What's wrong with the Air Force?

[BashiChuni]

3 hours ago, 17D_guy said:

In addition to what @Biff_T said, they also got rid of those non-promotable majors...like 200 of them with like 90 days notice? I can't remember the timelines.

 

one of those was in my sq...got RIF'd, airline job, then a few years later came back under a bonus. or at least that's how my brain remembers it happening. anyway we were all pumped it worked out really well for him!

[ViperMan]

4 hours ago, McJay Pilot said:

Sorry! If Big Blue offers a Voluntary Separation Program, be very very cautious. They flagged the “volunteers” last time, cancelled their VSP and targeted them for the RIF. The powers that be have altered the deal waaaay too many times for anyone to trust them.

 

4 hours ago, Biff_T said:

They RIFed a guy in my squadron who wanted to stay in (he was a good dude, not a dirtbag).  They also kept a guy in my squadron who wrote a letter asking to be RIFed.  

Made no sense.  

 

 

3 hours ago, 17D_guy said:

In addition to what @Biff_T said, they also got rid of those non-promotable majors...like 200 of them with like 90 days notice? I can't remember the timelines.

My boss got the shove, but he was a supreme dirtbag so no love lost there. I asked him what he was going to do, and he said, "Drive big rigs, I don't want to be responsible for anybody." Which explained soooooooooooooo much.

You'll get the ole' phrase "do more with less" a lot, a "focus on efficiency" as we "transition to a whole warfighter/airmen concept." Which just means Personnel, Finance, and MSG will help you even less, additional duties will come back with a vengeance. Probably lose Sq. orderly rooms again.

That time really fucking sucked. I retired in 2020 and it seemed like the AF was finally getting back to being itself after 18 years. I enlisted in 1999.

Oh, I would also say it's probably 2 years away. That was the lag from 2008 recession to the Tea Party bullshit, to the RIF's.

 

1 hour ago, Clark Griswold said:

It was 2011, 157 majors got the ax because they hadn’t hit 15 years of service when their records met the RIF board

https://nation.time.com/2012/01/03/air-force-firing-for-effect/

As Gates said wisely the DoD has the fine motor skills of a dinosaur, in the case of AF/A1 it’s a dinosaur that’s drunk
Sorry if this happens and good people get RIF’d


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I also want to pile on with a reminder that the very year groups they force-shaped during that phase in 2011 or whenever it exactly was, they then began to offer TERA to the people who would have been otherwise eligible for retirement (albeit a reduced one).

That's like being at 18 or 19 years of service and getting let go because they don't want to pay you your retirement / pension.

Thanks for your service. See ya later.

https://www.stripes.com/news/2013-07-26/air-force-offers-early-retirement-option-in-certain-career-fields-1836037.html1

https://www.afpc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/856683/officers-enlisted-members-offered-early-retirement/

[17D_guy]

8 hours ago, ViperMan said:

 

 

 

I also want to pile on with a reminder that the very year groups they force-shaped during that phase in 2011 or whenever it exactly was, they then began to offer TERA to the people who would have been otherwise eligible for retirement (albeit a reduced one).

That's like being at 18 or 19 years of service and getting let go because they don't want to pay you your retirement / pension.

Thanks for your service. See ya later.

https://www.stripes.com/news/2013-07-26/air-force-offers-early-retirement-option-in-certain-career-fields-1836037.html1

https://www.afpc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/856683/officers-enlisted-members-offered-early-retirement/

Thanks forgot about that as well. Had a buddy that took it, but he was done and is making a ton doing cyber stuff outside. I guess that's why I have such a visceral reaction to the other stuff going on, this time period sucked so much. Don't forget PRF's for Capt. Was a ton of fun working joint and the Squids getting pissy because I didn't know how the promotion system worked.

As always, fuck the Navy.

[abmwaldo]

On 2/27/2025 at 10:57 PM, SurelySerious said:

Air Force Wargaming Chief Says New Fighter Makes Air Battle Easier To Win

https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-wargaming-chief-ngad/

We needed a Major General to state the obvious?

It took 3 "program resets" and 19 years to get the first tail on the ramp.

I have little faith that the procurement process won't pork away the capabilities required and even if they manage to get every capability that was modeled... we'll buy 1/3 to 1/4 of the number represented in the wargame. 

[disgruntledemployee]

WRT RIFs, the AF keeps forgetting there is a place for iron Capts and Majs.  They don't need the shiny jobs and tend to be your best experienced flyers.  And they cost less.  Efficiency!!  Once they become non promotable, the filters drop off their mouths.

[SurelySerious]

It took 3 "program resets" and 19 years to get the first tail on the ramp.
I have little faith that the procurement process won't pork away the capabilities required and even if they manage to get every capability that was modeled... we'll buy 1/3 to 1/4 of the number represented in the wargame. 

Checks…unfortunately.

[LookieRookie]

Oh look aircraft availability is in the toilet, better give billions more to Israel and Ukraine.

 

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2025/03/06/air-force-aircraft-readiness-plunges-to-new-low-alarming-chief/

[disgruntledemployee]

I just noticed that nsplayer's profile shows as guest.  Did he take his ball and go home?

[FUSEPLUG]

On 3/3/2025 at 5:26 PM, The46IsntThatBad said:

Can anyone that was around for the Hunger Games of 2013-2014 describe what it was like or what to expect?

It was glorious.  Nearly six figures to leave AD just as Delta and SWA were cracking open the spigots. It was a calculated risk after the shit show of 2010/11 force management program, but it paid off.

YMMV in 2025.

[BFM this]

On 3/7/2025 at 7:15 PM, disgruntledemployee said:

I just noticed that nsplayer's profile shows as guest.  Did he take his ball and go home?

Meh

he seems to have a good perspective on when to take some time off.

[GrndPndr]

Sorry to just throw this in here, but here's what the RAF is getting up to:

RAF facing pilot shortage after diversity scheme backfires

[FUSEPLUG]

19 hours ago, FUSEPLUG said:

It was glorious.  Nearly six figures to leave AD just as Delta and SWA were cracking open the spigots. It was a calculated risk after the shit show of 2010/11 force management program, but it paid off.

YMMV in 2025.

This was not meant as a humble brag.  The FM programs are a total gamble. I watched my buddies in 2010 throw in for VSP only to be told after the fact that pilots were no longer being considered for the program (ouch).  

I was in the armpit of Oklahoma when the 2014 FM program rolled out.  I was within a year of my commitment and had nothing to lose putting in for VSP. Turns out AFPC decided to clear house for my year group (plus or minus a few years). 

If this all comes down again, I highly suggest you weigh your options carefully.  The airlines are stagnate right now.  That can change in a heartbeat, but AFPC is not afraid to flash a sweet deal in your face and then pull it back in a heart beat.  

Hit up your local Guard unit.  With all of the recent AFFORGEN changes, we're seeing a a lot of outflow of experience in my MWS.  Nice work, Air Force.

Best of luck to the guys/gals dealing with the next round of (RUMINT) force management.

[Lord Ratner]

2 hours ago, GrndPndr said:

Sorry to just throw this in here, but here's what the RAF is getting up to:

RAF facing pilot shortage after diversity scheme backfires

Island of white people surprised to find out they have a white military. 

 Ridiculous

[dream big]

18 hours ago, GrndPndr said:

Sorry to just throw this in here, but here's what the RAF is getting up to:

RAF facing pilot shortage after diversity scheme backfires

Color me shocked. Another datapoint to put a nail in the coffin to racist and sexist affirmative action processes in our military. Save that for your Ivy leagues, no place for that in our business.