I have have been a TR, an ART (GS-13), and now an AGR. AGR pay/benefits with or without the bonus kills the ART system. The big key is obviously the take home pay and the amount of days required to get all your money. Oh yea, I don't have to work till I'm 57 years old either. As an AGR, I don't work weekends. ART, not so much. I will say that the ART system can be pretty good if you have a good CC. If not (50/50 shot), it sucks. When I am done with this AGR tour, I will go back to my airline. I know there are many AGR's in the same boat as I am. I can't take mil leave from the airline for an ART job. I wouldn't if I could. My prediction is ultimately the jobs will be converted back because they won't be able to fill them. They will spend more on training a new guy every two years as they lose them to the airlines than they would to keep them AGRs. We shall see. Should be interesting to watch. Cheers.