I know a few who've made a clean break at 12-14 years. Yes, that's a total waste IMHO. Fitting in ANG/AFRes into one's schedule can be a pain at times but it's worth it in the end. Now if there are plans to replace Tricare with Obamacare, then it would be a different story. I hope this rumor is not true.:mad:

I read his situation the same way (it was the phrase "clean break") and thought the same thing as you.

Agreed,

Tricare reserve select is pretty much the main thing keeping me in a TR job vs going the points only ALO (Academy Liason Officer) route.

Guess i didn't make that clear initially. By 'clean break" I meant I didn't get a ginormous check like those that got TERA, VSP, etc. Hell, I didn't even get a coin.

Guard bumming paid the bills and kept my wife & kids fed for the 8 months between my DOS and starting Indoc. I'd strongly encourage anyone thinking of getting out past 10 yrs to look for an ARC position out there, even a non-flying one. The benefits are worth the hassle I think.

Plus, they won't let me land the Airbus on dirt for some reason.

Just curious, what would you guys recommend for an aviation job that is Monday-Friday and relatively normal hours?

The reason I ask is that I'm always traveling , and I do not want to do that forever. If I am early retired, I will have health benefits and enough income to pay the bills, so one option would be to take a lower paying flying job for the better schedule...assuming I can find a flying job with a descent schedule...

If you don't want to travel, find a desk job or something. Seriously, your retirement check isn't going to go very far...An O4 early ritirement is probably about $2500 a month, right? You're probably making $115k a year now with base pay, flight pay and tax free BAH/BAS. A $30k a year retirement is not much, So you need to make $85k in your civilian job just to maintain your current status. And hopefully you'd want to actually improve on that.

Try for a job at a major, and if you really don't need the money, drop trips to the minimum allowed. The job is easy, and pretty much stress free compared to what you're used to (based on what I've read here) and it pays really well (after the first year or two). Also the 16% ish direct contribution to your 401k will nicely pad your current retirement. Money buys quality of life for you and your family. You'll be hard pressed to find a day flying gig that pays well and offers the freedoms an airline (major that is) job will.

Think long term!

Try for an L3 job at Robins. Sounds like the airlines may not be for you.

When you say drop trips to the minimum allowed, that is where I get a little confused. Does that mean instead of going on 3 or 4 day trips, you do out and backs?

It could. More likely, the reference to dropping trips referred to a SAP...schedule adjustment period.

Most, but not necessarily all, airlines have a SAP in one form or another. During this period, one can exchange trips with open time to improve their schedules. I've done this periodically to improve my schedule or my pay for that month.

The rules are a little different for each carrier. If I want to drop a four-day trip, I have to pick up an out-and-back (also called a turn-around or turn.) at a minimum. I can't just drop the four-day. If a pilot senior to me wants the same trip, I have to find something else.

By dropping trips and living in base you couldn't ask for a better QOL. I average 18-20 days off a month. If only I lived in base.