Originally Posted by
Paok
Yeah living in both bases is the only way to go. Honesty it's not luck it's been my plan since college. Live in the NE where EVERY airline has a base (I can drive to all 3 NYC, PHL and all 3 DC) and there are a plethora of reserve guard jobs (I can drive to about 10 bases) I didn't know what airline I would end up at when I joined the reserves in NJ but I knew it didn't matter Bc I could pick any of them. I am gone 5 nights from my bed in May, flying a 78 hour line and doing 6 days at the USAFR. I don't think many young guys think about this when making their base/living location choices but my husband now is so thankful I brought us to this area Bc although it's expensive, we are home a lot and never have to leave...and like I said above. All the mil is on off days to maximize pay!! ��
That's some great long term planning...glad it worked out. You're right, living in base for both is the shangri-la of the airline/military crowd. I feel very fortunate and lucky that it worked out for me.
Originally Posted by
Paok
And we are both planning to stay in to/past 20 in the reserves. I was furloughed twice before I was 26 years old. I will never let go of the reserves bc airline life is "too good". I'll just do both ��
I once thought I would stay until they kicked me out of the Guard, but that was a long time ago. I'm counting the days until I have 20! I may not necessarily leave then, but it will be nice to have that trump card. My most recent "deployment," was a real turning point for me. "Deploying" to non-combat zones to fly normal training lines gets old fast. Sitting through my 5th "green dot" training or being told I'm a sexual assault waiting to happen, gets old. Support agencies can't/won't support because we are temporary and "it's not their job to support us." Road block after road block trying to get home from a deployment. Dealing with outright incompetence or people purposely dragging their feet because they didn't like being told by a bunch of Guard guys, that they are wrong (they didn't know their OWN regs!). Multiple instances of commander to commander calls, just to get them to do their dang job. LRS having to unpack and repack pallets because of this petty BS about made me lose control. Outright disrespect from NCOs (I was a prior-e/NCO and this crap was bad), but you can't "address" the situation, without fear of retribution and apologies. Instances of having to walk into an office and tell them you're not leaving until you get what you need because they won't do it otherwise. When we try to help them, help us, they take it as having their toes stepped on and they lose their minds. Travel cards that get declined because DTS hasn't paid your bill (while we're still deployed)...then being accused by finance of using your personal card to "get points." Finance that forces you to use rental cars an hour across town from the base, because it saves them a few pennies...never mind the logistical nightmare of returning 20+ vehicles when our people are leaving at various times spanning a week. DTS...doing someone else's job, ARROWS...doing someone else's job, the list goes on and on. Ever increase requirements that have nothing to do with the mission/flying. What used to take 1 minute filling out a pay card by hand, has turned into 15-30 minutes on the computer, minimum. Every "improvement" that has come out in the last 10-15 years has made it harder and harder to be a part timer and get paid. Forget trying to log into this system on an active duty network...apparently that's a bridge to far! Don't get me wrong, I still love the flying and I love the security of having a job "just in case," but all the extra bs is starting to make it not worth it anymore.
[/soapbox]
By the time I can retire, barring another horrific incident/economic downturn, I should have ~4-5,000 number below me. It's going to be hard to stay in and give up the money and the days off to deal with the bs. Only ~1,800 more days...
