What to do until retirement?
06-27-2018, 09:22 PM
#1
New Hire
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Joined APC: Jun 2018
Posts: 4
What to do until retirement?
Active Duty Rotor guy with 7 years left to retirement, and a whopping 55 SEL fixed wing time. As I drudge along until retirement, what is the best thing to do for fixed wing time while still active duty? Of course, I'm going to fly here and there to get more ratings, but any specific route to take to be more marketable to the Airlines when the time comes?
06-28-2018, 03:18 AM
#3
Covfefe
Joined APC: Jun 2015
Posts: 3,001
Originally Posted by Subie
Active Duty Rotor guy with 7 years left to retirement, and a whopping 55 SEL fixed wing time. As I drudge along until retirement, what is the best thing to do for fixed wing time while still active duty? Of course, I'm going to fly here and there to get more ratings, but any specific route to take to be more marketable to the Airlines when the time comes?
06-28-2018, 04:23 AM
#4
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,224
I have always been a proponent of the military retirement, but in this case, at this moment in time I would agree, time to punch.
Caveat: there is risk in airlines, some of it unpredictable. But barring health issues, airlines is almost certain to pay far better than mil + AD retirement.
Caveat: there is risk in airlines, some of it unpredictable. But barring health issues, airlines is almost certain to pay far better than mil + AD retirement.
06-28-2018, 07:39 AM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Posts: 900
Are you USAF? If not, just be aware you most likely will need to go to AF UPT with only rotor time to get fixed-wing qualified for an ANG/AFRC unit.
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Originally Posted by BeatNavy
Get out now, go guard or reserve (preferably fixed wing), do an RTP and start at a regional. On your current path you will be at a major in 10-15 years and will have missed this hiring wave and will lose probably millions over the career compared to bailing and going to a regional then major in 4-5 years from now during peak retirements. You’ll more than make up for an active duty retirement in pay, certainly in QOL.
06-28-2018, 12:21 PM
#6
New Hire
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Joined APC: Jun 2018
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I forgot to mention the holding factor in bailing from active duty, I have a service obligation that takes me to 15.5 years of active service (2022). Because of that, I assumed it would be best to try and get ratings and fixed wing time on my own while I’m still in. Additionally, I fly for the Army where they decided that applying for a fixed wing transition is no longer allowed since they are only selecting candidates straight out of flight school. They started that about 6 months after my class...awesome. I’ve also considered jumping ship once that service obligation is up, but it’s so close to retirement, would it be worth leaving active duty at that point? Thanks for the replies.
06-28-2018, 12:25 PM
#7
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Joined APC: Jun 2018
Posts: 4
Originally Posted by Gundriver64
Easy, get fixed-wing assigned. Do you have the scarlet letter A sewn to your nomex??
Good Luck!
G
Good Luck!
G
Can’t get a fixed wing transition anymore now that the Army started the “fixed wing for life” crap.
06-28-2018, 12:26 PM
#8
Covfefe
Joined APC: Jun 2015
Posts: 3,001
Originally Posted by TankerDriver
Are you USAF? If not, just be aware you most likely will need to go to AF UPT with only rotor time to get fixed-wing qualified for an ANG/AFRC unit.
Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
06-28-2018, 12:29 PM
#10
Covfefe
Joined APC: Jun 2015
Posts: 3,001
Originally Posted by Subie
I forgot to mention the holding factor in bailing from active duty, I have a service obligation that takes me to 15.5 years of active service (2022). Because of that, I assumed it would be best to try and get ratings and fixed wing time on my own while I’m still in. Additionally, I fly for the Army where they decided that applying for a fixed wing transition is no longer allowed since they are only selecting candidates straight out of flight school. They started that about 6 months after my class...awesome. I’ve also considered jumping ship once that service obligation is up, but it’s so close to retirement, would it be worth leaving active duty at that point? Thanks for the replies.
HRC may waive your adso if you get hired by a guard/reserve unit, but not likely in this environment with this shortage, depending on your airframe and manning. But I’d try anyway.
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