Oh my. I’d recommend beefing up your thin skin a little more before you embark on this journey of yours.
I think what some of the other “old heads” and I are trying to point out to you is that you appear to be ignoring some of the more traditional methods of “research”. It’s never going to be an acceptable excuse in your military career to claim that you don’t know something because it wasn’t “explained to you”. That implies that you are waiting for the actions of another. Take some responsibility for your own “education” and go find out – don’t wait for someone to do it for you.
So, back to the “research”:
If I had made the choice to pursue a military career in the ANG as a C-130 pilot, I guess I would have included “research” into things like pay and benefits in my PREPARATION for such a choice. I would not have committed to the position and then jumped on an internet forum to try to figure out what I was getting into.
Civilians are able to call military bases just fine. They use normal 7 digit numbers plus area code just like every other facility with a phone in the US. You could also use the phones at your Guard unit and call via DSN which is just a military phone network that doesn’t need an area code(more on your Guard unit later). Either way you get the same person on the same phone. You can go on line in 7 seconds (I just did it) and get the main phone number to the base. I don’t know where you’re going to UPT but Laughlin AFB in TX is a possibility – here’s the main number to that base: (830)298-3511. This will ring the base operator who will connect you with whoever you want to talk to.
Or you can call directly to any office if you have their phone number. Here’s a quick reference list that took me about 90 seconds to find.
http://www.laughlin.af.mil/shared/me...081107-038.pdf
Guess what I googled………..I know this is going to be tough to follow: Laughlin AFB phone book. That took me to the Laughlin AFB website and I searched for “phone book”. Still with me?
I’m doing this from home – not some special military computer because I retired last year from the Guard. You’ll note two significant numbers on the reference list, Military Personnel Flight (MPF) and Finance. Either one of those numbers will put you in touch with people who would be able to direct you to the mil pay specialists. So, no need to jump any fences and get jacked up by the SPs. The people that answer those phones will be USAF members who speak English and won’t even know you’re a civilian unless you tell them. I’d recommend speaking politely to them (avoid calling them names), explain who you are, what you’d like to find out and I’ll bet you’ll get the answer you’d like.
I’m starting to wonder about where your Guard unit is in all this, too. Somehow you were able to get in touch with someone there, get interviewed and offered a pilot slot. Since most Guard units only hire a few lucky UPT candidates off the street each year, I’m guessing they’d be willing to bend over backwards to help out any new arrival to their “family”. Any chance you might still have a phone number for someone at the unit you claim to be joining. Maybe they might be able to help you with your “research”. Every Guard unit I have ever had contact with had mil pay offices (with phones too
) and lots of smart people working there who have been around the USAF block a few times and know their stuff. Any particular reason why you’re choosing to ignore that resource while you “research” the particulars of the job you apparently already accepted without knowing much about it?
Some free advice from someone who was in your shoes 23 years ago. One, expand your list of resources to find the answers you’re looking for. Computers are nice but the military (especially the Guard) has a much better resource in its people. You’ll single yourself out quickly one way or the other depending on how willing you are to go the extra mile and get the job done, big or small. Leave the excuses at the door and bring results. And two, resist the urge to lash out and call anyone who displeases you a “dick”. They may use sarcasm or mild ridicule to enforce the point that you’re being stupid. I’d hazard a guess that some of your UPT instructors may resort to that, depending on how stupid your trying to be. You won’t be the first 2Lt to receive this treatment and it won’t kill you. It might even motivate you to not be stupid in the same way again.
Good luck in your training.