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.
