Sorry for the dumb question but what is the 6-month window for separation several of you guys have mentioned?

 

If you're not on a contract/ADSC, you're required to give 6-months notice prior to separating. The rule however doesn't apply if you're give a set of orders that will take you over your ADSC, at that point you can "7-day opt" out of the assignment and separate. Either way it's about the same amount of time.

 

Thanks! I'm still trying to figure out the whole separations AFI but it's not the easiest read.

I'm in a similar boat as you. I am on the next VML with a May DEROS and a November '17 ADSC which will put me at 13 years. I am applying for Palace Chase to get out at my DEROS but if that gets denied I'll 7-day opt whatever they give me and get at out at my ADSC. My situation is a little unique though as I have 7 good years in the Army guard so instead of 7 more years on active duty to retire, I can get out and go guard for 2 more years and get a guard retirement though I'll likely stay in longer than that.

I saw your other post about a shortage of guard/reserve flying vacancies. I know there are units hiring even for those that aren't qual'd in the jet. In fact, I just got hired flying KC-135s out of Selfridge and I'm a current Viper guy. Keep your nugget up and make some phone calls. I had heard from a buddy of mine that Columbus is looking for IPs so that may be an option.

 

Damn you already have a job, great for you. Are you from that area or are you commuting? I have a bro up there in that -135 sqdn. Great dude. Probably a good unit.

Did you hear Columbus looking for -38IPs or T6?

 

Thanks dude. I think my timing was good as they had recently lost a couple of guys and I'm from the area and moving back when I separate. For the Columbus gig, from my understanding you apply to the group and they put you where they need you. When I talked to him a couple of months ago they sounded like they really needed -38 guys more than anything but that may have changed. I can give you the name of the guy that I was told to talk to if you want it.

 

If you ever intend to be an airline pilot, every month you delay will cost you roughly 100 seniority numbers at the big 3.

Easy for me to say with my existing 21 years and military retirement, but if you can handle the 1st year of crap pay I think you should get out, get a line number, then find an AGR doing anything and drop mil leave to get over the retirement finish line.

 

Here are my thoughts on getting out at the 15 year mark. This advice will be for Navy folks as I’m not sure what the AF equivalent would be. My first assumption is that you have over 15 years of service, that’s important because USERRA only covers your reemployment for 5 years in most cases.

https://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra/userra_fs.htm

My second assumption is you’re an O-4, being an O-5 would make it very difficult to find a FTS (Full Time Support) spot, if you are an O-3 that makes it even easier. The FTS board selects the junior qualified applicant, but that being said, I was selected as an O-4 with almost 20 years of service (prior enlisted).

Line up a reserve job prior to getting out. If you want to continue to fly in the Navy/military, apply to a reserve squadron. What I can tell you from talking to the guys in my squadron is that you don’t want to commute to both jobs. If you decide to move, I’d recommend moving to the reserve job. Being local scores you more points at the selection board.

After you get hired on at the airlines, apply for the next FTS board.

http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-np...tionBoard.aspx

I applied for the June board and the results were announced around December. I didn’t redesignate until July of the following year, but that was because of my PRD. Since the FTS process will take a minimum of 6 months, you should be consolidated (100 hours within 120 days of your check-ride) with your new airline. Personally, I’d wait until I was off of probation to start the FTS job (you’ll be able to work with the detailer), it would be nice to have Union protection when you’ve been gone for 5 years. I’d apply to all of the designators on the FTS board. The goal here is to get the active duty retirement and it won’t matter if you’re current when you retire because you’ll be going back to your civilian airline job. However, that’s another reason to ensure you’re off probation prior to starting FTS.

You have to be careful taking 1-year active duty orders. We had a reservist in my squadron who had 17 years and 6 months of active duty time. He repeatedly volunteered for 1-year active duty orders and they would not give it to him because it would put him into sanctuary.

If you’re unable to get a FTS gig then you’ll just have to ride out the reserves until you are eligible for a reserve retirement. Being in the reserves can help you massage your airline schedule during your junior years. Right before I retired, VR lost a lot of senior reservists because they changed the business rules regarding IAs. I’ve heard that the rules have been changed back and that VR pilots are not being looked at for IAs again. That’s definitely a question you can ask during your rushing of a VR squadron.

Feel free to PM me with any questions or ask them here. I retired over a year ago, and I don’t miss it at all.

 

A little different perspective here. Back in '91-'92 all of my buddies were getting hired, many, if not most, by AA, with DAL second (a couple got "stuck" going to FedEx and UPS in '90... luck is everything). In the meantime, I had been selected for TAR (now FTS) in '90. Since the airlines were hiring gangbusters, I made a half hearted attempt to get out of my commitment, which thankfully failed. In '92 DAL told guys who had class dates not to bother showing up and AA furloughed in '93, which lasted until a '96 recall. I would have been one of those furloughed if I hadn't been stuck with my mil commitment. I was lucky and had a job until the airlines began hiring in the mid to late '90s.

I don't want to go doom and gloom, but carriers are beginning to defer orders and PRASM is down across the board. I think we'll still hire to replace retirements, but UAL Manpower Planning has already cut next year's hiring projections (we're still doing significant hiring). I think (hope) this is likely more a hiccup than what happened in the early '90s and 2000's, but beware.

 

Lot's of DSG and Full-time opportunities out there in the tanker world (both reserves and ANG). You just have to swallow your pride going from fighters to heavies...

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

 

Pride hath no place in the needs of feeding a family. I don't care what I fly as long as it's airborne. I've looked on the 'reserve vacancies' on the AF Portal, where else can I go to find all these openings?