dudemize

Any updates to the MPA situation at guard/reserve heavy units?

decrabbitz

Like everyone else (?) we came down to "0" AATS MPA on Nov 1; and initially were told to expect cut to fit. We now have an AATS of 1. I've heard that AFRC-wide there is an AATS of 16 in all, and that McChord has sucked up 9 of those--once again, this is only what I have heard--someone with the facts might want to confirm that.

hjs1971

Still no change, no money anywhere unless your unit is in their AEF then you'll get your GWOT deployment money, that's it. I heard the Northeast Airbridge got an extension til Nov 30 then they are supposed to be cut-off but not 100% sure on that. Everybody in my squadron that was on the AAP (airline avoidance program) is going back to their airline and we are losing a few ART's to the airlines as well. Our new motto in AFRC is, "We won't give you any money or any good deals but you better do well on your ORI/NORI and your fitness test or we'll replace you.". My theory is we should press to test that one, see how quickly ANY unit can fill 15 pilot slots. The old line, "we've got hundreds of apps on file to take your job" isn't true anymore and I know that to be a fact, at least on the rated side. Sure you have lots of UPT apps but they take 2 yrs to get trained. Our squadron has 0 apps for guys rated in our jet that want to get on with us. The last 3 rated guys we hired, all had to go to tanker school. Go on the AFPC/VRS website and find me an AFRC unit that doesn't have a few TR/IMA pilot slots open, I'm sure the ANG is in the same boat. I think it will get uglier before it gets better. The money will come, prob around Jan 1 but it's gonna be too little too late, at least in my squadron.

C-130Driver

Right now (From the 130 Guard side) we're seeing the cuts as well. Losing any and all mpa trips that have been scheduled and or planned. I'm a bum, so I haven't been in a week or so, but I'm sure this is still accurate.

Flamer

For all the mil guys reading this. YouTube search for "OPR review". Click on top video from bluecubetracker. I promise it will be the most hilarious video you have seen in years.

KC10Guy

Yea it's official. The good deal NETTF is dead for now, and don't see it coming back anytime soon. The AD filled the billets for the about the last month or two, but having 2 DOs and 4 dedicated AD crews on alert down there overlapping a day each week with replacement crews during the swap out, really hurt the AD squadrons in terms of being able to man stuff at home from TACC missions, locals and just having people in the squadron.

Don't know if canceling it was solely a function of the money running out/short, or if with the AD guys manning it rather than the reserves who were able to probably stay under the radar more, word got up to someone higher up in AMC very fast that on average most crews were flying once every 4 days while racking up full per diem staying at the Hilton.


From all you've written it sounds like your unit is becoming more and more like an AD unit. It's sad, because ultimately reserve squadrons are going to lose good dudes, and great, experienced pilots, who want to serve their country, but don't want to deal with the political BS.

Not only that but if it becomes too much like the AD, the reserves will become more and more of a turn off to some of these same type of guys from the AD who at their commitment point are sick of AD but still want to FLY for the military and maybe try a civilian gig at the same time. With the economy bound to recover, and rumor that the airlines are going to be hiring a lot more in the next few years, a lot of these guys are just going to split from Mother Blue altogether.

You a 135 or 10 guy? Barring what I mentioned above from happening, are you worried that qualified (and also younger and cheaper) people will be leaving the even "worse" AD in higher numbers once their commitment is up, especially since a lot more of the 10-year commitment guys will be coming up on their "decision point" soon, filling any void left by current reservists leaving?

thrust

I'm kind of surprised it took so long for AMC to figure out how good of a deal the TTF was. Perfect gig for the reserves... and I'm sure those rumors of reservists sitting alert down at Dover, collecting per diem and Hilton points, while sitting in their undies at home in NJ/ Philly were just that- rumors.

99.9% of the AD folks I know reaching their 10 year mark are getting out. So you may be on to something- as much as AFRC is becoming AD-lite, there looks to be no shortage of people lining up to get the hell out of AD because, well, AFRC can't be any worse can it? It's sad... my generation has never known how great the AFRC can be, we only know what we've been told from those who were around during the "good ol days". So they've come to expect that everything evil and wrong with AD is the norm, thus having to deal with that kind of crap in the AFRC is a fair trade for avoiding the inevitable Predator to Clovis, having a say in where you live and when you move, being able to pursue an airline gig if so inclined, never deploying unless you want to and even then for only 30 days, collectively ignoring the stupid Blues on Monday and Warrior Run Gayness, etc. The thought process is the grass is INDEED greener.... even though greener is really not so much green, just less brown.

Tankerhead

Well said.

Anyone else notice that last post reads like a eulogy? Sniff...