Homestar

Unlike most years the program was released this year with months for people to make decisions. I would hold judgement until September and see what the rate is then.

Paywall.

Couldn't tell from reading the report...does it count FY14 takers who signed extensions to 20 YAS as new contracts?

Man, that's priceless.

Strange level of vitriol on this one. I get being jaded, but jeezus. Indeed, was fortunate to get slammed 4 months early into a drop-down spot.

I'd like to see the number of 5-year bonus-takers who made it to 16 but didn't stick it out to 20. My guess is that nearly all bonus takers rode it out to 20. So yeah, a 5-year taker could get out at 16, but who does that? I'm sure it happens, but that's leaving a lot of money on the table by skipping out on the cliff pension. I'm in a fortunate position because 20 YAS takes me to 20 years 2 months.

The bonus to 20 years nearly doubles the payout for 11Xs. I predict that take rates will be close to historical average.

Why does anybody do non-flying stuff past, say, 4:30 in the afternoon? The only work I do "after hours" is 100% mission related--usually trying to figure out why my mission is all jacked up while I'm trying to crew rest somewhere. Sorry, but that other queepy b.s. can wait till tomorrow. Nobody gets paid for their overtime in this business.

Now 2015 has brought us Sexual Assault Awareness Karaoke.

According to the PSDM, all 11X FY14 takers (including early eligibles) can extend their contract to 20 years of aviation service (up to 9 years)... Odds that this is an AFPC April Fool's joke?

Hmm. So what happens to the guys who bit on the early eligible carrot last year...will they have the chance to go with the 9 year plan? edit to add: by the way, this rumor checks out with the official stuff I've seen.

lol, now we know it's serious!

air force blessed day "This an example where it's fine to say, 'Welcome to Team Robins,' but, as I said before, what are you going to do if the gate guards say: 'Welcome to Team Robins, hail Satan!'" lol @ "hail satan." Exaggerate much? ... "this is a vicious savaging of the constitutional protections that are afforded by the First Amendment along with Department of Defense regulations. The Air Force has not heard the last of this." What is this guy's actual problem?

At these checkpoints you have indeed been pulled over for no reason--did you run a stop light or were you speeding to warrant being stopped? The supreme court says these stops are legal--fine, but as an American who is not committing a crime I have certain rights. I just want to know what those rights are before I'm stopped. Right now I'm reading a book about the Norfolk Four a delightful tale on how the cops got up to seven men to confess to a crime they didn't commit. Each and every one of them could have stopped the questioning and demanded a lawyer, but because they were idiots they continued to "chat" with police in interrogations that lasted over 9 hours at times. You have rights. And the authorities are more than happy to allow you to waive them. This is 48 minutes long, but it is a great lecture by a law professor on why you should never talk to the police without a lawyer. Especially if you're innocent.

From the Martinez-Fuerte opinion: "[O]ur holding today is limited to the type of stops described in this opinion. ‘[A]ny further detention... must be based on consent or probable cause." At what point does a USBP stop go from standard, 4th amendment valid stop to a "further detention." How long do I need to be stopped before any further delay requires consent or probable cause? "Sir, are you an American citizen?" -Yes "Where are you heading tonight?" -Home "Are you transporting any illegal immigrants or illegal drugs?" -Am I free to go?

From the dissent: "Standing on one's rights is not an 'unorthodox tactic.' It is a venerable American tradition." Maybe he's crazy, I don't know, but I do believe that unless you exercise your rights the authorities are more than happy to let you surrender them.

The KC-135 has an adapter at the nav station that can be rigged to accept a power strip.

If I remember right AMC published battery charging guidelines for OGVs when Phase II started. How harsh your OGV is on enforcing a charging standard probably varies by unit. In my current unit my guess is that my iPad is more charged and up to date than my DOV's. A Q3 for pubs for a low charge on an iPad would be a jerk move, I think.

Inspired by the Frontline piece I checked the expense ratio of the TSP L2040... was 0.029% at the end of 2013 which seems great. USAA's 2040 fund expense ratio is 0.86%/0.83%. Vanguard's 2040 fund expense ratio is 0.18%. Maybe I should transfer my USAA Roths into Vanguard. (Edit to add some math: a $75,000 Roth IRA, with annual additions of $5,500 and a growth rate of 6% over 30 years will cost $150,000 in fees at an expense ratio of .86% and $34,000 at an expense ratio of .18%.)

The Frontline documentary really played up how "confused" people are with investing. How confusing can it be to deposit money into your IRA starting in your 20s? I mean, people will figure out whatever is important to them, but for some reason Americans don't think they need to take care of themselves anymore. Now that defined benefit pensions are a thing of the past and 401k accounts are the norm, people actually have to figure it out instead of just coasting.

He's a sausage maker. And he's right, the Air Force doesn't owe me anything. That's why I will take what I need from the Air Force and give back an amount equivalent to what I'm paid. If the Air Force wants more, it can pay me more...otherwise it will ask me to leave thank you very much and thank you for your service. It's just a job and it pays the bills. There are worse things to do in this life, so I keep working at it. But there are better things to do. Throwing money at the problem works fine, but it only solves part of the problem.

Here's the dilemma: I want to chose when and how I leave the Air Force. In order to do that, in today's Air Force, I have to make O-5 or I run the risk of not receiving continuation once passed over. To have a better than 50/50 shot at making O-5 I need a DP at my primary board. To get a DP at my primary board I need to be in a position where the Wing Commander believes I deserve one of the few he has to hand out. Showing up and flying the line doesn't get you a DP these days. So I have to take jobs I otherwise wouldn't take during the years between pinning on O-4 and meeting my primary O-5 board. It sucks for a couple years, but hopefully I get promoted and get to stay doing what I wanted to do when I joined (fly). Have passed over Majors been offered continuation lately?

Chances are the iPad minis were purchased with local money. AMC's massive 15,000 iPad purchase a couple years ago was just to get everyone on the train, as it were. But what do I know...