w/signature line...

 

All,

Great posts from both sides of the fence! Wish I would have found this forum earlier. Anyone know any other forums or web sites that sound off concerning the AD Mil getting out vs. staying in decision? I searched around for a while but no joy (besides here).

 

Baseops.net and flightinfo.com are the two that I visit most beside here...

 

Dudes,

Holy cow. I didn't expect such awesome feedback and words of advice. I haven't visited the sight in a couple months (got sent TDY to do a SIB) and am surprised at so many posts.

Update....I decided to try and stick it out. My wife and I basically came to this conclusion: We know we're going to school next. We know we'll likely get one of our top 3 picks. We know we'd accept the PCS and therefore the 3 year commitment for the IDE/PME. Therefore, that's my 5 year commitment right there. However, we made some assumptions though: 1) school will be a little bit of a break, 2) we're rolling the dice that we'll get an FTU assignment after school/staff since I haven't done an AETC assignment yet and will likely be ripe for one; especially now that CAF fighter assignments will be tougher to get with less CAF bases (BRAC) and outside pulls on the community (UAV, ALO, UPT....don't get me started on those). CAF fighter cockpits will be tougher to get back into in the near future....fine by me (reference deployments)!

So, looks like I'm in for the long haul....unless I'm miserable at 15 yrs. I'll let you know how it goes. Albie , I wish I would have read your post before I made the decision...can I have you email address?...just in case.

It's funny. While procrastinating on day 360 of 365 of my deadline to decide, I finally made the decision when a dude I know said: "Duke, their not going to call you Duke in the civilian world." I said "F$%X that", and went down to the fax machine and sent my "re-up" paperwork to AFPC (I was TDY at the time...again...kinda ironic huh? ). Damn comraderie and patriotism. Although, I did take about 2 minutes with my finger on the green "send" button of the fax machine before pushing it....hope it was the right choice....no looking back now.



Duke

 

Is your real name Francis or something? Most guys I know that know Albie still call him "Albie." My bro and I both have call signs that don't get used much these days. Of course, my dad is 62 and still insists on using his call sign to everyone outside the family. Still introduces himself with it. You'll have to let it go eventually, I think. In the meantime, good luck at IDE and the rest of your career - hopefully you can spend it flying fighters. I hope the next 10 years are as fun for you as the first 10 were. Somehow, I don't think they will be. Don't be reluctant to reevaluate at the 15 year mark, trading 5 years for the guard/reserve can still be a good deal! Personally, I was a WIC DG, I had an IDE slot and a slew of great PRF bullets. The one thing I didn't have was control over my future. I wanted to be an OG/CC someday, but came to the realization that I personally had very little impact on whether that happened or not. It all depended on who was in charge in the years leading up to DO, CC, SDE, DOG, etc etc. Was I one of the WG/CC's "boys" or not? Were the SQ/CCs I grew up with still around to help out? Did someone I supervised get a DUI, crash a plane, or harass someone? So many things can go wrong on the way and the longer I thought about it the more I got irritated. I couldn't believe I was even thinking about careerism when I should be focused on my family, the mission, my family, my buddies, my family, my deployments etc etc. I realized that I had lost the passion for it I once had and that it was time to go if I had other options. Went to the reserves, got hired with FDX (thank God), and haven't looked back.
On a related note, I spoke to a buddy who will find out his IDE location on Thursday. I guess they're telling AFSOC guys not to expect staff assignments after IDE but to expect a cockpit assignment, then maybe staff after that. Could screw some guys for the Commando Eagle list and/or LTC promotions. Are other commands being told the same thing?

 

Yeah, but if you had a cool call sign like Ghost, you'd still use it too. He'll always be Ghost to me!!!

 

True enough! But now he has to call himself "Grandpa Ghost" sometimes...

 

That doesn't surprise me at all. He was grey when I met him centuries ago and already looked the "Grandpa Ghost" part. Now I guess he has actually earned those grey hairs. I'm sure he is a proud Grandpa Ghost. Cheers!

 

I can't say I know what it is like to be a Viper driver, but I have felt your deployment pain. I spent 5 years 5 days overseas (deployed) out of 8.5 years of flying tankers. I even had the opportunity to have some flak flung my way in combat. I joined the ANG. What a difference! Instead of Bahrain for 270 days it was Istres, Geilenkirchen, Iceland, Turkey, and many others. My ANG unit got BRAC'd (Predatored). I am now in the AF Reserves. This unit seems great. I have to say I honestly love serving my country and being the best Tanker guy I can be.

(I met the guy who was in that tent with you, and who didn't make it)(I hope they executed that bastard who flung the grenade)

All that said I just got my 1st Airline job and am currently in training with a major airline. I am excited and looking forward to flying brand new 737's
All that said, don't leave if you do not, can not, leave the fighter behind.
There was an ex Viper driver in my guard unit. He was sorry he left and raised heaven and earth to get back into it. He finally got his Viper back.

The good news....
I got out of active duty just as I hit the fast track. I left to take care of ill parents. I felt sure of O5, a DO slot maybe even SQCC. Family came first. My folks both past. One door closes, another opens. I met my wife and have never been happier. I have a happy wife, kids next year, two dogs, and a home by the beach in CA. I do not have to worry about being sent back to Grand Forks, or in your case Cannon or Kunsan.

I have the best of both worlds. I can serve my country when I want or need to with the Reserve, (the Airline must give you military leave) and have a job flying an aircraft younger than me (KC-135 hit 50 last year) the 737's have new plane smell. There is a Viper patch wearer in my class and he seems happy too.

Big picture sow your oats. Don't leave the Viper or the Air Force if you are not ready. You have to be happy to make your family happy.

If you do decide to become an Airline guy. Be prepared for culture shock. The Airline world was much different than I prepared myself for. Training is very focused and intensive. You have to get your resume out there.

I interviewed with Alaska, SWA, AirTran, and UPS. I was offered two jobs.

It took a year to get those interviews, so start in advance of leaving active duty. I recommend going to job fairs like AIRINC, OBAP, and women in aviation. I am not black or a woman, but there were only a couple of hundred people at those job fairs rather than a couple of thousand at AIRINC. All the employers were there. There were lots of other white guys at both events. I ended up networking and getting a job through OBAP. I plan on being a big sponsor of OBAP if I get the opportunity. I appreciate all the help they provided.

The Airline world seems kind of cold. In my 737 type class (for SWA) there was a guy with 18 years at Independence airlines (15,000 hours) only to be out on the street.

Joining a union. I still don't get this. In the military we all pulled the same direction (for the most part). Management does not like the union and the union hates management, it seems like a losing strategy. I will not be a scab (no future in it), so I hope management and the union can get along.

Good luck, see if you can get in with a Guard or Reserve unit, as well as pursue the Airlines.

Take Care
Fly the plane first
Boogie

 

Who has time to get a Masters degree while being deployed 200+ days a year? They should give a masters in building an ATO, deploying a SQ, living in a tent, and trying to figure out TRICARE. We should awarded PHD's in trying to get any work done with the base intranet blocking you from every useful website. God forbid there be any morale or fun in a deployed location.

Funny spending months in a place with 12' walls barbed wired and armed guards. They call that staying safe, in a different place that is prison. We who fly are fortunate to take to the skys every now and then.