Termy

I have seen a number of successful curtailments. If you are over 2 years into that set of orders (regardless of how long they go for) you are almost certain of success. Less than that and it can get questionable but I think I only know of one unsuccessful curtailment. In most units, it does usually burn the bridge of coming back on AGR though: I know one guy who is curtailing to get through training/IOE at a major airlines and then was planning on coming back but has been told that plan isn't going to happen.

Amen. I have that same thought every year when I have to: look at the current pay chart, multiply by 1.3% or whatever the raise is, see if I'm getting a longevity increase, then do the math. It's so silly.

Regarding point 1: Although it wasn't written all that well, I think the article was correct on the maneuver. Steady heading side slips are a very common flight test technique. It is used to test the lateral stability of a fixed wing airplane.

There is a link on their website or you can call them. I have been very impressed by Amex through the years. (and consistently disappointed in nearly everything USAA does....)

The Amex accumulates points faster. For example, you earn 12 points per dollar at Hilton properties vs 10 on the other card. Plus, Amex is hands down the best on honoring the SCRA. If you have free time, the points guy is a great blog for this kinda stuff. If you travel a lot, maxing your point potential is worth it. I have like seven credit cards right now and for you doubters, no it hasn't affected my excellent credit a bit. (And yes I pay them in full every month)

For a hotel card, I prefer the Amex hhonors surpass card. They waive the annual fee via Relief act and you rack up points fairly quick on it. Comes with automatic Gold which is frankly almost as good as diamond. I have 65 hiltons stays this year between tdys and vacations!

We had both Navy and USMC former Hornet pilots at my last ANG unit. It can be done. Same rules of rushing a unit apply. Spend a few hours on this site getting the gouge, buy a handle of Jack, and start visiting the unit you want to fly with!

Still wrong. It is $5.4M per person. In other words, it you are married your first $10.8M of your estate is passed tax free. You have to be financially stupid to pay ANY estate tax...and most people who can accrue $11+M aren't financially stupid.

Knowing he is ok, can we lament the fate of that gorgeous Bonanza? Great airplanes.

I think you might actually be making this more difficult than necessary. If you are actively pursuing your bachelors and you find a unit that hires you, they will help you make it happen. You need to make sure your priorities are getting that degree ASAP and rushing units. I wouldn't show up at units saying you are looking for an "exceptionally qualified" position; just rush the unit and let them know you will be done with your degree by June of 16. And whoever told you AFRC needs "female pilots" has no idea what they are talking about. In AFRC (just like the ANG) the units choose who they want to hire. That being said, I do know that AFRC didn't fill all its UPT slots last year. This isn't AFRC's fault; it is the individual units that elected (for whatever reasons) not to hire.

I was hoping they would have asked Pink Floyd if he was willing to join the fun.

It was eventually going to be a QF-16 but it hadn't gone to Boeing yet. Also, it was a C model.

Folks, this is one place where the ANG and the Reserves are very different. Since I've been in both, I'll comment on both quickly: ANG: typically faster promotions to O4 (and to a lesser extent to O5) because a PV (position vacancy) is a local thing as opposed to the Reserves. In other words, since all aircrew slots in the ANG are O4 or higher, once you are eligible (4 years TIG) your own unit can promote you if they like. (Some like to wait a while so you don't run into TIG issues as you approach O5....but that's beyond the scope of this discussion.) If your unit doesn't PV you, will eventually meet a ROPMA board and pin on after that. AFRC: If your unit wants to promote you to O4 before 7 years TIG, they have to submit you to a PV board; this is rare and even if they send it up, it may not get approved. Don't quote me on this, but I think is was about a 55% selection rate for PV's last couple years. If you are AFRC, plan on slower promotions through O5. Last comment is anecdotal but worthy of mention: I believe that in aggregate, guys make O4/O5 slightly faster in the ANG BUT.....if you want to make O6 or above, you have a better shot in AFRC. If you are willing to play their game of being managed (a personnel management system where they can and will PCS you...and one I wouldn't touch personally) you will almost surely make O6.

At my last ANG unit, we had prior F-18 Marine, F-18 Navy, Navy F-14, and Navy A-6 guys. So yes, it is possible. I can't speak to the medical side. You need to read through all of the pages (probably an 8-10 hour investment) about getting hired by ANG/AFRC units; you are in effect no different than an active duty USAF guy looking for a guard job. You won't sit in on a UPT board...you would likely interview-and compete-with guys coming off of active duty. (Again, reading the threads you will see that Palace Chase is going strong right now so the amount of guys trying to get hired at ANG/AFRC units is high.) As far as AGR, it was basically policy at my last unit to laugh someone who mentioned just jumping on board to AGR right out of the room. If you want to get to the ANG/AFRC, don't even mention that until you are at the unit, as a part-time, kicking ass, going on every TDY/deployment, and being a world class SNACKO regardless of rank. Good luck.....it is indeed possible.

Good update and congrats. The only thing I will say from a dude who sits on boards is I disagree you need to spin a negative into a positive. We are usually more impressed when someone has the maturity to admit their weakness and what they'd like to do to fix it.

I wrote that assuming that TSP and Roth were already maxed out leaving you with no tax-free/deferred options. Regardless, if you want some income in your 50's from investments, by definition they have to be in taxable accounts. Remember dividends are taxed at capital gains, not your income tax rate so the "bite" isn't all that bad.

Great question. I buy only quarterly or when the market drops. (Don't try to accuse me of attempting to "time" the market; if you are in it for the long haul in an era where cash in the bank is almost useless, you aren't assuming much more risk by buying when you sense the market is down.) I won't bore you with variances etc, but a portfolio of 6-8 dividend paying stocks like I suggest is no more risky than a mutual fund that invests in 100's of stocks. And you don't lose 1-2% a year (which is huge in the long run.) I wouldn't be anti-mutual fund is they just did one of two things: 1) beat the market or 2) didn't charge outlandish fees (in the long term) for doing next to nothing. Again, though, I am just a boring investor who loves dividends. Get rich slow works!

Zach, my advice to you is to build a portfolio of solid dividend paying stocks. (I am a dividend whore.) My rule of thumb is pretty easy: PE less than 15, yield at least 2.5%, and business I feel is around for the long haul. (Utilities, wireless providers, trash companies, etc.) I would reinvest the dividends until you hit that 50-52 year mark you want to retire at then keep the stocks but enjoy the dividends.

Great story. Extra kudos to the CC's and flight docs that kept fighting for the return to flying status.

For any AFRC AGR's out there, the new bonus is out. Two important items: if you have more than 15 years TAFMS, you are out of luck. This will close the opportunity for a TON of AGRs. (2/3 possible eligibles in my squadron lost out due to this new rule.) Secondly, it closes out at the end of this month, so you better get busy.

This is why you should go to airlinepilotforums.net if you want to read about the airlines.

They don't; they fly in the back of F-16D's. Plenty of open pits at EDW.

I see. Interesting information. Thanks.

Do you know more? I just discovered the ANG one dated 1 June. (I always thought the ANG/AFRC bonus was one document.) The ANG bonus was the same that prior years have been.

Revival: Any idea on the AFRC AGR pilot bonus? We just got a new AGR and I am trying to help him. This information used to live on the REAMO site but that doesn't even exist now.