C17B74

AF will always continue its shenanigans... We had a twice passed over O-4 who interviewed and got the AGR gig at my former unit. Big Blue gave him the nearly identical scenario of forced out in 6 months have a nice life. He rushed units for nearly a month or so, found us and we pulled him from their clutches before the final end date. He turned out to be a fantastic fit for our unit and it obviously worked out for him. While he had no immediate intentions to be an airline guy, he now has options.

Having airline aspirations, the better route would be to search out an ANG/Reserve unit for a part-time role while pushing forward on the airline front as many have mentioned. You may have the option to return at a later date for orders to build up points, get an AGR gig, do other duty including staff work or whatever it takes once having secured that line number at your airline of choice. Or just not care to return at all and focus on your new career. While definitely rushed, this can bring opportunities and move you forward faster to the front of the hiring wave. Some return to gain full retirement, others enjoy serving on a part time basis and will still have retirement/benefits. Plenty of others acclimate extremely well and just dump the whole enchilada after they have reasonable seniority from the furlough crapshoot. With hundreds of retirements ongoing at the Majors etc., you move incredibly faster than a decade earlier. Create options when able at all times.

“Nothing more dangerous than a man with options.” - A-10 / Southwest bud of mine.

Wheelsoff

Going with the theme of the thread title...any current/former B-2 drivers in here? If so, please PM me...I may have the chance to go fly it, but it would extend my ADSC. Trying to decide if the juice is worth the squeeze or not. Thanks!

rickair7777

I think that would be career enhancing... so few of those guys out there they'd probably find it fascinating, like the U2. Probably there's a quality cut to get in the program too.

Albief15

If you have been passed over twice, I have to think your career has had its share of stress--relations with bosses, unfavorable additional duty jobs, etc etc. When your social life, the place you live, and every other factor are so directly influenced by your JOB (and I loved it..but that's what the military is at times...a JOB) when the job goes south its hard not to let it affect the other parts of your life. For you--its about to become a lot let stressful (eventually) because work and home will soon be very separate entities.

I know it is difficult, but try to focus on what's ahead and start to leave the Air Force behind. In 24 months, you will have a very different life, perspective, and attitude. You will have some dark days, but just focus on the light ahead and not the frustration behind.

Here's a little nugget. MOST of the happiest, most financially well off people I know are guys and gals who got out at the 10-14 year point. The next happiest are the folks who left at 20 + 1 day. The retired O-5s and O-6s who made it to the airlines have a great life, and forfeited only modest seniority, but they are still never going to be at the very top strata of airline seniority. Not the end of the world by any means, but you may find in 10 years the five year head start you got is going to be more and more valuable.

The folks who stayed on past 20...24, 28 or so...often never even bother to come to the airlines. Everyone's got a niche, but this life offers so much more flexibility than the typical job I cannot imagine going back now and doing anything else. Many of the guys I know who were "rock stars" in their AF careers are now doing jobs I would never do for maybe half (or less) of what I get paid. Money isn't everything, and we all like to go out on OUR terms, but if you can focus on the amount of time, money, and freedom you are about to have this transition will be a lot smoother and more enjoyable.

Good luck with the journey. If you need any encouragement, reach out. Plenty of guys have taken the same path you are on, and you are not a pioneer blazing a trail into the unknown.

One last tip: Sometimes guys passed over feel like there is a mark of Cain on their foreheads with the airlines. There isn't. There are times in an AF career that you face a fork in the road, and one choice leads to fast track and promotions while the other side keeps you flying instead. I've had a host of guys passed over hired at the majors, and when you tell your interviewer you passed on assignment or choose a less desirable track to "keep flying" or "let my kids graduate from the same high school they started...", most airline guys get it. We are quitters too, and not everyone wants to be an O-6. Prioritizing family and flying along the way can derail an AF career, but can also make you more marketable for your next job. Keep the faith--the world doesn't always measure you by the Air Force's yardstick.

tangowhsky

oh and it just gets better folks!

Just a bit ago I got a call from an MPF CC that went something along these lines "so sir, there was erroneous info passed down to you and you actually are being offered continuation." We're so sorry and this is completely our fault. W T F! -- I'm so effin' pssed off right now!

Whats really grinding my gears right now is the day after the news, I was sitting in this very MPF's office discussing this, asking about all the possible options of how one can extend just a few extra months, continuation, waivers, ETP, etc.. The reply by ALL was once you have this paperwork from AFPC saying "mandatory DOS" it's a done deal!

As we know, a highly motivated pilot can move mountains in two weeks time and I have nearly done this to make the most of my QT out of AD. The transition to the outside world has begun...now this.

The one positive is, that if I decline, I still get to utilize the Dec DOS vs paying back 2 years of DEROS and 1 year remaining of UPT commitment. But, what are the real hidden costs in doing this?

tangowhsky

Albief15, thanks for the words of encouragement, I do appreciate it!

tangowhsky

With bourbon in one hand and some paperwork I signed last week in another, I'm now wondering if i'll now be dealing with a legal battle to fight to get the benefits of an involuntary separation that I signed for vs the now it looks like it would be a voluntary separation?

Peacock

Talk to a judge advocate but I’m pretty sure if they offer you continuation that takes you to being retirement eligible and you refuse it, it’s not considered involuntary separation. If they offer you continuation that doesn’t take you to retirement you can refuse and still be entitled to involuntary separation pay

jwlast

I can't say enough about the fall-back of a monthly pension and didn't really appreciate Tri-care until I realized what non-retirees pay for health insurance monthly. Then the wife got sick, total bill came to 110K plus, Tri-care picked up all but 3K....our annual catastrophic cap was met, so everything the rest of the year (prescriptions, doctor visits, etc.) was free. Ya, you won't get rich off it, but the retirement benefits are worth their weight in gold. Medical expenses can bankrupt you....