Bayou_Eagle_Driver

All interested - The 122nd Fighter Squadron, flying F-15Cs out of New Orleans, LA will be holding a UPT Hiring Board sometime in the spring of 2019. If you're interested in coming down for a visit during one of our upcoming Drill Weekends, please send an email to 122fspilothiring@gmail.com with your AFOQT/PCSM scores, some data on college, and a short BIO. The full application package contents are below, and will be required NLT the Drill Weekend prior to the board. Single PDF file containing: 1. Cover letter 2. Printout of AFOQT and PCSM scores 3. Resume (single page) 4. College Transcripts 5. Minimum of 3 letters of recommendations 6. If prior military service, your last two EPRs/OPRs 7. A current photo Please direct any questions to our hiring inbox, 122fspilothiring@gmail.com

Quick question, I checked the JFTR, but couldn't find much on the subject. Not sure it will come to this, but I'm trying to find out if I have any ability to file for reimbursement for a lost bag... Scenario - Last minute get switched from flying mil-air to flying a jet home, bag was put in pile to be loaded onto cargo pallet, a buddies bag was also with it. His bag made it home, mine did not. Communication from all the parties who handled the luggage has been good, but the bag hasn't turned up yet. A sweep of the TDY location didn't turn up any left bags, the pallet didn't have it when it arrived, and the crew of the aircraft doesn't have any additional bags that were left. At this point, I'm pretty much living out of a hit-and-run kit with sandals and tee-shirts, most of my summer clothing was packed for the 2-week TDY. I'm 75% sure it will turn up next week when flying resumes, but in the off chance it has vanished into thin air, does anyone know of any regs that might address this sort of thing? Cheers,

Gazmo - I wonder if I'm missing something. I'm a 13-yr O-3, and I've calculated 1 AT day gives me $265.67 (Basic+BAH2+BAS+Flight)/30 and my GS-13 job gives me $369.23 for the same 8-hr day. So, with this being the case, if I've used most of my Mil Leave already this year on AT, and there's another 2-week'er to Nellis coming up, I should burn whatever Mil Leave I have remaining, then use the 44-Day Leave rule? (Otherwise, I'm losing ~$100/day on LWOP) Does that sound about right? Does this 44-day policy have an official name? Thanks!

Searched, cannot find a solid answer (also asking around my unit...) Going from long-tour AGR to a Federal Technician, my Tri-Care prime cuts out on my orders end date, my civilian insurance won't take effect until roughly 30-days after that at the earliest (enrollment, etc) What's the standard method for keeping healthcare coverage? I can't see any way AGR to Technician is covered under TAMP, and I was told I'm not allowed to carry Tri-Care Reserve/Select since I'll be immediately hired as a federal technician.

I'm 14 years into my career, most of my 8 years as an enlisted maintainer were as a technician (I don't have the points to make pursuing an AGR retirement feasible). I'm also local to my guard unit, with a family (2 years orders vs indefinite...) It made sense when jobs were being dived up.

I've calculated my weekly work hours to generate enough comp time to double dip all AFTPs / UTAs - so the comp time isn't available to double dip alert. Not to mention I'm pretty sure that we're not allowed to double dip alert tours anymore.

Yes please. Caseylf - No I wasn't.

Hey Folks - I've read through the majority of threads/posts on this topic; but I couldn't find any specific answers. Question: I work at a squadron that works 4 10hr days/week (Mondays off). I'm transitioning from an AGR job to a GS-13 Technician Job. As a technician, I'm going to attempt to maximize my pay when sitting alert by doing that on the weekends, so should I consider Mondays for all intents and purposes a weekend day? Any other tips/advice other Techs can offer for maximizing my yearly gross income and minimizing my taxable? After running the numbers, it looks like I'm going to be just about matching my AGR take-home pay (13-year Capt, 8 yrs DSG enlisted). Which seems unfortunate due to the lackluster retirement plan and increased medical expenses for a family of 3. Attached is the spreadsheet I've been using to get some basic estimates. Cheers Pay-Ret Calculator 15 year version FERS High3.xlsx

Is the ANG unit aware of the drug waiver? What has leadership said? I assume since they're offering you a job, they're reasonably confident that they can get it approved. Of course, no one would be able to totally calm your fears by saying "Yes, this will definitely work..." It's just one more point in the path to becoming a USAF pilot where you're laying your future in someone else's hands. For what it's worth (read: nothing) if AFRC approved it, there's probably a reasonable chance that the NGB will also. Without more specifics, it would be hard to comment further. As for the Heavies vs Fighters aspect. That's a whole other onion. The only thing I will say is that if the opportunity to fly fighters doesn't make this a clear choice for you, then you may want to look at the reasons you're thinking about fighters in the first place (and that's not a jab at either community....).

Not sure who the organizer is working with, this is the image he sent me. What's the latest updates?

Hey all - There's a group putting together an order for the custom Breitling F-15C Aerospace 1A watch. PM me for details, the order is about to go in - I believe we're 1 short. This may be the last time to get this iconic watch for quite a while, as the Breitling US rep went to bat for us to be able to order with only 15 folks. Cost is in the $2500 + $25 shipping.

Where can I see the difference between a rated pilot vs an instructor? The current documents I've found on the opm website list pilots along with instructors and test pilot all in the 2181 series, without distinguished pay scales. Thanks.

Dave Devine must be chained to his desk, because I'll add another stellar recommendation for NBoKC. Worked from Oregon to purchase a house back home in Louisiana and Dave was beyond helpful for every step (we were first time home-buyers). He took the time to explain the details to us, and answered a TON of our questions almost immediately (even on weekends). We got a rate that beat USAA, and an absolutely painless first home-buying experience. Not sure why you'd go anywhere else? 3.875% with 3k lender credit Closed on schedule

1. It varies. I went to SERE prior to UPT, some guys I know went to SERE immediately after UPT/Prior to IFF/After IFF and one dude in my squadron is going to SERE following B-Course. 2. Also varies I think, somewhere between 1-2 years for a fighter squadron sounds about right?

Can anyone offer any advice if I'm looking at a VA purchase of a home that could use some updating? My wife and I are looking at a place, and there's a lot of great character to it, but to get it up to 'standards' we're looking at about an additional 20k investment. From what we've been told by our lender, VA home loans can only be for the purchase price of the home; so does anyone have any advice on if there are any alternative methods to doing this?

That's false (and a perfect example of scumbag recruiters saying whatever they can to get their hire). I simultaneously applied/interviewed for Guard/Reserve jobs. In fact, you don't even need a Reserve recruiter (Note: Officer Accessions recruiter) until AFTER you get hired by a Reserve unit. Bottom line, unless things have changed, treat applications/interviews between the Guard/Reserve as the same until you get picked up (work directly with the hiring units) and leave the recruiters out of it. Someone correct me if I'm wrong and things have changed.

Wow. You're gonna go far in this business with that attitude.

Not sure if this has been mentioned, but as of Oct 1, National Guardsmen are eligible for Roth TSP contributions. Woohoo....

FWIW I had a microdiscectomy for a large L5S1 herniation in the middle of pilot training. 6 months later I was waivered on a FC1 and have had no issues with Gz/etc (FC2U should be pretty easily waived) I believe my initial herniation happened in SERE, prior to IFS. Stuck it out for 6 months, but in the end the pain was too much and I got an MRI. I was in surgery 2 days later. OTS is going to suck with an injury like that.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/05/27/us-f-15-crashes-in-pacific-off-coast-japan/ Word is pilot is okay. Here's hoping.

For whatever it's worth, I got tentative B-course dates for eagle FTU in November, no orders are cut, but there are definitately FY14 stuff in process at the Guard bureau. And you will rarely get UPT/IFF/FTU dates all at once. I didn't get my IFF dates until I was almost done with 38's

Berg - if you find out, could you PM me? I have several friends in the AL-ANG.

Horrible. Poor kid. Hope there's a fund set up.

Yikes

A buddy of mine and I were discussing a strategy he's using called the "Permanent Portfolio" which basically consists of 25/25/25/25 split of Stocks/Bonds/Precious Metals/Cash and apparently has shown an average 8-9% return each year after inflation (when run through a model of the past 50 years). Anyone savvy on this school of thought?