Time between graduation and EAD

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a400831

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I am a senior in AFROTC and I will be graduating in May. I have my pilot slot and have been medically cleared and received my security clearance. I recently got my base assignment (Laughlin), but I have yet to hear anything about a report date.

It seems like some cadets from other detachments have received their EAD dates, and the dates seem all over the board. I have heard EAD dates ranging from June of this year to February of 2016. I can't seem to find any pattern in why certain cadets get earlier dates then others.

Here are my questions: First, what is the average waiting period for someone waiting to go to pilot training? (I will be going to IFS first since I do not have my PPL). Second, what do cadets usually do during those few months? I am trying to apply for jobs in my area, but because I have no idea when I will be leaving, I think it will be hard to find a decent job.
 
I would not place much weight into anyone getting an EAD already, the reason why is until you have orders in hand it may change. Our DSs changed three times. He reported in the end of September, worked on the flight line until Feb. when he wnt to IFS and started UPT in March. All of his classmates that went rated (13 in total) did casual status starting at the earliest in August. The earliest they started IFS was Feb.
 
One cadet who graduated from my det this past May got an internship this past summer, then stayed on. I think his EAD date changed a few times too, and I'm pretty sure he still hasn't started IFS yet.
 
Use the time wisely and start studying the Bold for IFS because the day after you inprocess at IFS you will have your first exam. I recall my DS saying that several busted the first exam.
 
I am also going pilot (graduating 2016) and clearly there is currently a large time gap between commissioning and IFS for pilots. I was talking with my det's cadre about the possibility of completing a one years masters during this slow year. Obviously, though, I wouldn't do this if I am going to report to IFS in say, February. Is it possible to request some sort of educational delay to finish a one year masters (the delay seems like it would be only a few months, max), or would this likely not be feasible? In other words, is there any flexibility with the report-in dates? The masters degree would be technical, just like my undergraduate major, and would be on my own dime.
 
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You would have to apply for ED...education delay. That being said you might also go casual while awaiting for your UPT slot after you complete your Masters.

Not sure why you would want to delay the report date without ED. If you are allowed to push it back without going ED, it means your DOR will be pushed back too. Not only that, but your commitment upon winging is pushed back.
~ DS commissioned May 26, 2012, he winged April 24, 2014. He is on the hook until 2023.
~ his DOR is July 18.
~~~ DOR is determined by averaging commission date and AD.

As a pilot from a fiscal aspect you could be taking a huge hit. Let's be honest that masters degree will be a decade old when you leave. Your career experience will matter more.
~ Fiscally...it is huge...base pay, longitivy pay, flight pay, eligibility for the 6 figure bonus.

That is before we even discuss if you want to be a bus driver in the sky...Jet Blue, FedEx, etc. Delaying UPT means delaying leaving.

If you get ED than that is one thing. If you ask to delay it so you can get your Masters on your own dime is another thing.
 
Thanks for your insight, Pima.

As for your DS, did you mean April 24, 2013? Otherwise I feel like that'd be quite a long wait.

Do you think you can expand more on the ED route vs. just asking to delay it? Have you heard of instances in the latter? Also, does ED necessitate the AF paying for the masters? Because I would like to avoid going that route if possible since that would almost certainly add to the commitment. I understand your points about the cons of getting it...I'm definitely still thinking this through.
 
No I didn't mean 2013, I meant 2014. UPT is a year long, actually closer to 13 months. Than add in IFS and the lag time between IFS and UPT and you could be closer to 15 months.

As I stated earlier he went casual status from end of September to the first week of Feb. He was at IFS until the first week of March. He was than on casual status again until April 1st.

As for ED. You submit a request to go ED. Sometimes they pay and sometimes they don't. It is very competitive to get the ED that thay pay. One that is popular is AFIT. It is a year long Masters at WPAFB. Your job is to attend school. Your orders will have your UPT orders as a follow on with a report date to whichever base they assign you to. You may have a wait time in between the two.

I would talk to your CoC if you want to go ED and I believe you will need to take your GMAT/GRE prior to applying for an ED slot.

Out of curiosity how do you know you are going to UPT if you are graduating in 2016? Did the drop come out already? If so that is insanely early since historically the drops come down end of Feb./early March your 300 year.
 
I commissioned at the end of May and I leave for Laughlin next Monday. Thats about 6.5 months in between.

My advice is find some work and start getting a little cash to throw toward an IRA. Take some additional cash and see if you can maybe get a little flight time in as well. I was able to get an emergency fund and IRA set up along with getting around 12 hours of flight time (and maybe more if this Maryland weather eventually clears up). These steps have really eased some of my anxieties and kept me busy.

In regards to the Educational Delay, I personally wouldn't pursue it if the AF was not picking up the tab. Pima is spot in regards to career progression and $$$ implications. Instead I would focus on getting a financial foundation and learning some basic things related to flying. Now if the AF picks up the tab or you have the money and the time then thats another story.

Best of luck gents!
 
Kevster are you going straight to IFS or going casual?

Kevster also makes a good point about having some funds available because at first you may have some initial outlays and it takes time to get your pay straightened out. For example, our DS laid out several thousand and it took about a month to get it back. He had to pay his travel expenses and lodging out of pocket. He lived in the BOQs, but still had to buy things like pots, pans, dishes, linens etc.

You will be eligible for the career starter loan, but make sure you really think about the loan especially if you go rated. If you take the loan than wash out of UPT and the AF decides to release you that interest rate goes up into the 20+%.
~ Plus, some cadets take the whole lump to purchase a car, and impo that is not a wise fiscal decision.
1. Car loans often can be obtained at 0%....why pay interest?
2. It leaves you with no rainy day fund...see above about pay lagging in the beginning.

Our DS only took 10k. He put 5k in an IRA and 5k for moving. He purchased his car using the dealers 0% loan.
 
I will be attending IFS in March. So I'll have about 1 month of casual before that. Not sure when I will be able to get in a class after that. I also have heard that it takes about a month to get your 1st paycheck in.
 
It took DS a month to get his first paycheck. He was only in the TLFs for about a week and it took them about a month to pay him for that. So be prepared to live on some savings for a few weeks.

I would think if IFS is March the earliest they are going to get you into a UPT class would be mid-end of April. (16-09). DS went to IFS in Feb.and his class start date was the 1st week of April.

I guess they are doing it different now. DS had his class date when he got his orders. Than again his report date was end of Sept. so that may have been a factor too because for him he went AD the same FY he commissioned....by one day!
 
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