Duke,
I think this thread is treading the same ground I've been agonizing about for the last 6 months. I'm a Coast Guard C-130 Pilot with 2.5 years until my obligation is up- it'll be the 11 year mark.
No, we don't get shot at, nor do we deploy for longer than a couple weeks at a time, but we also don't get any bonus besides ACIP. No complaints from me about that- I'll pay that money not to get shot at or live in a tent or be away from home for extended periods. Not that it doesn't sound a little bit exciting, but, you know. When we deploy, we generally stay in a nice hotel somewhere reasonably exotic (cenamer, south pacific, carib etc).

I've been really upset with the admin focused and crazy PC world to which the CG is gravitating of late (and being a senior O-3 spending his fourth year as asst admin officer doesn't help!). Been thinking about making that jump, but after reading this post, I'm thinking I dont' have much to complain about, and especially, after running the numbers, the Military retirement is freakin' golden. My only worry is that my last tour won't be aviation oriented and I'll be out the chance to even put in a reasonable application for aviation work outside.
There's definitely a lot of good wisdom in this one, and thank you even though it wasn't directed at me.

 

Good point to be had. For the guys willing to stick it out for 20 yrs., think about the time not flying, usually the last few years as a Maj or LtCol, sitting behind the desk. Currency is important during the transition, so hopefully you can stay in the cockpit as long as possible.

Few people walk right out of the military into the "dream" job. Be ready for any flying job, Res or Guard. Flying for the regionals is great experience and a way to build flight time too, hopefully short term.

Good luck to all.

 

Tony C.

I don't think you've checked the retirment pay scales lately. An O-5 with over 20 years will have a total payout of over 1 Million Dollars over 20 years. Add that to any current pay and a second retirment (even if it's less than the 25-60) and it pretty hard to beat. It's a different story if you punch at 10 years, but if you can hang-in untill 20 you can earn a really sweet deal.

It's about time.

 

Scout,
I retired after 20 and came to FedEx and feel that it's a great deal, BUT I would have to say Tony C is correct about 25 years trumping your military retirement. That's true at FedEx and UPS (although--30 year there I guess). I don't think that's the case anywhere else. FedEx and UPS are the only two retirements I would put any faith in being there. It's a hard call for sure. Your military retirement is a great deal, but believe it or not I think the Tricare part is even more important as you get older. I would seriously consider leaving before 13 years (age 35) if you could land a job at FDX or UPS. After 13 years, you would have to do the math. My guess is you are still better off trying to max out a retirement at FedEx or UPS. You can always finish your 20 in the reserves and still get the bennies of your military retirement/Tricare. The militray retirement money is nice, but seniority is king and maxing out your A-word retirement is way bigger dollar wise. Having said all that, I probably would not have changed a thing because I enjoyed all my years in the AF. But if you are not happy and just hanging out to get your 20, leave and don't look back.

 

My how times have changed. 12 years ago it was literally impossible to make O-4 without a Masters. But I guess they're more lenient with so many deployments. But they probably expect you to be working on the ACSC and Masters in the desert.

 

Is this before or after the divorce which gets 50% of the retirement? The long deployments/remotes from home have a cost all their own--$500,000 over 20 yrs according to Scout.

 

Actually, about 4 years ago the Chief of Staff decreed that he no longer wanted officers getting "square-filler" degrees. Masters degrees were masked for O-4 boards, AND the Chief's message essentially said, "if we want you to get a Masters, we'll send you to school -- otherwise concentrate on being a good warfighter."

Unfortunately for me, that Chief of Staff isn't the Chief anymore...and now it's back to the way it was pre-Jumper.

Now I've gotta get my sh*t together if I wanna have any hope of seeing anything past O-4.

 

You have a point, but there there are plenty of ways to screw up and loose 50% of what you've earned, and some find ways to do it more than once. I consider myself lucky in that sense.

My point was that you can still retire and live very comfortable at age 60. Military retirement + airline retirement (15-20 years) is still a pretty good deal. We all have to make our way.....sticking it out is not everyones cup of tea.

 

Sounds like you are in the same boat as me. Only a 1 - 1/2 years left on my commitment. One of the resaon is our timing vs 9/11. I was a scheduler at the time and remember guys who had already dropped their papers, that came back in because the airlines that had hired them pulled their training dates. There was also that whole stop-loss fiansco. If you push a guy over his 11-12 year mark, the decision to get out is a lot tougher.

I'm still kind of new to this, but have been told to network ASAP by a senior Capt (friend of the family). He said he would co-sponcer me, but says I really should have somebody I've flown with (and more than just a weekend cross-country).

Just talk to anyone you know and ask them if they know any previous (was it A-10?) guys. I'm sending an e-mail to one of my tweet instructors. I don't expect a referal from him, but maybe he knows some prior C-141/C-17 guys out there that I didn't realize got out.

Good Luck.

P.S. Any C-141/C-17 guys out there that I didn't realize got out?

 

Duke, (and others in similar situations...)

I voted myself out in 2001/2002 at the 14 year point. It was guts ball, but here is the hows/whys for me....

1. I didn't want to move again. I stayed. My house is now worth about 200-300k more than when I bought it. My kids have friends and a social network. I've involved in several church committees, and my wife is president of a local political chapter. We don't just live here--we have finally become "part" of the community.

2. I have 5 years seniority at Fedex. Being junior was a drag--but it got better quick. I have friends who have made 150-160k/year close to my seniority. I dont' chase the dollars, but my schedule now is pretty darn comfy. I drop/trade trips frequently to meet my own personal needs--all without taking leave, begging a schedulers, or consulting an Ops officer or flight commander.

3. I have a business I completely enjoy. What is YOUR passion? Are you business oriented at all? Are there other interests besides making money you'd love to dive into, like going back to school or pursuing a lifelong goal? Not being active duty let me branch into other interests in my life. Besides FLYING--what excites you as a business or a hobby?

4. I joined the ANG. I am past 19 years now. With all the points I've gotten, my pay at 60 will be just under 3k a month in todays dollars. So--but bailing now...I passed up about 18 years worth of active duty retirement. At 60--I'm back "on step", although the payment will still be a bit less than a guy who stayed active 20.

What did I give up....

about 2-3k a month for the rest of my life. Also--Tricare.

Here's what I got...

I don't walk around with knots in my stomach waiting for the next 90/120/180/360 day non-flying TDY to the Middle East.

I can take days off for family functions about anytime (some trip trading gets tough on Christmas/holidays but otherwise easy...) whenever I need.

I have friends and business associates outside the military now too...

I have a lot more money than most of my active duty contemporaries. Money ain't everything--but that is the REWARD part of the risk/reward tradeoff of getting out.

I can jumpseat about anywhere in the world when I want to go somewhere. I've fished in Alaska, gone to Montana and Idaho on trips, been to LA and Dallas on business...all as a "perk" for working in a job I LOVE.

I have rekindled an old flame--general aviation--and although many "real" fighter pilots wouldn't understand I enjoy flying my Rangemaster on a pretty fall day with my kids more than gunning a bro with an Eagle. Perhaps its my age--at 28 my priorities were different--but now its about sharing what I love with the people I love, not being the squadron Top Gun.

So--in summary--there is some SWEET GREEN GRASS over here....if you are confident enough to go for it and you have a backup plan. I probably wouldn't have bailed without the ANG job, and post 9/11 I would have been stop lossed without it anyway. However--knowing that if things got "hot" anywhere I would be A) serving my country and B) likely getting paid enough doing A to feed my family, I felt like the risk was well worth the reward. I cannot adequately express how happy I am with my choice--but everyone has to make their own.

I wish all of you guys the very best on your own journeys. If you need a pep talk or a sounding board...PM me or email via the website.

Tailwinds...