This is all excellent feedback. Once in a blue moon, I've seen unique opportunities in AD AF to do really cool stuff... perhaps stuff that would keep one from jumping over the fence. I've seen exchanges to fly A-310's with Canada (Canada, yuck!), VC-10s with England (to the sand box, yuck!), non-flying exchanges for short periods (non-flying, yuck!), or G-5's to Hawaii or Brussels (island fever/language barrer, yuck!). None of which I was interested in at the time. I turned my nose to all of them. But now... just tempt me!!! :o

Seriously - you turned your nose up at flying G-5s? Man....if I'd only had the chance; but then again I've always wanted to fly a Gulfstream. :cool:

USMCFLYR

Thank you!
 

Thank you all for your inputs. When you are so involved in something, it is nice to get an outside point of view. Unfortunately, with regard to the staying 20 in active duty, I think I have "burned that bridge" as they say! Once I started talking about the reserves, by OPR push lines went from "#1 of whatever", to "bluechip officer"! So, I could tuck my tail and finish active duty, but I think O-4 would be about it. As it looks right now, I am leaning toward taking the bonus and going 4 more years as an AGR. The reality of the latest airline pilot lifestyle is painfully (and sadly) sinking it. I wonder if it will ever return to the old, glory days....thanks again for your thoughts...

Don't get me going about those OPRs!!!!! And don't worry about them either. Don't you write your own? Approach your profession from a leadership point of view; get involved in that advanced degree, get involved in your community, talk to your peers at other units, organize and/or participate in an organization like Daedalians. Look beyond your present state of existence and project yourself - set goals for yourself. Just don't project yourself into the airlines because that would be an illusion!

Bull,

Take everything here with a grain of salt. I have a friend at SWA who is home 22 days a mos and makes over 130k with his schedule. Another CAL guy whobwas hired before me who has 17-18 days off a mos and makes 108k. Both these guys, along with me, enjoy the job. The glory days of most careers are over due to globalization. Talk to Drs, lawyers and etc... The kicker with this industry is timing and the fact that it is a very fickle industry that takes some getting used to. This job went from great to good over the last decade. When I got in the Marine Corps in 95, all the salty dogs told me that this is the gentler MC and not as good as before blah blah blah. Do what you enjoy, if not go do something else.

Best of luck to you.

Easy Call
 

No long, drawn out reply needed to your question.

TAKE THE BONUS and be gainfully employed for four more years. The majors are poised for another round of furloughs and this industry will take years to recoup the losses, IF it ever does. Besides. in four years we may have some idea of where we are going.......maybe.

Just my two cents...but I've been involved in the HR/Chief Pilot's forecasts for some time and it does not look rosy for the 121 carriers.:rolleyes:

G'Day Mate:)

Not sure about USAF, but I would not consider your bridge burned just cause you're stuck at O4. I got out of the Navy (as an O4), went to AA, got F'd 5 months later, and got back on AD with the Navy. Finished my 20 (actually they let me stay to 21) last year. Retired as an O4. I knew the break in service would be a black mark on my record as far as promotions went, but you know what? An O4 retirement is better than NO retirement. Health care and a mortgage payment for the rest of my life. And being a terminal O4 was kind of nice. Did not have to play political games, could calls things as I saw them.

Stay put, get to 20, collect your retirement, and see what the landscape is like at that time.

Good luck!

Similar situation...but different
 

Very good advice on this thread. I almost got out 4 years ago but decided to stay in and now am a few years from retirement. I too have a decision to make but it is not whether to get my 20 or not...it is whether to retire in 2 years and try to find a civil flying job or stay in past 20 and probably take a non-flying job. I think I can stay till at least 24 years but I probably will not be flying...which means I will not have any recency of experience when I finally do retire (except for light aircraft flying). On the other hand, I will be employed and making a good living.

I know I should take the sure thing but I am having a hard time accepting the fact that the "airline dream" will probably never happen if I do.

I've never opened myself up for a beating on the forums before so here it goes:

Does anyone that is posting this stuff know what its like to fly in the freakin desert or be away from your family months at a time living in a tent or a hard billet that smells like hell? I get out in Aug and I get it...times are rough, times are hard. For me, I'm taking my reserve job and getting out. I can't stand the four months deployed to the desert every 15 months on top of being on the road around 10 days every 40 to 45 days....oh ya and all of this is on top of the possible ground deployment to OIF/OEF for 179 or 365 days. And this is a C-17 junior 0-4s schedule. Talk to the co-pilots or better yet the C-130 guys and ask them what they think of active duty.

I appreciate all the retired/separated/civilian guys comments about keeping the bird in the hand, but you have to put yourself in our shoes. I think if you've been planning for this (saving), and have a reserve job then now is the perfect time to get out. If it takes a me couple years to get on with someone and I blow all the money I've saved well then that is exactly what I saved it for - and I'll get some much deserved time off to hang out with my wife and son.

Good luck to you and to me...I have a feeling we are both going to need it.

No beating letsfly - but when you talk about the retired guys above especially - of course we know what it is like in all of the above situations; and may I say that I feel pretty safe in saying that if you think your QOL in the USAF "smells like hell" then you should see some of the places the USA and USMC live in. It has been my experience that we usually get billeted in places that the USAF has condemned :p (Even the barracks at Osan come to mind!)

Yes - times are hard and times are tough and that extra money (if used smartly and with a little luck in the current conditions) and the retirement if you stay the years can mean a world of difference. That is what some are saying on this thread.

The possible deployments, the multiple deployments (flying and not flying) are times of a military at war. Things are NOT like they were during realtive "peacetime". It is hard on the people and the equipment; but I think the fight is worth it. If you have spent one tour in the US military then you have done more for your country than most will ever have the chance to do - so for that we all thank you. If you are done with AD then best pof luck to you for a successful and happy afterlife in the civilian world. But that doesn't mean that there aren't those of us that enjoy AD - and sometime even with lemons that are given to us along the way!

Good luck letsfly.

USMCFLYR