SFG

Rumor has it specific guidance is coming in July. Maybe this SR is just an overachiever.

Wait... we're allowed to have those!?!?!?!?

Yep, we're saying the same thing. "As it is, if you take one of the lump sum options you're getting forced into a much higher tax bracket losing an additional 8-11% ON MOST OF YOUR BONUS plus the % you are used to paying in taxes." In other words, you pay the same on what you're used to... and the part of the bonus that enters the higher tax brackets (most of it) you pay more on.

That’s kind of my point. 11Ms, 11Ss, and 11Rs are cut from the same cloth. But I see what you’re saying about retraining and the business case for focusing on 11Ms.

Also, my buddy's excel worksheet says the bonus needs to be at least $65,000 to begin to stem the flow and compete with the airlines. Bummer.

It'd be worth a lot more if they could get Congress to make the bonus tax-free. As it is, if you take one of the lump sum options you're getting forced into a much higher tax bracket losing an additional 8-11% on most of your bonus plus the % you are used to paying in taxes. Not worth it unless you've got a lot of hope for your investment portfolio. Also, I don't really understand the tiers. It should be more like 11F/B, 11U, 11H, and everyone else (not necessarily in that order). What's the difference between an 11M, an 11R, and an 11S? Yeah I get it... their respective communities have different manning levels/take-rates, but 11Ss and 11Rs could go fly in place of an 11M pretty easily... and when all of the 11Ms leave, they will. Non-fighter fixed wing dudes should all get the same. Note to all non-11Ms... cross-train to 11M before you become eligible for the bonus.

The AF has access to you.

My guess is that it has more to do with the pot of money than anything. Word on the street is 22 Jan now.

Can you explain why you would stay in at 20 when you could get out and start collecting your pension and start a second career? Staying in past 20 seems a lot like working for a $30,000-50,000 discount. I’m genuinely interested. I think it would be great to have the opportunity to stay in after 20, but I can’t justify it. Kids college and retirement is expensive. Curious if there’s a perspective I haven’t considered that makes more sense.

Examples? I went in thinking I would find one thing, but ten minutes later I'd still only clicked on Generals with 2,700 to 3000+ hours, new and old. I did see a difference in combat hours. The oldest bios don't even seem to track that metric. Can you fault a guy for not having a lot of combat time when there wasn't a lot of combat? Really, the biggest difference I saw was the mustaches. Glorious mustaches. Those were the days. Question: Do AMC guys log Combat Support towards Combat Time?

One can only volunteer for so long before real life happens. Serving was actually pretty easy when single. With family came the realization that life isn't all about me and what I want to do, or where I want to serve, but that I also need to provide my wife and kids with the best life that I have the opportunity to provide them. I am not saying that life is necessarily better outside of the AF for everyone, because it depends on each person's specific circumstances, but for everyone, at some point the AF necessarily stops becoming service and starts becoming a job when you are suddenly given the responsibility to put other people in your life who depend on you first. You can't responsibly raise your hand to volunteer for whatever it is you feel is important when your family, your wife and your kids, are asking you to volunteer to be the best husband and father that they'll ever have. Again, each person's circumstances vary, but family should still change one's priorities and will affect one's ability to "serve" without other considerations. Now, I think most people would place an existential threat to our nation over many of their family's needs, at least in the short term, but what we are finding is that few are willing to place current operations, pay, QOL, etc. over their family's short-term, much less long-term well-being, or dare I say it, prosperity. I think wiser use of the military, improvements to the system, comparable QOL, and competitive pay would change many people's minds and would allow them to continue to serve while also giving them a greater opportunity to feel like they did right by their family as they lie on their deathbed and take their final breath.

Rumor has it the FY19 Aviation Bonus (AvB) will be released this week. Check out this link for some critical info: https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/major/118841-end-year-salary-survey-26.html

That’s correct. There has been no change to AvIP since that change in 2016. Since then, aviators placed in non-flying gigs who are not assigned to one of the 4 positions above are no longer eligible for AvIP regardless of gate-months completed.

Yes, I think that’s accurate. The problem is with jobs that are 11/12 “desired”. Since they’re not “must”-fills with aviators your AvIP will stop no matter how many gates you’ve completed. Anyone with or looking at staying 12+ should take note as this could affect them... especially anyone looking at going to non-joint Staff, anyone taking secondary AFSCs (like FAO/PAS) or someone switching to the new 13O careerfield. Read: pay cut for filling institutional requirements. There are probably others it affects. In general, not a worry for most aviators, but cutting off AvIP for 10-20% of folks between 12-28 YAS will def save the AF some money. Go AF.

https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/773067_dodi_2016.pdf Found this after I saw it referenced in a brief and the briefer’s assertion sounded strange, but turned out to be correct. Section 3.3. “These officers are eligible for AvIP for up to [xx] years of aviation service as long as they are assigned to...” ”(1) A Joint assignment or position on the Joint Duty Assignment List. (2) Attending resident professional military education or a fully-funded graduate education program authorized by the Secretary of the Military Department concerned. (3) Aviation-specific positions that must be filled by officers with an aeronautical rating. (4) Career-enhancing assignments outside of aviation or based on the needs of the Military Services for a period not to exceed 48 consecutive months.”

Are you 5? Blaming angry veterans hooked on opiates for the VAs bad press? You’ve got to be kidding me.

I spent 5 hours on the phone “with” them over the course of 3 days, and only 2 of those hours were with an actual person after getting disconnected several times. Still no answers. Lots of confusion. All I wanted to know is what my bill would be if I signed up with them. Would you mind sharing what your monthly bill is? Would be very much appreciated!

Put that way, I guess the problem with the AF is an excess of opportunities...

Something else I just discovered that happened under the table late in 2016... Even if you have completed all your gates, which previously would have entitled you to AvIP through 25 years of aviation service, you will no longer receive AvIP ("Flight Pay") if you are in an assignment outside of aviation for more than 48 consecutive months. Exceptions are Joint Duty Assignment List assignments, resident PME or AF-funded education programs, or positions requiring an aeronatical rating. The more you know...

What’s the number on the bottom? The denominator if you will. 100/x? 60/x?

We need to put in a FOIA request to the AF for the email chains about this stuff. Would love to see how the decision-making process went...

On a more serious note, I was always told if you stay in for 20, you WILL take a 365. IMO it still waits to be seen if that remains the case. lightning strikes aren’t likely, but stand in an open field...

It only takes one! shark, that is.

This is it. Plus transparency. Did anyone else know that not all jobs are going to be posted on MyVector? Ever. There are hundreds being held in reserve for hand-picked folks. I’m not against competitive selection, but they should still advertise the jobs and put whatever criteria they want in the description. Also, AFPAK Hands. Wtf. It’s like the symbol of all that is wrong with the AF and just hearing it disgusts me. When higher leadership is asked in public about it they always say, “Oh yeah, it’s great, but... you should meet with your Sq/CC to discuss some of the... uh... career implications.” Transparency. Just say it dude. We don’t need your closed door meetings. What do we value? It shouldn’t be the same across the board. It should depend on the job. We should match to skills not to career progression. It shouldn’t be that “this guy needs to do this job to stay on track” but rather “this person is the best for this job.” Trash the career timeline. Tie positions to rank like they do with O-9 and O-10. You want a job with more responsibility? Go for it. Apply for it. May the best person win. F*<£ your 24-yr pole year (which I just heard a General emphasize last week with respect to developing a specific person’s career) “But we can’t promote the most qualified for a job to that job!” Why not? “*computing* *wheezing* strats! *black smoke from ears* school! *uncontrollable shaking* ta ta ta timeline! nya nyanyanyanya zzzittzzzazzzait pp ppp puuuuushhh lii li liiiinnnneeesss!!! *BOOM* *Mind blown*”

Reduce causes AND pay more. At the end of the day I need to know I am offering my family the best financial future possible. Being able to pay for whatever number of kids college and being set up for stability (=$) for the last 45 years of our lives would be nice... is there any job that offers that? If I had to choose loving my job for 10 more years or getting that future for my family, it’s the future. Airlines are offering it.