HeyWatchThis

Here is the verbiage from the recently signed FY23 NDAA: (c) SPECIAL AVIATION INCENTIVE PAY AND BONUS AUTHORITIES FOR OFFICERS.—Section 334(c)(1) of title 37, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘$1,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$1,500’’; and (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘$35,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$75,000’’. (d) SKILL INCENTIVE PAY OR PROFICIENCY BONUS.—Section 353(c)(1)(A) of title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘$1,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$1,750’’.

A silver lining might be the fact that the DoD had to prove it would be "detrimental to the force" to justify not paying the full amount. RAND also hedged their answer by admitting that the increase in flight pay would increase the number of people wanting to join the guard/reserve. So according to them, individual participation would decrease but recruiting/retention numbers would increase. The language in the NDAA has bipartisan support so probably just my bias coming out but I don't think this report is the smoking gun the DoD I'm sure was hoping for but still frustrating from our perspective. I honestly don't get the level of effort the AF/DoD puts into NOT paying us...

Well looks like the Air Force's lap dog agrees with not paying us the full flight pay: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA669-1.html Key Findings The yearly cost increase associated with paying members of the RC risk pay and flight pay at the full monthly rate would range from $46.3 million to $88.5 million annually, or 100 percent to 194 percent over the baseline of $45.7 million annually. Although the cost increase would represent a substantial increase in the S&I pay budget, it would be small relative to the overall RC personnel budget: less than 0.4 percent for fiscal year 2021. RC members serve more periods per month than the stereotypical one weekend per month and two weeks in the summer. The implication is that the cost increase associated with a full-rate S&I pay policy is less than expected because RC members are already paid closer to the full monthly rate than expected. The number of RC members who would qualify or would potentially qualify for either hazardous duty incentive pay or aviation incentive pay in a given month ranges from 17,796 to 379,148 (out of more than 800,000 total members). The full-rate policy could reduce incentives to participate in the RC for more than the minimum required training periods. Thus, the full-rate policy would adversely affect readiness. Furthermore, the full monthly rate policy would be inefficient because it would increase costs while potentially reducing participation—i.e., paying more for less. From my scientific research (IE asking around the sq) this is not the story I've gathered but I'm sure their simulations are smarter than asking actual people.......I know in my small corner of the woods a lot of our min runners (IE dudes who show up MAYBE once a quarter would actually start flying at least a local once a month.... My guess is will be the BS ammo they try and present Congress to get out of paying us full flight pay....

The DoD was supposed to submit a report NLT Oct 1, 2023 on how they were going to implement the full flight pay raise. They could try and get out of it if they could justify that raising guard/reserve flight pay to full pay was "detrimental to the force". They (DoD) basically ignored the requirement and didnt do the report. The writers of that verbiage then called the DoD out for not submitting said report and the DoD asked for an extension.....that's the last I've heard of it...haven't had a chance to check and see if they tried to strip the language from FY23 NDAA. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/10/26/delay-incentive-pay-boost-guard-and-reserves-draws-rebuke-lawmakers.html

Yep....for a while they tried to pass it as the "Guard/Reserve Pay Disparity Act".....got lost in committee's so they inserted the language into this years (FY22) NDAA. Below is all the legalese BS straight from the NDAA however bottom line is the SecDef has until 30 Sept 22 to submit a report on how to implement/pay for it and it should go into affect FY23. SEC. 602. EQUAL INCENTIVE PAY FOR MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE COMPONENTS OF THE ARMED FORCES. (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 37, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: ``Sec. 357. <> Incentive pay authorities for members of the reserve components of the armed forces ``Notwithstanding section 1004 of this title, the Secretary concerned shall pay a member of the reserve component of an armed force incentive pay in the same monthly amount as that paid to a member in the regular component of such armed force performing comparable work requiring comparable skills.''. (b) Technical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter <> is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 356 the following: ``357. Incentive pay authorities for members of the reserve components of the armed forces.''. (c) <> Report.--Not later than September 30, 2022, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing-- (1) <> the plan of the Secretary to implement section 357 of such title, as added by subsection (a); (2) <> an estimate of the costs of such implementation; (3) the number of members described in such section; and (4) <> any other matter the Secretary determines relevant. (d) Implementation Date.--The Secretary may not implement section 357 of such title, as added by subsection (a) until after-- (1) submission of the report under subsection (b); and (2) <> the Secretary determines and certifies in writing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives that such implementation shall not have a detrimental effect on the force structure of an Armed Force concerned, including with regard to recruiting or retention of members in the regular component of such Armed Force.

I'll be going again this year....we went last year and sat at turn 12. We are at turn 12 again this year. Made for a fun race being that it's at the end of the DRS zone and you can see turns 13, 14, 15 from the seats too. We go with a group of about 12 guys and learned that it is well worth renting a limo for race day. Don't have to worry about a DD or arriving/departing....makes the busiest day a bit more fun/relaxing.....we typically rent a car from Turo which saves a chunk of change and stay about 30 min away from the track (and away from Austin) in an AirBnB. All in cost wise (not including airfare) it's right around $1,500/person for race (all 3 days)/trans/lodging.

Quoting myself because it's coming up on a year since this post and and it relates to bonus #2. Has anyone heard any info on why (during a pilot shortage still) that AFRC decided to change the ART bonus from 10 YAS to 11 YAS....in essence making guys wait another year before being eligible?

On the reserve side did anyone notice they changed the requirement from 10 YAS to 11 YAS? Did that happen on the AD side as well? Did the UPT commitment go from 10 to 11 years?

Depends on which bonus you are talking about. Technically (Reserve side, can't speak for Guard) we have two bonuses going on right now. 1. We have a 14% salary bump that gets paid out on each LES. That's bonus #1 2. AFRC a few years ago signed off on an annual pilot retention bonus as well. It comes out as an announcement on MyPers each year. This year its $18k per year and you can sign up for it for 1-4 years. Kicker is AFRC got lazy and copy/pasted the AD bonus verbiage so even though its an "ART" bonus, you have to be past your initial UPT commitment date to get it.....

Just make sure you are on KG (Absent US) and not the civilian LWOP code. At the beginning of each FY you cross over you will still get your 120 hours of LM. I'm too lazy to look it up but one thing you could check into as well is the additional 22 days you can get of differential pay. If the orders qualify you get the difference in pay between your military pay and government pay. So you might be able to get those as well each FY while you are on orders....Another way to stretch out as much as possible is to make sure you hold back enough leave to drop a day of leave on either the front or backside of a holiday. That way you can claim the holiday as LH instead of KG......

Thanks dude appreciate the info!

Hey guys....got a buddy heading to Vance on a short notice PCS (moving in either December or Jan). He will be bringing a wife and 3 kiddos. The oldest will start kindergarten next year. He isn't a flyer so short commute for early go's not as big of a deal vs coming in as an IP. Any gouge on neighborhoods to look at, avoid, etc? Any other info updated info on the area is appreciated. Thanks!

Like others have said we were told we would get 4 slots FY20 (I believe) followed by 14 in FY21.......

Wait....can we discuss this instead of uniforms for a second? Is this seriously being considered?

Because sadly the reserves has a crop of leaders that came off AD who are still looking to make a lot of rank in the reserves.

Well in my little reserve world I was just told that we are "required" to wear the OCPs over the tan bags now.....even if the crew wants to wear bags....

Well that depends.....are they current on the most up to date Green Dot training?

Looked it up this morning and for anyone else wondering......It is an ART bonus of $18k that is separate from the current 25% incentive bonus currently in place. It requires you to be past your UPT commitment and less than 24 YAS. Supposedly the 25% is going away very soon to be replaced with whatever your locality pay is so in my case, I am getting a ~7% cut from what I am making right now (our locality is 17.65% and I am not eligible for the ART bonus due to my UPT commitment)....I'm surprised they limited the ART bonus to guys outside their UPT commitment because my UPT commitment has 0 impact on whether I stay and ART or go airlines where-as another $18k/yr would entice me to stay around more when it's on top of the permanent raise....

Eh well sounds like it won't be an issue filling slots (sts) but if for some reason there is a push to get a C-17 there let me know and I'll do the homework to see if we could get one in/out of there without making national headlines...

Any links/ info on the ART bonus? Is it separate from the 25% we are getting as a "retention" bonus or is the 18% the permanent raise to the 558 pay tables they have been talking about for 6.69 yrs now?

C-17

Any size limitations?

I missed the ball on this one....what's UPT-H again?

So true man.....small data point but A1 just swiped all of our "open" full time positions and voila are now reporting us from "less than 50% manned" to fully green on full time manning....

Has anyone heard if they will be completely phasing out the green bag as well? Seems like the tan is already on the way out but hearing both sides for the green...