I'll let Humboldt speak to his background but he wasn't a U-2 driver. He interviewed recently and has been offered a job.

Well done Humboldt and congrats. You're gonna' love it. Hail Dragons!

It seems strange throwing all this out there on an "anonymous" web-board but I know there might be a couple people who are interested.

My background: Prior USCG HH-65 helo pilot turned USAFR C-130 guy. I spent 4 days broke at a forward deployed U-2 locale and soon decided "That's exactly what I want to do." I then applied to both the U-2 program at Beale and the "Permanent Recall" program through AFPC last Spring 08. Although the AFPC application is almost identical to the "Temp Recall" program initiated this January, they are very different. The "Temp" program is a 24-48 month CONTRACT. The Permanent Recall is full blown return to active duty where you are placed back (not that I ever was) on the USAF Active Duty Roster and only in the specified AFCSs. Since it is a permanent return to AD, it also required extra signatures all the way up to the Air Staff at the Pentagon. It WILL take you longer to get approved than the "Temp" route.

Another big difference is that the "Temp Recall" is only open to USAF retirees, reserves and guard. The "Permanent Recall" is open to ALL services. In the U-2 you will find: A prior Marine Cobra/T-6 guy, Harrier guys, Navy P-3 guys, USCG C-130 and just about any other mutant out there. It is a small collection of fantastic people with varied backgrounds.

The U-2 is not for everyone. If you are trying to simply survive this economic down-turn the "Temp Recall" is for you.

I'm not going to go into all the reasons that one would (or would not) want to pursue the U-2 program, but if you are interested, visit the Beale AFB web-site. On the right is a link to the U-2 application process that has all the info you need. Go on an "out-n-back" to Beale and take a look.

My 2 week interview at Beale was a blast. I feel very forutnate to have this opportunity an I can't wait to get started.

Humboldt

Thanks for the info.

You sound like a great guy for the job.

For retired active duty re-entering the AF through this program, then you are not eligible for a 365 deployment. You could still get a 179 or less, but not the 365. The reasoning behind this is that the DROS for most retirees would be so long ago that they would immediately go to the top of the list for 365 vulnerability. No one would apply if they knew that their first assignment would be to the sandbox for a year, so they wisely removed the 365 vulnerability.

A 365-day deployment is another way of saying a remote to a deployed location. A deployed location isn't a permanent station, so by definition, no PCS's. Lot's of these assignments are at the Deed, etc.

I went to an AFPC roadshow briefing yesterday. The rated rep. mentioned the Permenant recall (option 3) is in the works and should be released soon. He wasn't sure if you can transfer to the permenant recall if you already signed for the limited recall.

Also (FWIW), he said no 365s for Limited recall dudes. If this is a deciding factor....I would get it in writing!

Other than Humboldt, has anyone heard of any actual assignments that have been offered to people (especially retirees under the Limited recall option) returning to AD? There was a post on another board that quoted a recent AFPC roadshow to the effect that only about 100 retirees have applied.

Magicrat, thanks for the confrimation. I had heard the same info about the 365s. I am in the process of applying and I am planning on getting my hands on the reg. or a letter stating that I will not be opted for the 365, need some control.

I have heard that UPT manning is going waaay down in the next year or 2 so that is looking like my best option for now...

UPT IP PCS's out of CBM are cancelled right now.

A "no deployment" promise from the military sounds as credible as a "no furlough" clause from an airline. Don't believe it.