"I’m an Army veteran, and my benefits are too generous"

[bobabode]

Now here's a story you don't see every day.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinio...y.html?hpid=z2

[icenine]

The thing is that the author of the article knows none of the cuts will apply to him.
And if you took away benefits from the military the quality of the service would decrease.

People do not put their lives on the line because of patriotism but because of good retirement benefits. A pilot who puts his life on the line by landing on an aircraft carrier may decide a 401k instead of a pension is not worth the risk. It all depends on what kind of military the nation wants. By the outcry over the VA I do not think retirement benifits are in danger. The author is a middle class or upper class Lt Colonel who most likely is doing ok on his own. However the vast majority of retirees are not in his financial situation. For some the pension and benefits are all they have. It is a Walmart world they face like everyone else.

[Ike Bana]

Originally Posted by icenine

A pilot who puts his life on the line by landing on an aircraft carrier may decide a 401k instead of a pension is not worth the risk.

But a pilot who lands on an aircraft carrier will probably find a post-discharge career flying jetliners for American, United, or Continental, plus your military pension to be quite worth the risk.

[icenine]

Originally Posted by Ike Bana

But a pilot who lands on an aircraft carrier will probably find a post-discharge career flying jetliners for American, United, or Continental, plus your military pension to be quite worth the risk.

Actually it is not as easy to get those jobs as you think. And helicopter pilots generally do not fly once they are out.....just not enough demand in the civilians world for choppers.

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by icenine

Actually it is not as easy to get those jobs as you think. And helicopter pilots generally do not fly once they are out.....just not enough demand in the civilians world for choppers.

Yep. For instance, military jet mechanics don't need an A&P license to work. In the civilian world, virtually every employer requires it, because it is a tightly controlled FAA program that puts you through eighteen months of some pretty thorough training in all the aspects of aircraft maintenance. The military tends to only train people in very narrow specialties. And, even after you get it, you must start all over again going through additional training if you want the good, strong paying job at an airline, anyways. Most military jet mechs get discouraged at this and go into something else when the leave the military.

Despite what you may have heard, military experience doesn't really count for much in the civilian world.

And, if your "specialty" was in artillery, well...........

You get the picture.

Dave

[Wasillaguy]

Originally Posted by icenine

Actually it is not as easy to get those jobs as you think. And helicopter pilots generally do not fly once they are out.....just not enough demand in the civilians world for choppers.

Used to be just about every Helo pilot in Alaska was a Vietnam vet. There are still a few, but most have retired or were forced out when they could no longer pass the flight physical.
It's scary flying with some of these young guys after so much time with the vets. Immediately obvious in the way they fly.
One of the vets flew out of Kodiak for many years, and had quite a reputation. Drinking with him one night and he made the comment that Silver Stars were only given out when you did something stupid and lived to talk about it.
"How many you got Tom?" I asked.
"Two"

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by Wasillaguy

Used to be just about every Helo pilot in Alaska was a Vietnam vet. There are still a few, but most have retired or were forced out when they could no longer pass the flight physical.
It's scary flying with some of these young guys after so much time with the vets. Immediately obvious in the way they fly.
One of the vets flew out of Kodiak for many years, and had quite a reputation. Drinking with him one night and he made the comment that Silver Stars were only given out when you did something stupid and lived to talk about it.
"How many you got Tom?" I asked.
"Two"

Sounds like a story a friend of my Dad told.. He got the DCM in WW I and when asked how he said he was on guard duty one night and hear a noise. He challenged but got no answer so he fired, In the morning they found a dead cat so theygave him the DCM Distinguished Cat Murderer.

[Ike Bana]

Originally Posted by icenine

Actually it is not as easy to get those jobs as you think. And helicopter pilots generally do not fly once they are out.....just not enough demand in the civilians world for choppers.

Au contraire mon frere. I know exactly how easy, or not easy it is and was to get a jetliner pilot job with one of the majors. I have two friends who are retired from the business, one from Northwest (L-1011's), and one from AA (737's and 757's - I think. And the former was a Huey pilot in Vietnam. I know its a tough job to land these days, buy that doesn't mean that a whole bunch of Navy and Air Force pilots don't dream about it and aren't going to take a run at it.

[Oerets]

Originally Posted by Ike Bana

Au contraire mon frere. I know exactly how easy, or not easy it is and was to get a jetliner pilot job with one of the majors. I have two friends who are retired from the business, one from Northwest (L-1011's), and one from AA (737's and 757's - I think. And the former was a Huey pilot in Vietnam. I know its a tough job to land these days, buy that doesn't mean that a whole bunch of Navy and Air Force pilots don't dream about it and aren't going to take a run at it.

Worked for a major carrier and to fly with one you start out doing commuters. I was making more then those guys. They really have it tough the way the major carriers (mainline) dangle that carrot of a job.

Living away from home in an apartment with twenty or more other guys. Rent a bed that sorta thing. Having to commute from you home to the base for your trip. Then get in to late to get a flight out home and the airport authority makes you leave, can't sleep here! So they sleep in the break room on chairs. I even seen the airport authority make out of state pilots get there cars tagged if they park them in the employee parking lot.








Barney

[BlueStreak]

Yeah, that is bizarre for a military member (or anyone else for that matter) to be complaining that his own benefits are excessive. Either he's planning to run for office or he's crazy. I think the military and civil service folks are treated right and the rest of us are getting ripped off.

Dave