2016 UPT Board

[bb17]

18 hours ago, last_chance said:

Has anyone heard about the new 6 year active reserve commitment? I haven't seen it mentioned on any sites yet. 

I guess I'm confused - but what does this mean? Current commitment is 10 years right? So isn't 6 a good thing? 

[pancho17]

2 hours ago, bb17 said:

I guess I'm confused - but what does this mean? Current commitment is 10 years right? So isn't 6 a good thing? 

As it stands, the 10 year commitment is for traditional reserve. This change requires you to hold an active reserve position (ART) for 6 years of your commitment. That basically translates to a full time job on base- 5 days a week.

[bb17]

13 minutes ago, pancho17 said:

As it stands, the 10 year commitment is for traditional reserve. This change requires you to hold an active reserve position (ART) for 6 years of your commitment. That basically translates to a full time job on base- 5 days a week.

What is the point of being a reservist then? This sounds like an active duty gig. 

[last_chance]

16 minutes ago, bb17 said:

What is the point of being a reservist then? This sounds like an active duty gig. 

While it is a full time, active reserve commitment don't confuse it for active duty. You will be a traditional reservist(1 weekend a month, 2 weeks in the summer) who works in a ART overhire position.

For some this will be a problem and it may create an even greater shortage of applicants. Especially for those who already have established careers. This is something you will need to think about before committing. 

You will not be paid like active duty, you will not recieve BAH or BAS, you will not receive military health benefits, and you will not earn active duty time towards retirement.

Instead, you will be paid on the GS pay scale with a locality pay increase. The exact pay level has not been released yet, but typically co-pilots start at GS-9 and aircraft commanders get a special GS-12 rate is what I have heard. You will be eligible for federal employee health benefits and you will be contributing towards the federal employee retirement system. 

[bb17]

AFRC's problem: Hiring and retaining pilots

Solution: Enacting a new program that makes it such a bad deal that nobody wants to join.

Great job AFRC. 

Edited July 14, 2016 by bb17

[bb17]

And peculiar timing. Board results just came out and I was selected! Time to digest everything. 

[bluedevil]

Same for ANG or no...?

[thankyouthanks]

Hear from squadron or recruiter? 

[c_dub_g]

8 minutes ago, bb17 said:

And peculiar timing. Board results just came out and I was selected! Time to digest everything. 

Results are out? 

[pancho17]

56 minutes ago, bb17 said:

AFRC's problem: Hiring and retaining pilots

Solution: Enacting a new program that makes it such a bad deal that nobody wants to join.

Great job AFRC. 

After talking with folks at my sponsoring unit, they firmly believe this is an OPTIONAL program. They are of the opinion that this is being circulated and misunderstood, and that AFRC shouldn't have the ability to make this huge of a change a requirement across the board. So I guess stay tuned until we find out more.

[pancho17]

55 minutes ago, thankyouthanks said:

Hear from squadron or recruiter? 

I think they're sent to squadron commanders and recruiters, but maybe at different times? I have better contact with my recruiter, but she says they don't have any results yet, so I guess I'm stuck waiting on a call from the commander.

 

EDIT:

Recruiter just called and she did get the email, I'm in! :D

Edited July 14, 2016 by pancho17

[thankyouthanks]

Just got call. Selected.  

[Prof_Chaos]

Selected! Best day ever!

[black hills tj]

Congrats guys!   See you on the other side.

[last_chance]

45 minutes ago, pancho17 said:

After talking with folks at my sponsoring unit, they firmly believe this is an OPTIONAL program. They are of the opinion that this is being circulated and misunderstood, and that AFRC shouldn't have the ability to make this huge of a change a requirement across the board. So I guess stay tuned until we find out more.

I will see if I can get permission to post the memo. It is an optional program for those who graduate from UFT before 1 Dec 16, But it doesn't sound like it is optional for the rest of us. The memo just came down a month ago and it sounds like there are a lot of unknowns about the program. Hopefully headquarters clears things up in the coming months. 

Still no news from my recruiter.

Congrats to all those currently selected! Hopefully I can join you soon.

[bb17]

Oh and I was approved with an age ETP - as an extra data point in case anybody was in the same situation. 

[last_chance]

9 minutes ago, bb17 said:

Oh and I was approved with an age ETP - as an extra data point in case anybody was in the same situation. 

Well that is good news for me hopefully. I also had an age ETP and I turn 30 next month. I also had a second waiver for something else that I hope didn't create a problem for me.

Has anyone heard how many sponsored/unsponsored applied vs how many were selected?

[bb17]

5 minutes ago, willflyforfood said:

How old are you?

31! 

[Herk Driver]

I will see if I can get permission to post the memo. It is an optional program for those who graduate from UFT before 1 Dec 16, But it doesn't sound like it is optional for the rest of us. The memo just came down a month ago and it sounds like there are a lot of unknowns about the program. Hopefully headquarters clears things up in the coming months. 

Still no news from my recruiter.

Congrats to all those currently selected! Hopefully I can join you soon.

I am replacing my previous post. Latest conversations indicate that they may attempt to implement the memo as is. There is some question of whether it is enforceable in its current form but that is the latest.

[last_chance]

 

1 hour ago, willflyforfood said:

^this! would really like to get that stat.

Got the call not to long ago and I was selected! Congrats again to everyone!

I asked my recruiter about the numbers. I didn't get a complete break down, but was told there were 36 applicants to the board. He said all sponsored applicants were selected and didn't really mention anything about unsponsored applicants. 

[bb17]

[last_chance]

I uploaded a JPEG of the memo so everyone can read it. I was told nothing about the program is restricted to talk about so it shouldn't be a problem posting the memo. 

Edited July 14, 2016 by last_chance

[bb17]

I imagine there are already a lot of people who would be interested in doing that without it being crammed down their throat. Probably mostly younger guys who don't have a fallback career established and are interested in having a full time job. For an older guy like myself with his own consulting practice is actually makes it an impossible proposition where AFRC gets the boot. What that means is that AFRC will probably lose a lot of applicants who have already developed extensive professional and leadership experience before applying since quitting a six figure civilian job with good benefits is not more appealing than earning $40k a year with no benefits and being stuck there for 6 years. 

However, even today I have already heard from a couple sources that this memo isn't quite what it seems. We'll see how it pans out. 

Edited July 14, 2016 by bb17

[pancho17]

4 minutes ago, bb17 said:

What that means is that AFRC will probably lose a lot of applicants who have already developed extensive professional and leadership experience before applying since quitting a six figure civilian job with good benefits is more appealing than earning $40k a year with no benefits and being stuck there for 6 years. 

^ This.

[black hills tj]

Does it appear that this "plan" is specific to Reserves or Guard as well?