I see your point regarding R2 or R1, or if bidding Reserve and you live locally, but I never bid Reserve even when I was local. You’re most likely not the current or maybe former #1 ANC FO from many moons ago who gave me some very specific advice. If so, thank you as I use his given mindset quite often and his schedule was impressive pulling off 88 days off consecutively year after year and basically “gone fishing” for most of it (I will call him Fish for future reference). Some do well splitting their vaca amongst 3 independent months using the slip-n-slide maneuver so as you know that knocks out up to 10 days if you get it right thru bidding (Hit or miss I never leave more 3 days available on one side, usually 2 to be sure). “Fish” on the other hand recommended using full month vaca and only on back to back 31 day months, i.e.- Dec/Jan or Jul/Aug in his case to maximize time off. Fly first half of July, Off Aug, Fly back half of Sep. I am not referencing any use of sick days (I actually do get sick), but some have some unique techniques as you know. Conflict bid training twice a year=Always, so that brings me home early planning it right. Never leave a GDO on the table. Looking at my records for 2020, looks like 132 worked and basically 233 off (Sick once, I do remember that) not super fantastic, but definitely comfortable. Bottom line, you may owe the company 17 days, so true - but the bases seem to be different. HSV was the best for years (speaking for me) as I drove in and there were 14 sometimes only 15 day lines. My next base usually pushes the 17, but I shoot for the 15-16 day anomalies, rarely do 60 day lines unless something funky shows up. This month I did get the shorter line that existed. Yup I sometimes leave the night before, but I arrive back in base early AM so going directly home by 3PM isn’t bad at all. Bases are definitely different, but I see they are becoming more efficient on the front/back end. MIA, that’s a different story from what I gather. Your insights? Feel free to PM me as I most definitely can learn more from you or those much more savvy.

Note: No mil leave available for use or sick days used out of context. My FedEx and Legacy buds seem to do better, but that’s a known quantity.