Stoker

Yeah, they made it clear in the briefing the 340th gave us that they couldn't force you to do the TDART deal. And, there's always the possibility of it being scrapped for an AGR gig by the time you graduate.

Wouldn't be the first time the 340th told people one thing and did another, probably won't be the last.

For Reserves, the squadron in charge of the training pipeline told me it was having earned your PPL within the past three years (i.e. presumably if I had earned mine five years ago and not flown significantly since I'd have to go to IFT).

I'm at OTS right now, at least half the class is prior enlisted. Not sure what the numbers are like for applicants though, there could be a ton more prior-Es applying, making the process more competitive for them. There's at least one 40 year old prior-E here, so it's not impossible. Just difficult, and you're gambling an enlistment on everything lining up perfectly for you.

Yeah, GS-9 is not super exciting. Once I finish the training pipeline I'm looking at an $8,000 effective paycut going from O-1, <2 years, to GS-9. More, if what I've heard is true about having to take local residency while an ART and I lose my current no-income-tax-state residency. It's even worse when comparing O-2, >2 years, something like $20k difference. Guess it's a nice incentive to volunteer for lots of trips and deployments early on?

Rush squadrons, don't be a tool, and you should easily get picked up by a tanker / transport squadron. Some might not want to do age waivers, but I'm guessing most will.

Eh, I'd rather have ~$1200 a month tax free (collecting based on my HOR rate) and a small studio apartment, than a house and no money.

From the 340th FTG during inprocessing at Randolph a few weeks ago. Due to being Reserve and having a spouse and lease elsewhere. I know it seems contrary to the what the regs say, but they were firm that it would be allowed.

Good to know, just making sure. I'm told that I can live in the UOQ and collect full BAH, so it's not a matter of renting a room off base to save money. Weekend trips are definitely planned, but I'm operating on the assumption that there will be times when it would be nice to see each other but I won't have the time to get away.

At the risk of deviating from transport-related questions here, what's the current situation for overnight visitors in the UOQs at Columbus? I'm married, planning on doing UPT unaccompanied, and am told that I'll be able to collect BAH while in the UOQ (since I'm a Reservist with a lease elsewhere), but I'd prefer my spouse be able to visit on the occasional weekend. Seems like it's prohibited by the AFI unless otherwise authorized. Is it allowed (officially or otherwise), or should I just expect to spring for an off-base hotel when she visits?

The very first line he caveats that it's an unfounded theory with no evidence. Not much onus for a citation after that.

I don't think it's a consideration. They know that a certain percentage of selects are going to not end up going to OTS/UPT for medical or other reasons. I'm not even sure they'll send you to get your FC1 until board selected, I'm a little hazy on it but for me the ball didn't start rolling until after.

You shouldnt wait (why would you?), but you only need to have MEPS cleared to make the board.

Yeah, it's not like these guys have a record for brutality against, well, really anyone not in their immediate group, going back since before Elphinstone started marching out of Kabul in 1842.

You can try to get an Exception to Policy, but it ain't gonna happen unless you've got some pull with a US Senator or the President to push the right buttons for you.

Yes, a lot of squadrons will let you apply when you're withing a year of graduation.

They charged him as if he deserted in peacetime, so that the death penalty was off the table.

Not exactly ideal, but shouldn't you be able to mil-comp your CPL and go tow banners or something along those lines?

It'd probably take a flag officer flying around basically reenacting the role of the Bobs from Office Space ("What is it you'd say you... do... here?"), but it could be done. I'm surprised the Navy doesn't have something similar for alleviating their shipboard manning problems, just a rear admiral going from shore posting to shore posting finding the manpower that's been squirelled away for some reason or another.

Don't know about the age waiver, but as I understand it Lasik/PRK only has a six month wait now.

How many hours to get your PCSM into the 80s? I'd say if you can get it there you have a much better shot. Retaking the AFOQT and TBAS after you get some hours might help your scores as well. Especially since you're going to need an age waiver, and a relatively "big" one too (you'll be 33, at least, by the time you start training).

We've been under a state of emergency for the past 38 years due to the Iran hostage crisis. Last I checked, those hostages were returned a while back. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Emergency_Economic_Powers_Act#Current_subjects_of_IEEPA_emergencies

The technician at Wright-Pat told me that so long as you weren't significantly over the height-weight standards, you'd be fine. I busted my limit at MEPS (by 1 pound!) so I was sweating it a bit. Seems like they really only weigh you to make sure you're within the T-6 weight limits (I think 245 lbs?).

I've seen some squadrons that allow applications as far as a year out from graduation, so you've got some hope there I suppose. I'd definitely be taking summer classes and trying to graduate ASAP so that you avoid as much of an age issue as you can.

Asks advice on Friday, gets hired on Monday. That's a pretty fast result! Congrats.