Leaderboard

What monkey vid? That's a Strike Eagle squadron.

These guys are so ignorant to human psychology the way this is structured. A few thousand dollars here or there really makes no difference at all in a guy's decision to stay. They make these numbers seem so calibrated and logical like there's some magic formula on exactly how much you need to pay to tip the balance. News flash, AFPC and Congress ain't that smart. What ends up being incredibly insulting however is being paid less than your buddy just because he has a different letter after his number, when you both can see that each of your career fields is undermanned. Even when the retention need differs across specialties (11F vs 11M), a level bonus is always going to feel more equitable and produce better results. The joy of the fighter guy getting a few thousand more will not outweigh the anger of the heavy guy getting a few thousand less,and the AF will end up with fewer pilots than if they just paid everyone the same bonus. +1 for $60K across the board for pilots, $25K for CSOs and call it a day. Have fun being the monkey on the left!

$15K/year (9.3 after tax) for 12B...I don't think I'll take it. Sounds like a guaranteed way to catch a 365 to run a post office in Kabul. I can drive for Uber at night and make more than that. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

Well that's essentially what flight pay is for so we can argue that our current flight pay is antiquated and should be a lot more. I think we can say an O-3 Aircraft Commander of a MAF aircraft responsible for global mobility of his or her crew or anyone responsible for any other semi-cylindrical object that passes through the air at high speeds should get a bit more dough than an O-3 in the fitness center in charge of making sure the basketballs are inflated to the correct pressure. I mean shit, the "over 4" flight pay is $206 per month. $2,472 per year to command an aircraft for the military? Ok, sure. It goes to $650 over 6, but by then most of us are seasoned IP's or even evaluators. Over 14? Probably not flying much anymore. As a comparison, your lowest 4-year obligated health professional bonus (General Dentistry) is $150,000 or $37,500 per year. Neurosurgeons get $400,000. No, I'm not trying to compare pilots to neurosurgeons, but let's remember that the Air Force is paying these people big bucks because of supply/demand and the fact that their skill commands 3 or 4 times their military salary in the civilian world. Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

Mostly agree with you, but not on your point that paying everyone the same is a solution (hello socialism). If someone has a skill set that is in higher demand it can command a higher price, and it should. Now, the $1K difference between AFSCs is amusing AF logic, as if it was the product of some Rube Goldberg device, and I agree with you that if they're going to pay people equivalently the same amount/bonus, they should just make it the same across the board - $1K difference between 11Xs ain't going to make a difference in retention for those seeking money - it will make a difference for those who want to feel like they are valued by the organization - which a bonus structured like this goes a long way to undermining. That said, if there is a (much) greater need for certain AFSCs, they should reflect that in the bonus they offer. Ultimately though, I'm not one for bonuses and would prefer to see the AF tackle this problem in a completely different way that represents the value provided to the DOD that each AFSC brings. I would rather have them divorce the pay scale from O-whatever and align it with AFSC. At this point in my career, I struggle more with the logic of paying O-1/2/3/4/5/6s the same when different AFSCs bring inherently different value to the warfighting table. Same is true for Es.

Butt texting, got to remember to turn the damn thing off Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G530AZ using Baseops Network Forums mobile app

12B bonus? About time. Two years ago I might have even taken it.

Just got an interview invitation from the 182AW in Peoria, IL!

That won't be the case for any war with a near peer. I know those wars (thankfully) haven't materialized but we have to prepare for them. I'm not a 5th gen groupie but the day we face off with Russia/China I'll be their biggest fan. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

That monkey vid is hilarious. Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

So uh, where are the pics?

We have our 5th gen F-22 in the AO stacked in with RPAs dropping jdam just to keep them busy....I think we have the Air to Air threat covered for now. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

Probably because 12M no longer really exists outside the Guard/Reserve

Won't change a thing Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

I also would've accepted "Don't be genetically weak"

You doing ok there, Prosuper?

So let me get this straight... The suggestion is that we should invoke the ghost of John Boyd to buy a bunch of Gripens, which most people view as a complete POS, but it will be better because we'll buy it without a (big) radar. And since they have no/small radar, they won't be as hot so enemy IR sensors won't see them as well. And without a (big) radar they can have a smaller nose which of course makes them harder to see on enemy radar. It's RCS will even be smaller than an f-16 even though it already has a tiny nose and tiny radar. To make them useful as combat airplanes, we'll still have to hang a bunch of external pylons and missiles and shit on them which reflect RF energy, but it's okay...because it won't be as hot without a radar. Then it's one tiny motor will let it supercruise for long periods of time, despite the drag of hanging a bunch of shit under its tiny wings. Which is awesome because supercruise lets you surprise the enemy even though they see you on radar. Because you're going wicked fast. But that's okay because magically it will never get very hot because even though it's blasting through the air with a hot motor it doesn't have a (big) radar. So that means they won't find you as easily with an IRST. Even though they see you on radar. And it will have fantastic range because it won't have a (big) radar so the gripen's already tiny, pointy nose can be tinier and pointier because that's where all the drag comes from. And heat. And RCS. And the lack of radar will make it super cheap. To make up for that we'll embed some wicked awesome magic sensors in the wings but they won't cost very much of course because it's not a big radar. And radar is bad. Because it's hot. And because it won't have a radar, the price will somehow go down by $20 million enabling us to buy a few more of them so we have enough to get shot down because an attrition game plan aligns perfectly with our modern political will to accept huge losses. But that's okay because we can turn more sorties with the ones we have left so pilots can fly more so we'll retain more pilots. The ones that are still alive anyway. Did I get that about right? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I got an email in response to a ticket from an A1C asking me to justify why our NIPR computers should work by providing how many people use them, how often they deploy, how many pilots/officers we have, and what our squadron's mission is Pretty sure it was probably a Russian hacker. So we've got that going for us.

Make corn and stock the beer fridge...

The irony... I remember when Huge was the Mayor at a certain flying training squadron at Moody. Those roll calls were some of the rowdiest I've been to, even 15 years later. I wonder what 2002 Huge would say to 2017 Huge.

lol, I definitely want to get some flying hours in. Honestly, I botched the Table Reading section. Couldnt get into the groove. I've seen the average PCSM for RPA was a 35. Does that hold any merit? Pilot would be nice, but I would take a job being an officer for a cupcake factory if offered.

FishBowl, what were your scores like, out of curiosity? I finished and submitted a pilot-only application in June. My recruiter finally came around. I'm supposed to hear back on August 31st (this Wednesday). I'm excited, anxious, conflicted, etc. What is the notification process for civilians? I searched the boards for info; a lot of guys mentioned MyPers, which I've never used.

I bet the ladies really dig you.

Thank you for all the great information, I am actively seeking a sponsor ship! I know that's the best route.

Yes sir, I just PMed you my contact information. Feel free to contact me anytime!

Don't know if the post is heading in the direction I want lol. But networking is never a bad thing in this career field. Thank you again for everyone chiming in on the post and giving there expert opinions lol. Had a good talk with my wing commander the other day, he is going to assist me to get a sponsor from a fighter unit and call around. In the mean time, I'll keep calling units and wait for my flight physical dates. Waiting is the most painful part! Austin

What's the matter?