Aviation Continuation Pay (ACP - The Bonus)

[McJay Pilot]

21 hours ago, pawnman said:

Especially when we have B-21s to pay for. 

BuT iT’s DiFfReNt PoTs Of MoNeY! 
😂🍻

[BroncoEN]

On 12/9/2022 at 6:22 PM, nsplayr said:

Has there been any progress on seeing an entire month’s or flight pay for just attending drill for DSGs? I thought that was part of the last NDAA but maybe it was only talked about. I’ve been on full-time orders for a bit so I haven’t kept track super closely.

My going assumption is that it’s the law but DFAS somehow can’t execute it so… us apparently 🤷‍♂️

Curious about this too, haven’t heard any progress or updates

[SocialD]

On 12/9/2022 at 6:22 PM, nsplayr said:

Has there been any progress on seeing an entire month’s or flight pay for just attending drill for DSGs? I thought that was part of the last NDAA but maybe it was only talked about. I’ve been on full-time orders for a bit so I haven’t kept track super closely.

My going assumption is that it’s the law but DFAS somehow can’t execute it so…fuck us apparently 🤷‍♂️

 

54 minutes ago, BroncoEN said:

Curious about this too, haven’t heard any progress or updates

 

 

I remember hearing guys talk about a new ops building that would be built on our base "within the next few years."  That was in 2002 and we still don't have that building...and the project has already been pushed into the next decade.  I expect full flight pay for DSGs to go about the same way lol.  

Free beer....tomorrow. 

Edited December 11, 2022 by SocialD

[Hunter Rose]

On 12/8/2022 at 1:20 PM, Standby said:

NDAA 2023 authorizes service secretaries to approve an increase to the flight pay cap from $1000/mo to $1500/mo. Additionally, authorizes bonus yearly cap increase to $50k/yr.

Where do you find the different NDAA versions?

I may be reading it wrong, but the version of the NDAA 2023 that pops up on Congress' page looks like it shows increases of Flight pay to $1,500 max and Pilot Bonus to $75,000 per year max. Not Sure if this is an old committee version or what, so the $50K Bonus may be accurate, just the first time I recall seeing that.

Here's the verbiage from Congress' website (Aviation portions in BOLD and amends the monthly Flight Pay and Bonus sections of pertinent law):

SEC. 612. INCREASE TO MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF CERTAIN BONUS AND SPECIAL PAY 
              AUTHORITIES.

    (a) General Bonus Authority for Enlisted Members.--Section 
331(c)(1) of title 37, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``$50,000'' and 
        inserting ``$75,000''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``$30,000'' and 
        inserting ``$50,000''.
    (b) Special Bonus and Incentive Pay Authorities for Nuclear 
Officers.--Section 333(d)(1)(A) of title 37, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ``$50,000'' and inserting ``$75,000''.
    (c) Special Aviation Incentive Pay and Bonus Authorities for 
Officers.--Section 334(c)(1) of title 37, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``$1,000'' and 
        inserting ``$1,500''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``$35,000'' and 
        inserting ``$75,000''.
    (d) Skill Incentive Pay or Proficiency Bonus.--Section 353(c)(1)(A) 
of title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking ``$1,000'' and 
inserting ``$1,750''.

Edited December 12, 2022 by Hunter Rose

[Standby]

9 hours ago, Hunter Rose said:

Where do you find the different NDAA versions?

I may be reading it wrong, but the version of the NDAA 2023 that pops up on Congress' page looks like it shows increases of Flight pay to $1,500 max and Pilot Bonus to $75,000 per year max. Not Sure if this is an old committee version or what, so the $50K Bonus may be accurate, just the first time I recall seeing that.

Here's the verbiage from Congress' website (Aviation portions in BOLD and amends the monthly Flight Pay and Bonus sections of pertinent law):

SEC. 612. INCREASE TO MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF CERTAIN BONUS AND SPECIAL PAY 
              AUTHORITIES.

    (a) General Bonus Authority for Enlisted Members.--Section 
331(c)(1) of title 37, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``$50,000'' and 
        inserting ``$75,000''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``$30,000'' and 
        inserting ``$50,000''.
    (b) Special Bonus and Incentive Pay Authorities for Nuclear 
Officers.--Section 333(d)(1)(A) of title 37, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ``$50,000'' and inserting ``$75,000''.
    (c) Special Aviation Incentive Pay and Bonus Authorities for 
Officers.--Section 334(c)(1) of title 37, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``$1,000'' and 
        inserting ``$1,500''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``$35,000'' and 
        inserting ``$75,000''.
    (d) Skill Incentive Pay or Proficiency Bonus.--Section 353(c)(1)(A) 
of title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking ``$1,000'' and 
inserting ``$1,750''.

PDF Page 534, Taken from https://armedservices.house.gov/ndaa. Quoted above may have been an amendment prior to agreement.

Edited December 13, 2022 by Standby

[SocialD]

10 hours ago, Standby said:

PDF Page 534, Taken from https://armedservices.house.gov/ndaa. Quoted above may have been an amendment prior to agreement.

 

 

Ya, but have you checked the DOD SUP, the AF SUP and the (insert your majcom here) SUP? 

Sorry...my cynicism is ever increasing lately due to stupid fucking regs.   

[Hunter Rose]

10 hours ago, Standby said:

PDF Page 534, Taken from https://armedservices.house.gov/ndaa. Quoted above may have been an amendment prior to agreement.

Thanks.  I thought I might be reading an old Senate version with the $75K Bonus verbiage in it.

Funny, as a $75K bonus might have been just enough tp actually make a dent in retention. A $50K bonus likely isn't enough to move the needle at all from where we are currently IMO.

As usual, the US Gov't cheaps out...

Edited December 13, 2022 by Hunter Rose

[Danger41]

Budget passed the senate. We’ll see what HAF decides for ACP offerings…

[disgruntledemployee]

Sounds similar to airline contract negotiations.  Maybe some informational pickets will set AF Mgmt straight.  Some baggage bling, a lanyard, and stickers for urinals will send the message.  OR.  Just start showing off UAL, DAL, AA, SWA, etc., bling.  Have some fun out there, wish you all the best.  I think you'll get it because the AF probably asked for it.

[Smokin]

They'll need every penny of it with the 3% pay cut in basic pay and airlines looking at mid 20% for pay raises.

[Ryder1587]

Basic pay is being cut ?   Wut?

[Swizzle]

1 hour ago, Ryder1587 said:

Basic pay is being cut ?   Wut?

Effective pay cut = present inflation - pay raise

Edited December 16, 2022 by Swizzle
https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2022/consumer-prices-up-9-1-percent-over-the-year-ended-june-2022-largest-increase-in-40-years.htm

[hindsight2020]

2.7 last year and 4.6 this year.... FTX-peddling Jesus, that's a two year stuffing up the six. Good thing the wife re-joined the skilled workforce earlier in the year, that's about the only way I'm "keeping up" with inflation these days.

Groceries/sundries are circa +25% annualized YoY for me. I checked with the Amex over 12 months revolving, couldn't believe it at first. The other part that sucks is that there's no way I can ever afford to move. 2.25% fixed... means I'm gonna die in this copy/paste suburban tract shitbox, cuz housing left the affordable station behind where my W-2 is still navel-gazing like a CR washout fucko awaiting adsep. 😄 

Bonus don't affect my retirement cashflow; basic rates being shorted like this otoh, fundamentally does. Just like in the airlines, soft pay potato is such a red herring it ain't even funny. 

Edited December 17, 2022 by hindsight2020
grammerz

[Bauwse]

The incentive bonus is not applicable to guard and reserve pilots: 

Reference page 537:

(b) RATED OFFICERS DESCRIBED.—Rated officers described in this subsection are rated officers serving on active duty in the Air Force, excluding rated officers with a reserve appointment in the Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve

IN GENERAL.—Under the demonstration program required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall offer retention incentives under subsection (d) to a rated officer described in subsection (b) who executes a written agreement to remain on active duty in a regular component of the Air Force...

AVIATION BONUS.—Under the demonstration program required under subsection (a) not withstanding section 334(c) of title 37, United States Code, the Secretary may pay to a rated officer described in subsection (b) an aviation bonus not to exceed an average annual amount of $50,000 (subject to paragraph (3)(B)).

 

Edited December 17, 2022 by Bauwse
mispelling

[Hunter Rose]

22 hours ago, Danger41 said:

Budget passed the senate. We’ll see what HAF decides for ACP offerings…

Logically, they should just keep the separated tiers as is and just increase them all by $500 each, but that would make too much sense so Big AF will likely only do aa "targeted study" of increased ACP this year to see if it makes sense for the entire rated force.😄 Just like the nonsense they have planned with the new $50K bonus. Over a decade of surveys and a Rand study and they still need to "trial" if they should just increase the bonus to $50K. Morons.

[brabus]

On 12/16/2022 at 7:17 PM, Bauwse said:

The incentive bonus is not applicable to guard and reserve pilot

ANG and RES develop their own bonuses separate from AD, and each other, every year. They almost always match or exceed the AD bonus…at least in the last 6 years of my experience. 

[hindsight2020]

5 hours ago, brabus said:

ANG and RES develop their own bonuses separate from AD, and each other, every year. They almost always match or exceed the AD bonus…at least in the last 6 years of my experience. 

Yup. The provisions are tiered and wildly varying depending on the sub-group in question (ART, AGR, TR [DSG as you title32 poors call it 😄 ]). 

[viperdriver1313]

Word on the street was the bonus came out late today? Wanted to see if anyone knew anything because I haven’t seen anything.
Seems early..

dont kill the messenger 

Edited January 4, 2023 by viperdriver1313

[DuckHunter]

I haven’t seen a PSDM yet.  Memo sent out late last month to the Wing/CCs said to look for it this month though.

[disgruntledemployee]

On 1/3/2023 at 10:43 PM, viperdriver1313 said:

Word on the street was the bonus came out late today? Wanted to see if anyone knew anything because I haven’t seen anything.
 

This year's bonus is a link to Airline Apps.  It's the most they could afford.

[08Dawg]

As of 1500L CST…nothing on myPers 

[FLEA]

You can tell the lack of interest in retaining pilots by the lack of urgency in getting these PSDMs out. Like literally, every day, some dude or dudette is hitting their go/no-go decision point on hitting the punch out button, and they may be waiting to see what the bonus is like to stay in. As an 11R I would certainly not have risked staying if I knew a few days later there wouldn't be any bonus offered at all. Thankfully something that I didn't get caught by but know a few people that did.

[HeyWatchThis]

On 12/9/2022 at 6:22 PM, nsplayr said:

Has there been any progress on seeing an entire month’s or flight pay for just attending drill for DSGs? I thought that was part of the last NDAA but maybe it was only talked about. I’ve been on full-time orders for a bit so I haven’t kept track super closely.

My going assumption is that it’s the law but DFAS somehow can’t execute it so…fuck us apparently 🤷‍♂️

The DoD was supposed to submit a report NLT Oct 1, 2023 on how they were going to implement the full flight pay raise.  They could try and get out of it if they could justify that raising guard/reserve flight pay to full pay was "detrimental to the force".  

They (DoD) basically ignored the requirement and didnt do the report.  The writers of that verbiage then called the DoD out for not submitting said report and the DoD asked for an extension.....that's the last I've heard of it...haven't had a chance to check and see if they tried to strip the language from FY23 NDAA.

 

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/10/26/delay-incentive-pay-boost-guard-and-reserves-draws-rebuke-lawmakers.html 

[viper154]

On 1/3/2023 at 10:43 PM, viperdriver1313 said:

Word on the street was the bonus came out late today? Wanted to see if anyone knew anything because I haven’t seen anything.
Seems early..

dont kill the messenger 

There was a memo sent to commanders. Details are vague/no PDSM yet, but something about a demo program offering up to 50k a year for folks with a UFT ADSC expiring in 23/24/25. After FY 23 you don’t get the full amount if you decide later to sign a bonus.  You also get an “assignment of preference” The memo did say a PDSM may be released as early as Jan 23. 

No details on how long the bonus offerings will be, cutoff dates for when you need to sign to get the full amount, or the definition of “assignment of preference”  

 

 

 

 

[Guest nsplayr]

8 hours ago, HeyWatchThis said:

The DoD was supposed to submit a report NLT Oct 1, 2023 on how they were going to implement the full flight pay raise.  They could try and get out of it if they could justify that raising guard/reserve flight pay to full pay was "detrimental to the force".  

They (DoD) basically ignored the requirement and didnt do the report.  The writers of that verbiage then called the DoD out for not submitting said report and the DoD asked for an extension.....that's the last I've heard of it...haven't had a chance to check and see if they tried to strip the language from FY23 NDAA.

 

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/10/26/delay-incentive-pay-boost-guard-and-reserves-draws-rebuke-lawmakers.html 

Dude this kind of shit infuriates me. Congress passed a law, it's signed by the President, it directs the DoD to do X,Y, or Z. The DoD then fails to take any action, can't update AFIs in a timely fashion, provides vague or no business rule guidance or policy memos, and then just fucking gets away with it sometimes for YEARS. If I were a Congressman I would unscrew heads and start shitting down necks until the law was implemented.

This same thing has happened with the 2021 NDAA expanded baby leave on the Guard side. I've literally been told I (and quite a few other guys in my unit) fall into an "unfortunate Catch-22" that prevents us from taking the leave...it's shenanigans. We had babies (well, our wives did, thanks dear!), we earned the leave, but we can't take it, what kind of fuckery is that? Our local-level commanders are pissed and sympathetic, but they are hamstrung by MAJCOM and NGB nonners who are saying it can't be done.

An officer's job, IMHO, is to receive intent from his/her superiors all the way up to the NCA, and then apply his/her knowledge, skills, leadership, creativity and ingenuity in order to meet that intent with appropriate effects on the battlefield, however that is defined for your career field.

Somehow every single one (ok, to be fair, 99.69%) of our personnelists and finance officers seems to have missed that very important lesson from their commissioning source and subsequent PME. As a group, they are pedantic, lawyerly, miserly bean counter shoe clerks who treat every single dollar as if it's coming out of their own personal wallet and scour every single potentially beneficial personnel policy for loopholes and ways they can fuck people over rather than implementing the intent of the policy as written.

/rant off

Edited January 12, 2023 by nsplayr