Good point. And had this forum existed in those years, it would have contained posts saying that airline flying used to be great, but now it stinks, new-hires used to be real sharp, but now they stink, flight schools used to be excellent, but now they stink, 9-to-5 jobs stink and always have,---and so on. What can you do but hold your nose and press on?

Absolutely, Tom!!

WHITLY never changes!!

Personally I am taking the bonus, not because I want to get out, but it affords me a chance to go to my hometown reserve unit. I'm looking forward to the chance to serve from home. I tried Palace Chase once, but my Wing/CC reccomended disapproval. If I go through the VSP program instead of Palace chase, the requirement for a wing/CC signature has been waived. Already submitted my app.

Randy

Actually, AFPC doesn't give a crap whether your WG/CC approves or disapproves your Palace Chase package. I know a half dozen CGO's from my unit who've PC'd in the past year or so who've all been disapproved by our WG/CC and they were all approved by AFPC. The WG/CC's signature is just a formality. It means nothing. Approval authority has been taken away from your unit during these Force Shaping programs and approval comes from the Chief of Staff. If it were up to WG/CC's to approve/disapprove packages during Force Shaping, the AFPC would never separate the numbers they need because most commanders won't approve it. My WG/CC disapproved my paperwork last week. I'll let you know if it mattered in a few weeks.

First post:

My question for any active duty duys is how many of these things are getting approved?

I was in the same boat, tried to Palace Chase under force shaping, wing CC refused to sign off and I was told by the force shaping office that that was the biggest factor.

Proud to have served, but I was on the fence before, now to have a financial bonus, well, it took made the decision a little easier. This will be nine years, C-17s maybe are'nt as busy as some others out there . . .

Beernuts

Shackone,

You should be ashamed of yourself for talking badly of ANYONE who served his country honorably and decided to move on - there are so few people who serve at all. If the rewards (whether fiscal, spiritual, intellectual or otherwise) are no longer sufficient to someone to continue to serve we should move on, say thank you for your service and there will always be others to fill the void. The career of a military officer is challenging and dangerous and we should honor the people who serve. The military is more than happy to dump people if the "needs of the Air Force" require it - see the RIF of the early 90s - when many qualified and deserving people were dumped or others were later passed over and thrown out.

All of you need to make the best decision for yourselves and your families:

Thank you for your Service

From a 22 YEAR Retired Lt Colonel

Col,

RIF of the 90s...The AF is doing a RIF now. I know many good officers from my year group that are on their way out on 29 Sep 06.
Their treatment has made me change my views about the AF.


-LAFF

A little insight from my unit.
8 applied 8 approved (3 year group spread).
All looking for Reserve/Guard positions.

If you accept VSP, get picked up by the Reserves/Guard and are eligible for retirement at age 60, do you have to pay back the VSP before drawing retirement?

You have to pay back the VSP as a percentage of your retirement pay.
For my situation it would have been about $1200 less a month until completely paid back with cost of living increase adjustment. Guess part of the cost they want to cut is retirement and future medical so we're encouraged to make a clean break from the military. BTW I took it and got approved. Hope I don't end up living in my parents basement.