Wish they would amend PC and let you apply while deployed

I'm not sure if this is good news or not, but this is the response I got from AFPC via email...

"If you are RIF eligible your guidance for applying for VSP is under PSDM 13-130 not 14-08. That PSDM does not refer to 13-65 so you could apply for VSP."

Well, it's not bad news.

I'm not sure if this is good news or not, but this is the response I got from AFPC via email...

"If you are RIF eligible your guidance for applying for VSP is under PSDM 13-130 not 14-08. That PSDM does not refer to 13-65 so you could apply for VSP."

Except for the pesky guy who runs the separations branch who says different...

I am pretty sure thursday morning looked like this

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152616439494768&set=vb.525114767&type=2&theater&notif_t=like

I am deployed now and submitted my VSP application on Thursday morning. My SQ/CC was pretty quick to approve it that day and send it up but it is still pending review with the Wing/CC per the status page as of Saturday. I have no idea if he is on leave or not in the office since I am not there but I would have hoped it would have been sent up already to AFPC. Maybe he is taking the weekend to sort through all of the crap or maybe his computer crashed with all of the applications he received. I just want to get out!

I am pretty sure thursday morning looked like this

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152616439494768&set=vb.525114767&type=2&theater&notif_t=like

A link to a Big Bang Theory video on Facebook? Kindly never post this shit again.

A link to a Big Bang Theory video on Facebook? Kindly never post this shit again.

You do realize that your constant CSPAN tl;dr spam is pretty annoying, right?

You serious? He posts primary sources rather than random rumor like the rest of this board. You should appreciate it.

Except for the pesky guy who runs the separations branch who says different...

I would have to agree, but AFPC did put out a detailed reg with a detailed timeline for the RIF. Year groups are broken down into specific groups with different identifiers and Commanders have already started putting together RRF packages for a ton of guys that have UPT ADSC's left. I do have faith that if we are eligible for the RIF we will be eligible for the VSP based on comments made by General Welsh so if everything is right with the RIF then we have a shot at the VSP. I'm just worried that they are going to come back and say no pilots are eligible for the RIF or for the VSP. If they do there will be a lot of pissed off pilots, but more importantly a lot of pissed off Commanders that had their staff wasting time on useless RRF packages because AFPC can't seem to just get it right the first time, EVER.

because AFPC can't seem to just get it right the first time, EVER.

or the second, third, fourth, fifth...

I got the "hot for a hot 365" email recently. If any fellow VSP/RIF'ers are experiencing this, please PM and we can compare notes about the vague verbiage on 365s.

I'm not sure if this is good news or not, but this is the response I got from AFPC via email...

"If you are RIF eligible your guidance for applying for VSP is under PSDM 13-130 not 14-08. That PSDM does not refer to 13-65 so you could apply for VSP."

Same info I got from TFSC phone call. Let's hope it's true and they don't figure what ADSCs aren't waiverable first.

The fact that the AF still uses 365s at the pace we do is total and complete bullshit. Those were started at the peak of OIF and OEF as a stopgap measure to appease the Army who hated our shorter deployment lengths. Now that we've reduced the manning demand so significantly, we should kill all 365s and go back to the way it was. What a morale killer. But hard to put that genie back in the bottle.

I got the "hot for a hot 365" email recently. If any fellow VSP/RIF'ers are experiencing this, please PM and we can compare notes about the vague verbiage on 365s.

I went through it about 9 months ago. The email is a shot across the bow, not a tasking letter, so you should be OK to apply. If you want more info, PM me.

If you got the email, you need to get smart on the AFI concerning I-TDY's real quick and update your TDY history in vMPF. Now.

I got the "hot for a hot 365" email recently. If any fellow VSP/RIF'ers are experiencing this, please PM and we can compare notes about the vague verbiage on 365s.

Didn't they sell it to you as an 'opportunity'?

Forgot to add: "Have I got a deal for you!"

Edited February 8, 201411 yr by HeloDude

Same info I got from TFSC phone call. Let's hope it's true and they don't figure what ADSCs aren't waiverable first.

I called again for the hell of it and got the same answer that I received in my email. She made it clear that if you fall under the RIF Eligibility Matrix you are to follow the guidance found in 13-130 and as of right now you are eligible to apply for VSP. She said everyone else that does not fall under the RIF Eligibility Matrix is to use 14-08 which does drive you to 13-65 that states UPT ADSC commitments won't be waived. As of this time she said she could not confirm or deny whether those of us that apply for VSP under 13-130 will have our UPT ADSC's waived, but as mentioned before she said those interested should still apply while they wait for word from the "Air Staff" as to whether they will be waived or not. It's still a shitty answer and sad that they can't decide who they will let out before they tell us to apply, but at least there's still a chance.

at this point it's just a waiting game....

if you want to apply, apply...if you don't, don't.

If you write a letter to the RIF board you will still get paid. A pilot I know did it during the last RIF.

Anybody know the official word on whether they will pay separation pay if you write a Do Not Retain Me letter to the RIF board?

I went through it about 9 months ago. The email is a shot across the bow, not a tasking letter, so you should be OK to apply. If you want more info, PM me.

If you got the email, you need to get smart on the AFI concerning I-TDY's real quick and update your TDY history in vMPF. Now.

Applied. (had a couple minutes of really high blood pressure when I got the email on the 5th until I figured out it was NOT a tasker and I could still apply for VSP)

Duty history update done.

Just trying to figure out if there's anyway they can deny VSP if I'm tasked now.

Also, trying to figure out the odds of getting a 365 based on this from 13-130:

 On/After Official Public Announcement: PCS and ED selections will be considered and made on a case by case basis. RIF-eligible officers who are currently projected for an ED will be reviewed on a case by case basis for possible ED cancellation and replacement action.

Applied. (had a couple minutes of really high blood pressure when I got the email on the 5th until I figured out it was NOT a tasker and I could still apply for VSP)

Duty history update done.

Just trying to figure out if there's anyway they can deny VSP if I'm tasked now.

Also, trying to figure out the odds of getting a 365 based on this from 13-130:

 On/After Official Public Announcement: PCS and ED selections will be considered and made on a case by case basis. RIF-eligible officers who are currently projected for an ED will be reviewed on a case by case basis for possible ED cancellation and replacement action.

Assuming two things: 1 - We're VSP eligible because we're RIF eligible. 2- The AF holds to "if you're denied a Voluntary Program, you're no longer RIF eligible".

If those turn out to be true, you're still on the hook for the 365 when your VSP gets denied, unless you apply for Palace Chase and that's denied too. With the sh*t show that is A1, and with a 365 waiting to drop, I'd plan for the worst with respect to VSP and get a strong backup plan. If you don't mind me asking, what's your Short Tour Return Date? AFPC is moving down the 365 list faster than 1:1, and I'm interested to see how far they've gone since I got notified.

Anybody know the official word on whether they will pay separation pay if you write a Do Not Retain Me letter to the RIF board?

AFI 36-3208 Administrative Separation of Airmen, Chapter 9 Separation Pay, Section 9.1.2

"9.1. General Procedures. All the basic criteria below defining eligibility for separation pay

must be met before a member is eligible for payment

9.1.2. The member must not separate at his/her own request"

It lists a ton of considerations of what it gives as "his/her own request" which aren't covered in a RIF, but writing a DNR letter is pretty much the above.

VVVVVVVVV well there ya have it folks.

Edited February 8, 201411 yr by xaarman

Yes you still get paid if you write a letter. I still believe those of us with 11M on our app have a shot, everybody at afpc says we are overmanned, they just have to put it in writing now.

"The member is separated from active duty at the member's own request. The following are considered to be separations at the member's own request: A member declines training that the Military Service offers to qualify for a new skill or rating as a precondition to reenlistment or continuation on active duty; A member requests separation under regulations established by the Secretary of the Military Service concerned; a Reserve officer declines a Regular appointment at the mandatory integration point."

Ref: https://militarypay.defense.gov/Benefits/separation/

This is what I found that gave me a warm fuzzy about writing a "do not retain" me letter. You have to decline a training RIP or voluntarily apply for separation via the normal AFIs. IMHO A RIF board is considered "involuntary separation" even if you raise your hand and say you'd like to be RIFed. At this point, I'm seriously looking into the VSP because I have lost complete faith in the leadership of this organization.

I went through it about 9 months ago. The email is a shot across the bow, not a tasking letter, so you should be OK to apply. If you want more info, PM me.

If you got the email, you need to get smart on the AFI concerning I-TDY's real quick and update your TDY history in vMPF. Now.

Applied. (had a couple minutes of really high blood pressure when I got the email on the 5th until I figured out it was NOT a tasker and I could still apply for VSP)

Duty history update done.

Just trying to figure out if there's anyway they can deny VSP if I'm tasked now.

Also, trying to figure out the odds of getting a 365 based on this from 13-130:

 On/After Official Public Announcement: PCS and ED selections will be considered and made on a case by case basis. RIF-eligible officers who are currently projected for an ED will be reviewed on a case by case basis for possible ED cancellation and replacement action.

Did you update the right thing? Duty history is relatively easy to update via vMPF, the TDY history is not. I don't see what your duty history is really going to do to alter a 365...your STRD however could be altered if past TDYs are not accounted for correctly.

Bendy

ETA: A contingency deployment listed as "Awaiting DFAS Input" = bad.

Edited February 8, 201411 yr by Bender