illusive

Yeah I didn’t mean for this thread to digress into the way it did. I’m sorry for all the judicial hardship that happened and other peoples stories are way worse than mine. I just wish I was leaving feeling accomplished and satisfied. I do politely disagree that a system can betray you, or at least make you feel betrayed. Many AFIs, policies, and VMLs are written so there is little control for the commander or member. Therefore regardless of the person I was working with (and I’ve been blessed to work with mostly great people) their hands may be tied to do something ridiculous. To me that feels like a betrayal. Again it’s just a feeling but it’s something I need to work through I guess.

Upon reading a lot of the recent replies, talking with a mentor, and some self reflection I think a common theme I see is feelings of betrayal. In my own case it was really difficult learning to trust anyone or anything because I kept seeing a pattern of prioritizing optics and process over actual results. I understand there's going to be a lot of "its always been this way" in the replies but since I've been in it seems like that mindset is only getting worse.

Probably, I made it my second look as soon as they had a flight commander spot for me to fill.

Thank you all for the advice. I didn't want labels to be thrown around. I tried to prepare myself for the adage of "luck and timing" and "no good deed goes unpunished" early in my journey. I don't want to give up too much details about my career but like, holy sh*t. I even begged for any 365s and AFPAK hands and that didn't even work. I hope I will get a better attitude when I am finally in a different environment after 5 years. I didn't know how common it was to part ways and be full of regrets but I think I got some of my questions answered even if it will be really difficult to put into practice.

Working it, I have a guard unit lined up so maybe that will change some things when I get in a different environment

Not commissioned, I’m including the time it took to get the commission too as time spent chasing this dream. Commissioned it’s about 11.

Yeah I didn’t word things really well. Long story short I got a really bad must-film because people couldn’t or wouldn’t upgrade/pass training and I’ve been stuck ever since.

Thanks, it seems more common these days than not.

I should be leaving the Air Force soon if they process my paperwork right this time. I spent a lot of time stuck in places and airframes I didn't want to be in. It was UPT and AMC. I didn't end up there due to bad performance, it was mostly due to luck and timing. I had a really hard time watching people who failed courses, struggled in UPT, got in trouble, get the assignments I wanted due to missing VMLs, waivers needed for instructor duty, changing rules, or other factors. I feel like my youth was just... wasted and I have little to show for it. I don't have much pride in what I accomplished and I never was truly engaged or challenged. I am angry I spent 15 years of my life generally working hard and not screwing up like many of my peers and I got exactly what I didn't want. I have a CJO lined up which is great, but I am concerned I am going to spend the rest of my life unsatisfied because I never really scratched the itch of getting enough action or getting anything I wanted out of the Air Force. Some people suggested I stay, but after being dragged through the mud for 10 years I have significant trust issues with the institution, and watching better people than me leave for the Airlines says a lot. Am I missing something? Was this is it, and does it get better when you separate? I don't want to be resentful for the rest of my life.

Depends the person and timing. Within UPT people try to deploy because some are single. Some are angry over the work they are doing. Some anticipate going back to Ops and trying to avoid getting hit with a 6 month deployment. Some see it as a vacation from the long days. Some of own reasons were; I hated how UPT is process and optics focused, the culture in AETC creates power hungry people who just aren’t ready for power yet, I hated watching students get screwed over because of 19th Air Force policies, the town sucks, and there is such a large disconnect between anything operational that I don’t feel like I’m in the military at all.

Completely hate it. Asked for a 365 or AFPAK hands to not come here, wish they had given it to me. We have several people who fought over 6 month non flying deployments to leave. You will be here for 42 months not including PIT which may be an additional 7 months. The assignment is slightly more tolerable for people with families, but I’ve seen most of our FGO decide to clean break after their first year here. Dealing with 19th AF is just as bad as dealing with TACC but that depends your position. Go FTU instead if you can.

about 1/4-1/3 of the fleet is flyable

Anyone wrote the letter anyway in hopes of being grandfathered in to the old policy?

where does it say that in the regulation? I see where it says that for reserves but not active duty

I'm pretty sure you are protected. I don't think anyone other than this forum is tracking this change closely. FSS/AFPC even process the separation correctly? I also don't know if the AFMANs need to be updated before this takes effect, since a lot of the AFMANs still say "By order of the SECAF ...twice non selected....". Implying the SECAF still orders people to be given the option to discontinue 2nd time around.