Albie - shack!

 

I never saw a guy get hired in my Guard squadron if he went through some sort of central (regional/national) recruiting office. In fact, on one occasion some clown at the Guard bureau tried to exert pressure on us to hire an acquaintance of his -- this candidate was flatly rejected as this was a major breach of protocol. Guard squadrons, in my experience, hire folks who are qualified and show up repeatedly (3 or 4 times). If they don't want you after the first visit they'll tell you. The unit decides who they want to hire but are certainly beholden to Guard hiring policies.

USAFR will hire retirees -- the program is called "recruit the retiree" and the process can begin no earlier than 6 months prior to retirement. Consider contacting USAFR C130 units.

voodiloquist

 

24 years total service or 24 years commissioned service? He is 10 year prior enlisted, so he is an O-4 at 14 years total time as an officer.

SkyPig-I just sent you a PM

There is another way to fly for the ANG/AFRC without being hired as a retired guy. Don't retire, just separate. Retirement pay is not automatic until you apply for retirement.

The pros to this maneuver:

No one has to go through the hoops to get you out of retirement and back on the books.

You will get to stay current in flying military aircraft.

You already have enough points for an active duty retirement, the Holy Grail of many guardsmen/reservists. So at some point about 3 years down the road when this mess is all sorted out, you could really retire and walk from the ANG/AFRC and collect the check, or once you are part of a unit, you could cross over to the retired fly in the ANG/AFRC program and supplement your retirement check, and keep some additional control of your work schedule.



The cons to this maneuver:

You will work approx 12 days as on O-4 to make the same money in various pay statuses to make the same money as you would have in your monthly retirement check. We have had a few people consider this as an option at Laughlin, but then we were able to get retirees going again after the AFRC CC had a change of mind.

You will have to pay for Reserve Tricare as opposed to being covered by the retiree health care system

You may go up to 6 months without pay while a unit does your interservice transfer, conversion of aeronautical ratings, gets you a gaining order to get you on their books, and finds you a training date for their aircraft, if you don't go to a 130 unit.

 

My understanding was that AD retirements in AFR/ANG were unit-funded and that no unit would want to hire someone that was already AD retirement eligible (same reason they make guys sign sanctuary waivers before they deploy them, no?)

 

My reserve unit has quite a few former Marine aviators. Also, you can retire, join a reserve unit and put your retirement on ice while building current time. Then when you have civilian employment (and fulfill any training commitment), you can always leave the reserves and get your retirement pay. You might even gain a higher retirement paycheck with some reserve time.

 

Retire... Timing will be good... Little early but good.

 

We got briefed there was no policy in the AFR to keep a TR from getting to a 20 year AD retirement, just that they did not want to have to pay for one they (AFRC) did not plan for all of a sudden which is why the make you sign the sanctuary letter everytime you get a set of orders. I don't think they (retirements)are funded out of an individual unit. I have heard anectdotal information from friends in other reserve branches that they (USMC) would try to keep a reservist out of sanctuary by limiting ADSW days once past the 16 year total active duty time.

I know 2 individuals who just recently earned a retirement as TRs, let me touch base with them to see if they know exactly where the funding comes from and get back to you. Unless someone here knows the real answer.

 

Retirement pay and sanctuary are two different animals. Retirement is centrally-funded, the AF paid a retirement contribution into the fund for every dollar a person made. Once you start talking inter-service like ANG and USMC, it may get more complicated. However, even then, the retirements are not unit-funded.

Sanctuary is a manning issue, there are end-strength goals, etc and the AD can't have USAFR guys showing up unannounced on their books. It throws the planning off and gives them another body that they have to find something to do for up to 2 years. Technically, if they are held to the numbers, they could lose an accession allocation for every sanctuary body they get.

 

Do you actually believe that the USAF puts "real" money into a retirement fund for you while you are on active duty? They are not a private company, they are not subject to any retirement funding laws and they, along with all of the other services, are a part of the great unfunded pension liability held by the U.S. Government. Even if they did put "real" money into a fund, it would be raided and filled with bonds.
I don't think it will ever happen, but your military pension could be altered with the stroke of a pen. Think "means test" for a partial reduction of your pension amount or some other alteration such as a delay to age 50 or 55 to start collecting a military pension.

 

Sky - Similar boat as you... prior enlisted, 20 years, 04, USMC, retired last month. Big difference is that more than half of my 2700 hours is rotary wing and most of my fixed wing is as a flight school IP.... I'm in the airline job search now and there are definitely opportunities (even for a former helo guy) in the regionals and it looks pretty good for the majors over the next decade or so. You are much more competitive than I with your C-130/C-9 time. The only thing I did right to prepare for my transition was to make sure I have a healthy savings to make up for some anticipated low pay. However, As Albie says.... you have to be willing to SPEND it! I have already spent a fair amount of money and time trying to get ready for job fairs, interviews, etc. If you are willing/able to take a turn in the regionals and do some time away from home, I think you will have a job fairly quickly! From what i've seen in my 4 month exposure to the airline job search process, you should be competitive for a major carrier. I don't have a job yet, but I hope to have something in the next month or two!! Otherwise, plan B is to GA flight instruct job to stay current, build more F/W time, experience, and connections. I think the outlook is good for the airlines for the foreseeable future. Get out while you still have some drive left.... 3 more years and they might take it from you! Good luck! S/F.