Good point. May very well turn out that way. Or it could be so few newhires required that it goes voluntary like the SFS slot every few classes used to be.

I think manning the 12 Paris 757s will be a little tougher than the 4 or 5? Airbus in HKG. Isn't SFS using about 5 Airbi now? 40 FOs at SFS. Some have told me to expect 120 FO's in Paris.

Practice bid just came out and 42 DC 10 folks going to 727 SO. SO seat is already way overmanned with 70 R24 reserve and 160 total reserve slots (vs. 36 R24 and 109 total reserve for FO, which is also overmanned). The existing training letter looks to put 20 SO's in training for widebody FO in the next two months and 35 if you look out to October.

Looking at that and the loss of another 727-200 early '08, hiring does not look good. But you never know how many over 60 guys currently SO in the 727 and those in the excess bid may just call it quits before or by the end of the year.

Not to go "high road" on anybody, but if you do that, here is likely what will happen...

1. Nobody in that unit will get hired down the road. Legal or not--hard to prove with a tough interview that the reason he/she got turned down was a bunch of guys from that unit burned the company. My unscientific opinion is there are a few units with a "bad name" out there and guys have a harder time getting hired from them. This isn't' FDX specific...it applies to most majors.

Albie I got to follow up on what you said. I know there are guys out there using the "Mil Leave" card for other than the intended purpose. I've talked to these guys and the response is: it's illegal for them to question me about it.

However here's what they are doing to their fellow pilots. Had a guy who worked for me go to a SW interview a while back. He was getting out at the 14 year point. The interviewer asked what he planned to do with the rest of his AF career. He said probably look for a Guard job. He didn't get the job, and told me, based on the look on the interviewers face, he knew he lost the job with that answer.

I know there are you that will say this is illegal but it's happening. I have heard of several other cases.

It goes both ways, this mil civ obligation thing.

My Reserve Unit is trying to make 8 out 12 UTA's mandatory for the foreseeable future. I am think of asking my ACP to call my reserve unit and having the Company ask for relief. I lose money going out there if I have to drop stuff, and its not always possible to bid around it. Plus, UTA are worthless sessions of training that no one needs.

Is there an upcoming inspection for you? Can't figure out why your unit wants to make life tough on you.

mil/civ is a balance. but, barring activation, the person that controls the balance is really you.
My unit could make all of the UTAs mandatory, but, that doesn't mean that I have to go. I would do the best I can, but, if they don't have a valid reason to overwhelmingly complicate my scheduling for a particular month. I might/might not make it.

And, I would tell my CC ahead of time that I'm not going to make it, and my CC will either reschedule it, or not. If it isn't rescheduled, I'll ask to have it excused, and if that doesn't happen, then I still won't show up. Per AFMAN 36-8001, I get 8 unexcused UTAs. The personnel folks will initiate action after the 9th.

And, if you are a flyer, do you know how many AFTPs are mandatory per each fiscal year?

It is service before self, not self-less service.

Its an ORI, and I am being a bit over dramatic. There is a process to get excused, but the wickets got a lot more numerous. Its a PITA.

If the process is more than your immediate supervisor, then your immediate supervisor isn't doing the job they were hired to do.

From the BUFF and the ORI, take it your'e flying as Scalp 93?

Careful now, you are describing a significant portion of full time reservists (ARTs)

Yep,
lately seems as if the perception is that the reserves wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for those damned TRs.

Hard to believe the ARTs were recently banned from accomplishing RMPs in AFRC.

Should be an interesting year

First grease up a broom stick and place it squarly up your arse.......... then bid an FDA............. Woooooooo That's Gotta Hurt...............

Ummmm... Ow!!