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Shit just went Navy

I wouldn't doubt I had a hand in getting this change enacted... just saying you piss enough people off with your headgear choice and things happen ;)

But I'm special... And that's 90% true. I never had another undesirable assignment. I simply costanza'd the AF after a righteous deployment, got hired with "the unit", and told the boss I was quitting. My OG, being the great dude that he is and one of many good guys I worked for on AD, called the porch to get me the AD billet at "the unit"- why he did this is anyone's guess. Dare I say that he was a great boss and wanted what was best for me and my (previous) family? Maybe he wanted to keep another fighter pilot around and did what he could at his level to affect that? It was a symbiotic decision- I got the move paid for via PCS, an IPUG on the AF dime and the AF got to keep an extra digit on the spreadsheet- until I quit at the end of my one year ADSC incurred from oconus to conus. But make no mistake- I never had an undesirable assignment. Some drunk guy once told me to never quit your job unless you have another lined up. That advice seemed to make sense at the time... At any rate, the attempt at my retention was to no avail. I'm a guard guy now at "the unit" loving life and the GS pay that goes with it.

I was hoping someone would reply to this effect. I left AD 3 years ago and work at the same place where CH now works in additional to my guard gig. Good company many mil folks would recognize, great work culture at our particular division (many retired/former mil), lots of growth right now as he said. We're in the defense/tech industry and located in a city I love with some folks working elsewhere in a couple of mostly desirable locations. I do mostly 40 hour weeks with some surge as needed and about 25% travel +/- 15% depending on the time of year and other business factors. I take home IVO what I did as a flying O3 > 8 years give or take. As others have mentioned, unless you're a fed or work at the airlines pay can vary quite a bit even for people doing the same job based on background, prior salaries and negotiation skills so it's not real smart to be more specific with dollar amounts. Protip: don't under-sell yourself and make sure you look at net rather than gross, because a higher gross salary as a civilian will not always give you a higher net after you factor in healthcare and different tax treatment. I was a CSO so no airlines for me. BA/MA in International Studies with a good reputation in my community and some valuable connections, but nothing special in terms of AF paperwork i.e. I was never the XX/CC of anything. CH is indeed playing about 3 levels up from where I am, but his background and responsibilities at the company warrant that. Retiring as an O6 is not a requirement to work where we work, and if anything the ideal person is an E6-O4 with a background in one of the following: computer science, building/troubleshooting networks, radios and sensors, or government IT/IA/security or acquisitions. Fair disclosure, two high-up company leaders (one of whom is my direct boss) flew the same airplane that I did on AD and knew me through the bro network if not directly. I got in touch, they needed someone for a job I could do and I was getting out right at about the same time so things worked out. I can't say that's exactly a repeatable process but I guess the keys for me were: A) be the best XX you can be and work well with others so when people bro-check you, you get two thumbs up, and B) be willing to relocate and learn new things as required. I did get a few hits on other positions (full-time guard, D.C. agencies, etc.), but this was the best choice all things considered. If anyone is technically inclined and especially if you flew the U-28, MC-12W, AC-130W or AC-130J, PM me and I'm happy to make intros for good dudes.

So why is AFPC creating a huge backlog of selects? The 09' board is in Dec. So then 09' guys won't pin until 10-21 months from their board? That is just stupid. Just answered my own question.