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Yep. Hence why when VSP was offered, under compensated pilots tried to leave while overpaid shoe clerks wanted to stay. I make plenty of money as an O-5 on the bonus..point being that the fact that my flight pay hasn't been updated in 15+ years shows me the USAF doesn't think I require that sort of attention hence, where it values me. I see airlines upping salaries and actively competing for skills such as mine makes me want to work somewhere I'm appreciated. What's my motivation to work more hours, get paid the same with less stability for my family? When I hear stories from friends of working 16 days a month for the same pay, living where I want, no work outside flying....you'd better bring some more incentives to the table. Supply and demand. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

Because then they could never take it away.

I thought Laughlin was pretty damn close to an exchange tour...flying, drinking, but no women!.

nsplayr johnson brings up some other good points. Airlines won't do anything unless it absolutely saves them money. You can bet your ass that if we ever go to single pilot ops, the unions will demand a much higher pay rate to take on such responsibilities. I think you'd see the union (possibly the FAA) fight our duty time regs...the way we fly now is only doable due to having another pilot to back each other up. I think this would reduce our duty time available per day...which again would drive up costs. Factor that into the additional cost to equip the airline with the required systems in the jet and on the ground, and it's hard to see it coming...yet. Hell, our internal systems are still run on DOS based programs with a circa 1990 GUI to make it easier to use. AAL doesn't even bother with a GUI...you basically have to write code to input a lot of data there. Why? Easier to use on such a complex system, but ultimately it comes down to cost. Listen, I was told we'd have hover boards by now...look how that development is going! They must still be trying to figure out how to get them to work on water.

I just don't think it's going to work with the flying public anytime soon. IMO we are generations away from people willingly climbing aboard a drone, in a nasty rainstorm, to fly across the ocean at night with no humans driving from the front. I also think it'll take all-new design aircraft before it's feasible...too much retrofit required on the existing fleets, fleets which will be around a long time. There are other significant issues to overcome but I think human nature will be a huge obstacle for a long time.

For those interested... I'm the guy who ran the board this year. What questions do you all have? Trends? News? I'm here to pass along info and help everyone out --Pred

There's probably never been a better time to try to get a pilot slot with a less than stellar GPA. Make them tell you no by applying to every opportunity you can. Keep studying and get that PPL and if they say no, try again. I lost count of the number of times I was told no before I finally got a pilot slot. I was rocking a 2.8 GPA. Don't give up.

Good on ya for saving as much as possible, however you must have had a ton of cash to throw around if you can casually shift from 5% all the way up to the IRS limit of $18K annually. Unless you're making $360K per year...if so then well played! This article is excellent at explaining the pluses and minuses of Roth (or after-tax) investing vs traditional retirement investing. BL: If you're not saving the extra money you have in your pocket due to a lower tax bill now, you're falling behind vs where you'd be choosing Roth. If you put the money you realize in tax savings into another savings/investment vehicle in order to foot your long-term tax bill, then you'll come out ahead. But very, very few people do that, and thus Roth is a good crutch (i.e. pay your taxes now, and whatever money you have on the backend is yours and yours alone). Unless you know for a fact you'll be hanging with CH and the ladyboys in Thailand with a dramatically lower tax rate. My working assumption is that for most youngish, smart, hard-working, high-earning people, their future tax rates are likely to be higher rather than lower. Personally, I'd rather pay my taxes now and do my future budgeting without having to worry about unknowable tax rates biting a piece out of my pie. Cavet: if you're even having these types of conversation you're in like the top 6-9% of investors out there, so don't sweat it too much either way. It's like working out, you don't need the perfect program to be better than all the fat slobs out there, just go out and do something and you're already way ahead.

You shouldn't call your Mom a ladyboy.

You asked so, yeah, you're out of line here. Comm officers don't do the same work (danger/personal risk//length/duration/intensity of training) but they also don't get flight pay or the bonus opportunities you have. Does current flight pay/bonus structure cover the value difference of the two jobs? No, I don't think so. But I also don't feel the need to undercut the value position of a career field that I think is dangerously undervalued in terms of emerging threat horizon either. Our position stands on its own merits. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

You forgot one thing, I'm a millennial. I'm all about right now. Future me can go fvck himself. In all seriousness though, great advice. I'll change it so that I'm contributing the max amount I can financially sustain.

7 days a week?! Sounds like a fun time to be a 38 IP... leave an ops unit for a break, only to find out you traded in your weekends for the foreseeable future

Fingers came and talked to us at Misawa. We asked him that direct question. He actually said he wanted to lessen it to 8 years active duty..and 6 years in the reserves. So yes, more years total in commitment. Allow AF pilots to fly for the Airlines but still hold on to that experience an extra 4 years.. Let me know if I'm completely out of line, but having an inherent dangerous job, working 14+ hour days, and flying a jet that requires more skill that working at a desk=should equal more pay. I'm making as much money as a COMM officer (who works half that)? Doesn't seem right to me. I'm not all about the money and would even take a pay cut at this point to fly for the Airlines as soon as I'm done with my 10. Don't just patch the problem with $30K plus bonus's at the 10 plus year point after I'm burned out.

Kelly is part of Lackland now.

I am one of those that wants a meat servo (sts) up front to handle things when HAL can't. However: Around 20-ish years ago, the first RPAs were fielded. Not long before we hung ordnance on them after thinking "only good for surveillance." Less than 20 years ago, I was on the Air Staff working with the FAA trying to convince them to allow UAVs (as the term was then) in the NAS. Hit a near-brick wall. How many stateside bases fly RPAs now? How many other federal, state, and local agencies do as well? Generations before this comes to pass is a stretch, I think. If it's a cheaper ticket, a lot of folks won't care just as they haven't has air travel has become bus service. I'm not advocating for it, I just happen to think it's inevitable and I don't think The Man (whether in uniform or business suit) cares about the societal impact if his bottom line improves. Therefore, young 'uns might want to keep an eye, and their options, open is my only reason for posting. But if they can hack flying for Big Blue, they most likely will hack something else as well. But they won't be irreplaceable.

My $.02 as a guy who spent several years as the hiring guy for my ANG unit: Are your numbers ideal? No. Are they a show stopper? Not necessarily, unless you let your officer recruiter make your decision for you and decide not to apply. Anything you get from a recruiter should be considered info only, at best. Let the pilot board tell you no, don't do it for them. I'm sure you'll get lots more specific advice, so the last thing I'll add is, get going, because age 30 is a show stopper.

Just saw a story that Trump asked VADM Robert Harward to take the job, but turned it down. For those that don't know, Harward was a 1 star that Mattis picked to jump up to 3 stars and be his vice at JFCOM. And when Mattis went to CENTCOM, Harward went too and did the deputy deal again. Reputation alone, looks like he was a sound choice. I think that our opponents on the world stage shit a brick upon hearing the name, and are now drunk with relief that he said no thanks. Out

PC Approved. 13 months off TA ADSC. Package was at SAF/PC for just over 5 weeks. Non-rated ops to Guard ALO Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

I would tweak the statement "put aside the max the government will match" to say put aside the "max allowable." Most view these vehicles and contribution rates as a function of trying to get the most "free" money you can from a match, when in fact they are also a tremendous way to reduce your current year tax burden. My current company has a 4% 401K match but I contribute 25% of my paycheck which of course lowers my tax basis in the short-term and puts a much larger chunk of coin in play for investment growth. I will worry about the withdraw taxes in a few years when I am in Thailand chasing hookers and withdrawing from my 401K. I am lucky to have a retirement that supplements my income and not everyone is in the same position, but if you have the discipline to maximize your contribution from your first paycheck you will likely never miss it and your future self will send a thank you note.

TK nailed it. AFRC does and can hire independently. The BUFF/BOne guys are good/recent examples of this. Most of your average heavy units in AFRC will direct you towards an "Officer Accessions Recruiter" in their area who helps them organize the paperwork and vet applicants. That same recruiter can prepare and send you forth for the unsponsored board if you so choose. So, I'd call that area recruiter... or find a number for the Ops desk and go that route.

Someone is welcome to correct me, but I still think Reserves can hire just like guard units. The unsponsored board thing is a separate entity where you get picked up for a slot, fill out your dream sheet either before or during UPT and/or talk with units you want to fly for during that time, then finish UPT and accept the offer you most desire. Guard does seem more open about hiring. I think the unsponsored thing is what people do when they are more focused on getting into an airplane faster and worrying about what they fly later.

Why the F' don't they just add TSP matching to any AFSC 11X or 12X or Aviation bonus payment used for TSP....the services are allowed to match.... It'd be a small upfront payment from Mother Blue for a possibly big benefit for aviators later when we're old and deaf from flying her planes.

13B on the backend of the E-3 here. Don't think there many any E-3 pilots on this forum. I'll give you the data I have though. 1. Ops Tempo You can expect to be deployed for 4 months and then home for a year. (Currently in the desert for my 3rd in 2.5 years, that is rare) Deployments can wear you down with how long our sorties are. TDYs are plenty and go all over the World. You can expect 4 to 5 TDYs during the year off. When my Sq gets back we're doing WTI, Maple Flag, Red Flag, and Green Flag West. That's just the schedule through September. Home station, you can expect to fly at least once a week, maybe less. We have a ton of Co-Pilots flowing in. Home station sorties are standard at 7.5 hours, 10.0 with a tanker. Normally you're home by 1700 unless you have a late show. Just an assumption, but I think we are the only platform that shows as early as we do. Some shows are 0330 to take off at 0600 to meet a morning vul on the East Coast at 0900. I don't mind them. But I'm just hanging out in the back until we get enough altitude to turn the systems on. 2. Life Style/ Family Stability I think AWACS has a great Life Style and its not too bad on the family. Like I said above, most days you're home by 1700. In most cases you know a year in advance when your going to deploy. TDYs are fragged out early. You have plenty of time to plan. We have to plan early since there are 20 people on a crew, If we bring 3 crews, an MPC, Staff, and MX to Vegas, that's a lot of people to put up in lodging so we have to get out in front of it. There is lot's of buffoonery, however. Example: Got married in Sept of 16, we deployed in Nov 16. The CC canceled my Honey Moon because I would miss the Road to War Brief on the first day of Spin-Up (for my 3rd deployment). Wife was not pleased. Also, showing at 0330 to find out the jet is on jacks in Doc 2 with a massive hydro leak. May be ready at 0900 or it may not, but you can't leave the Sq until we know for sure. Things like that happen here and there. 3. Morale Can't speak on the front end morale, but they all seem to enjoy it. I've heard the jet is a beast and fun to fly. The backend morale is damn low. There is sometimes a divide between the front end and back end. The MCC usually an O-4 or O-5 owns the back end. However, the AC usually an O-3 or above owns the jet and is responsible for it's safety. Backend needs to go to the East Coast to get in a Viper SEAD Vul, but flight deck needs to go Dyess to get some off station transition. So training priorities become an issue as well, it's normally hashed out on MP day prior to fly day. If we take off late or something moves in the timeline, it's usually a discussion in the air. 4. Advancements & Future of the Airframe E-3s are getting a flight deck upgrade. Not sure when it will be completed. But the flight deck bros are all excited about it except the Navs. We have old no glass gauges and it's being upgraded to glass(see AWACS Dragon Mod.) There is another upgrade that I'm not familiar with, but it will no longer require a Nav. The E-3 will be around for a while. When we're up and everything is working like it should, there isn't a lot we can't see and can't listen to. With 20 radios and an unlcassed radar range of 250NM, not a lot of platforms can provide that kind of capability. 5. Preferred PCS Location If you're AWACS, "Mother Tinker" will always bring you back. Pilots have 3 locations they can PCS to from Tinker. Elmo, Kadena, and GK. Preferences are all over the place. Just depends on what that individual wants. Most folks say any where but Tinker. And that includes white jets. If you have more questions, feel free to PM me. If I don't know the answer, I'll track down my AC and get the data. Lot of great stuff on this thread. Full disclosure, I'm looking to get to UPT in a year or so. TurnHer

Good. I got answers to all your questions except the stupid ones, but rest assured I asked them all. I'll write up the interview for Combat Aircraft magazine and post a link to it here when it's out.

Nope. Willie is a pipe dream. No base/infractructure there anymore, it's a busy airport, it's been completely encroached on and the MOAs here are quite saturated already. The chances of Willie standing up ARE about the same as Hartsfield or JFK. What are we going to do, acquire land and build a base around it somehow?

I'm a little late to the fight here but dude, your engrish is f'ing terrible. Seriously guys?

I'm not sure what "valuable information" you're referring to. You should reread his comment history. Seriously.

I wonder which three air frames would come up... Must just be a crazy theory.