CheyDogFlies

I VEHEMENTLY disagree. I switched from 12yr O4 MPA (same as AGR w/no bonus) to GS13 Step1 and was SHOCKED at the pay reduction. I calculated $12k annual decrease AFTER taxes, and that was including maxing out AFTPs every qtr, max AT, and all UTAs. $300/mo matching did not make up for it.

Of course, pay depends on location, so YMMV.

FlyJS41

That's 20 hours a week of comp time. Eventually you'll get that back. IMHO, that's one of the few bennies of the ART program. Your AD/AGR bros seldom see that time returned.

CheyDogFlies

Exactly--you can only get paid for a 40hr work week. Everything extra you get to take off later.

FACDog

This sums it all up:

YouTube - Life In The Reserves - Part 1

I’m going to work at Wal-Mart

AggiePilot

The AGR to ART conversion was put on hold indefinitely in late Summer 2011. AFRC is now attempting to implement the plan again. AFRC/CC Lt Gen Stenner has been on a "Farewell Tour" visiting all of his peeps. He stopped in at Laughlin AFB, Mexico, today and had a Town Hall meeting with my unit, the 96th Flying Training Squadron.

We got to learn all about the USAF top five priorities for 2012 and how we as Total Force Warriors fit into the plan. Then he asked for questions about the AGR to ART conversion. He said:

1. AGR Review Boards will not take conversion into account in deciding whether or not to extend career status.

2. Currently serving in an AGR position, you won't be forced to convert to an ART. This implies orders will not be curtailed and that dudes in career status will not be converted out of their AGR job.

3. ARTs and TRs are the composition of a normal reserve unit. AGRs should only be used for HQ Staff, Medical Corps, Trigger Pullers, and I don't remember what else.

4.. Unit openings caused by an AGR leaving/retiring/promoting will be converted to ARTs if they were positions that were supposed to change to ARTs.

Huh? Initially not all of the positions will be convertible positions. I asked him if this meant that if a Lt Col flight commander retired from a position that was supposed to be converted and I was a Lt Col select AGR and my commander wanted me to take over as that flight commander, that I would not be able to be MDRd into it as an AGR. He said that was correct. I might not be able to pin on if the vacated job was one that was supposed to convert to ART. But I could sign up to have AFRC manage my career to get me into those leadership opportunities that I desire!

I stopped asking questions, covered up my name patch, and slowly slid underneath the table in hope that he would not remember my name or face. If only I had introduced myself as Art Vandelay.

Waiting for AGR Review Board results,
AggiePilot

beavf16

I figure they'll just fix the glitch by not giving me career status.

UAL T38 Phlyer

If implemented, I think it will be a disaster. AGRs are covered by USERRA and TRICARE; ARTs are not. Airline guys won't be able to go on mil-leave as ARTs, so they have the choice of staying airline, or quiting their airline and staying as day-laborers in the Air Force (ie, they only have guaranteeed work one day at a time; no medical benefits).

I think most will leave.

crewdawg

Big f'n 2!

hindsight2020

That is EXACTLY how they plan on railroading this conversion into place I'm afraid. The career dudes will get "up or outed" out of the unit level, the ladder will be pulled from above at that point in time. The non-career dudes will then be punked into applying for the ART or walking, and the revolving door will begin. No one will stay at these gigs for any appreciable length of time. Certainly for a shorter span than a normal AGR tour would be.

Furthermore, the work rules are going to be a real sour point. How many times do you think a squeaky wheel is going to curtail his daily flying availability or implement Operation MAXIFLEX on their monthly schedule, on an 8-hour punch card job in a place that depends on 10-12 hour availability, before AD frowns and you get told by mommy to color for daddy RegAF at your own economic detriment, perhaps even by strong arming you into dismissing your own legal rights to refuse work? Happens all the time at MWS units across this land wrt ARTs....

And have we even talked about the ART hiring process? Getting told to compete for the very job you're doing against some 80 pt preference "100% disabled veteran" lesbian jewish black female who trolls USAJOBS like it's their day job, forcing the unit to take anywhere between 24-69 months to write up an exception package in order to "justify" giving their own dude the effective pay cut they are giving you, up and over giving it to the faceless keyword resume troll from the interweb who the machine says ought to occupy the position. Holy Christ. Kiss continuity goodbye. Who the eff would wanna work in that kind of Guard/Reserve outfit anyways? You don't want the oddballs who would fit into that model being the people overseeing your TR scheduling, training and paycheck, let alone go for beers with those dudes once a month. Call me good ol boy, but brother.....

Or maybe it'll fail...

UPTme

That disabled lesbian jewish black female had an impressive resume. You got beat fair and square, and you were told you could apply next year. Airing your dirty laundry on a public forum won't help you...