Maybe it's the circles we run in
It is almost like you are unhappy that some people actually enjoyed AD - in any service.
I will say this - the USAF AD, as a group, seems to be the most jaded of any service I've had the pleasure of working with or being around.

 

My observations come from 11 bases, 19 squadrons and 5 types of MWS's.
But you're a marine who talked to some staff jockeys. Got it. Mucho credibility on said subject.

 

Wow - impressive numbers.
You win!

 

The RegAF was a lot more fun 10+ years ago. In this day and age, it's all about "promote or die". Most guys who love flying are honestly tired of it. The few "golden boys" that like playing the game seem to enjoy it. And FWIW, if you're at a staff gig with USAF guys, they were mostly likely golden boys at their last flying gig. They won't let us low-life flying professionals into those staff jobs (and I didn't want to go there anyways). To each their own...I'm having fun in the Reserves.

New guys going on active duty in the AF can still do fine, they just need to have a different expectation. In other words, don't expect to make flying the #1 priority, even as a LT. All those books and movies about USAF pilots from the 1980s, 90s and even early 2000s are no longer an accurate representation of RegAF life. That's my take on almost 13 years of active duty.

 

Upcoming RIF boards are specifically targeting Lts and Captains. Nuff said.

 

Are they RIF'n guys with wings? Their commitment after wings was 10 years, right? I'm guessing a 1lt has only served about 4 at the most, and they're putting them out? Or are they giving them non-flying jobs to finish out their commitments?

 

I knew a guy who was RIF'd last time. He was a Captain...had nothing negative in his record, but was new to the squadron. He was notified they were kicking him to the curb while deployed to Kandahar. There were several guys in the squadron who tried to get out under the VSP program but were denied...it was very disappointing. We kept the guys who wanted out, but kicked out the guy who wanted to stay in.

 

Yes. They waive all the commitments in this situation. They just want to get people out of the service to meet specific end-strength numbers.

 

Is there any doubt left about AD vs ANG/AFRES?

 

The expectation is that AFPC will make it appear that pilots are eligible for VSP, and then panic and deny VSP for the vast majority of pilots who apply. Just like last time. They'll approve VSP for folks within about 6 months of getting out anyway, so they can tell the non-flyers "look, we even cut pilots!". They'll then make everyone- even those they denied VSP- eligible for RIF. You can't quit, you're fired! Can't make this stuff up.

The people the AF wants to leave (non-flyers) don't want to get out. The people the AF wants to stay (pilots) all want out.

I've said this several times, but I can count on one hand how many peers of mine plan on making AD a career (stay in for twenty). I can double that number with those who plan on staying on AD but not signing any bonuses or ADSCs that take them beyond their UPT ADSC, giving them the freedom to leave if they see fit. The vast majority of my peers want out at the first opportunity. Some are happy, some hate life, lots are in between, but all see the service for the sinking ship it is.

But we have a marine who knew some guys in a good-deal small detachment, flying Lears and Challengers and teaching AIS, so there's that.