I'm currently a ROTC Det CC on a VLPAD tour. We get our "release" up front when the TAG (The Adjutant General of our state) approves the letter that is required on our application for the program. So, once AFPC approves, we are a go. Sorry to rub it in, but just pointing this out for any other Guard bubbas who see this thread later. Anyone interested in the process can PM me. No complaints from me on the VLPAD program. Results may vary depending on the assignment though! Cheers, Wes

Anyone successfully got an ETP approved to be able to take the bonus...specifically, allowing you to go over the YAS limits as published? Or, alternative phrasing, since I assume the Take Rates will be lower than they anticipate/are funded for/need, will they be open to giving out ETPs to allow going over the published YAS limits? I can see why they have to put some limit on the YAS but if they are going to get the warm body that they need, why not grant an ETP? Any other old crusties in this boat and willing to give it a go? Yeah, yeah, I know they'll send me to the Died or worse for a year as soon as my ink dries on the ppwrk. But, I'm going with a long term play.

Hey Eli, PM me if you aren't getting the info you need. I'm a crusty ol' slick nav not on flying status now but still know a lot of peeps throughout the community. Your current ops bubbas should be in the know on the deployment schedule of other units too. Make sure your flight CC and unit approves of you to go over that timeframe first before you start shopping yourself around.

AYZ33, Ok, I wasn't sure what year you were in ROTC on my first post...but I think you should be able to do what you are wanting to do. In my current understanding of how HQ ROTC is rolling at this time, they can "flip" your AD EA to an ANG EA once the ANG unit tells them they have hired you (up to that max of 15 EAs per year). So, I think you can keep on track as you are for an AD Rated slot while trying to get hired by an ANG unit. As far as the unit being able to hire you for a 2020 gain date, I think they could do that but some units may be more apt (if they are short on pilots especially) to do it than others. Some might just tell you that you would have to interview in 2019. I don't know if HQ ROTC has a cutoff date (prior to the rated board, prior to commissioning date, etc) to make the flip. I can ask the next time there is a briefing on it and try to update this post. The ANG EAs for ROTC are all non-specific so HQ ROTC doesn't care what career field they are given out for.

As a current ROTC Det CC (Guard VLPAD'r), here's what I know about the process. First of all, you will need to get "hired" by the ANG unit before ROTC will give you the EA (Enrollment Authorization) that officially designates you as going to the ANG upon commissioning. You can't apply to the ANG in general. So, if you are hoping to join the ANG unit you currently belong to (or did) and they want you, that is a good start. As of the last briefing I got on this program (a couple weeks ago), the ANG gets 15 total EAs a year. Since the program in its current form is new and not well publicized, those 15 slots are not being fully utilized. So, you should have a decent shot at getting one (unless there has been a rush on them in the last couple weeks). From what I understand of the situation, the individual ANG units may have no idea about this program so you may need to educate them on it (PM me if you want ideas on that part). Knowing how up to speed the Guard Bureau is (A1 specifically), they might be giving out bad poop to the units so don't settle for some response like "we checked with the Bureau and they said the program doesn't exist (AKA, I'm too lazy to get off facebook and make a phone call)"...I once got promoted way earlier than I probably should have by not taking the first no for an answer and making a few calls. Good luck and I'd like to see this work too!

Seems to me that if you concur that there is really no solution (that is actually going to be executed beyond what the current "get well plan" see below) on the capes side then you have to lower the commitments side. https://www.c4isrnet.com/unmanned/uas/2017/06/06/air-force-rpa-get-well-plan-on-track/ So, CSAF needs to say the AF can only do 55 CAPs (pick a number lower than 60) and other entities need to pick up more if the total commitments cannot be lowered? As far as the other entities are concerned, is any other partner country getting into the RPA (with strike capes) biz? Canada, UK? (I am not a RPA bubba so just throwing my outside view 2 cents in)

Herkbum, I take it you are former Herk Driver turned RPA Driver? I'm a former Herk Nav turned ROTC Det CC and we just sent three new Lts to the RPA pipeline so I'm interested in the prospects for them. In reading the article you posted I thought of the old stories of the usage of Herks in the Desert. Remember taking a pallet of Stars and Stripes (or insert other very useful item here) from point A to point B only to have another Herk take that same pallet from point B back to point A. All in the name of ensuring the Combatant CC didn't lose any of their current assets due to lack of mission reqs. Any of this going on in the RPA world in the AOR....or, are all the missions very legit and required at this ops tempo? I have no knowledge of what is actual going on over there in this world so just throwing out the question.

In reviewing this whole thread, I didn't see anyone mention that you can now choose the ROTH TSP option for any TSP contributions. I will be upfront that I am a firm believer in ROTH IRAs (I chose that option as soon as it was first available around '97) and therefore jumped on the ROTH TSP option as soon as I saw it. <<CAVEAT: I am not a tax professional and am purely stating my opinions based on my own research and view of the world...your individual situation is not the same as mine and results will vary.>> I am gladly giving up any tax savings now to reap the tax free withdrawals when I'm retired (*tax free withdrawal of the gains too). Granted there are nasty articles out there now and again about how Congress could change the laws and go after our IRA accounts at some point but I choose to believe that won't happen and if it does I will meet you in DC with a pitchfork in hand. So, if you are a ROTH believer like I am then go to your TSP account and choose the ROTH option for future contributions. If I were a brand spanking new AF member in 2018, I would elect to contribute a minimum of 5% of my base pay to TSP to take advantage of the full matching under BRS (you are only auto-enrolled at 3% of base pay so you are "losing" out on free money if you do nothing) and I would designate it all as ROTH (see above for my take on the ROTH). Another comment to those unfamiliar with ROTH vs. Traditional retirement accounts is that I believe (quick google search on the topic can confirm) we are in a period in history where our effective Federal Tax rate is as low as ever (post 1940) (and that was before the recent Tax Cut Bill passed). So, would you rather pay taxes now at historically low rates or 20-30 years in the future when who knows what the rates will be (I might put some money on them being higher)? Another "fun" exercise you can do is start predicting your retirement income and what will be taxed or not taxed. For example, Soc Security payments (taxed), Military Retirement Pay (taxed), Traditional IRA/TSP withdrawals (taxed), etc. I bet you will be like ...hmmm, how could I get some retirement income that isn't being taxed. ROTH! There is also a "back door ROTH" contribution option out there. I have researched it but not executed on that. I probably would have to consult with a tax professional to ensure I did it correctly. On the "where to invest it" side of things, for the non-TSP accounts, a good book to read by novice investors (or like me...investors who have tried to beat the market and failed) is "The Intelligent Investor" by Benjamin Graham. Warren Buffett calls it "By far the best book on investing ever written". So, I would be way out of my league to try to provide any better recommendation of the book. I got the revised addition by Jason Zweig that provides up to date comments on each of the chapters to apply to current day investing (original edition was written in the '70s). It is on my iBooks so I can refer to it when I feel like doing some risky investing (AMZN, TSLA, Bitcoin...get my drift?). Cutting to the chase...previous thread comments on using Vanguard and other such low cost investing options are spot on. Take a look at www.betterment.com as well for hands off investing (robo advising) at low cost. Final comments/thread hijack if you will, if anyone really wants to ramp up their savings and even retire "early", I really recommend Mr. Money Mustache's site (I found it through another Baseops Forum post)... https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/ Few things I'm executing on per the advice from the website...I'm renting a house that is well below my BAH (I'm on a three year VLPAD EAD tour so no reason to buy where I'm at), I'm renting out the house I own at my previous location for well over my monthly mortgage payment, I can walk or bike to my office and do most of the time, I rarely eat out (thank you to my wonderful wife for all the amazing meals!), and paying myself first (IRAs, TSP, and now an early retirement fund).

I recommend contacting the units (start at their Recruiting office first) you would like to join and finding out if they have an upcoming board. They are likely unaware of this program so you'll have to explain it. They also may be only be considering candidates with their degrees in hand. But, you may be able to convince them to take a look at you and this program with the right attitude and credentials. The pilots in the unit might not care but the recruiting office should be happy as it will save the unit an OTS slot. If one (or ten) unit(s) says no, don't let it stop you. Many future Guard and Reserve Pilots interview at many units before finding the right fit.

Where do you want to live/what type of airframe do you want to fly?

As an ANG C-130H nav, there are definitely training events that could be reduced/eliminated from a pilot's current readiness requirements to allow them to maintain a fully mission ready status with less days required at their unit (given the current real world ops requirements). Additionally, it would be an outright boon to morale and retention to eliminate the Afghan Air Advisor mission (or contract it out if it will continue). If not entirely familiar with this, let me know and I can elaborate. It could decimate the instructor force in the ANG the longer it goes. Guys will go to the desert for 60 or 120 days with their units but there are not many who will go for 180 to fly as Afghan Air Force crew members.

Rebooting this thread with the recent release of the FY2017 Force Structure Changes... http://www.afrc.af.mil/News/tabid/5048/Article/655595/af-officials-announce-fy-2017-budget-force-structure-changes.aspx Of note on the MAF side, Charlotte and Elmo (Guard) and Pittsburgh (AFRC) go from Herks to Budas. And Baltimore gets Herks in FY20 when the Hawgs go to the boneyard (maybe). Of course, until this all changes again.