There is one good study on just this question (there are lots of good studies on retirement reform...again this is nothing new and has been going on since 1948). You would be surprised at the opinions of your fellow .mil members. https://www.csbaonline.org/publications/2012/07/rebalancing-military-compensation-an-evidence-based-approach/
Sounds like the AF isn't the only place where we laud creativity (Mitchell et al) yet we crucify those who are creative.
https://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2013/12/creativity_is_rejected_teachers_and_bosses_don_t_value_out_of_the_box_thinking.html
You're a thickheaded one, aren't you? Enjoy continuing to be your commander's go-to bitch who gets all his "leave requests" denied. You're doing this to yourself. No one man is so fucking important that he can't take leave.
You filled out LeaveWeb and made sure your supervisor marked your leave "denied" each time you've been "stonewalled," right? Because if you haven't, then you have fucked yourself.
You're not cutting the hourly costs. You are cutting the cost of the entire logistics chain.
Perspective: The logistics chain cost per KC-135 is $2M/yr. The logistics chain cost per KC-10 is $10M/yr. Pretty simple math, as briefed by the AMC/CC last week.
Briefing today said FY16 could see worst case 1 KC-10 squadron retiring per year until all were gone. Pilots and booms would be dispersed to other airframes. FEs are right fucked...