SaltyDog

I took AFSoar01 at their word. A 365 can be hard on family life and a high pressure DO job is no picnic either. Not taking one most certainly bumps the other chance. Neither seems desirable by AFSoar01.

Sometimes QOL is just that important. Fair comments, but guessing they already took the financial hit into the calculation.

sherpster

Who gives up a multi million dollar pension with 2.5 years to go? Hold on brother, dont worry about the small stuff at work, make lemonade out of lemons for the next 2 years. Take care of others but ignore the big USAF crap and let everything roll off your back. You will be glad you did.

JTwift

The retirement check is also great insurance against:

- Turns out you don't like it.

- Don't get hired by major, stuck at Regional (see above)

- Medical takes your Class I

- [insert any number of reasons]

Packrat

I have to agree with the other guys...hang in there. ANG may be different, but the Navy used to require 8 years of Reserve service to get a Reserve retirement. If that's true over in blue suit land then how promotable are you to flag rank?

You can do 30 months standing on your head. In the mean time, fly as much as possible and look forward to a solid 20+ year airline career.

galaxy flyer

I think it’s 6 years of your last 8 years prior to retirement have to be in the Reserves. Be careful of Title 32 man-days in the ANG- don’t count toward 20. AFRC days may or may not count, either, depending on how they are written.

GF

rickair7777

99% sure they recently got rid of the requirement to serve eight years in the reserves.

But I wouldn't bail on the AD retirement at 17 years unless you have a CJO in hand from a top tier major, and excellent health. And a wife who's a doctor or attorney.

Sqwk1200

Huh? I never heard of anything like this (6 of last 8 years for reserve retirement). But that’s how I usually learn stuff, with a ‘wtf’ moment.

Scraggly Heron

I'm generally inclined to encourage people to get out; that being said, you'll have 2.5 years left *and* you're flying. If you're flying now you're in a good position, assuming the AF doen't hit you with a 365 followed by a desk until retirement. Sticking out the last couple of years is probably worth a few senoirty numbers.

The other factor is whether or not you're done with the AF. I wake up every day greatful that I'm out of the AF, regardles of anything else going on in my life. A checkride failure and a couple of speeding tickets may mean I'll never work for a legacy, but life is still better on the other side. If that's the case for you, no amount of money will make up for losing those years of your life.

SaltyDog

For old folks----like galaxy flyer and myself LOL

There is no longer a legal requirement that the last 6 years of qualifying service be served in a reserve/guard component. Simply need a qualifying year.

****However, there is a grandfathering clause in the law that requires members who attained 20 years of qualifying service before 26 April 2005 to serve their last six qualifying years in a Reserve Component.
Would almost apply to no one left serving today.*****

If one could have retired at age 41/42 as the OP, then giving up about 1 million in retired pay until next retirement gate and collect retired pay at age 60 (assuming no early qualifying retirement). So roughly would be giving up half the retirement payout over a lifetime (very rough).
Again, certain things in life aren't about the money. Again, assume the OP thought this through.
Best fortunes to AFSoar01

galaxy flyer

Thanks Salty Dog for the update. Yes, I was working off aged information, but the “6 in 8” rule used be a major factor for some.

FYI to the OP. I left the Reserves as an ART exactly 2½ years prior to a full civil service retirement. The way FERS is structured it didn’t cost me anything like losing an AD pension, but still was a factor. When you can’t hack it anymore, leave IMHO. I was in a great spot, on the O-6 list, 2-star sponsor and a Wing CC headed for the AFRC/DO job. Still, leaving worked out better, new career, new adventures, happier wife.

Life’s short, there are options, just be smart about it. Be ready for a job campaign, have a unit lined up, perhaps one with an ART opening you can fill.

GF