ThreeHoler

Dunno about Jaded, but I'll do what I've always done when writing OPRs and EPRs...write the report with the proper tone based on the person's performance for that year. If they decide the VSP is the right choice, I'll shake their hand on the way out and thank them for their service. I'll also write a letter of recommendation for whatever job they're hoping to hire into. The machine will go on. Capt Snuffy (#2/57) is still #2/57 even if #1 punches. Unless his OPR comes due >120 days after #1's closes out. Then he can be #1 (if his performance still merits that rating). I still can't figure out if my experience over many years in the AF is that crazy-different from everyone else's, but I've found the number of solid leaders and commanders to exceed the number of bad leaders and commanders. Maybe it's just that we all remember the bad ones so vividly?

Jet still flies great. Some new cargo missions to interesting locations. Coronets and other stuff too. Community is good. Sand vacations are somewhat fewer in number than last year. Lots of talk about VSP...but that's probably just talk. McGuire should get the two CNS/ATM jets from depot soon. Mod seems pretty nice, even if it has a few quirks. Hopefully it will get fully funded. Rumormill: AMC has looked at the feasibility of ordering extra KC-46s to replace the KC-10s at Travis and McGuire.

Yes, they are IPZ for O-5.

I'd love to see someone DOS rollback an officer, since it is an enlisted force management program.

Welp, that explains Welsh's weird-ass "dignity and respect" email from earlier this week.

DOD just said they were going to turn in a FY15 budget request under the sequestration cap and save the "fallout" money from the new budget act. Since they're saving the supposed extra money for FY16+, I would expect the personnel cuts to stay.

Oh, you'll probably get kicked out soon. Just not given the chance to PC.

You know the old saying...nope.

Greta Zimmer, the woman in the Kissing Sailor photo was tracked down recently. https://www.usni.org/magazines/navalhistory/2012-07/story-behind-famous-kiss There are several more pictures in the series where she is actively pushing him away, but the papers never ran them.

https://www.defense.gov/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=5344 I thought we weren't allowed to use "69."

Any EPR in their career that is less than a 5 overall.

From the CMSgt PSDM: Emphasis added.

Outlook light is because IE11 isn't compatible with the shit version of OWA we run. Put that bitch in compatibility mode and you'll get your regular OWA back. Catbox, try adding /owa to the end of the OWA address you use. Example: https://basename.mail.af.mil/owa Some bases have restricted the basic OWA URL from loading and the fucktards don't know how to set up a proper redirect.

Doing your fucking job well makes a difference. As to the rest...it depends.

First shoe drops: https://www.airforcetimes.com/article/20131217/NEWS07/312170022/Air-Force-announces-rollbacks-speed-separations Merry fucking Christmas.

DOD has had the option of TSP matching for a long time. The Army tried it and determined it was too expensive compared to the current retirement program.

Don't use that site. They haven't updated it since 2010. This is a much better calculator (it also shows you how bad of a deal REDUX is): https://www.cna.org/centers/resource-analysis/retirement-calculator Based on my own calculator, an O-5 retiring at 20 years of service in 2016 would earn approximately $3,289,791 before taxes between retirement and death at 79. Under the new plan, the same O-5 would earn $3,161,876 for a total reduction in retirement pay of $127,915 or 3.9%. These numbers are based on a 1% AD pay raise per year from 2013 to 2016, CPI-U of 3.0% per year until death at 79 (historical CPI-U for the last 100 years is 2.97%), they also are pretty close to the MOAA numbers.

Made some edits based on additional information stating that the COLA would return to "annual pay that the member would have if they were under the current plan at 62" and then track CPI until death. Roughly $128K reduction from retirement to 62 years.

Except for that pesky RVSM thing.

Hoss, another good post. That said, we in AMC have been briefed multiple times by the O-6s that "some people (inferred the SRs and board members) are considering date of completion in addition to yes/no. Our leadership are perpetuating these rumors. It is tough to distinguish truth from reality out here.

Great news, everyone! If you stay in to 24 years as an O-5, you could retire under the new changes with the same (well, $108K better) total retirement income that an O-5 with 20 years can retire under the existing rules.

Yes, COLA goes back to full rate. My numbers also assume a 1% pay raise per year on AD for the next three years (as opposed to the mandated ~1.8%) and a 3% CPI (based on the average CPI for the last 100 years). Edit: corrected chart based on better description of the cut. ~$128K reduction from retirement to age 62.

Not a stats or math major, so I may have done this wrong. This chart shows O-5 retirement under the current system as compared to REDUX (which no one should ever take) and the proposed COLA changes. I pushed retirement out to 2016 to show the overall effect of COLA = CPI - 1. Total retired pay (assuming living to 79 years) is reduced by roughly $128,000. Edit: corrected chart based on updated information. CPI - 1% from retirement to 61. Adjusted to full "original" retirement at 62 and CPI from there.