How to get TAD to a squadron while in A-Pool?

[Jr KLR]

Hello all,

I will be going off to OCS soon with a pilot slot and was curious about getting a TAD while waiting between OCS and API.

1) First of all, what does TAD stand for? From my understanding it's when you get flight management's approval to leave the state to do a stash job.

2) How do I get a hold of a squadron to see if it is a possibility that I can do a stash job with them. Who would I need to talk to in that squadron?

3) Are they still not allowing aviators to go back to their hometown and help with recruiting?

4) Are they even letting aviators do a TAD these days? Anyone with recent experience?

Thanks a lot for any help. I know it is early for me to be concerned with this, but it is most likely in my near future and I need to make plans on whether or not I will be near my loved ones.

 

[SteveG75]

My $0.02 worth.

TAD stands for "Temporary Additional Duty". Basically going somewhere and doing something outside of your normal job.

Now, I haven't been in P'Cola in 15 years but I would not expect TAD between OCS and API for several reasons:

1) TAD costs money. If you leave the local area, they have to pay you. I just made $476 for a two week trip to VA (above costs). There is such a thing as no-cost TAD which means you pay all expenses. Not a good deal unless you are doing a cross country and really want to go somewhere.

2) How long is the A-Pool? Sounds like a couple of months. You are better off studying and enjoying life. Plus, if someone gets sick and can't start, they may just grab the next guy hanging around.

Like I said, just my $0.02. Expect some of the younger pups (in P'Cola now) to chime in.

 

[zippy]

Agreed.

Probably won't happen. The wait doesn't seem that long between OCS and API (maybe a few months). Yes, they could send you no cost, but that still would require them to do some additional paperwork (I wouldn't count on them doing that for you). You'll see that API isn't the most effectively managed entity- lotsa waitinig, then one random day you get a phone call saying your going to be classing up on that following Friday. It will be pretty tough to do that if your out of state.

For stash jobs on base- perhaps try to get the Blues (appearently they get one every now and then), or SAR unit. But then again don't count on doing much more then phone or in person mustering every morning and perhaps working a stash job in NASC a few days a week, or standing watch.

 

[Steve Wilkins]

Two things would have to happen. The command you'd be leaving (NASC) would have to allow you to go TAD and the command you'd be going to (wherever that may be) would have to agree to receive you. Very unlikely that a command is going to want to take on an added burden of recieving someone TAD to their squadron/command who has pretty little training. Rather than helping them out, you would most likely be an added burden. I'm not saying this to be mean. It's just a fact of life. Most commands (and especially any worth going to) are busy. They aren't going to have time to stop what they're doing to show you around.

I know you're probably itching to get started. It'll all come in due course. Trust me.

 

[litreofcola]

I would just enjoy the time off because you are gonna wish you had it back once you start training.

 

[NeoCortex]

not going to happen, their classing people up fast from A-Pool

 

[Jr KLR]

Thanks for the replys.

It sounds like the wait time is starting to get shorter, and I dont start OCS until January so maybe it will be even shorter by then (hopefully not longer). I've just heard about Ensigns getting cool jobs like in RAG squadrons and getting stick time. I guess those days are over.

I will probably just take 30 days leave after OCS to be with the family/girl (I have like 80 days accumulated from BDCP). Hopefully the wait in P'cola wont be tremendously longer after that.

Either way I'm done worrying about this for now, it seems like the wait times keep changing as usual, so I'll just cross my fingers.

 

[NeoCortex]

I've seen it go either way trying to get leave out of OCS. Some people got it, some didn't. You can try to go OHARP, but even that was cancelled when I was there. Don't worry about what your going to do AFTER OCS, just go and get through it.

 

[Red2]

Thanks for the replys.
I've just heard about Ensigns getting cool jobs like in RAG squadrons and getting stick time. I guess those days are over.

I think that is more for ROTC and Academy guys. Some people are commissioned with orders to report to API in 5-6 months so they are stashed at their unit/Annapolis for that time. So instead of hanging around for 5-6 months doing nothing, they try to get a stash job with a squadron. For OCS, they are already down in Pcola so they just need to walk across the street to start A-pool.