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Please do not hold out, I want the Nitty Grity and the Shiny.

I am currently an active duty E-6 in the Navy and my enlistment is up in July. I am considering leaving the Navy and joing the Air Force/ Air National Guard. My only interest is active, I have no interest in the 1 weekend thing.

I am very interested in the mundane details. My current job is Phones, computers, etc... I would be willing to re-train, especially if there is a bonus involved!

I would rather talk to you guys before I talk to a recruiter.

Thanks!

Branden

It's probably pretty similar to the Navy. Everything depends on what your job is. Everything. There are blue collar and white collar jobs, at least thats the way the atmosphere is.
Pros- you already have (or at least know about) alot of them I assume
Cons- ditto

Nitty gritty - maintainers work 12's religiously, work weekends, outside in the blazing sun/freezing cold, get paid the same as the losers handing out towels in the gym, and it all rolls downhill, and even as an E-6, there's more than enough to roll onto you.

Shiny - the people. You spend 12+ hours a day with the guys you work with, then hang out with them on the weekends and if you have roomates, see them whenever you're not asleep.

What do you say are the good/bad parts of the Navy? What kind of changes do you think there would be? what changes are you willing to make? Not to make?


Liberalism is a mental disorder.

Sprucan, I would suggest contacting a AF recruter before makeing the decision to jump. The reason I say that is I work with a couple of ex-sailors who where thinking of going back in (as AF) and where told that they weren't taking prior military at this time.

As for a comparison of the branches, well the best thing I can think of is we don't go out on a ship.

Faugh ah Ballaugh -Clear The Way

Visit <a href="http://www.flightchief.com">FlightChief Aviation</a>

_________________


Faugh ah Ballaugh ~ Clear the Way

Not taking prior service at this time?

WTF?

We are at war?

It's no wonder we're losing.


<img src="http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b343/m21sniper/RecoverAgentWIDEsmall.jpg" border=0>
<font color=yellow><i><b>"US Snipers...providing surgical strikes since 1776"</b></i></font id=yellow>

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Not taking prior service at this time?

WTF?

We are at war?

It's no wonder we're losing.


<img src="http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b343/m21sniper/RecoverAgentWIDEsmall.jpg" border=0>
<font color=yellow><i><b>"US Snipers...providing surgical strikes since 1776"</b></i></font id=yellow>
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>


Yes we are at war however he is right. Prior service is not welcome at this time in the AF. As a matter of fact the AF is currently undergoing a Force Shaping, cutting 40,000 people from the AF. Our Wing Commnader just imformed us Thursday that we at Shaw are going to take a hit of 400 from the Maintenace Group. The AF is so desperate to get rid of people that they are waiving Active Duty Service Commitments, and forcing out anyone with UIF or NJP suspended busts by 1 March o7. Also the AF is touting the Blue to Green program really hard.

So having said all of that I will say this, please, please see a AF recruiter before deciding to leave the Navy. Joining the AF is not a giving in these times of plenty for the AF.

Fender

"Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it."
George Bernard Shaw

More info:


Oct. 18, 2006
Release No. 086

AF initiates date of separation rollback for enlisted Airmen

RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- In an effort to maintain a quality enlisted force and meet mandated end strength the Air Force will accelerate the date of separation for certain Airmen based on their years of service and reenlistment eligibility or assignment availability codes.

Under DOS Rollback, Airmen who will have less than 14 years of total active federal service as of March 15 or more than 20 years service as of March 31 will have to separate or retire if they have the following codes assigned as of Oct. 30. However, commanders may lift codes 2X, 4H, and 4I, to retain members on active duty.

2X Denied reenlistment
3D Declined permanent change of station retainability (commanders may not change)
3E Declined training (commanders may not change)
4H Serving suspended punishment pursuant to Article 15
4I Serving on a control roster
AAC09 Airman declined to extend/reenlist for retainability for PCS/temporary duty (commanders may not change)
AAC10 Denied reenlistment

Airmen with these codes will be separated March 15 or retired April 1. Retirement eligible Airmen will be afforded the opportunity to voluntarily retire via the online process through the virtual Military Personnel Flight. The requested retirement date must be no later than April 1.

Airmen separated or retired under the DOS Rollback are authorized transition assistance. Those separated with more than six years total active federal service are eligible for one-half the amount of involuntary separation pay but must sign an Individual Ready Reserve Agreement.

For more in-depth information about the DOS Rollback program to include eligibility criteria visit the Air Force Personnel Center's Force Shaping Web site at http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/retsep/ ... /shape.htm.



Fender

"Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it."
George Bernard Shaw

And even more info.

http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/retsep/ ... 8,34,Slide 34

Fender

"Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it."
George Bernard Shaw

Gee Whiz, you'd think they would of learned from the other time.?
They want "ARMY MEN!" but like I read that one article
"Why the F! would I give-up my Pay grade go back thru basic(I under stand Advance Weapons School)and get myself BUSTED DOWN 2 GRADES?
NO! you just let me Keep my pay Grade,put me thru training and if I cant hack it in lets say "6 months" then you can drop me a grade.

Who in the Hell wants to pound ground after 10+ years and get busted down in pay. No one I know.

Goose

LIVE FREE OR DIE!

_________________
\"Live Free Or Die\"

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Gee Whiz, you'd think they would of learned from the other time.?
They want "ARMY MEN!" but like I read that one article
"Why the F! would I give-up my Pay grade go back thru basic(I under stand Advance Weapons School)and get myself BUSTED DOWN 2 GRADES?
NO! you just let me Keep my pay Grade,put me thru training and if I cant hack it in lets say "6 months" then you can drop me a grade.

Who in the Hell wants to pound ground after 10+ years and get busted down in pay. No one I know.

Goose

LIVE FREE OR DIE!




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Goose,
The people going Blue to Green are those that can't get a CJR or can't reenlist for some other reason. The AF must cut 40K positions to meet end strenght goals set by congress. Right now things are not that great in the AF. Doing more with less is more than just a saying, it is a way of life for the Maintenace troop on the line.

This is an example of how bad it is here. We have not, colectively as a wing, met our flying hour contract or sortie goal since May. We finally did in Oct. We have not met the ACC FMC rate of 82% since about the same time, our best effort was a 78%, also in Oct. Add in we lost the Guard Unit that was flying those specail misions for us and we now have to cover as well. Now cut 400 maintainers from the already thin ranks, add more aviators that need all kinds of training and what do you think is going to happen? See my point?

Fender

"Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it."
George Bernard Shaw

I you ever want a fun filled job in 3E9X1 Emergency Management and CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological & Nuclear) I have all the info you could want. <img src=icon_smile_8ball.gif border=0 align=middle> We really need mid level NCO's badly. I can only do so much. <img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle>

"Raidest the blue skies, a link from the past to the future; into the sheltering arms of our Protector. The flames of hatred scorch the earth, igniting Gaia's funeral pyre." Ace Combat 4

Edited by - Lord Soman on Nov 12 2006 22:24

_________________
\"Raidest the blue skies, a link from the past to the future; into the sheltering arms of our Protector. The flames of hatred scorch the earth, igniting Gaia's funeral pyre.\" Ace Combat 4

I can understand maybe "Weeding out the Riff-raff" but, The Rummy Idea "More with less" doesnt work with Aircraft Maintance.

You need at a Min. 2 CrewChiefs per jet, Then Engine troops,Hydro,Electric,Avonics,Com/Nav. CrewChiefs can do A/R I knew how to rig flight controls(most of the time we did it anyway you couldnt find A/R)

If their going to get rid of Folks, start at Wing and work their way down. Then go to the Maintance Complex alot of jobs are "Made to Order"but saty out of the AMU's

But an AMU needs 210 people to support 28 A-10's . Thats the Barebones Fact! They determined it in 88 with "Cornet Warrior III"

Thats no back shop,only AMU personel. Flying every jet everyday 5 sorties with Live 500lbs bombs and a FOL that was manned by some of the 210 in that number for 30 days straight.
We finished with a 92% FMC rate and only had 2 broke jets (1 Canx Bird) 24 is the USAF's standard.(we had 4 extra jets which is what your allowed for ABD loses.

So their going aganist their own findings,same in the GULF, you think that we could of produced the sortie rates we did with this kind of "CUTS"?

Now before anyone gets upset, GW1 was a totally differant war when it comes to the A-10.
148 A-10's 2 FOL's 7 Squadrons Fully Depolyed working around the Clock I'm telling you you get Burned out after about day 35 and You Guys doing it now maybe without "148" A-10'S 22 Jets making 5 sorties a day with Full anti-Tank loads still , stillBust your ASS.

The USAF went "Heavy" on the Maintance numbers too, cutting back on Admin.

So their screwing theirselfs again.

Travis in the 602 OMS which I was in had 10 C-141's plus you took turns with the other section handling Transit Birds.
I had 50 people on anyone day except weekends which we were maybe 25-30 because the AFRTS made-up 20 of that 50.
Mids when they came out with the SSB "and 10 of us on MIDS E-5's left) all within 30 days " I got a call about 3 months later from "Woody" and he said "Its A Nightmare"! They lost 2 MED-EVAC missions plus had a Jet "Burn down(Blew-up)" sitting on alert.

That was 4 CrewChiefs,2 Hydro,4 engine troops on one shift, thats not including the other 2 shifts which lost about the same.


So its not a good thing, it's Stupid,and really you can call it
"Hollow forces" looks good on paper but Figures Lie and Lairs Figure.

Goose

LIVE FREE OR DIE!

_________________
\"Live Free Or Die\"

Damn, and I thought the Navy reductions were hairbrained! The AF has it BAD!

Ok, so Regular Air Force is probably out of the question. What is your take on the Air National Guard? Do they look to be going in the same direction, or is it totally different by state?

I have not looked into this due to being busy for the last coupla months, but I am finding it somewhat difficult to sort through the data.

Thanks for all the help!

Branden

Sprucan,

I'm not sure on how the Guard or Reserve components operate but my suggestion would be if you know where you would like to be assigned to try contacting that unit directly.

_________________


Faugh ah Ballaugh ~ Clear the Way

LH, is probably right, you should find an ANG or AFRTS opening and get intouch with the unit.
You could always do what Lord Soman said, if you have experience in that work you could get across.

My Nephew is getting out now, He is a Torpedo/Gunners mate on P-3's in Misawa,
tried to go to Iraq , was starting his training for the tour, sent back to Misawa, his time was coming up on re-assignment gota place on missile Frigates then a Slot on the USS Reagan ,but due to Navy cut backs and the BULLSHIT he told me they stopped his orders to the USS Reagan , told him there's no room \"at the inn\" due to cut backs and he should join the Army with his Skills as a Gunners Mate.
He told them to \"NO\" so he's coming home next month on terminal leave , but the kicker is he told me the Illinois Guard has been in touch, plus the Reserves so he figures he'll be in the Army anyway.

What a GAGGLE and he REALLY WANTED THE USS REAGAN BAD!

Goose

That is a bunch of crap, he probably got caught up in the Perform to Serve BS that almost got me. I hate having to put certain vital pars of my career in other peoples (Career Counselors) hands, but what are you going to do?

My experiance with the reserves leads me to wave people off, if you know what I mean. It is a lot of the same chickenshit packed into 2 days a month. I do not know how many of our Drill Res do the E-Learning, Admim, OJT, etc... after they get done with their civilian job but it is a lot.

The oddest thing is that most of the vets wish they would have never left active duty and want to retun. Quite a few of the Non Prior Service people want to go active, as well.

I can not speak about the Army directly, but 18 - 24 month deployments, whew! I have heard the the Army is taking care of our Dirt Sailors better than the Navy, though.

Branden