Take the money and run?

[moggi]

Hello chaps,

If one is offered promotion, is there any Return of Service issue?
My aim would be to serve one year as a substantive Sqn Ldr then PVR. Allowing 12 months to get out, I could then claim the pension at the higher rank. (albeit at a PVR rate).

Anyone see any flaws in the above? (aside my calculated disloyalty? etc etc.)

[rej]

The only flaw in your plan is that you might get crushed in the rush to get out:E

Good luck; sounds like a plan (and they do say that if you want loyalty then buy a dog)

[Occasional Aviator]

One minor flaw - as you imply, you need to be paid at the higher rank for two years before you're entitled to the pension. You probably couldn't rely on the 12 months after you PVR - it's up to manning when you can be released, so you might find yourself retained for 11 months and 3 weeks and leaving on a Flt Lt's (PVR) pension.....

It would also depend what age you are and what job you go into when you get promoted. It's usually the job that carries the RoS, but be aware that Manning are wise to this sort of trick and will often make an offer of promotion contingent on waiving or extending an option.

[Min Decent Ht]

To qual for a Sqn Ldr pension I seem to remember it was a min of 3 years acting, or 2 years substantive.
Switch the lights out will ya?...

[spheroid]

It happened to a mate of mine. Picked up his half stripe..... put a barrel on..... served 12 months...put his letter in......put another barrel on.... served 11 months before the pusser told him his services were no longer required and he left with a pension of a Lt...Gutted.

Top tip.... serve the 2 years and then walk.

[LFFC]

It all depends on which pension scheme you're on.

If you're on AFPS05 then:

"Your benefits are based on your final pensionable pay – that is the greatest amount of pensionable pay you received for 365 consecutive days over the last three years of reckonable service."

If you're on AFPS75 then:

"Your benefits are based on your final pensionable pay – that is the greatest amount of pensionable pay you received for 365 consecutive days over the last three years of reckonable service." However, I seem to recall that if you have been only been in rank for one year, then your pension will only be a 1/2 of the way between your old rank and new rank if substantive, or 1/3 or the way if acting.

[johnny99]

You need to be careful - you may be offered promotion in acting rank (one year at least), this is not uncommon. You also need to do the calculation on the PVR rate of pension - does it really offer such an incentive (the difference is not substantial) given that you clearly want to leave!

[Roger the cabin boy]

Fella, why not just b*gger off now, eh? Don't try and screw the system for a few extra pennies, just have the moral courage to do one and leave those of us who are prepared to serve to get on with it. You probably won't be missed....

[brit bus driver]

$hit or get off the pot.

To be honest, you're doing your fellow servicemen and women a dis-service by taking promotion with such a cynical viewpoint. Your heart will never be in the job and, believe it or not, it needs to be for the sake of your subordinates/peers (you don't mention your branch, nor the role this promotion would entail).

I hope your desk officer reads this, recognises you, and pulls the offer - not out of malice, just for your own good and that of your colleagues.

[NutLoose]

Personally I would stay put until the current financial turmoil is over..... Sad to say but there will be more airlines go before it gets better and a glut of already highly skilled and competent people looking for jobs in the aviation market place....... Do you want to join that? with no experience in the civil field? I wouldnt.

[dalek]

Nutloose is right. Take a look at the real world out there.
The contruction and banking industries are in outright depression. Just about everyone else has seen a fall in standard of living over the last year of over seven percent and those with savings seen drops of around twenty. The pound is down a similar ammount against the dollar and the euro. Secure video conferencing is on the increase.
How long is it going to be before trade to the budget airlines dries up?
OK the major airlines will survive, but it will be bunker mentality for the next three to five years, and they will have an awful lot of pilots to chose from should they require any.
If you have a secure job, hang on to it.

[newt]

It was many years ago now but I accepted promotion at 38 and then got stuffed with a posting to MOD! In those days one had to do 3 years to amortise the promotion but after a few months they changed the rules to 2 years! Tongue in cheek I told them I was leaving after the 2 years was up and expected a full pension! They told me I was signed up for 3 years so had to complete my tour in MOD before retirement!

A lot depends on your age and what you plan to do next. If its an airline job then every day lost is at least one place on the seniority list so it may be best to go as early as you can!

Whatever you decide be prepared for some 'blunty' to mess it all up!!

[DownloadDog]

From someone who left about a year ago (on PVR) to an airline job, my advice would probably be to stay in (the RAF) just now. I feel fairly nervous about my position! Recruitment has effectively dried up and the airlines are all hunkering down to weather the storm. If you hate life in the mob, and I mean hate it, then leave, it's one of the best things I ever did. However, if you don't have a job lined up.....

Good luck.

[dallas]

$hit or get off the pot.

To be honest, you're doing your fellow servicemen and women a dis-service by taking promotion with such a cynical viewpoint. Your heart will never be in the job and, believe it or not, it needs to be for the sake of your subordinates/peers (you don't mention your branch, nor the role this promotion would entail).

I hope your desk officer reads this, recognises you, and pulls the offer - not out of malice, just for your own good and that of your colleagues.
I don't think the bloke is being selfish - he's apparently earned promotion and the system requires him to do 2 years to benefit from the pension that goes with his new rank. As ever the system is wrong.

Moreover, this bloke is going. How many others do you know who are nurtured into becoming 'yes men/women' by little more than the attractive pension they'll get in a few years time? I know quite a few who would sell their grannies to get on in the short term, knowing they'll be clear of the mess of an air force they leave behind. If you're looking for traitors, look no further than this crowd.

[effortless]

A little note in agreement with a couple of posts above. One of my jobs involves reruitment of ex-service personel, this is an "as and when" thing for me and I haven't been asked for my services for three months. I am unlikely to be called on in the near future. If you have a job, hang on to it until you know that you have a secure offer.

[Emerson Cahooners]

If you accept substantive promotion there is a 2 year return of service. Have a look in the AP it's all there; it implies that a PVR within 2 years would only be accepted in exceptional circumstances and you will be asked to sign a letter acknowledging this fact before you accept substantive promotion. The alternative is accept acting rank only, turn down substantive and then do 2.5 years to get the pension.

You never know, hang around for a few more years and they might just make fg pay pensionable or b....

[Muzza9999]

Fella, why not just b*gger off now, eh? Don't try and screw the system for a few extra pennies, just have the moral courage to do one and leave those of us who are prepared to serve to get on with it. You probably won't be missed....

What possess people to write drivel like this? Dont screw the system? How can you be "screwing" the system when you simply want to make sure you get the best deal for you and your family after years of loyal service? Besides which the system is set up so you can't screw it - you can only act within the rules, some of which are complicated and buried in APs, hence the question.

Moral courage? Leave the rest of us who are prepared to get on with it?
Sanctimonious twaddle.