Forum: Air Force Life

Active Member Joined: Nov 29, 2004 - 01:40 PM Posts: 146

I wouldn't bank too much on the Blue to Green program. In just a few more years the Army will be in the exact same position.

I know that currently if you do wash out of UPT/UNT/Technical school you aren't getting to re-train. At least thats how it is for us Officers.

I couldn't agree more that we are overmanned. Hell, at my first base my job was created, pretty much just for me. I was the Armament Systems flight commander. They had never had flight commander before me, and there wasn't one after I left.

No offense to you Tengo, but I won't go to the Army because of their impending personnel cuts.

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Sorry these guys are getting the shaft but much better now than later. I invested 12 years of my life and then was cut in 1995 at the Majors board. I got the you are a great asset and performer we just can't keep everyone speech. I took all my experience to the real world and had no problem finding employment. Now I bring in up to $70K per year as an Engineer in the Aerospace Industry.

TenguNoHi wrote:

And I should remind anyone who questions it; if you want to fly, join the airline industry. If you want to serve, join the AF. And remember the AF core values; integrity first, SERVICE BEFORE SELF and execelence in ALL WE DO. That includes filling the pop corn machine or whatever it is pilots do when they arent doin pilot stuff...

-Aaron

TenguNoHi wrote:

...force reallign to the Army officer corp. I know a lot of people prolly dont like this but I dont mind the idea at all. If I couldnt be a pilot I would rather be a ground troop than another job in the AF. No offense to people that work those other jobs, im sure they enjoy them and say theyre great. There is just something about getting shot at though that turns me on. Wink

-Aaron

Those two statements are rather contradictory. You sure have a lot to say for an freshman ROTC cadet. Your job as an AS100 should be to learn as much as you can about the air force and officership, and get ready for field training. Worrying about what job you are or aren't going to do is not what you should be doing right now. You won't enter UPT knowing what aircraft you are going to fly, I started UPT with 32 people in my class, and 2 of us are flying Vipers. 1 is flying Eagles. That's all the fighters. Some advice from someone who was not too long ago where you are, and currently does what you want to do: Throttle back, keep your eyes and ears open, and your mouth shut as long as possible.

*Cross posted in this thread*

STBYGAIN, thats as always for pointing out im a @#$@ up when I am.

-Aaron

Active Member Joined: Nov 29, 2004 - 01:40 PM Posts: 146

I just got some new numbers for this Force Shaping Board today. In my Career Field there are 45 CGOs who are currently at risk, and 25 still need to seperate. So aparently, in the time between now and when the last set of numbers were published, someone chose to get out.

Send me a PM if you want to know about a specific career field in the 2002 or 2003 year groups.

Sorry to revive an old thread, but it's December, and I'm already into college, more or less denied by the AF Academy(looks like either VMI or Embry-Riddle at this point)

How long is this supposed to last? Will they still be downsizing in 4 years? Would it be best to try the Marines? I know they can guarantee a pilot slot before you commission, and I wouldn't have to worry about losing my job as much.

Active Member Joined: Nov 29, 2004 - 01:40 PM Posts: 146

The impression I got from the briefing about all of this Force Shaping is that it will last as long as it takes to get everything where it needs to be.

But seeing as how this is the second time in recent memory that something like this has happened, it will most likely happen again in the future. The major difference this time, is that there is no carrot attached to the stick with which they are trying to get us to get out of the Air Force with.

Dammerung wrote:

Sorry to revive an old thread, but it's December, and I'm already into college, more or less denied by the AF Academy(looks like either VMI or Embry-Riddle at this point)

How long is this supposed to last? Will they still be downsizing in 4 years? Would it be best to try the Marines? I know they can guarantee a pilot slot before you commission, and I wouldn't have to worry about losing my job as much.

Hard to say. This latest event woke some people up. A general officer watching a PowerPoint slide on manning levels might be asking a few more questions these days to their manning people so they can make better decisions. They have sons and daughters wanting to get in too and don't want the system goofed up any worse than you do.

Active Member Joined: Nov 29, 2004 - 01:40 PM Posts: 146

Well, lets face it. The Air Force is "Transforming."

The event you speak of was Congress telling the Air Force that "sure you can have all of those wonderful people, but you have to actually pay the bill now."

This whole thing confuses me though. When I talked to my Functional Manager at the begining of this, he said that he couldn't even fill all of his "must fill" positions Air Force wide with the then current (September 2005) manning.

In my career field there is a 47% chance of retention. I am trying to keep a positive outlook on all of this afterall. But I am also starting to ramp up my search for employment outside of the Air Force. I'll even be taking TAPS (Transition Assistance Program) pretty soon. I would very much like to be allowed to make Captain some day, but if thats not what the Air Force needs, then so be it.

Anyone know of someone or company who needs a munitions expert, or failing that, someone who would be a great pilot? Thumb

Active Member Joined: Nov 29, 2004 - 01:40 PM Posts: 146

Today was something of a big day across the Air Force.

Today was the day that the RRFs (Retention Recommendation Form) had to be delivered to the Lieutenants who might get force shaped. So now we all know where we stand.

Interesting point of fact, every First Lieutenant in the Air Force who is eligible and not a flyer, has now been Stratified. For better or worse.

I can finally see the blessing in disguise for having to leave Aviano. My ranking here was much better than it could have been there.

Now that everyone knows where they stand, I think we will probably see a good number more CGOs choosing to get out on their own. And that only makes the chances of staying even better.

Still shopping for an outside job though. Perhaps Booz Allen Hamilton?

Forum: Air Force Life

Company Grade Officer downsizing