Timing is everything....
...and there is no justice.
The Retiree Recall program for pilots was announced in the spring of 2009. The rules were;
O-5 or below
Had to pass a flight physical
Commit to 3 yrs plus training
Would not be eligible for the bonus
Would not be eligible for promotion
Would not be sent remote.
The economy had just tanked, and in Vegas it was very bad.
I had recently lost my job flying a G-450 and BBJ with one of the Casino's
No one was hiring pilots.
Through the efforts of a bud, and the fact I still had a security clearance, I got part time work for a contractor at Creech which provided a small paycheck, but was otherwise miserable so I figured what the heck and signed up, thinking since I lived in Vegas, they'd make me a professional model railroader or be put on the Red Flag staff.
Took and passed my physical (was rather amazed that I passed).
Nothing happened.
Found full time work as a simulator test pilot for an aircraft manufacturer in St. Louis. Good pay and benis, but left family in Vegas, and job was dull.
Feb, 2010 got an e-mail from AFPC saying recall program is over, thanks for playing. Very next day, got an e-mail from AFPC saying congratulations, you've been selected to be recalled, your assignment is the 25 FTS, Vance AFB, OK.
2 seconds later, I called AFPC and asked which e-mail I should pay attention too? They said second one, I was in last group to get recalled and shouldn't have got the first. 2 more seconds the phone was still rocking on the hook and I was west bound on I44--just kidding,
Found out I could take Mil leave from Boeing and started the process to get resurrected as an active duty O-4 after 5 years of retirement.
Moved back to Enid by the Sea in late April, 2010, 20 years after I left as a Tweet FAIP.
Wore blues on my first day because it was a Monday and everyone laughed at me. I was very happy, I was essentially back in a Fighter Squadron.
Went to PIT.
Got back in Sep, and three year clock started ticking.
Good things about being recalled.
Going back to UPT as a late 40 something was like going back to college knowing what you know now.
Was getting paid to fly.
Was getting paid to fly a pointy nose airplane with afterburners.
Was getting paid to fly with 22 year old LTs who are all knuckleheads, but a blast to be around and teach.
Got to deffer the new GI Bill to my kids (retirees could use it but not deffer it)
The 25th, at the time, was an awesome Squadron (although the PC Air Force was much worse than when I retired in 2005, the PC police hadn't completely taken over....yet).
Not good things...
Was first told I wouldn't deploy
A year later was told I would deploy, find a job, or we'll find one for you.
Back to good things...
Finagled my way into the E-11 and got a 50K Type rating courtesy of Uncle Sam.
More bad...
Had to earn the type rating by living 6 months in Kandhar where *******s drop rockets on your cranium and worse, the PC Air Force is very much alive and well. That being said, the E-11 and BACN is a great program, it does great work for the real hero's, the folks out on the ground, and 600 hours in a Global in six months is not bad, even though the only thing in Kandahar more boring than flying the E-11, is not flying the E-11.
Made it back in one piece so I guess it was good.
Re-retired in 2013 at 2013 O-4 pay with a new three year look back and 57.5% (2.5% per year more after 20) and a GLEX type rating (and safety stink, was sent to AMIC while in Enid).
Got hired to fly Gulfstreams and a Global in New Jersey which led to my current and awesome gig flying Globals and CH 605s for a really big company that makes jet engines and washing machines.
So, all that being said, because of the timing, the economy and my situation, the recall could not have been better for me. I was told they recalled 1500 retirees (not to be confused with the Reservist they recalled--different program) and only 500 got flying jobs (but I can't confirm those numbers).
So, remember those three conditions? Well, I didn't get the bonus, didn't get promoted, but did get deployed, so 2 out of three promises kept by the AF is pretty good by their standards.
I'd not be surprised if they brought some sort of recall program back, but I'd wonder if they'd get many takers based on the reasons so many pilots are getting out and the fact that pilot hiring is up.