Buzz,

Out of curiosity, what do you fly, and what year group are you?

 

Sig,

I don't think manpower could have possibly forecasted the number of guys that would leave last year, this year, and the next few years. At least for NAVY/USMC, the guys that got out last year were winged well before 9/11 and well before OIF/OEF and the advent of the IA. Only history tells the folks at HQMC and BUPERS what the numbers will do, unfortunately history doesn't tell them when that will happen.

My .02

Bdger

 

VSP is paid at 2x the rate of Involuntary Sep. Pay. Congress approved a 4x multiplier, the USAF stuck w/ 2x. Free would have been more than enough.

 

Wow, too bad the Marine Corps is too cheap to give anybody VSP, I'd take that in a heartbeat.

 

I'm a T-38 IP at Columbus and I flew the F-16 last, commissioned in '99.

 

Hmmmm. That sounds familiar!

Navy, winged in '94, flew H-60's for 5 years then got to go fixed wing and flew E-2's. 3 deployments in each airframe. The SG realignment put me "late" for my DH tour after I was already there (my YG was split, and got put back together moving my O-5 board up a year; the CO was not willing to juggle the in-squadron rotation to hook me up; I was stuck behind 2 dudes 2 years junior to me) so no shot at CO. After the detailer said I could plan on my choice of coasts for Strike-Ops or similar ship jobs, I punched rather rot my brain for 6 years.

Not enough FW PIC (no FRS/VT time, did super JO - Wing - DH in E-2's) for a decent paying flying job so I'm loving life as a contractor in Pax River...working with 3 other dudes who were in the same boat and also punched at 14 years. Talking to the boys, retention is UGLY!

Bottom line: not worth the pain if I wasn't flying! Not sure it was if I was flying!

HTH
Spongebob

 

So the exec found me today in my DOW office and said "dude, the boss wants to see you." I promptly went and he told me my ALO assignment would likely change and asked me what I thought about it. It's still an ALO gig, but this job is in the Seattle area opposed to Savannah. And it's a group job instead of a squadron job. He made it sound like this is a higher priority gig...I took it because anything west coast beats the south right, LOL? Hmm...dare I ask what will happen tomorrow? It's not a white jet and I'm not being reclama'd. The AF is crazy...the only thing I can imagine more insane is a computer programmer in silicon valley living in his RV as he bounces from job-to-job.

"Bonus, no thanks...I'll take my walking papers!"

 

For what it's worth (nothing) being an ALO isn't "that bad." But you're correct, it ain't flying. Keep your chin up.

 

You are correct sir!

Although Savannah is probably the best location in the Southeast so those choices aren't that bad.

 

I'm curious, is the above quote based on experience? I didn't think C-17 drivers had to pull ALO duty.

I was a Battallion ALO with the 101st A.B. and I think a 2-3 year ALO tour would be "that bad". Granted, there are pros and cons to every job and job location, but 6-12 months with the Army in Iraq or Afghanistan isn't my idea of a good-deal assignment. Brigade or higher ALO job isn't as bad as the Battalion level, but there is a reason hardly any AF people took the Blue-to-Green program. The Army is not a place most sane AF people find appealing.

Another thing to consider in an ALO assignment is you won't be building any time towards the airlines, if that is something you are shooting for, and you won't be considered "actively flying" and may have to take another flying assignment to get current.

I was at the ATL Air Inc conf. and was surprised how many USAF folks were there as well. Any chance they'll raise the retention bonus to stop the flood gates?