I found out earlier this week what my complete benefit package is for being involuntarily separated.

- half separation pay (severance pay)
- 6 months of medical coverage
- 2 year ID card holder for limited base privileges.
- Post 9/11 GI bill
- VA disability benefits (if I qualify. I dont know if I'm disabled)
- 20 day permissive TDY...free leave!
- 34 days of terminal leave
- I'm also being paid to move from Phoenix to northern California, WOOT. I get my money figures for that next tuesday.

Terminal leave means that I will still be in the Air Force until June 30th but I wont have any more military responsibilities after May 27th. May 27th is when I do my final paperwork to officially leave the local Luke AFB area. My last day I have to go to work is May 7th, I'm stoked. Totally just gonna chill for 20 days and pack my stuff so I can be ready to drive home June 2nd.

Yeah, before I was pretty bummed about getting forced out. I like the BS these clowns put us through but looking back, all this abuse is not worth it. I am still looking for a replacement job but havent been phoned back. I am putting in for government contract positions that are located in the middle east and one is in Antarctica! I found out that with my skills and training I could land a job with a starting pay of 22 to 26 an hour for stateside positions...Not a whole lot of money but its better than a dead end job. Currently, I dont even have a Associates degree but I am only 6 credit hours from being done. I'm lazy but I will attempt to pass some CLEP exams to knock those final credits out.

My debt to income ratio is horrid. This is what has me stressed the most. I dont want to take a hit on my credit report because that will definitely drop me into the 600 point range. My credit report has gone from 760 to 725 since July last year. Verizon seems to take their time charging my checking account and the bill has been paid late by 1 day for the past 6 months. Those late payments just hit my credit report just last month. My car loan has been doing damage to my report as well. I can only assume that is because my income sucks ***.

My fall back plan is to start school in August at San Jose CC and attend their Biomedical Technician program as some of my current credit hours for my applied science degree will transfer over. My GI bill will give me 2100 bucks a month for living expenses up to 1 grand for school supplies and on top of all of that pay the school directly.

I have a thought out plan and I'm not sure which direction I will go but not being affiliated with the Air Force puts a smile on my face. All I see in the AF news right now is planes being retired and tenure personal being forced out. All of this is happening so they can renew the fleet of aging aircraft. Thats my own personal view but our leaders will blame the current economy on why retention levels are so high. Perfect scapegoat.

 

I guess the good side of it is you're moving to San Jose. It's beautiful up there. I lived there for 5 years and loved every minute of it. I hope you're able to find a steady job, though. Keep us updated on how it goes.

 

HEYYY my friend just got honorably discharged!! His separation date is june 30th as well!

He was enlisted and he said that they had no need for enlisted and that they wanted officers, and if he got a bachelors degree they would accept him back into the officer program, considering that there was a spot on his graduation date.

He was bummed about it at first, but then hes like wait i can go back to school! So he wasnt soo bad.

 

Looks like you got some things figured out. You'll end up on top when all is said and done. Plus on the bright side, you get to leave shitty Arizona and come back to Cali.

 

Kinda sucks dude. But yeah take advantage of the GI bill. I dont know how Ive done it but I retained my stripes. I actually just sewed on Sra. So yay!

My buddy is getting rolledback. But out of Malmstrom...thats a pretty amazing thing. lol

Good Luck

 

Im a little apprehensive about moving to San Jose. I see rooms for rent in the 500-700 dollar range The 500 dollar rooms are like 10'X10' w/limited common area use, LOL. Totally not looking forward to put these people on interview to see if they fit my personality.

Im looking forward to this job fair now that I see Lockheed Martin will be here and they have 10 positions open for my trained job. None are in California though

I know what you mean about AZ...Its like Messico over here.

 

DAMMMMM work for Lockheed Martin!!

 

Not as awsome as you might think. Contract work is not nearly as fun as you might think. Goverment Civilian Service is where its at.

 

I got this email yesterday.

This information will be good until the end of the day Wednesday May 12, 2010. There are two components to the assessment:

· Part One is the test itself. Once you start the assessment, you will have 45 minutes to complete it. Once started, you cannot restart or come back and complete it later.

· Part Two is the questionnaire. There is no time limit to this part so please be as detailed as possible.

· Both parts need to be completed for consideration.



The Electronic Theory Assessment and online questionnaire weigh heavily in the interview process. The assessment is used to determine your resident knowledge of basic electronics and should not require the use of reference material or a calculator. The assessment must be passed in order to be brought in for the face to face interview. If invited for an in person interview, we will review the assessment questions with you along with related subjects. Please be as detailed you can when completing the online questionnaire since it is part of the packet reviewed by our hiring team.

I need to review my training courses to brush up on my electrical theory. A few more steps before I get thrown in another pool for a possible interview.

The company is General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. I put in for a Avionics technician slot that supports MQ9 Predators.

 

I'm out and dont have a job. I'm not up too much at all really. I parked my mustang in a relatives backyard. It's sitting under a cover thats under a tree and completely out of sight. I doubt I will drive it anytime soon. I'm waiting for some documents so I can start my unemployment benefits. Between unemployment and my GI Bill housing payments I will be able to save enough money to support myself for the next 2 years. I will be doing the school thing until a badass job opportunity comes my way.


I start school on July 6th. I have a easy schedule especially since DeVry has a A&B semester. 4 classes total but only focusing on 2 at a time. Nothing that I shouldnt be able to handle.

 

Good to see you're doing well. I hope the school thing works out for ya.

 

Thanks bro...if I remember correct you are deployed so be safe wherever you are.

I havent got a haircut in almost 2 months...kind of weird but I will say its not a good look on me. Still holding out though.

 

I haven't left yet. My in place date is in about 2 weeks. Can't wait to get this over with so I can get back.

Lol... I could only imagine how different it seems to let your hair grow however you want and nobody care about how long it is.

 

I got kicked outa the air force cause I did a low flight FLY BY of the watch tower....Upside down...

 

I've been thinking about looking into the Air Force Officer Training. I'll have a Bachelors of Science after December. I don't know anything about it at this point. I guess it's just a matter of finding a recuiter to talk to, I have no idea what the kind of uses the Air Force would have for me.

The reason I've been thinking about it is becuase I have a buddy who recently went in to the Marines, still in boot due to a broken leg, but he has a B.S. and I think they plan for him to some kind of nice chemical type or work. He didn't do any kind of Officer training stuff.

 

grow the biggest beard you can, just because you can now.

 

I think I went about 3 weeks and had to cut it down....none trimmed beard definitely not a good look.

 

pfft the bum look is all the rage man.

 

Sooooo...guess what.

I to am getting rolled back...lost Sra. and got a 15 for being 8 minutes late on a day we werent supposed to come in, and I gave my sup. warning that I would be late due to uniform not dry yet.

Yeah, the AF is gay right now...DON'T COME IN!

 

wow dude I am really sorry to hear that. Yeah once they decide to get rid of you, they usually treat you like trash. Make sure all your ducks are in a row and dont let them push you over. You still have rights. Also dont give them anymore reasons to punish you either.

 

There has to be something else there for you to get put under this rollback. Someone deny you re-enlistment, you have too much time in service for your rank or your on suspend bust status?

Kind of sucks to have the carpet pulled out from under you. If your 2nd term maybe you will get some money for being forced out like I did

The bright side I actually earn more money on unemployment and my GI Bill benefits than I did when I was a Staff Sgt

Things will work out so dont get hung up on it too much. The Air Force was my life and I didnt want to get out but I made some foolish mistakes that cost me a career. Now, I'm out and take 5 classes a semester livin life on easy street!

 

My backbone got into this one. They ask me for "my opinion" I give them my opinion.

Guess I'm to honest...