Want to take advantage of VSP? Need a home? How about the hills of West Virginia?

[MRBum]

Hello,

If you want to take advantage of VSP, we are here for you. Check out the wonderful and wild job opportunities in the WVANG. If you are a 11MXX and need someplace warm. A place where the beer flows like wine. Where beautiful women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano. I'm talking about a little place called Martinsburg. We are sending C-5s to the boneyard and opening our great big hangers to a bunch of C-17s. All you have to do is call DSN 242-5043, or 304-616-5043. Ask for Drew or Pete. We are conveniently located within a 1.5 hour drive of IAD, DCA, and BWI if for some reason you wanted to be close to those airports. Paradise is a phone call away.

Mr. Bum

Edited January 18, 2014 by MRBum

[herkbum]

The flood gates are open!

You didn't clarify, but I'm assuming you are speaking of DSG positions? You had to know this question was coming.

Edited January 17, 2014 by herkbum

[MRBum]

The flood gates are open!

You didn't clarify, but I'm assuming you are speaking of DSG positions? You had to know this question was coming.

DSG? Drill status guardsmen? I had to google that. We call them traditional guardsmen out here in the hills. Yes. That is what we are hiring. It is possible to get a fulltime job at a guard unit. However, the positions we are looking to fill are all part time. Thanks for the question. If that was it.

Mr Bum

[MRBum]

I received this question in a PM:

For those of us that are stuck in AETC-land (T-6) is there any chance of the unit picking up the tab for an AC/IP requal course at Altus? We have plenty of C-17 drivers here that would love a traditional guardsman job however we can't requal in the C-17 without incurring a 3-year ADSC.

Absolutely, we have picked up a couple of guys who have C-17 experience and are now in a different aircraft. In fact, we are in conversion from the C-5 to the C-17 so we can take a guy who has no C-17 experience. Of course, these lucky guys get an all expenses paid 5 month vacation to beautiful Altus Ok. For those guys with recent C-17 experience that are now unqualified, we would use 11-2C-17 Vol 1 CH 2 to get you back up to speed.

Along the same line of questioning. We have been offering jobs with a handshake agreement that works out rather well for all of you potential VSP'ers. We aren't going to be flying C-17s until the beginning of 2015. We are completely happy to interview and offer a position to someone who wants to separate in the end of this year (Sep 29th is a magic date for most) or the beginning of next year. It works well. The VSP'er gets a separation date, can now throw applications out to whoever maybe looking for an experienced pilot. We work well with airline guys, as most of us are airline guys. If you get a job offer and training class right after you separate, we will swear you in and let you head off to your airline training. When you are done with that depending on how you are qualified, you could start helping us with our training (C-17 IPs) flying trips or take a luxurious 5 month vacation to Altus OK. By the way, when you pick up AD orders, you keep accruing seniority.

I would also have a bit of a war chest built up. Going from fulltime AD pay to traditional guardsmen pay is quite a kick in the shorts. Especially, if you have trouble finding a job right after you separate.

Any more questions? Fire away.

MRBum

[herkbum]

DSG? Drill status guardsmen? I had to google that. We call them traditional guardsmen out here in the hills. Yes. That is what we are hiring. It is possible to get a fulltime job at a guard unit. However, the positions we are looking to fill are all part time. Thanks for the question. If that was it.

Mr Bum

That answers my question. I'll put the word out for you as well. We have some previous Qual Herk guys that can't get a school date for our new airframe. They may be interested.

[And1]

I would also have a bit of a war chest built up. Going from fulltime AD pay to traditional guardsmen pay is quite a kick in the shorts. Especially, if you have trouble finding a job right after you separate.

Any more questions? Fire away.

MRBum

I know this question has been answered a few times in previous posts, but I'm sure it's different in every unit (fighter/heavy). Any idea on how much a traditional guardsman should expect to make in this unit on average each year (O-3/O-4 type)? Also, could you expand on the typical lifestyle too? One 8-10 day trip per month? Two shorter trips?

And on a different note, can someone with experience explain the similarities and differences between AD tricare prime and the health insurance offered in the guard (tricare ready reserve)? I'm in a position where that little benefit has proven very beneficial lately and would like to know what I might be giving up in making the switch. Thanks.

[Marco]

I just made the switch from AD Tricare Standard to Tricare Reserve Select. $200-ish bucks a month for same coverage for whole family. Can't beat it compared to other plans. Just make sure you do the initial paperwork and send it in by the 20th of the month prior to insurance start month.

In my experience, I was actually able to have one of our MPF folks step me through the entire application on mil-connect. That helped given that my first attempt at applying over the phone with a Humana rep went FUBAR. Hope that helps a bit.

On another note, have hitched a ride to and from Thailand for Cope Tiger '12 on Martinsburg C-5's. They're good dudes.

[slc]

DSG i.e. bum (a great life, I may add)

Edited January 20, 2014 by slc

[scoobs]

Is bumming possible?

[MRBum]

Thanks Marco. I just did the same. We had MPA (TACC) orders and Tricare Reserve Select is considerably less than my companies plan.

As far as bumming goes. You can expect 4 UTAs and 4 FTPs a month. Each being worth 1 AD of pay. We do not know what we will have in the way of flying after we convert. I would speculate you could count on 1 trip every 2 months. Many variables involved. Mainly, how many bums are at the trough. So, not quite a bucket of money delivered twice a month.

MrBum

[And1]

Just to clarify, 1 AD of pay is the amount listed under 1 Drill on the pay scale, correct? So, as a norm we could expect 8 of those a month (4 UTAs and 4 FTPs)? Is the one trip every two months in addition to that or part of that calculation? If separate, what type of work is done during the UTA...local flying for currency reasons, some type of desk job, or just trying to knock out all required AF CBT training? Thanks again.

[MRBum]

1 drill period = 4 UTAs. 4 FTPs will net the same thing. So, 8 guaranteed pay periods a month. For a Capt, you can bring home around $1200. In addition to that, you add AD days flown for trips. We have been giving orders in 10 day blocks for TACC missions. We hope to do the same thing after conversion.

Mr. Bum

[moosepileit]

Did AMC just cut the ANG down to one crew in their system at a time (per unit, edit) like they did to AFRC? Seems AD and contract lift are get all the work and we are back to token pine sitters.

Edited January 21, 2014 by moosepileit

[MRBum]

Yes, we had 3 tails in the system continuously. Occasionally we would have an extra tail when they requested it. I believe politics have kicked in and it is now fashionable for the AD to show that they can handle all the lift requirements. Couple that with a reduction in lift requirements with operational demands winding down. We are hoping to get a channel mission after we convert to help out with training and the troughers.

MRbum

[lossofclocklossofdata]

Will you have an airdrop mission or strictly airland? Been in RPA at cannon for last three years after leaving chs as an ACAD and taking a long look at VSP. Anyone know the mins for entry level airline? I only had 1500 hrs c17 and only 200 of that was PIC.

[tunes]

Will you have an airdrop mission or strictly airland? Been in RPA at cannon for last three years after leaving chs as an ACAD and taking a long look at VSP. Anyone know the mins for entry level airline? I only had 1500 hrs c17 and only 200 of that was PIC.

you need to subtract your 'other' time for the airlines if you haven't already.

[lossofclocklossofdata]

Just 1050 then. Lot of time in the bunk. Probably not worth their time.

[MRBum]

We will not be doing airdrop. At least that is the plan. Always, subject to change at any moment.

MrBum

[MRBum]

Just 1050 then. Lot of time in the bunk. Probably not worth their time.

Hey there lossofclo.......,

Turn that frown upside down. You may not be the most popular girl at the dance now. The night is young. If you want to get hired with the airlines you have to jump back in to a cockpit. This is the beginning of a greatly delayed hiring boom. You have a couple years to catch the front of the wave. The airlines are going to be lowering there competitive mins while you are building your time up. I would venture a guess that RPA time is less valuable then actual flight time, but that is speculation. I would look to get out of the RPA business if possible.

MrBum

[FUSEPLUG]

Bump.

Looks like the first 17 has arrived! I'm sure the coast(s) will be sending their finest tails.

https://www.stripes.com/news/us/c-17-aircraft-start-heavy-lifting-at-wv-base-1.305094

[SocialD]

Bump.

I'm sure the coast(s) will be sending their finest tails.

Haha, standard! No worries, the Guard MX will unfuck them, as usual...

[FUSEPLUG]

I hope 94-0069 isn't on the list. That POS had a lengthy bout of SC/EFC problems back in '12. It was painted with the Stewart tail flash but still used for CHS locals. After about three months and multiple flights back from North Field at full flaps, it was back in CHS colors. Somehow the NYANG stiff armed that one.