Looking to get some advice/experience from those that have already walked this path. . .

-- How early must you initiate your separation? How late can you withdraw your separation if things in the outside world don't pan out as expected?

-- What's the equation of when you can hang up your flight suit and actually work as a civilian. . .in other words when are you completely done with the Air Force? Is it something like: (DATE I CAN START WORKING AT CIVILIAN JOB) = (DATE OF SEPARATION = no earlier than ADSC DATE) + (ACCUMULATED LEAVE AND EXPECTED ACCUMULATED LEAVE) + (PERMISSIVE TDY)

-- How does an AEF deployment or 365 tour figure into the mix? Is there a reg that governs what the tightest turn between returning from a deployment to initiating terminal leave for separation? As an example, my ADSC/Date of Separation is 15 Dec 09. I'll have 60 days of leave accumulated which means I could initiate terminal leave on 15 Oct 09. When must I "legally" be back from a 365 or AEF deployment to initiate the separation process? Is it 15 Septebmer or 15 August or ???? I'm trying to set up my terminal leave date so I don't get sent out the door with a fini AEF deployment.

Thanks.