Aviation Continuation Pay (ACP - The Bonus)

[Gazmo]

It should mirror the AD bonus. Honestly, I've always thought the AGR bonus should be less than the AD bonus just because there is a whole lot less BS as an AGR in the ANG than there is on AD and an AGR could, in theory, go from a 2Lt to retiring as a 20 yr Lt Col without ever commanding a unit. There hasn't been as much of a tendancy to leave the AGR program as there is AD, but we're getting there, especially with the airlines hiring as much as they are. NGB has authorized ART bonuses and some units are hiring into GS13 positions at the step 7 level ($20k more than step 1). The manpower pain is being felt everywhere.

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[Oldtanker]

"This is not for all pilots," said Stefanek, explaining that some years there's a need for more mobility pilots or more fighter pilots."

https://www.cnbc.com/2016/08/19/air-force-paying-huge-retention-bonuses-to-fighter-pilots.html

Between a likely continued resolution, emphasis on acquisitions & the above statement, I'd say it's not a certainty that heavy drivers will see an increase in our bonus.

[Gazmo]

"This is not for all pilots," said Stefanek, explaining that some years there's a need for more mobility pilots or more fighter pilots."

https://www.cnbc.com/2016/08/19/air-force-paying-huge-retention-bonuses-to-fighter-pilots.html

Between a likely continued resolution, emphasis on acquisitions & the above statement, I'd say it's not a certainty that heavy drivers will see an increase in our bonus.

LOL. Well them tankers and airlifters aren't gonna drive themselves...

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[Duck]

Once again the comments section on that article is hilarious. Everyone is an expert...

[FUSEPLUG]

3 hours ago, Oldtanker said:

Between a likely continued resolution, emphasis on acquisitions & the above statement, I'd say it's not a certainty that heavy drivers will see an increase in our bonus.

That's fine. The real "bonus" will come when said heavy drivers hit second year pay at AA/DL/UA/SW/UPS/FEDEX.  I don't see the problem (much like the AF).

[Sprkt69]

1 hour ago, FUSEPLUG said:

That's fine. The real "bonus" will come when said heavy drivers hit second year pay at AA/DL/UA/SW/UPS/FEDEX.  I don't see the problem (much like the AF).

Exactly. Big Blue will not see a problem until they turn around and all their mobility pilot have left. Just like the fighters.

[Gazmo]

Maybe they should pay more attention to the downward trend in retention rates and not the overall numbers showing fighter pilot retention is worse than mobility pilot retention.

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[pawnman]

9 hours ago, Sprkt69 said:

Exactly. Big Blue will not see a problem until they turn around and all their mobility pilot have left. Just like the fighters.

We don't need mobility pilots, right?  That's why we RIFed so many a couple years ago.

[Duck]

We don't need mobility pilots, right?  That's why we RIFed so many a couple years ago.

And why we won't let any Palace Chase regardless of how close they are to the end of their commitment!

[Gazmo]

Yes. Let's not let good people transfer to the ARC to be a part of the "Total Force", but at the same time let's deploy the ARC more.

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[Smokin]

On 8/19/2016 at 10:13 PM, Gazmo said:

It should mirror the AD bonus. Honestly, I've always thought the AGR bonus should be less than the AD bonus just because there is a whole lot less BS as an AGR in the ANG than there is on AD and an AGR could, in theory, go from a 2Lt to retiring as a 20 yr Lt Col without ever commanding a unit. There hasn't been as much of a tendancy to leave the AGR program as there is AD, but we're getting there, especially with the airlines hiring as much as they are. NGB has authorized ART bonuses and some units are hiring into GS13 positions at the step 7 level ($20k more than step 1). The manpower pain is being felt everywhere.

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Except for the fact that there are AGRs resigning to go to the airlines.  Seen it multiple times in the last year.

[Gazmo]

I agree. I have passed up on an AGR opportunity for that reason myself. Oh how the pendulum swings.

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[matmacwc]

We have seen it as well, nobody wants to be an ART, and they shouldn't unless it is a stepping stone.

[ViperStud]

The funny thing is this - "leadership" is trumpeting the total (rumored) 30% tech bonus as a carrot - no one is biting. The old guys (technicians) have a hard time understanding why everyone doesn't want to be just like them. Sound like AD?

[Gazmo]

The funny thing is this - "leadership" is trumpeting the total (rumored) 30% tech bonus as a carrot - no one is biting. The old guys (technicians) have a hard time understanding why everyone doesn't want to be just like them. Sound like AD?

The Technician program has only lasted as long as it has due to the events of 9/11. If the airline hiring boom of '99-01 had continued, the ART force would have crumbled back then. Of course a lot of the O-4/O-5 IP-types who got furloughed from the airlines, found their way back into an ART job and stayed there for 10+ years until they got their recall while us young guys troughed trying to make ends meet. Guess what. Us young guys are the ones leaving now without anyone to fill our shoes.

For years, leadership had a mindset that being an ART was something everyone would give their first born child to become. Not true at all. For most, it was the only option they had to keep food on the table. Is it a terrible job? No, but it has gotten worse than it used to be. Ask all the people who now pay 4.4% into a FERS retirement on top of 5% TSP contribution on top of FEHB on top of dental converage. It ends up being $12,000 a year out of your pay. It is an antiquated program not designed well for aircrew.

We should all be AGR's. It's be much easier to keep people and manage the fulltime force. Leadership's arguement is that some people want to spend 30+ years as an ART and want the double retirement. Ironically, the only people who believe that are the leadership who, for one reason or another missed the airline boat and are ART lifers or they are non-flyers. For the rest of us, being an ART is a tiresome stepping stone; an alternative to a regional airline and as more and more people leave the program, the worse it's getting for those who are still waiting for their call.

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[And1]

Any of you that are actually in the know heard any more news on changes coming? 48K? 60K? 5 years? 9? 50% up front still? The current one on mypers expires at the end of the month...surely there's got to be something ready to take its place. Anyone?

[Smokin]

The normal release has been early to mid-spring, so I wouldn't hold your breath.  Whatever max amount the budget gets approved for will tell you most of what you want to know, but any up front numbers and duration won't be reliable until the actual AF release.  I'd guess late March.

[MooseAg03]

The normal release has been early to mid-spring, so I wouldn't hold your breath.  Whatever max amount the budget gets approved for will tell you most of what you want to know, but any up front numbers and duration won't be reliable until the actual AF release.  I'd guess late March.

So that means there won't be a bonus program for 6 months or the old one stays in effect? Rumors of higher payouts have to be depressing sign up numbers.


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[Herk Driver]

The old one expires 30 Sep, regardless. The new one starts once finalized, approved and announced.


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[MooseAg03]

Sounds like par for the course for the Air Force. Especially during a "pilot retention crisis." I've said it before, what a bloated and slow moving bureaucracy we've become. I realize a lot is controlled by Congress, but maybe they should learn to lead turn a bit.


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[ColoradoAviator]

Take rates for FY16 as of 12 Sep with 18 days left until the program closes are shown below.  

Highlights:  45.6% take rate for pilots overall.  Early takers for FY17 are at 25.9% and, as recently alluded, the FY17 ACP isn't likely until Spring at the earliest.

Edited September 17, 2016 by ColoradoAviator
How the heck do I embed an image?!

[Nobody]

Do you have breakdown for career field, or the link to check out specific info?

[Jaded]

https://access.afpc.af.mil/vbinDMZ/broker.exe?_program=DEMOGPUB.default.sas&_service=pZ1pub1&_debug=0

Edited September 17, 2016 by Jaded
So fucking hard to paste a link.

[Jaded]

Also, for those who are wondering, the "early" take rate is 3.3% lower than last year. Sounds like you guys are making up this whole retention problem. These statistics prove that everything is fine.

[Snooter]

Wow, didn't realize that they published divorce rate metrics for all to see.