Crossing the finish line... running, walking or crawling... (Reserve Retirement Process)

[Chida]

I got out of regAF at 10 yrs never intending to join the reserve. My first civilian job offer, that I thought was in the bag, fell thru and the only semi-immediate job prospect was the reserve, so I signed up.
Had various low paying jobs along the way, so I stayed gettin money. By the time I got my final high-paying job I only had 3 yrs to get to retirement, didn’t need the income anymore, so went IRR.
It was always a means to an end: at first just the extra pay, then securing the eventual pension.

 

[wink]

For over 10 years commuted to drill, first 360 miles to San Diego, then 5300 to London. Obviously took time from the family. I just told the kids it was so they would be even less likely to have to take care of me in retirement. It was mostly rewarding and diversified my retirement. YMMV. I only wish my SELRES flying gig hadn't become a victim of peace in the early 90s.

 

[taxi1]

I stayed in until they kicked me out.

Years where I got paid for half the hours worked, but also plenty of times where Saturday was spent figuring out what to do Saturday night and Sunday was spent recovering.

Favorite reserve quote, don’t yell at me, I’ve already quit once.

 

[Chida]

I knew a guy that stayed in bc every time he tried to retire got pissed off at the process. Then he found it easier to get msd waivers than retiring. Madness

 

[snake020]

Interesting, the folks I knew in who stayed past their minimum TIG enjoyed the pay and bennies and/or just plain enjoyed it. I generally saw three types of folks who retired from the reserves to include those that did the min and bolted, those that did it until they didn't like it or had just reached their limit then there were those like me who stayed to the bitter end. For me the the pain was far outweighed by not only the 'fun' but also the pay, that helped enormously the last 6-7 years I was in even when not including my last MOB.

There was a time about five years ago where I was really enjoying it and had a blast with what I was able to do on ADOS assignments. If you'd asked me then how much time I had left, I would have said indefinite and I'm planning on staying past 20.

Since then it's been mostly fighting with NRCs over rudimentary things, ATs that had irregular and stressful schedules where I was just there for body count on the JMD, and too much time and money spent on travel not adding value to anything. Those recent experiences made it easy to hang it up.