shadyatbest

Has anyone heard if there will be a VSP or RIF offered in 2013 for pilots? There isn't anything on the AFPC website, but nothing is better than a juicy rumor. What have you heard?!

Here's what we know:
-In 2011 the VSP memo came out in Feb (at least that's the date it showed up in my inbox)
-There was a recent AF Times article that quoted someone at AFPC who said there would be no force shaping in FY 13 (this was a few months ago)
-I wasn't there, but it sounds like the 'experts' who spoke at A/TA this year were not too worried about the future AF pilot shortage (who was there that can attest to this?)
-Someone in my squadron bar said he heard on Facebook there would be a VSP offered in the Spring (good as gold!)

What am I missing? What have you heard?

crewdawg

~90% of pilots eligible to get out in FY 12, did so. I don't think they are having a problem of getting rid of pilots. But then again, we have paid dudes to get out, while paying dudes to stay in. Then subsequently brought those guys back on to AD...

polcat

I think despite all the talk about a mass exodus, there will be some that will talk the talk, but not walk the walk (VSP or get out at the end of their commitment). Remember, for those that want to go to the airlines, there are a lot of furloughed pilots waiting to get back in the seat. I think the next few years are going to be interesting regarding retention in the rated communities. Personally, I have a lot of buds that are just burned out.

asupilot

We are burned out. And sick of the BS and non-focus on flying in the AD. I hope I can VSP. Here's to the Reserves and being a house husband!

shadyatbest

If you are burnt out and want out, I guess that's what you have to hope for because I haven't heard any news of the bonus going away. I guess this coming year's bonus hasn't been released yet either, so who knows.

crewdawg

I generally agree with your statement. I'm sure there are plenty that cave and stay when it's cruch time. But that number is straight from a FY12 rentention document from AFPC. It's actually 89.98%. Still pretty freaking high...and the airlines are not even hiring! Crap, over half the dudes our squadron has picked off AD have no intention of going to the airlines they've all found pretty lucrative opportunities outside of flying. So it's not just the airline industry pulling from the AD pilot ranks.

On another note, I personally know two Captains that have either asked for or are hoping to be passed over a second time so they can get out! These dudes are flying their chosen airframes and still want out that bad!

So many people were 7 day opting that they had to cut it down to 3 day opt. There was a dude at the CAOC waiting daily for news on his replacement. They were on the 8th person that 7 day opted! He was waiting to hear about the 9th when I left. He was not the only one going through that when I left. It's only getting worse!

Couple off things to remember as well. The Guard is full of old Lt Cols about to bail...not to mention as a whole, we are short on pilots. Airline hiring or not, the next couple years will be interesting.

Sputnik

I'm not sure I'm reading the document the same as you. The 89.98% includes separations, retirements, promoted to Col, grounded and dead. They don't give enough data to make a historical comparison. It does look bad, but then I note that.....

....the bonus take rate was 67%. Which is about the historical average going back to 2002 (when it was 47%). That number surprised me, I was expecting the "exodus" to start this year. Based on the unhappiness I hear younger folks, I was really expecting to see a lot of votin' with the feet.

Kikuchiyo

I thought that in AFI 36-2110 the 3-day timeline was only for "indeterminate TDYs," not real PCS's. I have a bud who was deployed with his C-17 unit when he got notified of his assignment to a Pred. He had 7 days while deployed to make a decision. He bailed.

Grumble

It's already started on the Navy side of the house. This years O-4 screen, which historically (last 5-8 years) had been about 90% was 60%. They also halved the number of O-5 selects. The changes are starting, it's going to get bumpier me thinks.

rickair7777

War's over, time to flush the excess inventory (and oh yeah, you can just leave that pension in the box by the door on your way out).