SocialD

Losing the 3 for 1 on alert was the biggest killer in part-timer participation for alert. The shitty thing was when they took that away, they made it retroactive to a month or two prior. We had had a part-timer sit 7 days (paid 21 under the old system) in that period and this change retroactively made it 8 days of pay...and they came to collect that debt. I don't believe that dude ever sat another day alert after that fuck job (don't blame him). There were a few nuggets in there that where Sikora was spot on. Under the current system it's tough to entice them to sit alert. If only they could figure out a way to allow us to roll off alert then log two pay cards to fly CT that day, we'd get a lot more part time help as this would be a much better use of our part-timers time on base. Until then, the full timers will continue to carry the burden...for a while, then they'll go to the airlines. I'm the last to defend some of the things these guys were doing, but some of the above linked article is certainly out of context. Like them "getting paid at home," which was the day they could be called in to cover alert....though, if they're out of the area then that's a clean kill. Tanker guys "sit alert" at home for a few days at a time. Perfectly within the rules but they're still getting paid "at home." Also the crew rest thing, wrt alert, if a fucking joke. Some of the squadrons I've sat alert with had their dudes working their normal jobs (though not flying) all day long while on alert status. so how is that different than a guy working on the CT all day then rolling to alert?

Good early lesson to the LTs on trusting the AF only so far. Still going to fighters, so good deal either way.

Lol, that's funny. 14 hour flight followed by 4 or 5 drinks = no proofreading, but that's just quibbling. Copy shot. Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Reminded me of some good videos. While dated videos, if you've never flown airlines, they're actually pretty good videos. There are about 3 or 4 of them and they're all really good and still very relevant. Children of the Magenta Line.

You absolutely can, by simply turning off the autothrottles (buttons on the throttles). Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Having flown the 737/757/767 and now the 330, this is why like the thrust lever situation in the Bus. If you want to Go-Around you simply push the thrust levers all the way forward. No buttons to inadvertently hit, which is somewhat easy on the 757. If you accidentally "bump" the thrust levers on the bus, you'll simply get a ding and a message that essentially says "hey dummy, put your thrust levers back where they were."

If your home squadron leadership is worth a damn they'll help guide you through the process. Find a place you'd like to rush and talk with your home SQ/CC, they should help facilitate via CC to CC phone calls. If not, just start reaching out through the bro network. Join the pilot network on FB, LOTS of ARC guys on that website and you'd be surprised by the amount of people willing to help out.

From my 18 years at the same Guard base, it'salmost a certainty. One of the great things about the Guard is retaining amazing talent with quite a few of our enlisted personnel serving 30-40 years. On the flip side, at times we have more drama than a group of high school girls that just found out Susie made out with Sarahs boyfriend under the bleachers last week. Case and point...talk to your VT bros about the "source" for all the VTdigger articles from last year.

Was this something initially in the bill but then taken out? All of the stuff on the IRS website for 2018 says it's still a think, but not sure for how long. I hope it stays for the guys who commute. https://www.militarytimes.com/pay-benefits/mil-money/2018/02/15/reserve-guard-members-lose-travel-expense-tax-deduction/

I picked up a GS last year that paid a grand more than that PER DAY. I lose more than 4k every month I go on orders, and missed more money in GS's (due to mil duty) that what I made in the Guard last year. This won't sway anyone, but some may take the extra cash. Loved that little nugget. Pretty much ruled out most of us prior-E's...or about half the damn Guard pilots. I wouldn't take it at this point anyway.

Pretty low, but always a possibility. Even our low altitude safe escape maneuvers have a * to them. No way to account for catching a lug/etc... Not today golden BB!

Not sure of your situation, but there are tons of Guard squadrons throughout the Midwest, I would seriously consider switching units if this is a long term move. Depending on the circumstances, commuting to the Guard will get tiresome and old VERY fast. Best of luck! USERRA provides many protections from your employer for military duty. You are not be required to take any vacation days from work to perform military duty. You're allowed to drop military leave on days you're not necessarily being paid by the military if it's to get you in position for duty. In your case, I would drop military leave Fri-Mon. If you get push back from your boss, I would inform your military leadership and/or contact the Department of Labor...a call from a USERRA lawyer works wonders. Dept. of Labor USERRA Not for drill weekend. Getting to drill is on your own dime and time. They will provide you with lodging over the weekend (Fri/Sat), though it will depend on the unit if they'll get you a room for Sunday night. You're generally not on "orders" for drill weekend, so no airline tickets. I'm not even sure we have money to provide tickets for people to fly out for their 15 days of AT orders....you're assumed to live in the local area. However, you will be given a ticket to begin/end a TDY or deployment. One small consolation (if it wasn't taken in the latest tax change) is you can write off many of the expenses incurred if you live XX distance from the Guard base (100 miles I think). Be sure to research this or talk to your CPA.

LOL ya, most of my peers and I are well past the, will do anything to "get to fly a fighter" stage of our lives. My prediction is that anyone with 20 years will just get out and guys who are short will look for the gigs you mentioned, or just get out as well. I'm not 100% on that and would have to research. It's my understanding that it's dependent up on what status you went on the TSP...12301d or 12304b (vol vs non-vol). I'm thinking that the guys who chose non-vol would be protected by dwell. You're probably right, I was just passed info wrt 11Fs. It seems as if the AF is hell-bent on wrecking the ANG and NGB is letting it happen. They're basically gutting our LRS and MX leadership (E and O) in a year we're scheduled to deploy an aviation package (plus man alert back home). Their (NGBs) answer when pushed back is that you have other Guard units in your state, lean on them to get the aviation package deployed/redeployed. I imagine this will start the process of gutting the Guard of it's highly experienced, full time force. People with 20 years will start jumping on those Title-5 (non-deployable) gigs, or the Guard will turn into the AD where you can't keep experience...which is why they're doing this in the first place.

Thought I'd bump this back to the top. Got more than just a rumor that they may be starting to non-vol 11Fs from the ANG here soon. Should be interesting to see how this pans out. If this happens it will be interesting to see if there is a spike in papers being dropped like supposedly happened with the reserve KC-135s going to 120-day deployments.

No, the comment "there is no money in cargo..." is fNWA pilots pissed because Delta got rid of NWA cargo operation. That phase was said by some upper level management type when asked why we were getting rid of the old NWA cargo operation. A fNWA guy can't taxi passed a cargo plane with out making that statement....it's not a jab at cargo, it's a jab at DAL management. I sometimes just ask why I say Delta when I key the mic and not NWA...usually gets the conversation going. 🤣

This thread has pancake bunny or defensive egg potential.

You won't get hours very fast in fighters. After seasoning (2ish years after training is complete), many of our young guys are going to regionals to build up their total time.

Lol, now that funny. On the flip side, my fleet is mostly fNWA guys and they have their fair share of alligator arms as well. The fNWA Captains also rarely ever do a walkaround while the fDAL guys almost always split them (NB fleets at my base anyway). I really couldn't care less as I always assumed it was my responsibility and don't mind the extra steps. Now former North Central guys...haven't met a bad one yet! Ya but that's a double edged sword, because then all you get to hear about is how much better they did everything at NWA. Or how DAL is terrible for getting rid of the 747 or SOPA/SMAC. Or the ever favorite when we taxi past a cargo jet, you get to hear them mumble, "there's no money in cargo..." EVERY...TIME! You can almost set your watch by it. 🤣

Nunya makes a funny joke and you go offensive...WTFO?

Understand and agree with you, it's some good pay especially if AGR isn't even an option. Just interested in what triggers you guys giving them a GS-12 spot. I sure wish this had all been around when I was a fresh Captain and offered a GS-12 step 1 which had a base pay closer to the current GS-11 rates. I knew I was never going to get my 20 AGR so I would have jumped on an ART at the current pay rates.

From my very limited experience with AF aero clubs, the governmental bureaucracy of an aero club is a PITA. I'm in the process of researching options for starting my own club (mostly squadron mates) and there is lots of information out there. I've found it useful to reach to a club and talk to others who have started one or are currently running one...lots of useful information. Here are a few links to starting a club. AOPA Flying Club Flying Club Resources Club Finder

Are they getting something more than mil pay + SSR table? GS-11 in my local is 78k, even with mil pay it's probably just shy of 100k. When you consider the retirement points/tax free/Tricare, they're probably better off as an AGR...if that's even an option. Until this thread, I didn't even realize they hired mil pilots into GS-11 spots, we've always hired into GS-12 minimum (even 1LTs). With this new SSR tabel, GS-12 is now more respectable and more on par with AGR pay. We have mid level captains at GS-13 step 3-5 and they are killing it. Not a bad way to bid your time until you get mins for the airlines.

You've just now lost faith? Welcome to the club brosef! 7-8 years ago we had one of these staff lifers show up and be our OG. Dude made numerous bizarro changes, including making a few of us interview for the jobs we were already in. Then he informed me that it was no longer an AGR spot but GS-12 Step 1 (massive paycut for me). That's when my faith went sub-zero and I blasted to the regionals. In the end, this was the best thing that ever happened to me. I think that's what got me on so early at Delta, which allowed me to quickly get to be a WB FO. I've worked 2.5 days (sim training) this month and I'm 99% sure I won't actually step foot in a Delta cockpit this month. The staff has a way of creating lifers who rarely step foot outside of Arlington/Crystal city. Slides are green, it must all be good! Never mind the handful of fighter squadrons that can't keep 20 pilots on the LOXs and have to work their peoples balls off to make the mission happen. I'm sure the squadron that only has 17 pilots, and is about to lose 4-5 more, will be just fine! BTW, the head of the OG council just finished IOE at his Legacy airline...nothing to see here!

Lick on tattoos.

Further proof that leaderships take on this issue is that it's not a problem, until it's a problem. Things are starting to get even more interesting in the ANG as well. Rumors we just got handed a shit ton of 6 month individual mobs for MX supervisors. Given that these are set to take place as we are spinning up to deploy, what could possibly go wrong?