It's actually $180.17 per month. Free for 90 days before you deploy for an OEF/OIF trip of more than 30 days, plus the 180 days after you get back. Thanks, NGAUS for the congressional lobby!

Hopefully they are successful in getting Title 32 included in the Post 9/11 Bill and the reduced retirement benefits!

Thank you very much for those of you who have replied to my thread I appreciate the insight greatly.

Also, I would like to encourage anyone who is working as a guard or reserve pilot and an airline pilot to comment on your qol/schedule. What does a typical month look like?

Thanks!

Thank you very much for those of you who have replied to my thread I appreciate the insight greatly.

What does a typical month look like?

Thanks!

Here's a typical year, filled with typical months.

I couldn't resist.

Here's a typical year, filled with typical months.

I couldn't resist.

Hmmm I see I see. Not really a lot unlike my typical year.

Bumming doesn't sound easy.

Bumming doesn't sound easy.

Beats the alternative.

Bumming doesn't sound easy.

Actually, depending your life/financial situation it can be the best thing going! I have regularly been able to get ~8 months of pay days, without even trying that hard. It was nice, as a captain, to make 65-70k, have 4 full months off, and not pay a dime for tricare (all w/o deploying). Being able to just up and leave for 4 weeks to do whatever I wanted, was awesome! It also provided plenty of time to build up some residual income opportunities. I would still be doing it if I hadn't gone to the airlines.

Of course, being single/no kids helps! Although, if your spouse has a decent job, it can still give you a great QOL.

Edited September 28, 201411 yr by SocialD

It just seems that you have to be on the road to make money which gets old. Fighters can't bum unless you have an alert. Tankers might be the happy medium since they can support a lot of local flights.

It just seems that you have to be on the road to make money which gets old.

i dont suggest the airlines then ;)

i dont suggest the airlines then ;)

Lol, unless you live in base and can milk being on reserve :)

Lol, unless you live in base and can milk being on reserve :)

haha you dog! got it all figured out eh

Actually, depending your life/financial situation it can be the best thing going! I have regularly been able to get ~8 months of pay days, without even trying that hard. It was nice, as a captain, to make 65-70k, have 4 full months off, and not pay a dime for tricare (all w/o deploying). Being able to just up and leave for 4 weeks to do whatever I wanted, was awesome! It also provided plenty of time to build up some residual income opportunities. I would still be doing it if I hadn't gone to the airlines.

Of course, being single/no kids helps! Although, if your spouse has a decent job, it can still give you a great QOL.

This sounds like the total opposite of what Hindsight said. Of course being a captain can change that.

What would you guys say is the best aircraft or mission for being a "full-time" guard bum? I'd like to make at least $50k+ bumming. I'm married, no kids.

Someone on an older post said C-5 peeps were making 60k plus per diem. Units were offering 14 day orders a month.

Bumming in an RPA unit could be fruitful. It appears to be much better than when I was bumming in a Herk unit.

Wouldn't 24 hours of operations help? How are you liking it? Seems like the schedule is the worst thing for a full timer but a good thing for the part time guys.

I'm a full-timer.

We have been doing the job deployed for almost 3 yrs- most traveling once a month for at least a week at a time. This sucks! I'm gone more now than when we were Herks- 120 days last year, and that's on the lower end compared to many others. We hope this will be done by end of the month. But the pay opportunities for the part-timer are crazy compared to my bumming days. I would have killed for the amount of pay days that are available now.

As a full-timer, I'm looking forward to the homestation ops. No more terrible 12's- 12 straight days of work when we have drill wknd. The schedule is going to be much more palatable and I'll get to spend more time with my family.

Edited March 14, 201510 yr by herkbum

But you will have to work more nights and weekends since it's shift work correct?

Likely, but with the schedule we are doing, I'll be working less. My kids are small enough that weekday or weekend, doesn't really matter.

What would you guys say is the best aircraft or mission for being a "full-time" guard bum? I'd like to make at least $50k+ bumming. I'm married, no kids.

What about SAR? I'd bet you have to be a full timer to sit alert. But it seems like that mission gets plenty of action.

I think AK is the only rescue unit that still sits alert for SAR.

I know the -135 community (at least my unit) is full tilt right now. As many days/trips as you want. Easy for a senior captain to top $90k.

Gents, quick question. Im fresh off AD and was curious if there was any way to take advantage of leave earned while at a formal school? Do you have to get your orders extended to cover the time period you would be on leave? Is this even possible or is the only option to sell it back when your orders are up?

I've only had contingency orders extended to cover my leave days. Keep in mind, you can sell back more than 60 days in your career (if that's your concern). Leave sold from contingency orders and I'm pretty sure any order less than 1 year, don't count toward your 60 day limit.

Edited March 22, 201510 yr by SocialD

I know the -135 community (at least my unit) is full tilt right now. As many days/trips as you want. Easy for a senior captain to top $90k.

How many days away from home?