ATL 7ERB is black everyday in May with many days needing 20 bodies or more than what is is available! This is important because scheduling pulls from ATL to cover all of the other bases.

Time to put in out of base GS as well!

Pretty sure that is correct. The 2 days off prior to training is optional. If I remember correctly you have to proactively request them. The default is not to have the two days (without pay) off. So by selecting them you were basically saying "I want two days off prior to training even though it is non-pay."

Scoop

With all the senior old farts apparently sitting WS short call, don't get your hopes up. You know a puppy dies every time you accept a WS with less than 2 hours to report, right?

There's a lot of value in the short notice WS for senior guys for many reasons(out and back with an overnight, block to credit ratio 1:2 or better, etc etc). It's a good strategy, especially if you drop your entire schedule.

I'm aware of the strategy. The point remains valid, until they fill up there will be no green slip bonanza as the person I quoted suggested. Barring another "unprecedented" storm of course.

LOTS of dead puppies in Atlanta then...

If every day is black, then they can't drop ANY trips (APD excepted).

If you're senior, most likely you have the best trips. They go fast on the swap board.

Your point is valid. But you never know what may happen. If a bunch of 5, 4 or even 3 day trips pop up, especially on the weekends, nobody is white slipping that unless it has very low block. My best ever 3 day WS was a late night departure to AGS, layover 33 hours, mid morning departure back to ATL. Go home. 2 hours block. 15:45 pay. Wonderful.

Precisely. Even as a junior guy on the 88 I was able to get rid of one or two trips a month via swap board. Many commuters looking for time that can't rely on the WS/GS strategy

Sounds like Ragtop is doing exactly what you say Mentors should do. And they come in different skill sets...Mine was awesome. A friend's...not so much.
And it sounds like you're quite the mentor, as well.

I say get all information from all sources you can. There are plenty of experienced folks here on this board that can and are more than willing to help.