T6 Pilot

Could you post their email reply (if there was one)?

crewdawg

I added the (student time) for context.

MooseAg03

So I submitted my VSP application on 14 Feb. It was immediately recommended for disapproval by my Sqdn CC and sent to the wing. He was nice enough to put in the comments that he recommended disapproval due to squadron manning, but that since I'm an 11M, I'm eligible for VSP.

I know the decisions will be made much higher than the sqdn or wing level, so here's to hoping.

FLY6584

VSP denied due to remaining ADSC even though AFPC told us we were eligible to apply and our year groups were over and would be RIF'd. AFPC is the biggest bunch of ass clowns. I swear if I flew my jet the way they do their jobs my crew and I would have been dead a long time ago. What a joke. IG complaint being filed tomorrow for their bait and switch antics.

Hilltopper89

Sounds like it's working out just as they had planned and just like VSP worked 4 years ago: get all the non team players to show their hand early so they know who to RIF and/or slam with the horrible jobs. I'm so glad I left last year. Sorry bros....

DarinFred

This is exactly how it worked out in 2011. If you're also coming up on promotion, showing your hand WILL impact your chances of getting a DP.

T6 Pilot

What will be the substance of your IG complaint?

I'm defintiely not siding with AFPC (as I don't agree with the way things are being handled as well), but you (and I) are just binary numbers in the grand scheme of things. It's business, not personal.

Now, if you can PROVE beyond a reasonable doubt that you are being singled out because you showed your hand, then that is a completely different animal.

As it stands, and it hurts me to say this, but you will just be wasting your breath. Just keep in mind, and it's something I learned many assignments ago, is to not burn ANY bridges on your way out the door. You never know when you need to use that bridge again....

FLY6584

It will be a complaint regarding the way they handled this entire situation and released information that was incorrect that people were supposed to use to make life/career decisions. I gave up time with my family over the holidays just before I left on a deployment to go talk to Guard/Reserve units and get the ball rolling with them. Just think of all the guys that bought plane tickets and hotels to go interview with Guard/Reserve units after AFPC published overages and numbers for given year groups and made it clear those people were eligible for the RIF and would be eligible to VSP. Luckily my Commander has been nothing, but supportive throughout this entire situation and I believe he will not hold this against me, but not all Commanders feel that way and no organization in the Air Force should be allowed to run like this. They need to be held accountable for their actions. Lord knows if I ran my crew and my jet the way AFPC runs things I would be at least looking at a Q3 if not an FEB or even worse a loss of life. Nothing may come of it and I'm not trying to burn any bridges, but I still feel something needs to be said and these clowns need to be held accountable for their buffonery. /Rant off

ghilis101

Good solid rant. How much time left on your ADSC? You can tell them my separation was approved with 8.5 years remaining on my ADSC, including 1.5 years left on my USAFA commitment. I traded that for a 6 year commitment to the reserves. Of course that was back in 2005 when nobody was hiring. The AF is now going to see all their pilots rush off to the airlines, and at least they have the foresight to want to keep their pilots to avoid another huge shortage.

They were wrong, however, to open up VSP then re-neg on it. That was "putting the cart before the horse" or whatever. The good news is youre sitting comfortably in a 100-150K a year job (give or take) while you wait for your separation date to walk right into an airline job. Yes youll lose a few hundred to a thousand seniority numbers with a major, but when you put it in perspective, youre still ok.

FLY6584

I completely agree. I honestly don't blame the Air Force for wanting to hang onto their pilots. I already thought they were crazy for offering an early out to any pilot in any year group based on the looming pilot shortage, but as you said they can't offer it and then decide to re-neg after vMPF turned into the obamacare website due to the massive amount of pilots that raised their hand to get out. If nothing else this was a rude awakening for the Air Force and maybe they'll start treating people better if they want us to stay in.

But to answer your question I have 5 years left on my ADSC. I love my current job, flying job that is. I am sitting left seat flying a "vintage" aircraft that requires a lot of hand flying, I get to lead a large crew that has taught me more about CRM and challenged me far greater than my FAIP days, and I'll be set for a Major when I get out. Like you said the seniority would be nice and the chance to finally leave the AD BS behind me and join a Guard/Reserve team would be great, but there is still a lot to be grateful for.

Good on you for having the guts to punch at 1.5 years post UPT! It looks like it certainly paid off for you!