Hacker15e

All it takes is a single merger, a single recession, a single furlough, a single bankruptcy, to completely erase the "3 years early" financial benefit.

And, of course, we know that during the course of a 20+ year airline career there's no chance of any of that happening, right?

On the other hand, short of a massive government meltdown (in which case all bets are off anyway), that mil retirement check is going to be hitting your bank account for life.

Staying to 20 and getting both the pension and the medical benefits are a far more secure bet at the 17 year point.

RckyMtHigh

Benefits of a mil pension from what I’ve seen.

You don’t have to work as hard as the next guy. Fly your min line, drop stuff or trade down when you want, and not worry about the hit to your paycheck. My retirement gets me a couple extra days off a month and a 20 hour layover in San Diego instead of 12 hours in Detroit.

Health insurance costs. At SWA anyway, between the company provided free plan and free tricare, we have zero health insurance costs for a family of four. Probably several thousand dollar a year benefit.

Security. My dad got out of the Navy with 15 years in to go with one of the top US carriers at the time. 15 years later, Eastern went bankrupt. Even if you survive a downturn with a job, concessionary contracts are a real thing in this business and years of a real financial hit certainly a possibility. With mil retirement, we won’t be living large, but we’ll keep everyone housed, fed, and seeing the doctor if everything goes south.

Merle Dixon

With American and United projected to hire 1,000ish each in 2019. Delta 500+, FedEx 500+, not sure about SWA. My vote is you finding a Guard/Reserve job and bail for the airlines. Seniority is EVERYTHING.

I am a UPT reservist. We have multiple AGR openings at the UPT bases. I personally know 3 guys that bailed AD at the 15 to 17 year mark (one of my Bro’s bailed at 18 years!) got hired by us as Traditional Part-Time reservists, got airline jobs and within 12 months had AGR jobs - which got them to their 20-year active duty retirement.

From what I have heard AFRC wide and via the Guard too, there are AGR jobs open all over the nation. Any insight from any other AFRC/Guard folks on here?

Get an airline job, part-time Guard/Reserve gig, 6 to 9 months later AGR.

Hank Burley

If you can stand AMC for a few years, TACC at Scott will take almost any warm body for at least 3 years and more on title 10 orders if you are willing. Several airline guys work there.

OldSkool

Are these orders USERRA exempt?

hindsight2020

Probably not. You gotta go nonner it up the Stans, shiny penny school, or formal training course for those.

Hank Burley

Not anymore.

rickair7777

Doesn't matter if you only need three years.

PNStoKLIT

Some title 10 orders are exempt. The 5 year USERRA protections are exempt from being used by any of the following:


(1) that is required, beyond five years, to complete an initial period of obligated service;

(2) during which such person was unable to obtain orders releasing such person from a period of service in the uniformed services before the expiration of such five-year period and such inability was through no fault of such person;

(3) performed as required pursuant to section 10147 of title 10, under section 502(a) or 503 of title 32, or to fulfill additional training requirements determined and certified in writing by the Secretary concerned, to be necessary for professional development, or for completion of skill training or retraining; or

(4) performed by a member of a uniformed service who is--

(A) ordered to or retained on active duty under section 688, 12301(a), 12301(g), 12302, 12304, or 12305 of title 10 or under section 331, 332, 359, 360, 367, or 712 of title 14;

(B) ordered to or retained on active duty (other than for training) under any provision of law because of a war or national emergency declared by the President or the Congress. as determined by the Secretary concerned;

(C) ordered to active duty (other than for training) in support, as determined by the Secretary concerned, of an operational mission for which personnel have been ordered to active duty under section 12304 of title 10;

(D) ordered to active duty in support, as determined by the Secretary concerned, of a critical mission or requirement of the uniformed services; or

(E) called into Federal service as a member of the National Guard under chapter 15 of title 10 or under section 12406 of title 10.


Good luck getting those orders cut though!

LuckyNo70

The AF is 2000 pilots short, AFRC manning is at 60% retirement eligible, not sure about the Guard. The manning model simply cannot escape the bath tub created years ago with the demand for pilots.

Find a unit, join them, enjoy the new experience. You will be able to find orders to secure the 20 year retirement fairly easy in this environment, and, most likely get promoted in the process. AMC is full of passed over Majors that are now Lt Cols well on their way to an active duty retirement and increasing their seniority at a major airline. Many do it part time and keep both employers happy, it can be done, all depends on your ability to set it up. Remember, if you are at 17 years now, you will most definitely make Lt Col which makes your HYT 28 years. That is 11 years to get three years of orders or 7 if you somehow do not get promoted in the Reserves or Guard. And extensions are being handed out now at even prime units due to the 60% retirement eligible in AFRC mentioned earlier.

Either way you have great options, PM me if you want a more in depth look at current opportunities.

Sorry for the butt hurt of non promotion, it sucks, I saw it many times in active units with folks that have amazing records. However, the manning model says only this many Lt Cols and passover happens. You can determine your next move, it is not dictated by a promotion board.

Good luck and Happy New Year!