^I understand it is cut down, but I'd have to find the source on that, and I'm not really in the group that "should" know.

I do understand the concern on the pilot gig. That has to be the same concern at 12wks as it is at 16. The difference in the two timeframes shouldn't be a show stopper. I don't know what to tell you about keeping the job secure. I think I'd do some looking around to see if the state or another agency could mutual aid cover cover down on the slot for you to do military training - and federal LE agent training at that. That's a big boost for your agency at zero cost to them to train you. If you can have that all informally set up & bring it to your boss ready to put into action, I don't see why they couldn't save the position for you.

Let me ask you also, what do they do when you take vacation? They have another pilot, or would they have to get a commercial pilot thru the academy before he could start work?

Quote from: Flying Pig on August 21, 2008, 02:52:06 PM
Although my Deputy job is safe, nothing says they have to hold any special assignments for you.   I could come back and find someone else sitting in my seat!

I feel your pain on that one.  I'm having to give up my K9 slot and all they have to give me when I get back is street Deputy.

I really had to fight for that too.  I did my research and submitted my memo announcing my service dates and intentions to return along with details on military leave pay and using my vacation and holiday time.  They blew a gasket.

I was told that since I was volunteering and it was initial training that they didn't have to do anything and it was as I was resigning.  I had to research USERRA and the Texas Govt. Code to show them that any military service is covered whether it's voluntary, involuntary, training, or service.  The TX code also says that as a government LE employee they're required to pay me 15 days of military leave pay per federal fiscal year on top of that.

So, I won in the end but it was due to ignorance on their part.  I'm sure they love me now and I'll be stuck in a LE Deputy transportation spot in the jail or something when I get back.  So much for K9, but it's worth it.

I'm going to have to check how it applies to training versus actual deployment, but I know state employees still draw full-time pay while deployed at least. I know a buddy of mine was drawing full-time paramedic pay the whole 15 months he was gone to Iraq... to bad he came back & the wife already spent it all - make that ex-wife.

They'll come around, they always do. Are you working for Travis Co?

Quote from: jaybird512 on August 22, 2008, 05:44:22 AM

Quote from: Flying Pig on August 21, 2008, 02:52:06 PM
Although my Deputy job is safe, nothing says they have to hold any special assignments for you.   I could come back and find someone else sitting in my seat!

I feel your pain on that one.  I'm having to give up my K9 slot and all they have to give me when I get back is street Deputy.

I really had to fight for that too.  I did my research and submitted my memo announcing my service dates and intentions to return along with details on military leave pay and using my vacation and holiday time.  They blew a gasket.

I was told that since I was volunteering and it was initial training that they didn't have to do anything and it was as I was resigning.  I had to research USERRA and the Texas Govt. Code to show them that any military service is covered whether it's voluntary, involuntary, training, or service.  The TX code also says that as a government LE employee they're required to pay me 15 days of military leave pay per federal fiscal year on top of that.

So, I won in the end but it was due to ignorance on their part.  I'm sure they love me now and I'll be stuck in a LE Deputy transportation spot in the jail or something when I get back.  So much for K9, but it's worth it.

You can always switch to military LE K-9

Quote from: DNall on August 22, 2008, 09:37:07 PM
I'm going to have to check how it applies to training versus actual deployment, but I know state employees still draw full-time pay while deployed at least. I know a buddy of mine was drawing full-time paramedic pay the whole 15 months he was gone to Iraq... to bad he came back & the wife already spent it all - make that ex-wife.

They'll come around, they always do. Are you working for Travis Co?

I work for Williamson County, north Austin/Round Rock area.  As far as I know they only have to pay me 15 days then I get nothing.  My K9 Lieutenant is a CSM in the Guard, went to Bosnia for a year, and that's all he got.  I heard that perdiem is where you make it up though.

Quote from: afgeo4 on August 24, 2008, 03:35:50 AM

Quote from: jaybird512 on August 22, 2008, 05:44:22 AM

Quote from: Flying Pig on August 21, 2008, 02:52:06 PM
Although my Deputy job is safe, nothing says they have to hold any special assignments for you.   I could come back and find someone else sitting in my seat!

I feel your pain on that one.  I'm having to give up my K9 slot and all they have to give me when I get back is street Deputy.

I really had to fight for that too.  I did my research and submitted my memo announcing my service dates and intentions to return along with details on military leave pay and using my vacation and holiday time.  They blew a gasket.

I was told that since I was volunteering and it was initial training that they didn't have to do anything and it was as I was resigning.  I had to research USERRA and the Texas Govt. Code to show them that any military service is covered whether it's voluntary, involuntary, training, or service.  The TX code also says that as a government LE employee they're required to pay me 15 days of military leave pay per federal fiscal year on top of that.

So, I won in the end but it was due to ignorance on their part.  I'm sure they love me now and I'll be stuck in a LE Deputy transportation spot in the jail or something when I get back.  So much for K9, but it's worth it.

You can always switch to military LE K-9

I thought about it for about a second.  I've been doing cop stuff for 11 years, 8 of them in K9, I'm ready for a change, and I really want to fly.  Loadmaster is going to be a blast and a good change for a while.

Ok, I'm outta here.  I show up at Lackland at 7:30 tomorrow morning.  I'll see you guys after 31 October...

Good luck, sir!

...And I'm done.

BMT pretty much sucks and I was glad to get it out of the way. I graduated last week and now I'm at Tech School which is 100 times better. I just started Aircrew Fundamentals which rocks. The dorms are nice and other than a few rules and inspections it feels just like college.

Sweet!  Congratulations!

Quote from: jaybird512 on November 08, 2008, 04:30:51 AM
...And I'm done.

BMT pretty much sucks and I was glad to get it out of the way. I graduated last week and now I'm at Tech School which is 100 times better. I just started Aircrew Fundamentals which rocks. The dorms are nice and other than a few rules and inspections it feels just like college.

Congrats, Airman!

Quote from: jaybird512 on November 08, 2008, 04:30:51 AM
...And I'm done.

BMT pretty much sucks and I was glad to get it out of the way. I graduated last week and now I'm at Tech School which is 100 times better. I just started Aircrew Fundamentals which rocks. The dorms are nice and other than a few rules and inspections it feels just like college.

Yep, that's about how it works. I don't know what the rate of article 15s at AF tech school is versus Army AIT, but I have to imagine it's pretty high also.

I think they said about one a month in this squadron.  The biggest problem is underage drinking and intoxication for the most part.  I've realized since I've been here that I really don't miss being 18 years old too...

you lock up a bunch of young kids with no privileges/freedom or access to alcohol or the opposite sex, then let them loose all at once... yeah kinda like college. 

I'm assuming that tech school students are still under the graduated phase program, in which increased privileges are granted over time. First couple of weeks trainees are under Phase I, which is essentially full restriction to quarters. After 2-3 weeks, one goes to Phase II, in which trainees can leave the dorms but are restricted to base. After about 4 weeks, they enter Phase III, in which they can sign out to go off base and are essentially unrestricted. But for those who get caught 'phase busting', privileges get rolled back.

Yeah, it's kinda like that in three phases.  I just phased up so I was able to go to the BX and buy some pull-ups and big boy bedsheets last night.

The aircrew classes and environment are done on a fairly tough and mature level especially since more than half of the classes from what I've seen are prior service re-classifying into one of the aircrew AFSCs.  It's almost humorous leaving the schoolhouse, walking down the hill, and it how the environment turns into disneyland.

The classes and the job are awesome, I'm just ready to become operational and get out of the daycare.

Sorry, just had to vent a little.

Our Company had about a 10% Article 15 rate.  Alcohol and tobacco were the main culprits.  I wish our AIT was like the AF, they had it soooooo much better.

Quote from: RogueLeader on November 21, 2008, 02:11:42 AM
Our Company had about a 10% Article 15 rate.  Alcohol and tobacco were the main culprits.  I wish our AIT was like the AF, they had it soooooo much better.

Trust me, I've been to Army AIT and Air Fore Tech School.  Although Army AIT is "harder", the relaxed state of Air Force tech school does more harm than good.  I wished every day at AF tech school that they would ramp up the military discipline up to the Army level.  Mostly a bunch of unsupervised punks thinking they're bigger and badder than the next guy.

Army uses phases too. You have to if you really turned people lose after basic with all that pay saved up, they'd be broke with a criminal record & a paternity case inside the first couple weeks. You have to help them adjust back to the real world. TRADOC is pretty jacked up too though.

Quote from: RogueLeader on November 21, 2008, 02:11:42 AM
Our Company had about a 10% Article 15 rate.  Alcohol and tobacco were the main culprits.  I wish our AIT was like the AF, they had it soooooo much better.

I know when I went through Air Force Tech School that if you got an article 15 you could pretty much kiss the Air Force good bye, a "Failure To Adapt" discharge was in your very near future.

Usually if you did something stupid you just get nailed with weekend detail duty. This ensured you weren't going anywhere.
Usually a weekend or two shoveling/sweeping the sidewalks and such ensured you would be a little bit smarter next time.

Of course, if you did something stupid enough to warrant an Article 15 you usually got it and your exit from the Air Force was started.