Aviation Continuation Pay (ACP - The Bonus)

[HookEmAll]

Our finance office said the raise was only for UAV pilots and ignored further requests to fix the issue. Good thing it’s out of their hands to solve it. 

[nsplayr]

Just got a new LES to partially correct the discrepancy...I'll make sure not to spend that extra $8.69 all in one place!

[pawnman]

19 hours ago, BONE WSO said:

No pay bump here either. My finance office (which is great) filed a ticket with DFAS which was in the system for about 3 weeks before DFAS closed the ticket and said "it is a known problem and we will fix the issue in one big batch." My finance office apparently does not have the authority to fix it. Unbelievable.

Why would anyone expect FINANCE to be able to fix a PAY issue...?

[sqwatch]

I have an 8-0 undefeated record in the octagon of reg-fu, and 7 of those one round KO matches were with finance, yet they keep insisting on a rematch

[Snooter]

11 hours ago, sqwatch said:

I have an 8-0 undefeated record in the octagon of reg-fu, and 7 of those one round KO matches were with finance, yet they keep insisting on a rematch

I laughed wayyyy harder than I should have at this.  Thank you for this...

[mcbush]

Different bonus, but couldn't find a better place to put this.

The AF released the details on the continuation pay portion of the BRS today. Hope you weren't expecting much - it's 2.5x a month's base pay in exchange for an additional 4 year ADSC. Somehow I doubt that's going to change the calculus for dudes at the 12 year point.

https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1381062/air-force-announces-continuation-pay-rates/

[Breckey]

That's about $223k for a O-4. Everything I have found shows that it is subject to CZTE so if you could work a dip in the AOR the month following your 12 year point you could take the lump sum and it could be advantageous.

Edit: Nevermind. It's 2.5 times a single months pay.

Edited November 28, 2017 by Breckey

[icohftb]

I took that to read 2.5x 1 months pay to sign up for 4 more years... so more like 15-20k total.

[MooseAg03]

Since this payment is at the discretion of the secretary, you’d think they’d at least put some thought into it to target stressed career fields. Pilots, enlisted aviators, senior operators, RPA pilots, and maintainers should be at a much higher multiplier than SSgt Snuffy finance or services guy.

[cragspider]

9 minutes ago, MooseAg03 said:

Since this payment is at the discretion of the secretary, you’d think they’d at least put some thought into it to target stressed career fields. Pilots, enlisted aviators, senior operators, RPA pilots, and maintainers should be at a much higher multiplier than SSgt Snuffy finance or services guy.

You’d think that. But we already give our pilots a bonus that they should be happy with this is just an extra added bonus for you. At the current O-4 rate this gives you pre tax 18k. Hell for that amount your better off taking the pilot bonus where you’d make more anyway for the same time just about with all the same issues. But then again the new BRS is a joke anyway. Come on best case 5% marching for you? While it’s ok for the guys who are going to bail it’s a joke. Some of the biggest competitors for us offer 10-20% auto contribution for you into a 401k. Swing and a miss again. 

[mcbush]

While I’m sure this is giving leadership too much credit, one opinion I heard today was that the continuation pay multiplier was intentionally set low in order to dissuade senior Capts and Majs from opting into the BRS, thereby “encouraging” them to stay to 20 instead.

But they’re probably just being cheap bastards.

[Kenny Powers]

Keep in mind that most civilian employers don't offer a pension anymore either. So 10% auto-contribution takes place of that. So 5% plus some kind of pension isn't terrible compared to most retirement plans.

 

No idea about the airlines though. They probably give you a billion dollars and a private island.

 

 

[flyusaf83]

Looks like they went the absolute cheapest way possible with this.  According to the law, the services could offer CP anytime between 8-12 YOS, and it would be 2.5-13x base pay.  It also said the services could use it to incentivize certain stressed career fields.

And of course our innovative leaders, in the midst of a rentention crisis, elected to offer the minimum 2.5x multiplier at the longest 12 YOS time, for every single career field in the AF.

I get not offering it at 8 YOS for pilots, since it would run concurrently and add only a few months to your ADSC.  However, $18k is not going to make a difference at all in a pilot’s decision making.  It would have wise to offer pilots closer to 13x at the 12 YOS mark. 

Another swing and a miss from management.

[cragspider]

3 hours ago, flyusaf83 said:

Looks like they went the absolute cheapest way possible with this.  According to the law, the services could offer CP anytime between 8-12 YOS, and it would be 2.5-13x base pay.  It also said the services could use it to incentivize certain stressed career fields.

And of course our innovative leaders, in the midst of a rentention crisis, elected to offer the minimum 2.5x multiplier at the longest 12 YOS time, for every single career field in the AF.

I get not offering it at 8 YOS for pilots, since it would run concurrently and add only a few months to your ADSC.  However, $18k is not going to make a difference at all in a pilot’s decision making.  It would have wise to offer pilots closer to 13x at the 12 YOS mark. 

Another swing and a miss from management.

But look who is managing this. The same person who as seen us through all the other debacles so it’s no surprise it’s so messed up. 

Edited November 28, 2017 by cragspider

[MooseAg03]

I’m shocked they released any info about the retention payment prior to the opt in cutoff date. I figured they would just make career minded folks gamble.

[ThreeHoler]

I’m shocked they released any info about the retention payment prior to the opt in cutoff date. I figured they would just make career minded folks gamble.

I have no reason to be an optimist...but I’m guessing that is the “standard” rate and the AF messaging got screwed up yet again and they didn’t release targeted values yet.

If they’re only going the 2.5x route they’re in for a world of hurt.

[McJay Pilot]

So, how long do you think it will be before some of the regionals are hurting so bad for talent that they offer "buy-out" options to bonus takers?

[Guest]

So, how long do you think it will be before some of the regionals are hurting so bad for talent that they offer "buy-out" options to bonus takers?

There’s an ADSC with the bonus. I don’t think a buy-out is an option unless they’re paying you to fail consecutive PT tests.

[RogAir]

3 hours ago, McJay Pilot said:

So, how long do you think it will be before some of the regionals are hurting so bad for talent that they offer "buy-out" options to bonus takers?

I tried this back in the 90’s. Grounded, feet on the ramp for turning down bonus, with 2 years left on ADSC.  I offered the AF a “reverse bonus”, I would pay them $25,000 for every year I owed to get out.  Blew their minds. Wing King said he wouldn’t even know where to deposit my check....

[SocialD]

9 hours ago, RogAir said:

Grounded, feet on the ramp for turning down bonus, with 2 years left on ADSC. 

What a fucked up way of saying "thanks for your service."  

[polcat]

11 hours ago, ihtfp06 said:

There’s an ADSC with the bonus. I don’t think a buy-out is an option unless they’re paying you to fail consecutive PT tests.

I don't think the idea that it's a buy out from the bonus, but an offer better than what the AF is giving right now to entice those from taking the bonus.

[the g-man]

I don't think the idea that it's a buy out from the bonus, but an offer better than what the AF is giving right now to entice those from taking the bonus.

That’s easy. Match 12 yr O-4 pay (base + basic BAH) and you’re at $104k. If the regionals can do that, it’s a no brainer.

I’d speculate that most people would bail if the regionals locked you in for a year by paying for ATP and pay/bonus was in the range of 75% of that O-4 pay number.

[Jaded]

3 hours ago, the g-man said:

I’d speculate that most people would bail if the regionals locked you in for a year by paying for ATP and pay/bonus was in the range of 75% of that O-4 pay number.

Regionals will pay for your ATP, and pay is pretty close to 75% with their signing bonuses. Also, you aren't locked in and can quit at any time.

Envoy for example:

• First Officers to earn $60,000 or more during their first year.
• All Envoy new hire pilots receive up to $22,100 signing bonus, payable on their first day of training

Maybe I don't understand what you're saying. 

Edited November 29, 2017 by Jaded

[BFM this]

Average mil dude isn’t going to be at a regional long enough to keep their bonuses.

[Jaded]

29 minutes ago, BFM this said:

Average mil dude isn’t going to be at a regional long enough to keep their bonuses.

True, but it's kind of a moot point if they give up the bonus because they're getting hired at a major.