cficpilot

Going overseas is a big undertaking, I remember that when I did it while already in the AF. Biggest thing is to always ask questions. I remember when we thought we had everything set and then I asked about pets? That actually slipped the whole move by a week since you need to book pet space on the plane before you book the family due to limited pet space. Good Luck Snacks sounds like it will be a good time in Europe.

Chris99

I did. They kept claiming they didn't have any flying positions (except UAV or MC-12) because they had no training slots.

This is correct. I am 11M and got an assignment.

Your family uses civilian passports, correct? We're going to be heading over to Ramstein as well and were curious as to how the process goes. Are they doing all these as TDYs enroute, or can I go and come back to my home state before we head over (this would give me more time to sell my house)?

Sputnik

Chris,

What did you get? You are a Netjet guy right? Did you take mil leave or get furloughed?

Good luck regardless, I'm glad it's working out

Snacks

Your family has to have official government passports which you may or may not be able to apply for before they are on your orders. Before AFPC will put them on your orders, they wil all have to be medically cleared. I am going through that process right now with the folks at Shaw. You can get most of the signatures you need from your civilian PCM and then the final has to be approved by someone on base.

As far as passports go, I had one base tell me that they wouldn't even talk to me until my dependents were on orders so I called the local ANG base and they processed my passport request the same day.

The AOC school is being done enroute. Since FY08 they are requiring anyone being assigned to an AOC to attend the AOC school before arrival at their duty station. I am schedued for the 3 - 27 Aug class.

Hope this helps some.

Snacks

Herkdrv

Always ask you never know what you'll get. I got an offer for the C-40 at Ramstein in Apr 07. I rolled the bones and decided to get out. I never DG'd anything in my life and my heavy time was all herk time. I guess it was all timing and the fact that I had it down on my preference worksheet. Anyway good luck to all those returning.

Box Office

Word of caution when you do a TDY enroute to an oversees assignment: If your dependents are not on your TDY orders they will be requried to depart on their transocianic journey from their home. You will be required to depart from your TDY location.
I ran into this on my PCS even though my dependent was already with me at the TDY location. The airfare would have been cheaper for the government and I was not asking for his travel to the TDY location to be covered. They refused and were very uncooperative. They also refused to book my ticket out of my original home location if I was willing to cover my travel back and the airfare difference. Made no sense at all. Only way around it is to ship a car - then they cover everyone's travel to the port and fly you from the port location.
You may have to get creative to return home and fly from there, or you may be need to be willing to travel back to your TDY location after selling your house to pick up your flight. Or you can just ship a car for the sole reason that common sense to your individual circumstance is never considered by the travel office.

Chris99

Neither (NJ isn't furloughing BTW). I'm going to take a LOA where they will pay me 33% of my base salary every month I am gone (gotta love NJ!). I got a non-flying staff position to an AOC in Ramstein.

Snacks

Man what a deal! I wish Uncle Sam would let me keep the retirement money I have already earned and draw my active duty pay at the same time. I might even give up the increase in retirement pay when I re-retire if they did that. Good for you Chris99 and good on NJ!! Do you know if you'll be in the 617th AOC or the 603d AOC?

Chris99

I don't know which one they're sending me too. Did you request a certain one? Unfortunately I'll be paying back a nice chunk of VSP every month, so I get what you're saying about the retirement pay.

Snacks

I requested the 617th. They are part of 17 AF which is the air component of the new AFRICOM. The 617th just stood up and they are, IMHO, the place to be for getting in on what's going on in the world. I know an O-6 (we were captains together) who will be at the 603d this month, so working for him would be great, too, but I think the 617th is where I can put my skills to the best use.