BamaC-21

Also, does anyone think that we'll be able to trade in these colored t-shirts and terrible mustaches for actual leadership in April?

So, now that I'm back from Camp Cupcake and my VSP was denied, I decided to submit Palace Chase paperwork. After getting spun up on the new PDSM (apparently re-written to specifically include pilots so the AF can avoid VSP payouts), I called the in-service recruiter I'd been working with before Farce Shaping 2014 kicked off. She told me the UPT ADSC waiver authority issues affecting VSP also apply to FY14 Palace Chase, and I'm ineligible for the FY program too. Because our organization is inept, I'm thankfully still eligible to apply under the regular PC program which has a slightly different routing through the wickets so I've got my fingers crossed it gets approved. FWIW, I've never tried so hard to get fired in my life.

As much as I hate to potentially walk away from the (alleged) money, I'll Palace Chase as soon as my app is returned and I get back to home station. There's still a 365 out there with my name on it, and I don't trust A1 to get their sh*t together before I have to take it. This is stupid, people deserve better, and I'm tired of dealing with it. FWIW...if the RIF board happens before I can PC, my Do Not Retain Me letter will be written in f*cking crayon. The fat kind.

At least he's trying to get a solid answer from what is, unfortunately, probably the best place to find one. I don't know his situation but, I imagine "reading the fine print" gets more difficult when you've got a squadron full of E's & O's, with different jobs and different small print.

I was looking at applying for PC if they haven't notified us of VSP results by mid-March or so, but it looks like you apply using the same application process on vMPF. When I click on Separations, it takes me to my existing VSP application with no option to apply using another program. Hopefully, the timing will work out and we'll have results in the next few weeks.

I'm not sure. The lady on the phone at the TFSC looked up my app and said that BPO stood for Business Process Owner and that it was at the final stop. It makes more sense to me that AFPC Voluntary Separations BPO would be the final stop, which is why I posted. I didn't check the app every day, but the only two statuses I saw after my sq/cc signed were Awaiting WG/CC coord (or something to that effect), and Referred to BPO. Has anyone been through Referred to BPO and then gotten to AFPC Voluntary Separations BPO?

I'm at referred to BPO as well. I'm at a TFI unit, and wanted to make sure it was routing correctly, so I called the TFSC. They said it's at the final stop at AFPC and to expect 6 weeks, which I'm sure is the standard line.

My app says "referred to BPO" with Sq & Wg/CC both recommending approval. I hope they decide to lawyer those PSDMs in our favor.

I'm not 100% sure that AFPC knows what's going on from A1 yet. I am sure our Wg and Sq CC's don't know what's going on. The chances your Flt/CC has it figured out are zero.

ETA: A contingency deployment listed as "Awaiting DFAS Input" = bad. Yep, that's what I was getting at.

Assuming two things: 1 - We're VSP eligible because we're RIF eligible. 2- The AF holds to "if you're denied a Voluntary Program, you're no longer RIF eligible". If those turn out to be true, you're still on the hook for the 365 when your VSP gets denied, unless you apply for Palace Chase and that's denied too. With the sh*t show that is A1, and with a 365 waiting to drop, I'd plan for the worst with respect to VSP and get a strong backup plan. If you don't mind me asking, what's your Short Tour Return Date? AFPC is moving down the 365 list faster than 1:1, and I'm interested to see how far they've gone since I got notified.

I went through it about 9 months ago. The email is a shot across the bow, not a tasking letter, so you should be OK to apply. If you want more info, PM me. If you got the email, you need to get smart on the AFI concerning I-TDY's real quick and update your TDY history in vMPF. Now.

Wait, what? It's great news if it's true, but it sounds like BS. AFPC edited the PSDMs seemingly for the SOLE PURPOSE of excluding pilots from VSP in a roundabout way using a relatively narrow focused voluntary program (LADSC) in order to steer us toward Palace Chase. The folks at the help desk had been specifically briefed by the separations folks that UPT commitments wouldn't be waived and had answers for my specific year group (read: they know I'm RIF eligible). I hope it's true, but it doesn't jive with the other bullshit that's gone down today.

My techniques were to keep hitting refresh and cursing at the screen. One of the two eventually worked.

After talking to my CC, he suggested to submit anyway and make them tell me no. It sounds like the mismanagement has been acknowledged at the wing level, so I figured F*ck it and put my name in the hat. I hate to have missed the midnight opening, but whatever. What a goat rope. '05 11M. Good luck.

It looks like AFPC figured out that most of us would punch for free and disqualified us from VSP at the 11th hour only to open up Palace Chase. The PC office is about to get a lot busier. Two more weeks of this deployment and I plan on adding to their workload.

Coincidentally, we had a Holloman RPA must-fill come out today.

From the A1 desk: We continue to experience higher than expected call volumes..... Man, if this wasn't my life, it'd be hilarious.

Do you mind posting them?

All, not to throw a wrench in how we think this VSP application process is going to go, but I just got an email from AFPC concerning the separation provision. Thank you for contacting the myPers - Total Force Service Center via the "E-mail Us" option. Ref PSDM 14-08 dated 23 Jan 2014. Select "Apply for Voluntary Separation", when asked to "Select a Separation Provision," select "Miscellaneous" and include "FY14 Voluntary Separation Pay" in remarks section. Officers can apply for VSP on 0001, 6 Feb 2014, Central Standard Time. My question was which PSDM to use (I attached verbiage from both) and when does the window open. The email isn't signed, and it's after COB. Cool.

I'm also including "I request a waiver of ADSC codes - 77/80/whatever's on my SURF" and attaching a personal justification MFR. Probably overkill.

I'm guessing if you're going to be approved, the separation date won't matter as long as it's before 29 September. If they're implementing a program this poorly at the macro level, I'd be shocked if they're doing the accounting to figure savings & eligibility by separation date at the micro level.

13-130 is dated 24 Jan 14 & 14-08 is dated 23 Jan 14 so, technically 13-130 would be the most current. The fact that you got such a confusing email response to a simple question is stupid, but expected. 2006 was the first VSP I saw on active duty. Someone told me then, "This whole thing is a clusterf*ck and I hope that, as a young guy, you're paying attention." I'm telling the same thing to people now.

Probably at the last minute. FWIW, the first page of the Voluntary Separation process on vMPF lists the types of separation programs. Force shaping programs are explicitly listed in the "SECAF approved" paragraph. It's also listed this way in the Officer Separation Tutorial that you're supposed to read before you apply. From on the intro page, the Miscellaneous program would be used for... "You may apply for separation under this provision when no other provision applies. ....This includes consideration of the: Reason for separation and the supporting documents, if any. Length of service since completion of the last training or PCS. Pending assignment, if any. Current and projected manning in the AFSC. Other factors that may have a bearing on the case." ....in other words, not Force Shaping. Common sense would say that 14-08 is incorrect, but that's obviously not a factor in this clown show. The intro page of the VSP application page specifically says you'll be denied if you apply for the wrong program, so maybe they'll figure it out before the window opens.

Any update on which program to select during the application on MyPers? I emailed AFPC the other day, but haven't gotten a response.