I would agree. And I also think it's funny that the folks who started the so called "whinning" in the first place are the p*ssies complaining about how "they heard" some guy in the military may be abusing mil leave when they themselves have never served a day in their life.

 

The airline loses availability due to the reservist often having "duty" on weekends, holidays and super bowl Sunday. Why take a guy that is not going to fly his seniority? If you need two for every one mil pilots you hire because they are not available, it doesn't make good business sense. When a company has to contribute to a b-fund each month for a pilot that doesn't turn a wheel that is an extra cost.

It isn't discrimination, it is smart business to hire someone that is actually going to be present and able to work for you. Being a MIL pilot isn't a race or a religion. This is not a discrimination issue. It is a business issue. With the level of qualifications coming from the regionals it will make a side by side resume comparison simple. One is going to cost the airline xx more to employ. The company chooses the best candidate that meets the standards and can be reliable to show up for a trip assignment.

The cries of "discrimination" are downright funny. All the airlines want is a pilot that is going to work for THEM. USERRA is a social handout for mil. The same type of handout you probably rail against when given to someone other than yourself. If there was a law to protect ditch diggers you would be aghast and up in arms at YOUR money going to such a program.


I have a list of MIL stereotypes. You want to pick one for yourself?

 

I have seen the abuse first hand. From what you wrote it seems you are endorsing abuse of the system if you served?

Sorry Col. Jessup but we really don't need you on that wall.

 

You sound like a management guy. Isn't your 'idea' of not hiring mil pilots because you can predict that they won't be as productive as someone who is an immensely better employee (say, someone such as yourself!) analogous to not hiring females of childbearing age?

 

You sound like you are a bean counting management pilot who can't see the forrest for the trees.

Your logic and argument that hiring reservists and guardsmen costs companies money is one of the most myopic views I have seen on this forum, not to mention unpatriotic and un-american. Using your logic no company, airline or not, should hire reservists as it hurts the bottom line. This implies you believe that companies should place more importance on a small fraction of a percentage of labor costs than on complying with the law or supporting the men an women who are fighting and dying for our country as well as their companies' ability to operate securely in the global market place.

CAL has illogically understaffed its pilot force for the past 3 years by furloughing 147 pilots. They have abused the poor language and scheduling sections of contract 02 to barely operate an intense summer schedule. Military pilots on voluntary and involuntary LOA's have saved junior pilots jobs, keeping them on property in one of the worst job markets our country has seen. By keeping these junior pilots (all on the infamous B-scale) on property the company is actually saving money.

I find it hard to believe that a line pilot would make your argument. You stated that USERRA is a social handout for the military. USERRA is there to protect military members from the likes of management scumbags like you.

 

Just a line guy that has been subject to and watched the ML abuse at my carrier. Have had guys brag about their abuse.

What about female military pilots? You forgot them!

You need a refresher on discrimination. Gender is not a choice, but nice try. Being in the guard/reserves is a choice. These pilots spend more time away than the pregnant pilots. Also when on maternity leave I believe the company is not forced to contribute to the b-fund for them. So the cost of a ML pilot is always going to be greater when they are away.

 

It's obvious that we are of different opinions and neither is going to compromise. In that vein, it's best to not continue a tit for tat exchange, so I'll bow out.

I will say this though. I'm proud of my many years of service to the defense of my country and I won't apologize if anything I do offends the sensibilities of other pilots. Any benefit I get from USERRA or UAs mil leave policy simply partially offsets a personal sacrifice....it comes no where near 'break even'. I am thankful that any other 767 Capt I fly with who shares your viewpoint keeps it to themselves. Is military service a choice? YES. We should all be thankful that there are enough citizens who make that choice.

 

My family and I are are VERY grateful for your service and sacrifice.

 

You are right, serving our country is a choice.

Perhaps that should change so people like you can also have an opportunity to serve our country too. Be separated from family, spend time halfway around the world, and give up days off as well while performing mil duty. That would be called a DRAFT. We used to have one but because some people are willing to serve part time in the Guard and Reserve one is not needed and most of our country is able to go on with life oblivious to the two wars that we are involved in.

I hope you enjoy the fact that you actually have the choice to serve or not.

Have a nice day.

 

Last time I checked nobody is getting paid by their civilian employee when they are on military duty. Are you going after all of the RJ drivers who lie and call in sick over the holidays as well??? It is about as preposterous.

Dude, nobody here is saying it is acceptable to ever lie about orders much less anything else. However, your assertion that ALL mil types are abusing the system and you are somehow suffering is what so many on here are finding offensive. After 9/11 these same people who you criticize without knowing ANY of the actual facts, probably deployed to some austere location, separated from their families for months to protect your ignorance on this forum. While this does NOT give anybody a free ride to lie or cheat later, unless you want to give specifics other than he/she ML dropped over a holiday and you were senior to them you might as well keep your opinion to yourself. Now if you'd really like to know how the ML system works, I'm sure there are plenty of us here who can enlighten you.

Apart from that, I think most here would agree nobody needs co-workers like yourself. It is hard enough putting up with mgmt much less a fellow co-worker who feels a moral imperative to police others. Definitely not cool. Do you monitor how many water bottles the other guy drinks as well?

Best wishes-

KC