Leaderboard

Had a similar issue a while back. I took myself off the flight schedule and met the IG in-person instead. Problem got solved while I sat there at the dude's desk.

Yes, you continue to accrue 2.5 days/month while on leave. 21 days permissive (Cc’s discretion) for job hunting as well. You also accrue leave during those 21 days.

Indeed. After dozens of interviews and 3 years of struggling financially and even hiding in grad school for a while, I was supposedly "getting close" (drug of choice if there ever was one), but finally gave up on the fighter thing when the little money I had ran out. I needed to eat, and was already 3-4 years behind my phantom AD YG peers in getting the TAFSD clock going. Didn't seem like a big deal then, but now I'm kicking myself being 7 years to the finish line when I could be 3. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: can't love what you say you do when you're hungry and broke first. And that was relatively easier to negotiate in that I had no dependents back then. Nowadays, forget it. So I took the first unit that would send me to UPT pronto and never looked back. To be clear, I don't regret not having gone AD, but I gave up a not insignificant amount of time in the holding pattern, which has affected me financially. Granted, the Lost Decade was in full swing, so I was going nowhere fast in the Bush II economy anyways, but the point remains. In the end, I low-crawled my way into a flying job I felt more suited and content with than the one that got me into the military, so it all worked out. Took about 8 years but that's life. Consolation prizes don't have to always be a pejorative. I certainly don't think so. I sleep well at night. Good luck!

DM'd you

Fresh out of Basic going through tech school in Denver (Lowery) spent a weekend in Breckenridge with a wild ass chick I hooked up with. Monday morning in the shower some dudes are like "hey studley, have a good weekend?". I didn't know what they were talking about. Went to the mirror and had bite marks and hickeys on my chest and neck, turned around and it looked liked I had been whipped. I didn't feel any of that when it was happening. Let me tell you, I wore that shit like a badge of honor!

Hate to admit it but you are right. We always hear the advice "just keep going and you'll get picked up! It took me 50 fighter interviews with 30 alternates before I got picked up, you can do it too!" That's not realistic for everyone and people need to realize that.

“Ban Assault Teeth” Classic. ~Bendy

I flew with the Bats at a couple exercises during that time. Nothing in that article was particularly surprising. The sad thing is that the USAF isn't far behind. I experienced the same shift-swap shenanigans at PACAF (mostly Korea-centric) exercises. One led to the scariest landing I've done (at 5 am/night/IMC/trail ILS) and the other we called KIO at step. I have yet to receive any backlash for KIOing a sortie on the ground, but I know way too many young guys that don't think they have the right to call it. For any of the younger guys listening, you can call KIO. I've done it 3-4 times in my career and have only received "thank-you," "good call," or a non-chalant "ok, cool."

You know what really pisses me off? Urinals. I mean, why do we have two standards for toilets? It’s so dumb. Nobody even has a urinal in their house unless they’re some kind of fanatic. I just don’t understand why everybody isn’t pissing the same. The standard should be the standard. Urinals are emotion. Sitpissers are logic. Edit to add: trying to go out of this discussion on a lighter note. Appreciate all the opinions; you have my agreement to disagree if you want it.

Binary.

Pro-tip: Avoid referencing the screen name "LoveDumpster" in your application packet.

Already done... https://www.duffelblog.com/2020/02/commander-of-forceymcspaceface-deeply-regrets-crowdsourcing-branch-name/

I sold back 30 and took 60 days of terminal...I wish I’d taken 90 days of terminal. I’d take it all unless you have some really good reason to swear into the guard/reserve sooner.