Brac affected pilots (reserve/guard)

[Vandal]

Ok my homebase of pittsburgh is scheduled to get the Axe...assuming it is on the final list in September, what happens to us pilots? Are we free agents that need to find a new unit? Do we lose our pilot slots? I figure they have spent 2 mil or so on me I doubt they want to lose that investment?

Just when I thought I had my next few years figured out...Anyone have any clue what I need to do or what the process is for aircrew?

 

[Skyboss]

If they kill off the bird, the slot is gone. If they move the bird, the slot goes with it.

 

[Herculeus]

So if someone signed up to stay in there hometown and they move they have to go with it.I know that the reserve unit at Luke is not happy about Florida.

 

[hindsight2020]

My 0.02 pesos on the matter.......

Well, as I understood it, the variable of importance is where the squadron goes, not where the airplane goes. This is my opinion based on talking to pilots who have gone thru this process.

For example, per the BRAC recommendations, the F-16 unit in Terre Haute IN lost their F-16's, which will be distributed among other Viper units. The pilots in this unit will NOT get a follow-on airframe, since the squadron will be disbanded. They are looking at seeking positions at other guard/Reserve units. Now, what skyboss pointed at is what COULD be a reasonable outcome, they COULD (and most likely) follow their old planes and seek positions in the receiptient units of their old birds. This would, AT BEST, be a courtesy and certainly not a guarantee. Their qualifications as pilots shouldn't give them too much trouble finding new home units, be them at the units who gained their old aircraft or other Viper units. But, it is NOT a function of whether the physical airplane gets sent to another unit or sent to the boneyard. Your personal situation will depend on what happens to your squadron, not your airplane. Your airplanes might get retired, only to be replaced with others (the case of Selfridge MI which I mention below) where the pilots won't move an inch unless they choose to transfer and not re-train to the -10.

On a different scenario, the OKC C-130 unit will have their -130H's scattered across several flying units but, as opposed to the Terre Haute squadron which did not have a follow-on assignment (de facto disband), this Wing will be blended to a Reserve Air Refueling Squadron in Tinker AFB. What this means for the OKC Herc pilots is that in their case they are looking at a nominal mission change from C-130's to KC-135's. They have the option of accepting the re-training into the new airframe at Tinker or seeking a transfer to other -130 units. That is somewhat of a better situation to be in.

Lastly, the scenario where the Wing is NOT disbanded and NOT moved but sees a mission change. This is a conventional mission change, such as the PR unit in '97 (F-16's to C-130s). I believe Selfridge MI is going thru the same scenario with this BRAC.... lost F-16's but gains A-10's...can't find the part where they talk about their heavy component, currently C-130's, can't remember if they kept them, lost them or exchange them, in the report. At any rate, that is yet a better situation in that you would have the locality variable fixed, and the options offered are the same as those in the previous scenario: re-train or transfer, their advantage being that their re-train would keep them in Selfridge if that is of importance in their personal lives. OKC and certainly Terre Haute, do not have the geographical advantage.

In the end, with the exception of units who only saw a gain (i.e no mission change and no net aircraft loss) it sucks for everybody, and that goes in varying degrees. As for Vandal's case, he will likely have folks at his unit help him relocate once he comes off the Rock, if the change comes that early, or more likely, help him relocate to a Herc unit once his home base goes kaput. I presume Pitt is not seeing a mission change, just disband, so it's just a transfer option for him when the time comes.

Aside from geographical relocations I don't see job losses for any current pilot or UPT dude in-training, or even those waiting start of training dates, so Vandal and the rest should be ok. This REALLY sucks for the folks outside the fence kicking pebbles (yours truly) who now have less units to send an app to.

 

[Vandal]

So our airplanes are supposed to be moved to Pope/Fort Bragg...does that mean I can choose to go there, or try and find another unit anywhere else?

 

[talondriver]

It's unfortunate that so many Guard/reserve units are affected by this round of BRAC. The good thing is it could mean more opportunity for a lot of you who are looking for ANG/reserve pilot positions to be considered if a unit is converting to another jet.

Why you ask?

Many of the older pilots may not want to go through (or may not have a choice) a conversion course but would rather take the retirement. some pilots may want to move to a unit that flies their current MWS. Either way, a slot may go unfilled for a nano-second which gives the unknown a chance. It's happened.

 

[hindsight2020]

Vandal,

From my understanding of the process, you don't get to choose anything in particular. There will be some handshaking and some dealing to be done in order for you to get with another unit, you shouldn't have a problem since you'll be current in the aircraft by the time this rolls around on your base. What I suggested in my previous post was that there is no entitlement that says you're in any way alloted your old plane in the new recipient unit. Take the KYANG example, they gained -130's from the TN unit (Nashville) and that compensates for a recent loss of their own 130's so in essence they will NOW be at 100% since they technically had surplus pilot and support manning. So it would be unlikely that the Nashville crew would be able to pick up their old planes by asking to be inducted in Louisville. But like I said, if I were in your shoes I wouldn't be worrying one bit, you're set, you'll get a plane somewhere no doubt about it.

Talon Driver,

I totally see your point, fighter-to-something-else conversions tend to be nasty on morale and good for the UPT hopeful, the most prominent right now is the NY UAV thing. I know for sure no Viper driver there is going to convert so they are looking at a major ops overhaul when the time comes..... yet on the same token I don't see many people tripping over that slot.

The biggest thing with this BRAC round is that a LOT of -16 units got hit. Thats a lot of Viper drivers shuffling around and I am inclined to say that the current displaced drivers will be willing to relocate. You are correct in that the older fighter folks will more likely retire than shuffle around or (God forbid) transition into a heavy. However I didn't see many if ANY fighter-to-heavy proposed conversions, mission change that historically opens the UPT slot floodgates (since historically fighter dudes just don't cross-over). This BRAC round can be summarized by overall loss of units and no fighter-to-heavy conversion.

I tend to consider the overall shrinking of the pool of Guard units as having the most negative impact on the chances of the UPT hopeful. Whichever manning issues may arise out of the BRAC shuffle will be taken care of internally, plenty of displaced drivers will follow their airframes and settle, even accounting for the attrition losses (older folks retire and folks who don't want to relocate or re-train).


P.S. With all due respect to the current units affected, I do hope your prediction is correct and bears significance this time around, it is clear we are now dealing with a noticeably smaller Guard world, which is really adding insult to injury in a force as connection-driven as the Guard pilot world. I can safely say I have never met with so much blocking of access in any pursuit of my life than this "pilot slot" thing, it's so entrenched it's ridiculous, and BRAC is just the icing on the cake.

A year and a half ago I was confident I could get a Viper, nowadays I would bid the f%ckin' ops van if they'd put strobe lights on it..Jesus

 

[Herculeus]

It would suck if you take a pilot slot in your hometown and have to move because they closed your base.I guess you could commute since you get paid for it.

 

[CHQ Pilot]

In my UPT class we have three Guard guys and they all got hit hard with the BRAC. All three have really strong ties to the location of their units. I know several more in training who are in the same position. I hope it works out for them and they get a timeline of what the future holds.

 

[AA717driver]

As a civilian and tax payer (and one who would have liked to have a guard slot) I'm wondering what the he!! the military is thinking.

The Guard has carried the load since the fall of the Soviet Union. Are these reductions a slap in the face of the ANG because the regular Air Force is jealous? I just can't figure why you would want to downsize such a vital component of the "total force".

Being from Indiana, it's interesting that they finally "got" the Terre Haute unit. Those guys were great (former instructor was in that unit) and they thumbed their noses at the hierarchy whenever they could. I guess they got paid back...

Good luck to all those displaced by this BRAC.TC