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Return to active duty
- Thread starter Tickle
- Start date
Have you talked to a recruiter about this? Are you in the reserves? One time I had a recruiter explain to me that if you go longer than two years after resigning your commission, you have to start over i.e. start as an ENS.
Your question comes up once in a blue moon around here, would you mind posting the names of the applicable instructions? They would be a good reference for the future.
VAQ-209 at Andrews is looking for drilling reservists.
I haven't known anyone to go straight back to active duty. If you make it work be sure to give us the gouge for file. Best bet is to go to the reserves and get NATOPs qualified again, SAU or VAQ-209, then start maneuvering for active duty orders. That is the only way I have seen it work.
There are plenty of opportunities in the DC area for former ECMO's, I can tell you that from personal experience. Keep in mind VAQ-209, they are actively looking right now for people. Here is a link to a message their recently departed AIO, and member of this board, posted. Applications are due 16 May:
http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142206&highlight=vaq-209
If you have any questions, PM him and he would be more than willing to talk to you.
I know very few people first hand who have come back on active duty from time off, Schnugg is one on this board that did. He posted his experience recently and you can PM him as well, I am sure he would be willing to talk to you too. From what little I have seen, guys like that are generally cannon fodder for those that stayed in. But like I said, my experience is limited.
Tickle
Member
I will definitely take it on the chin my first set of orders. But if I can make it to a DH tour, it should come out in the wash. There might be an opportunity to plus up the SAU for about a year (I guess with a CAT IV syllabus it will be almost a year and a half) to help with the Growler (interesting name) transition. I would have to find gainful employment with a defense contractor on the Rock after that and keep flying part time with the SAU. Just keeping my fingers crossed and mind open.
I've know several and one is now a Rear Admiral (upper half) and the other became a CO. Depends on needs of the Navy (especially when year groups are sucking)
One word of warning to the OP; the three guys I know who returned were initially told that they would get back on a solid career track right after taking a hard-fill for the team (Kitty Hawk/Essex, etc). Only one of the three got back in the cockpit (C-12's in Oki) and none got a DH slot back in the days where there wasn't even an official screen.
The lesson as always - the Navy doesn't have hospitals for careers, only leper colonies. Be mentally prepared to take that hard job and not get a DH slot in return.
The lesson as always - the Navy doesn't have hospitals for careers, only leper colonies. Be mentally prepared to take that hard job and not get a DH slot in return.
MasterBates
Well-Known Member
Ooooh, I have a new location name now!
Tickle
Member
I definitely don't have room to write my own ticket after resigning. I will have to put PERS-43 on the top of my Christmas list and probably beg and plead for a squadron CO (and XO since he will end up with me) to take a chance on me. I'm hoping the fact that I am a Weapons School grad with #1 Fitreps will help sway the jury. I just know that I have a lot to offer the community both tactically and for retention. I plan on making it my unofficial mission to have honest dialogue with JOs planning on getting out.
It is hard to make an informed decision to leave the Navy when you only know one side of the puzzle. I would recommend that any JO buy some of their O-4s a beer and have a frank conversation. If you are getting out for money, I would recaculate the ACCP and other items. If it is to be around better quality people, you're making a mistake. Just make sure you know the real reason and try to think ten or twenty years down the road.
As for my case, I tried to do the best I could in the Navy. I also loved developing FNGs when they came to the squadron. I had a sharp tongue but was very supportive (in my own way). I earned my MBA and transitioned to CIVFLEET. They say that past performance is an indication of future performance and that is true in civilian life. Honestly, corporate America is pretty easy. However, I think it is very hard if you were a top 20% flyer to turn off that part of your brain. I have done fairly well in civilian life. It is not nearly as satisfying as leading sailors (ADs are a unique group that only an Aircraft Divo could love) or being the SEAD lead on a mission.
I'm hoping I can find a sympathetic ear in BUPERS land. I'm not coming back because of failure on the outside. In fact it just the opposite. I'm willing to take a $40,000 cut in pay to be a part of something great. I'll take 100 bitching sailors over one whining civilian any day of the week. At least I know the sailors will practically kill themselves to get the bird airborne.
I know it is a long post but I think it helps to see that the motivation is genuine. And besides, nobody out here has ever seen the epic movie Super Troopers....how uncivilized!
It is hard to make an informed decision to leave the Navy when you only know one side of the puzzle. I would recommend that any JO buy some of their O-4s a beer and have a frank conversation. If you are getting out for money, I would recaculate the ACCP and other items. If it is to be around better quality people, you're making a mistake. Just make sure you know the real reason and try to think ten or twenty years down the road.
As for my case, I tried to do the best I could in the Navy. I also loved developing FNGs when they came to the squadron. I had a sharp tongue but was very supportive (in my own way). I earned my MBA and transitioned to CIVFLEET. They say that past performance is an indication of future performance and that is true in civilian life. Honestly, corporate America is pretty easy. However, I think it is very hard if you were a top 20% flyer to turn off that part of your brain. I have done fairly well in civilian life. It is not nearly as satisfying as leading sailors (ADs are a unique group that only an Aircraft Divo could love) or being the SEAD lead on a mission.
I'm hoping I can find a sympathetic ear in BUPERS land. I'm not coming back because of failure on the outside. In fact it just the opposite. I'm willing to take a $40,000 cut in pay to be a part of something great. I'll take 100 bitching sailors over one whining civilian any day of the week. At least I know the sailors will practically kill themselves to get the bird airborne.
I know it is a long post but I think it helps to see that the motivation is genuine. And besides, nobody out here has ever seen the epic movie Super Troopers....how uncivilized!
MasterBates
Well-Known Member
There are some places that don't suck that bad. When I was at a GM Tier 1 supplier, we would try to see how far one could get thru the day, while being able to speak "pythonese" the whole time.