KC10 FATboy

The Air Force is the epitome of government bureaucracy ... "the bureaucracy is expanding to meet the needs of the expanding bureaucracy" should be its mission statement.

How anything gets done is amazing. Sadly, it is our tax $$$ that get blown on this madness. Anyone in the private sector would get fired, if not shot, for doing this type of stuff.

CWGrizwald

Got my SOI on Feb 9th, sent it back on the 12th, AO re-validated a week later, got orders two weeks after that, reported to Vance on 3 May and am at PIT now. Not sure why there is inconsistency although I had everything they needed for re-validation. Can't really explain the workings of this process. Keep calling would be my advice.

Riddler

What all do you need to do to inprocess on active duty?

TankerNav

Like a lot of others on here, I’ve been lurking for a long time, but finally decided to register and post. First of all thank you for this thread. I am grateful to those of you who are very knowledgeable in this subject area and are so willing to share it with the rest of us. I’m a retired O-5 ANG tanker nav with 27 years of (mostly) part-time service. I put in my application for RRORP in July 2009 and made it through the final review board in December. Then the program came to a halt in January and February, and I figured that was the end of it, especially since I wasn't going into a flying position. But in early April I received my SOI, and now I’m waiting (like Timekiller) for AO validation. I noticed that some of you (UAL T38 Phlyer and Aloha Air Pilot) have a start date but no orders yet. At what point in the program do you get a start date, and how firm is that date? I want to give my employer as much notice as possible and also get my house rented out. I’ve never even done a PCS before, so I’ve got a steep learning curve ahead of me. I’d appreciate any assistance/advice any of you would like to share.

CWGrizwald

They asked for retirement orders, last Aeronautical Order, physiological training form, check ride history, flying history summary and a few other forms, most of which was in my FEF and Flight Records, which fortunately, I had in tact. I scanned e-mailed that all in on a Thursday and verified on the phone they had what they needed and by the middle of the next week, I got an e-mail saying I was re-validated and everything sent to that mystery place where orders were cut. That took about two weeks which was based on getting a PIT date. I got a verbal on the date (24 May) and they asked when I wanted to report to Vance. I figured 3 weeks would be more than enough time, so I requested 1 May. They gave me two days for travel, so I was officially on active duty 1 May and reported in on 3 May.

Backing up a bit, once they had the dates, the orders were written and e-mailed out to me. As far as the household goods move. I was told to report to any nearby TMO office (I lived in STL at the time, but was up at Mt. Home AFB with my company) and set up the move. That was pretty simple, just gave them a copy of my orders, and it was all set up. HHG stuff is mostly done on line now. Back in STL, a rep from the moving company called, came out for a looky look, movers came on the day I wanted and everything was packed, sent to Enid and is in storage until I call for it.

TankerNav---I DID NOT tell my employer until I had orders, wasn't sure how they'd take it as I had only been there 6 months, so didn't want to spill the beans until it was a done deal. I did check with my HR dept to make sure USERRA laws applied and that I'd get a leave of absence (which they do, and I did). Once you have orders, I'd call you gaining unit and talk to some adult supervision so they; 1. know you are coming; and 2. can help you by assigning a sponsor, who will be your POC on that end. Rely on him/her for any questions you have and ask for all the help you need. A good sponsor will make life much easier for you. If you sense your sponsor is not motivated or too busy to help, don't hesitate to ask for another. A bad sponsor is worse than no sponsor.

Arrival at Vance was pretty straight forward. The MPF and Finance had seen one other retiree recall, so I wasn't a complete surprise. That being said, my local finance was johnny-on-the-spot getting me input into the system, but somewhere in the neither regions of the finance world, they couldn't move fast enough for me to get paid mid May. I'm anxiously waiting to see it I make it on this Friday, I have been told I'm in the system. I also called the VA to get my disability turned off, they were helpful and said they'd try to have it done by the end of the Month, but if I did get May's payment, not to spend it cause they will eventually catch up. Other good news is that once on active duty, you can transfer the Post 9/11 GI bill benefits to you wife/kids, and that has worked great. My daughter will get a nice bundle of money when she goes back to school this fall.

Good luck,
Let me know if you have more questions.
Griz

UAL T38 Phlyer

The man in charge of writing my orders (CJ) called/emailed and said he was directed "...to finish all orders as soon as possible." This was about 15 days ago. I am still a drilling Reservist, so I have to retire first, then come back on active. (I retire next month). I don't think validating my AO was much of an issue because I'm on an active AO (although the flight records folks told me I have to get a new Order that reflects Active-Duty vs Reserve).

He told me I had to be "retired" for a day past my effective-retired date, and then could come back. I gave him a date one day after my effective retirement.

And I haven't heard from him since. Emailed twice; called once. Don't know what's going on.

To answer your question: I think they establish a date after your SOI and when he gets to your folder. However, flow-through and completion may be another matter entirely.

I'm not worried.....yet. I think my date is fairly firm, but he still has 5.5 weeks to get it done. (I wish I had 5.5 weeks with orders to line-up a place to live).

Timekiller

I e-mailed recall ops asking if my 3 1/2 month wait for AO reval was unusual and they replied some people have waited 6 months. I could be on MediCare before I get back on active duty!!!

Rimfire

Unfortunately, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. If AO validation is all that is standing in the way of you coming back on active duty, try to pinpoint what office and telephone number/e-mail (preferably a name) that is the responsible agent. If you know who your future wing commander is, let him twist a few arms to get things done. He wants you there (he has a vested interest in you), but AFPC does not (they're still getting their paychecks no matter how long it takes). Good luck!

Aloha Air Pilot

For those few of us still waiting, I had an interesting email/phone call today. Just a little background--in April, I was given a UAV assignment with a training date of 6 July. After weeks of corresponding with CJ from recall ops on my training dates and forms, I get an email asking abut the progress of filling out a form. I told them that CJ was handling it and they told me that CJ was sick and won't be back until next week. So the TSgt says he will handle my orders and asks me if my assignment requires training (uh, yeah) and when I want to start. He had no clue as to what my assignment was and what was in my personnel folder. I was so angry I told him I would have to call him back later. I have spent two months now coordinating a training slot and working on the orders only to have to talk to a new guy who has no clue what my situation is. I would not be so concerned except for the fact that my start date is 6 July and I should be in place a couple of weeks before that time. I have no time to sell my house or prepare to move my family. Oh, yeah, I applied in July 09. I am a bit frustrated to say the least. Any advice from the recall veterans?

UAL T38 Phlyer

Aloha:

I'm more or less in the same boat, although I have no training to complete nor house to sell. CJ (the civilian) is/was my agent in charge; they also told me yesterday he is sick. I'm guessing he may have been out the last 10-14 days.

It appears to me that they are trying to close-up the recall shop to use these folks in other areas. CJ, by previous accounts on this thread, is pretty good at his job...and I am guessing, they didn't train anyone to cover for him. Critical Node.

He's out, and the wheel is being re-invented.

I agree with Rimfire: get your gaining Wing leadership to put the pressure on. They take the heat; you get the results.