PamnotPan

Thinking about getting out after my ADSC is up and jumping to guard/reserves, will be close enough to retirement that it’s worth weighing both routes.

Background:
Prior enlisted guy commissioned in Air Force at almost 7 years TIS. Will be essentially 18years TIS when my commitment is up.

I could just tack on 2 extra and get the active duty retirement, I’d be 38 years old at that point retiring as a 20 year O-4.

I could also get out when my commitment expires and try and get on with the reserves to finish up my active duty 20. While hopefully getting picked up by a major.

Bottom line is I’m really just not happy in the AF, the desk jobs make me die a little inside everyday. I just want to fly, getting a line number 2 years early doesn’t sound too bad either.

My main concerns is the appetite for a guard/reserve unit to pick me up being such a high TIS guy.

Looking for any advice/personal experience. Feel free to poke holes in my plan. Thanks everyone.

goinaround

Man….I feel your pain but at 18 active years….I’d just do the two years and get that pension rolling. No telling how long it’ll take to get two years worth of AD points to get the retirement. I didn’t make it and now I’m sitting around til age 55 to draw my retirement check….

rickair7777

For many years I've given very similar advice.

But at this exact moment in time, especially if you're not lovin' the mil, I would consider bailing to grab a seniority number at a good major.

Assuming you don't have any significant black marks (ex. DUI, adverse personnel actions, etc) you should have no problem getting hired immediately assuming you have some flying currency in the last 2-3 years. Probably could be longer than three years.

You can finish up in the guard/reserves at your leisure, worst case do minimal desk work for a couple years and lock in the reserve retirement. More likely you'll be able to get the points and get full AD retirement.

Downside: Risk. If you have a significant medical problem you could lose both your airline career and mil retirement eligibility (the reserves may not allow you to finish 20 if you're NPQ for service due to a serious condition).

Black swan is probably not a big risk, since the mil would probably be hiring in most of the obvious scenarios (war in the PAC, etc).

Upside:
- Two more years at widebody CA pay at the end of your airline career, which is worth over $1M.
- Big seniority gains earlier in the retirement wave, which translates to better QOL (and/or pay) position for decades to come.

So kind of a bird-in-the-hand scenario... you have to weigh your personal risk tolerance. Either way, the airlines will still be hiring in two years.

Excargodog

Do not overlook the advantages of availability of military medicine and/or TRICARE for Life. It is better than many of the medical insurance offerings even from the legacies and certainly a huge supplement to any medical policies you do get through employment. That might be particularly important if you lost your medical for a prolonged period of illness. Flying a widebody for your last two years is well and good if you can actually make it to that point, but I’ve seen 35 year olds lose their medical permanently. Hedging your bets with lifetime medical coverage and an O-4 with 20 years in pension may not be a bad idea.

ugleeual

Join the check of the month club after finishing two more years… you missed the big hiring wave but will be fine in 2 years.

goinaround

The man in basic indoc with a retirement check and Tricare…..is truly a free man.

ExAF

I would also recommend this. Also don't forget you will start drawing that active duty retirement and Tricare medical immediately upon retirement rather than waiting to age into the reserve/guard retirement. Two years is nothing.

Chillpill

At 18 years, guard/reserve will do everything to prevent you from getting that AD retirement. Very few fall through the cracks. You can have your nose up the cc’s rear, you are not getting an AGR slot. Check of the month is a huge stress reliever.

TiredSoul

Pam,
Just for everyone that couldn’t do what you have done, finish the two years.

goinaround

And to add….guard units in particular do not really want to hire O-4s unless you have some connection there. I’m not saying you couldn’t get picked up…..but you’d be viewed as competition for the local hometown UPT hires of the same rank gunning for O-5. And then….you get picked up at a unit….you get hired by an airline….likely you’ll end up commuting to one of them. I quit my AGR job with 4 years left thinking I could recoup the 4 years for the full retirement. Didn’t happen. The man days and dollars will go to the up and comers. Wish I had stuck it out.