Ya, 11R is a Recce/Surveillance/EW pilot. 12R is the nav type. I'm an 11R at Davis-Monthan.

Guess we'll know the final word in a week. I didn't really copy down too many details after they flat out said "NO" to my year/AFSC. My above post is only guranteed to be 75% accurate. :D

The FY09 info, though, is 100% verbatim.

If that's the case FY09 is gonna be interesting for sure. Maybe that will force me to do the commercial flying thing and actually make use of my GI Bill. Why are you wanting to get out so bad? The way I see it you already have your tickets, might as well get the hours while making good military pay, leave at yout 10yr point and walk right on at a place like SWA.

I actually want nothing to do with flying commercially. I am on my way to my second masters and I want to succeed in the business world. I just find the flying industry fascinating.

I owe an enormous debt to the many posters on this site who have correctly swayed me away from a turbulent civilian flying career.

That makese sense, and surprisingly exactly mirrors a good buddies thoughts (he's currently an F-15E WSO)

The civlilian aviation career's lack of stability scares the heck out of me, but if I left the military I feel like it is the only thing I would want to do. I'm either going to stay in, buy a plane in the next couple years, or get out and pursue commercial aviation, although undecided on fixed vs. rotary.

08 force shaping
 

I just spoke with a contact at our local separations office who told me that to the best of her knowledge, force shaping would only be for the 05 year group...as in no 12-15yr elligibility.

Just some scuttlebutt.

Ya, I think there is some loss in translation. Yes, the Force Shaping effort will be directed towards 2005, but VSP will also be offered to the above 12 year active duty group. Oh well, I've stopped caring. Yet I continue to check this board. :D

I'm going to put a bet on the fact that VSP will be offered again to "overmanned" year groups. I know they weren't able to get everyone out that they wanted when they finally closed down the program. The 2002 11R's still showed 8 persons overmanned when they took the excel spreadsheet off of the website.

New guidance for FS 08 now posted as "Coming Soon", not "Aug 15"...

Wen I contacted the forceshaping office they specifically said only for people in the 12-15yr groups will get VSP, all the other YR groups that are overmanned with be allowed to separate, just not with money. I hope that changes. They could get twice as many 02' guys to leave for the price of what they are paying 200 12 year guys. Obviously the Secaf can change what they proposed to him, and if it keeps getting delayed, that is my guess on what is happening.

I absolutely agree...I listened to an 8th Air Force General talk about what all the military spends it's money on every year, and people (i.e. salaries, health care, pensions) outrank every other category by far. I thought it was a Congressional law that you get paid to separate if you have 6 years of service. That may only be for those who are forced to separate though.