oh the irony, i could submit either bonus paperwork or vsp paperwork tomorrow. in one scenario i'm staying in, and in the other i'm getting out, but in both cases i'm still getting 125k before taxes!!! gmafb. no wonder the gov't is imploding. this is a dream come true!! a literal win win!

Well... if you are rated, for at least 20 years. I came on active duty in the early 90's and they were banking pilots, conducting RIFs, offering 15 year retirements, and early seperation bonuses. Mid to late 90's they realized they're short again. Despite the bonuses the Air Force was offering, many folks were jumping ship to the airlines. Then, post 9/11 the pendulum swings again. Pilots stayed in and the ANG / Res components saw a lot of mobilization. By 2006 the AF was too fat again and it was time to start cutting. Seems every 5 to 6 years for a complete cycle. Sad to say I've seen it too many times.

Everyone's situation is different..... I stayed, and am now collecting that coveted retirement every month. When searching for, or making employment decisions that security of a full retirement is very liberating! Worked for me, YMMV

If you do an honest analysis, the older you are, the more sense it makes to stay in to retirement. If you are an O-4 on the 25k bonus, at about the 11-12 year career point, the $$ break even point is likely no earlier than 7-8 years downrange, mysteriously close to 20.... and you can still fly for an airline for 20+ years if you want/need to.

But as always, when it is time to go, you'll know...

Be Safe, and Thank You all for your service to our Nation

The Air Force makes this very challenging for all but a few. It is very difficult (near impossible) getting hired after sitting at desk your last few years in the Air Force. There are very few pilots actually flying their last few years in the Air Force.

Absolutely find a ANG/Reserve job, and get a 121 job ASAP.

I'm sure if you regret this course of action, there will be opportunities down the road to return to AD as AFPC will be desperate a few years down the road as they are trying to figure out where their rated manning went. Drop mil leave, get the pension, keep the line number...

Just saw an email with the following guidance:

"The VSP is not a first come/first serve method. The functional will
decide how many each career field can afford to release. Which raises the
question that if 60 put in and they can only release 50, how do they determine
which 50? That question is being researched by FSS..."

I'm submitting my paperwork in about an hour...guidance said that they will have approval/denail 6-8 weeks after the package is submitted. I'm supposed to PCS in 7 weeks...

deleted...

Has a RIF ever effected AGR Pilots?

Not really a RIF like the active duty side, but I do know a couple people whose positions were eliminated or left unfunded. My understanding is that some of the Stat tours are intended to be 3 or 4 years long, and that you're never guaranteed to continue indefinitely and be granted "career AGR" status. Historically though, it seems that most of those people are able to find a way to continue to 20 years.

I've heard that some AGR jobs are in the process of being converted to ART but don't know much beyond that.

Really? Name their price? Your "bros" don't understand that this industry has pay set specifically by contract and based only on seniority and equipment? And, they think first year airline pay + 40K could finance a ferrari? What squadron is this again?? With such a primitive understanding of the Airlines, how would these guys even pass an interview?

I realize you are embellishing your "bros" (sounds like a pretty tight brotherhood) comments to point out their tremendous stupidity, but I still think you could give a little more credit to those who are pondering the path less traveled. I'm impressed that you know the exact number of pilot jobs being made available with the major airlines in the near future, as that is generally protected from disclosure until made official, and public at the same time. I'm also a little irritated that my company has informed you, and none of our pilot group, about the status of our near-future hiring.

The first of my squadronmates in 2007 to get hired by Delta had only an ATP written completed and around 1700 hours total time. Anectdotal evidence for sure, but there were plenty others like him. I'll grant you the need for a realistic analysis of the economy and a solid side-by-side number comparison of the stay-in/go decision. However, validating your decision to stay with silly straw-man arguments given to the idiots who would decide to leave, is not gonna help any actual "bros" who may be trying to make the best decision for them or their family.

The truth is, military pilots are often desired by airline management. I know they are at my company. And, the exact number and dates of pilot positions coming up soon in the majors is largely unknown, and subject to change any given day. Staying on active duty is a great decision that is seldom regretted. It is not, however, the only good decision.

Getting flying time in AMC was always a crap shoot for me. Sometimes I flew my tail off, other times I only flew the desk. In my last two years (06-07) on active duty, we had pilots flying over 700 hours a year. Most of that were guys who were getting double or triple banged to the desert in a year. You could easily get close to 300 hours on each rotation. When you're getting that much flying time, 2000 PIC is not hard to do at all.