You can't put a price tag on a better QOL and a chance to move on and do something different.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

32 minutes ago, pawnman said:

The same number that are leaving at the end of their commitment now, I would guess.  If the bonus were an effective tool, we wouldn't be looking at a shortage of over 1000 pilots.

When you get to the end of your career in the AF do you guys find yourself speaking a little less? I guess I'm to the point where I care, but I'm not going to get my blood pressure raised over an issue. I say to myself, "Meh..2020 I'm done" and my brain goes off into a different dimension.

5 minutes ago, Gazmo said:

You can't put a price tag on a better QOL and a chance to move on and do something different.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
 

I learned that from reading what you guts write on this forum and from a few guys who left for the airlines. Granted, one retired medically, another was riffed, and the last guy got out. Two of the guys said we didn't want you to suffer like we did after taking the money.

When you get to the end of your career in the AF do you guys find yourself speaking a little less? I guess I'm to the point where I care, but I'm not going to get my blood pressure raised over an issue. I say to myself, "Meh..2020 I'm done" and my brain goes off into a different dimension.

I say that everyday when I'm given more and more crap to take care of. Except mine is "2019 I'm done." Making plans to move back home and put active duty behind me have done wonders for my stress level and general outlook on life.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

48 minutes ago, No2bonus said:

When you get to the end of your career in the AF do you guys find yourself speaking a little less? I guess I'm to the point where I care, but I'm not going to get my blood pressure raised over an issue. I say to myself, "Meh..2020 I'm done" and my brain goes off into a different dimension.

All the pilots I know are talking about how to get airline jobs.  They're either retiring, or separating, and while a few are going ANG or Reserve, there's a fair number that are getting out entirely.

As for the "get back to winning and you won't need a bonus"...ask yourself what it is that the Air Force has done to make a job every kid wants to do and turn it into a job that people refuse to do for a $400K bonus on top of an already decent paycheck?  THAT is where you'll solve the pilot retention problem.  Not with money, because money will only buy so much happiness and there are plenty of good jobs on the outside for college educated, quick-thinking, cool under pressure candidates.  Until the AF starts improving QOL, you're probably going to see the pilot shortage continue.  It's not even about winning, in my estimation...it's about showing guys that leadership understands that aircraft and the guys who fly them are the backbone of the force, and we aren't actually equal with the guy checking ID cards at the gate. 

19 minutes ago, MooseAg03 said:

 

I say that everyday when I'm given more and more crap to take care of. Except mine is "2019 I'm done." Making plans to move back home and put active duty behind me have done wonders for my stress level and general outlook on life.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Lol...thanks for confirming I'm not the only one.

2 hours ago, pawnman said:

All the pilots I know are talking about how to get airline jobs.  They're either retiring, or separating, and while a few are going ANG or Reserve, there's a fair number that are getting out entirely.

As for the "get back to winning and you won't need a bonus"...ask yourself what it is that the Air Force has done to make a job every kid wants to do and turn it into a job that people refuse to do for a $400K bonus on top of an already decent paycheck?  THAT is where you'll solve the pilot retention problem.  Not with money, because money will only buy so much happiness and there are plenty of good jobs on the outside for college educated, quick-thinking, cool under pressure candidates.  Until the AF starts improving QOL, you're probably going to see the pilot shortage continue.  It's not even about winning, in my estimation...it's about showing guys that leadership understands that aircraft and the guys who fly them are the backbone of the force, and we aren't actually equal with the guy checking ID cards at the gate. 

I 100% agree. I think AF leadership downplayed our morale levels and QOL in general. Ultimately, they forgot what its like to be at our level in the food chain. Times have changed and so have family dynamics. Divorce was frowned upon back in the day of most general officers. Now, you have to either sacrifice your family or the AF. Nobody is going to chose the AF over their family. 

I did read part of former SECDEF Gates book. Military leadership told him if we surged and deployed people for a year it would break up marriages and have a negative impact on all the branches. They warned him and look what happened to the divorce rate in the branches after the surges in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Edited April 8, 20178 yr by No2bonus

40 minutes ago, No2bonus said:

I 100% agree. I think AF leadership downplayed the our morale levels and QOL in general. Ultimately, they forgot what its like to be at our level in the food chain. Times have changed and so have family dynamics. Divorce was frowned upon back in the day of most general officers. Now, you have to either sacrifice your family or the AF. Nobody is going to chose the AF over their family. 

I did read part of former SECDEF Gates book. Military leadership told him if we surged and deployed people for a year it would break up marriages and have a negative impact on all the branches. They warned him and look what happened to the divorce rate in the branches after the surges in Iraq and Afghanistan.

 

54 minutes ago, No2bonus said:

Lol...thanks for confirming I'm not the only one.

 

1 hour ago, No2bonus said:

I learned that from reading what you guts write on this forum and from a few guys who left for the airlines. Granted, one retired medically, another was riffed, and the last guy got out. Two of the guys said we didn't want you to suffer like we did after taking the money.

 

2 hours ago, No2bonus said:

When you get to the end of your career in the AF do you guys find yourself speaking a little less? I guess I'm to the point where I care, but I'm not going to get my blood pressure raised over an issue. I say to myself, "Meh..2020 I'm done" and my brain goes off into a different dimension.

Is this your first time using a Forum? You can reply to multiple people or multiple posts with one of your own.

Is this your first time using a Forum? You can reply to multiple people or multiple posts with one of your own.

I think scoobs might have gotten a new username...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

. Now, you have to either sacrifice your family or the AF. Nobody is going to chose the AF over their family. 

I disagree, as I see it all the time. For some people choosing the AF carrot has become such a habit, they don't even realize it anymore. How many O-6s are still on their first wife? Of those, how many does the wife wear the rank just as much as the husband?


Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

When you get to the end of your career in the AF do you guys find yourself speaking a little less? I guess I'm to the point where I care, but I'm not going to get my blood pressure raised over an issue. I say to myself, "Meh..2020 I'm done" and my brain goes off into a different dimension.

Probably has something to do with why you can't lead your kids.

Bendy


Sent from my iPad using Baseops Network Forums

8 hours ago, No2bonus said:

I've never had an issue, but thank you. I have just noticed how some of the younger airmen and officers are a bit more unfiltered. It seems to be tolerated by some and quickly becoming the norm.

Do you drink?

5 hours ago, Duck said:

How many O-6s are still on their first wife? 

Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

I know a few but they are usually not Line officers, of the Line O-6s I know I guess around 60%+ are single or on wife 2 or 3 in some rare cases.  

That raises the interesting question why the Line has become expected or accustomed to selling our souls when other communities don't but they seem to have as much rank, prestige and leadership in the AF.  

Is it because we are all type A's and a consequence of just the competitiveness amongst that set or are we held to unrealistic career / QOL standards?

It's fairly clear, if you want to be perpetually at war...drafting/conscription is necessary. If you just want to shit up and stop, a volunteer force more than happy to comply (knowing casualty is possible).

I love taking care of the "kids". They are far from it. I don't want to deploy. I don't want to be away from my kids. When I am, I'm going with someone else's kids...as an FGO. There is plenty of reason for to be here...plenty beyond money. I like money. I want money. The airlines are offering lots of money. I'm staying here for now. I want to motivate, lead, and win. I don't care that you're better, but are leaving...haha , "thanks for your service."

If you aren't running for public office once you leave, I think you should shut your face. At a minimum you should be conspiring to lobby congress...MOAA or whatever...too much talk, no action...just as bad as the bottom of barrel.

I agree there is a hideous problem here...if you want to bail out of it...don't blame you. Don't just talk, do something to pressure change.

If we stay "at war" we won't change anything...we're just a dude trapped in the car before it's completely filled with water...just sucks it has to fill before we can get out. I hope the cost of having to wait for it isn't too large.

Bendy


Sent from my iPad using Baseops Network Forums

Nothing to give, but don't take the money, other than I wanted to be the pic on all of the General discussion board.

any chance they will give the BRS continuation bonus to pilots before the approximate 9 year mark?  It would be free money at that point with no extension on the ADSC...

42 minutes ago, pilotguy said:

any chance they will give the BRS continuation bonus to pilots before the approximate 9 year mark?  It would be free money at that point with no extension on the ADSC...

What kind of ADSC does that encur?

If you are asking if the AF is going to give you something with no benefit on their end...


Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

9 hours ago, flyusaf83 said:

What kind of ADSC does that encur?

3 years...unless I'm mistaken it is to be given out any time after the 8 year time in service mark for those that opt into BRS...doubt they give pilots free money but I guess there is a chance...

Can we rename this thread, "I'm not staying in, but does anyone know if the Air Force is going to give me more money before I leave?"

Beer or hard liquor?

There sure were a lot of beer bottles in the garbage can this morning, but honestly can't recall.

Point taken,
Bendy


Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

11 hours ago, Jaded said:

Can we rename this thread, "I'm not staying in, but does anyone know if the Air Force is going to give me more money before I leave?"

 I see what he's saying. But ya never going to happen. If you opt into BRS as a pilot they will just wait and offer you the BRS continuation and the pilot retention bonus at the same time...that's not a bad chunk of change though.

 

 

Stop-loss an option for Air Force to stem pilots' departure to airlines
https://www.stripes.com/1.462909

I'll just leave this here...


Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

1 hour ago, daynightindicator said:

Stop-loss an option for Air Force to stem pilots' departure to airlines
https://www.stripes.com/1.462909

I'll just leave this here...


Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

of course the Air Force is going to play this card...its all they got.  Why gives us a bonus at all honestly just force us to stay in...should fix everything

 

 

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

 

 

They'll never get it.