~ July 26th in 2006; then they kept delaying it until mid/late Aug in 2007

 

While I, for one, think you could cut 25% of the air force and still get the mission done if you cut the right people, pilots dont fall into this group. The abundance of Chiefs, Execs and First Sergeants who are worried about your reflective belt and Sunglasses wear in deployed locations do...I think VSP for pilots will not happen again.

 

dude, couldn't have said it better myself.

 

We've apparently been to some of the same locations. From my limited experience, it seems that the pilots that punch are those that can get pilot jobs on the outside. It's a shame the AF won't start a "professional pilot" career path that equals the pay available to our civ counterparts.

 

Be glad they don't. That is, unless you're willing to take a +/- 70% pay cut.....

PS - I'm speaking of 121 airlines - YMMV with a G-V job.

 

Well said...

If the AF really wanted to save money it would eliminate the biggest waste of cash and manpower I have ever seen: the numbered air forces. Next, get rid of ASBC and the abomination that is SOS and we would be on the right track.

Just my 2 cents but I doubt there will be a new VSP for pilots. The FY 07 and FY 08 budgets funded about 160 new UAVs (about 80 UAVs per FY budget). I read somewhere that the FY 09 AF budget request also includes money for about 80 more UAVs. Unfortunately that is the wave of the future and they need rated pilots to "fly" those toys.

Also, the U-28 fleet is growing, we are sending kids from the T-38 side of UPT right to the U-28. Aren't we adding more C-17s to the fleet too? How can there be an excess of 11Ms?

Good luck my brothers!

Buzz (ultra-high morale AF reservist)

 

I think UAV, heavy deployment requirements and the future needs of rated folks to fill staff and command positions will prevent VSP for us. I missed the boat on the good deal a couple years ago so I am Palace Chase here in about 3 weeks...I would say that is your best bet if you cant make it to your commitment end.

 

Oh...one more group to my list. Cops with radar guns at the Deid. Why do they need to be getting combat pay?

 

They are practicing for giving your spouse a speeding ticket on base while you are downrange when it's an accompanied long tour in a year or two.....

Row row row your boat.....

 

Or how about the mandatory monthly awards ceremonies and commanders calls while you are deployed? Or my personal favorite, attending the ceremony to award a Bronze Star to a Col who did a four month deployment. Part of his citation for a Bronze Star was he had a pavilion built to raise morale on base. I seriously wanted to puke right there and any remaining respect I had for combat medals was done.