Sorry if I offended any Dave Ramsey fans out there, but I had to scream about my freedom from the AF...but there are no talk shows to call into. I'm sure there are many on this site that can recall (or dream of) the freedom felt when you applied for retirement from the military after 20+ years. My whole life, I have been working for The Man, and finally I've reached the top and have started a free fall back to normal life. Hanging up the brown flight suit, turning in the chem gear, getting the retiree ID card. I am consumed with an undeniable glee as I stare at the bottom of my scotch glass, savoring the bitter taste and dreaming of the green grass on the other side.

For all you military fliers, keep the faith. Sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel is a train, but if you are a true aviator, you have honed those natural survial instincts and you will survive to fly again. If not, you'll die, and you won't know what hit you...

 

Congrats (sir)! I'm not sure about the AF, but I know the Navy is trying their best to keep people from staying in for 20. I think it's a ploy to save money on retirement payouts. The last LT fitrep was 21 (+ about 5 O4 selects), and I can count on one hand how many are currently planning to stay in.

That retirement you have now is cash in the bank, though. Gives you lots of options in this industry.

I have to admit, I thought the post was going to have to do with Dave Ramsey when I clicked on it...

Congrats again.

 

Welcome to the club. Reminds me of the SNL skit where Steve Martin is welcoming the other "7 times host" to the "elite" club. Now get a cart over to the nearest commissary and start ramming the active duty folks!

 

Also, every time you bump into a guy in uniform at the commissary, tell him how you used to be in the service and every place you were stationed. When it gets awkward (usually almost immediately), keep talking.

 

Also, the more grocery carts you fill up the better. three at an absolute minimum.

 

Once you are 60+ you must fill all three with enough cheap beer and cigarettes for a month....and then return in a week and start over.

Congrats on your retirement. The light at the end of my 4+ year tunnel seems insanely small.

 

I'd say "2" but in my world the only question to which that is the correct answer is "pilot, load, how many pizzas do you want me to throw in the oven?"

 

Flounder,

Congrats!

I'm in the same boat -- on Terminal Leave after 20 years of flying USN (except for a 2 year staff job--hurl!).

Starting a dream (flying) job in a few days.

Not sure if the grass will be greener but I'm used to brown grass and cow plops.

To the AD guys (and deploying Reserves). Thanks for serving, and continuing to serve. The decision to stay AD is always a tough one. When I joined I did not plan on staying through 20. I've spent years away from the wife and family, missed more holidays, family reunions, birthdays (etc, etc) than I can count. I still look back on the 20 years and I can say "No regrets". I loved the people I worked with, loved the job, and had a very supportive wife.

As a (now retired) FAC(A) I've deployed often and smoked a ton of bad guys-- 'danger close' often and never a frat under my control. Again--No regrets.

Now, where are my shopping carts (x3) and where is my walking cane. I need to yell at some young officer for parking his corvette too close to my wheelchair!

Cheers,
Tumbleweed
"Afterburner is a great substitute for poor headwork"

 

Flounder, congrats!
Feels good, don't it! I just got my orders today for an early Septemberish start to permissive TDY/terminal leave. I have been thinking about other things I would still like to do in the AF. Then I have an 11 hour day chained to my desk with my hand in the meat grinder....

I am definitely looking forward to flying again for a living.

Bernie

 

Bless you brother...

And FWIW...I dig the freedom too. I loved being in...and I love being out too. Hard to explain to someone who hasn't done both...