pay question

[Raptor2216]

I have searched the entire forum but I wasn't able to find the answer to my question so i'm just going to ask. I know that base pay for someone in my situation(3yrs PLC, comissioning sep 1st 05) is about $2900/mo.

Now, what I don't know is any additional pay on top of that amount that will be granted to me once i'm at TBS and beyond. I understand that there is flight pay and such once i'm flying but I don't know the exact amount that entails.

So basicaly, I'd like for those who have been there and done it to give me a rough idea of exactly how much I'l be making per month once I hit TBS and then again when I get to Pcola. Keep in mind I have 3 years of PLC and no, I did not take the college money. Also, how is the rent out in P-cola and is it easy/hard to find a spot to live on base? I just need some rough estimates of how much I'll be making.

 

[skidkid]

You can look around at www.dfas.mil. If you are single at TBS you will recieve subsistance allowance (about 150 bucks or so tax free) each month.
Once in Pcola you will recieve BAH not sure the rate but someone there should be able to tell you. As a 2ndLt you will be able to live comfortably with a roomate as a single guy or do ok as a married guy if your wife works you will be fine.
If you are worried about money get a house with 3 or four guys and that helps on rent utiliites and makes having parties easier. The gouge is anything that says pay (base pay, flight pay etc) is taxed. allowances (susbsistnace, housing) is all tax free.

Ok Ill turn it over to the first 2ndLt who wanders by to give you the latest info

 

[VarmintShooter]

Try this ... you can put in all of your info ... they'll start the Aviation Incentive Pay when you show up at Primary.

http://ngaaz.org/Input_Form_AD.aspx

 

[MNU-OCS]

Is it better to NOT take the college money if you dont need it?

 

[gyrene]

Taking the college money resets your pay entry base date (PEBD). This in turn changes the number of years you've been in service by giving you a more recent PEBD (i'm not sure how recent as i never took the money). depending on how long you've been in service (ie when you went to OCS during college summers) determines how much money you make. See above for the website link to DFAS. they've got the pay amounts according to rank and time in service.
In short, if you've only been in for a little while take the money. If you've been in for a while don't take the money. In my case (and i didn't know when i didn't take the money) i saved almost 4 years on my PEBD. this now means i make a lot more money than those with earlier PEBDs.
I know it's a bit confusing, I never understood it when i was in college. Hope this helps.

BAH in Pcola for 0-1 is a little over $700. it's more than enough to live comfortably down there.

 

[VAmookie]

anybody want to give a general take home $$$ for a single guy at TBS

 

[KBayDog]

http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/showpost.php?p=123710&postcount=3

 

[Trackguy]

I have a question about special pays. Does one only get aviation special pay if they are actually flying or does the pay come with having wings. For instance say your an 0-5 or O-6 and your pretty much put into an administrative place will you still get flight pay? Or will it be voided.

 

[skidkid]

You still get it if you made your fly gates. we could spend years talking about this but the long of the short is if you flew enough you get flight pay continuously. If you did not fly enough you get flight pay when in a flying tour. Moral of the story is dont leave the cockpit much

 

[KBayDog]

Moral of the story is dont leave the cockpit much

Hahaha...wait - you're serious?

So let me ask you, skidkid, Career Planner to the Stars:

Let's just say that I had, oh, 9 years or so until retirement after winging. I'm not looking to make General or anything - just to fly the best I can with whatever the Corps decides I should fly, and always support our ground bretheren.

Is there a good career path I could take that would keep me in the cockpit more often than not? Or are all aviators supposed to go down the same road, regardless of situation - the school, b-billet road?

 

[skidkid]

You will have some control over your career path and you will be at the mercy of those placed above you to some extent. all the time in flight school counts as DIFOP (flying time) so by the time you finished flight school, the RAG and got to your fleet squadron you have about 2-3 years of flight time. Figure your first squadorn tour will be between 3-6 years. If you get six then you are at 9 total and have made your 8years out fo the first 12 (I believe this covers commisioned service only) and therefore made your gate. If you go do something like a FAC tour at the 3-4 year in the squadron mark just make sure you get a flying tour on the back side(Flt school, RAG, fleet squadron(sets you up for success as far as WTI), C-12s(jsut about a career dead end) etc.) most monitors will give priority to guys coming off DIFDEN(not flying) orders. If you want to be a squadron CO WTI is a huge ticket to punch(not a show stopper but close), FAC is also very big wicket to hit(helps a lot but not essential). As a Major you can do a staff tour, which sets your up for success or fly whch sets you up for hapiness. If I had nine years enlisted I would see how I liked the squadorn life and do 3-5 years and do a FAC tour if I wanted to continue beyond 20 or go to flight school or the rAG is I wanted to still contribute but enjoy my last few years.

The bottom line is try to do what you think will make you happy, if you chase ticket punches you may still end up not a CO/ COL/ GEneral etc and have spent a miserable few years. If you do waht you think will make you happy and do well the career will take care of its self, if it doesnt work out at least you ahd fun and some great memeories. Remember when one Captain describes another Captain as "That guy will eb a General someday" it is not a compliment.

 

[gyrene]

how do test pilot school, foreign exchanges and going back to school to get a masters all stack up in terms of having fun and benefiting your career (to make a CO)??

 

[d_bossart]

If you are a single 0-1 with 3 years (PLC), you will get paid about $2240 a month after taxes at TBS. That adds up to a lot of Chinese Buffets.