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Kegarator yes, easy call. However, then there's the messy "what to plug into it (STS)" discussion. The cheap asses will want Bud/Coors/Miller others will wanna go with something along the lines of limited edition IPAs and brews that require citrus garnishes. There will be no way to win that one...

You can pick two of those.

Don't do it unless you want a real degree. Problem will never solve itself if you guys keep getting degrees anyway...

Wait till you're a two-year captain and do the ACSC online masters program Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

You certainly are a bit further down the road than most, like those straight out of school and think that Mark Cuban is waiting to lend them a boatload of cash. Like I said, and what was echoed by the gentleman you referenced, there are challenges but nothing insurmountable. I'll save the rest for PM. Cheers!

Las year, my commander let me know, in person, the day before the official results dropped. I'm pretty sure that's the main reason why wings get the "unofficial" results early.

Wing Exec

I appreciate the feedback. I've been practicing as a civil engineer for about 9 years and I actually just became the VP in my firm! So I feel like I do have a good base of experience to work off of. So while I'm working my butt off all week, long term I cannot see myself being in an office as much as I am. In fact, yesterday we just brought a guy on board for some part time contract work in the manner that I described above and it seems like a good situation. Lots of flexibility and there is quite a bit of demand so he basically has his pick at projects. I talked to him at length about how he operates and he said it did take more effort that expected to get things rolling but seems like things are steady for him now. I feel like I'm in a pretty good situation, my wife is also an engineer and earns as much as I do currently. I feel like her steady income, along with my part time reserve income will allow me the security and flexibility to pursue my part-time consulting endeavors without a whole lot of risk. If that doesn't work out I suppose I could get a normal job at a normal company, but in all honesty I am hoping to get away from that kind of life! Hopefully I am not being overly optimistic but by looking at the facts I think it could work out okay.

It amazes me in this era of manning crisis (in the ARC), they still are hiring dudes at 13 step 1 and giving no bonus. So every dude in that position who comes off AD is making less money than when they left, or at least is continuing to work 60 hrs a week to match their AD pay check. From the outsider perspective, seems the ARC side needs to stop relying on "great deal, you get to fly forever and avoid pointless staff, 365s, etc" and realize despite those intangible benefits, dudes are not going to keep up the ART gig when there are countless opportunities that pay significantly more, offer same/more time at home with the family, and oh by the way they can still get their "I fly military aircraft" rocks off a few days a month as a TR. Hire everybody at a Step 5/6 and auto 25-50% retention bonus, then I think a ton more dudes will 1) Desire an ART 2) Stay and not look hard for other means of income.

go for it! #yolo

War is hell.

“One day you will take a fork in the road, and you’re going to have to make a decision about which direction you want to go. If you go one way, you can be somebody. You will have to make your compromises and … turn your back on your friends, but you will be a member of the club, and you will get promoted and get good assignments. Or you can go the other way, and you can do something, something for your country and for your Air Force and for yourself. … You may not get promoted, and you may not get good assignments, and you certainly will not be a favorite of your superiors, but you won’t have to compromise yourself. … In life there is often a roll call. That’s when you have to make a decision: to be or to do.” -Col. John Boyd