Active Duty, staying or going?
11-19-2008 | 06:09 PM
#21
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 96
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From: Sitting
Like some of the previous folks have typed, it is all about QOL. If you are unhappy, get out, life is way to short to be unhappy at work brother.
Aren't you on the hook for 3 more years via the PIT commitment? In 3 years the whole world can change. When I got assigned the 38 I already knew I was getting out. So, I flew my tail off, got the ATP, got hired by the reserve and Delta and could not be happier. Just enjoy your SUPT tour and worry about getting out when that time comes (like previously posted, save max cash, or gold, food, and ammo
).
Good luck,
Buzz
Aren't you on the hook for 3 more years via the PIT commitment? In 3 years the whole world can change. When I got assigned the 38 I already knew I was getting out. So, I flew my tail off, got the ATP, got hired by the reserve and Delta and could not be happier. Just enjoy your SUPT tour and worry about getting out when that time comes (like previously posted, save max cash, or gold, food, and ammo
).Good luck,
Buzz
11-20-2008 | 11:07 AM
#22
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,414
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From: Heavies
Paok, the only thing that makes me not recommend the active duty route right now is the odds of flying. You would stand a very good chance of getting a UAV right out of pilot training. If you don't mind flying remote control airplanes right after 54 weeks of getting kicked in the junk every day, then I say go for it. The problem is manning, we have enough pilots to do the mission, flying. We do not have enough pilots to spread around to UAVs, spec ops, 365 remote tours to the desert (non flying of course)and ALO assignments. I just think right now you are going to owe the AF 10 years after pilot training, which you might only be flying for half of that, so something to definitely consider. If you would find a guard or reserve unit, that would be a good move IMO. In the active duty world the idea of just flying being your primary job is over, unless you are an instructor somewhere, which is an option. If I could do it all over again, right after pilot training I would have stayed and been an instructor for 3 more years. Tons of hours that way, and you don't have to deploy. All of this is subject to change now with the new President about to take office, not how all this is going to pan out with him in office but think we will still have a job here. I know there are numerous guard units looking to send folks to pilot training, so that would be worth looking into. Just my honest opinion of active duty right now. Don't get me wrong, I have and still enjoy being in the AF, I just do not enjoy only flying a couple times a month. I also got to spend 2 fine years non-flying with the Army doing an ALO tour. If I had known what ALO assignments were prior to coming into the AF, I would have never quit my corporate flying job to join up.
11-20-2008 | 04:54 PM
#23
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 428
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From: Various
I really enjoy reading these "decision" threads. My own "decision" won't come until 2014, and although I've enjoyed a reasonable quality of life thus far and enjoy my flying job (I still get to do a lot of it), the future path looks bleak, paved with SOS tests, OPRs/EPRs, and "career enhancement."
I rather enjoy "doing the Deid" once every year or so, but I'm holding out that the next CINC will drastically reduce our carbon footprint in that God-forsaken land. There is still much for me to learn as a pilot, and I'm grateful that I have the next 5 years guaranteed to grow.
I've just heard too many friends say that the grass is, in fact, greener on the outside.
I rather enjoy "doing the Deid" once every year or so, but I'm holding out that the next CINC will drastically reduce our carbon footprint in that God-forsaken land. There is still much for me to learn as a pilot, and I'm grateful that I have the next 5 years guaranteed to grow.
I've just heard too many friends say that the grass is, in fact, greener on the outside.
11-20-2008 | 05:47 PM
#24
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 293
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Buzz, yes I will get 3 more years, but I owe 2 still so really just one more additional year, which is fine with me. Right now it looks like a T-6 slot, but trying to change it to a T-1 slot. I was a 38 guy, but they are going to start sending B-52s out of T-1s again instead of 38s, so trying to get into T-1s using that as my logic. The good thing I can say about the BUFF is our deployments are not really deployments. I don't think you can categorize going to Diego or Guam as real deployments, not when in your off time you go deep sea fishing, snorkling, etc. Beats going to the sand box. All I have seen of the sandbox was dropping weapons on it.
11-21-2008 | 06:41 PM
#26
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 48
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From: New Hire
WW Middle East I, and he said that 5 years after the war was over AMC finally slowed down. Even if we pulled out 90% of what we have over there right now, the AF TDYs and ground TDYs would be around for years as well as the flying.
If you have time, at least a year or two, you need to do what I did - make a plan and try to execute it while applying everywhere. Put your info out to everyone even if they are not hiring and network every chance you get. For me it was a no-brainer - I was tired of the threat of a deployment and tired of the opstempo. Good luck!
11-22-2008 | 10:05 AM
#27
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 428
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From: Various
I'm sure you're right. In fact, as the AF is able to pull tankers home because of all the new UAV tracks replacing fuel-hungry F-16s, that will leave more of us free to fill non-vol 365-day TDYs sitting in the CAOC.
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