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Hello. I'm thinking of joining up in a couple years and will be roughly 40. I have almost 8 years enlisted AD Air Force under my belt already but got out to complete my degree. Anyone else join up at such a ripe ole age? Or am i crazy?
Mickey - here's another plus - your inactive Reserve commitment counts for pay (but not retirement) - so you'll not only be an O1E, you'll be an O1E with a WHOLE LOT OF YEARS...and while it doesn't make a huge difference right now, it makes a big difference at Captain, and a STUPID difference at Major (which means a mountain of difference at retirement)!
E pay is only good thru O3. Once you get promoted to Major or LCDR you will be a O4.
E pay is only good thru O3. Once you get promoted to Major or LCDR you will be a O4.
What I was referencing was the years of service. With my active time I already make more than a direct commission captain, and when I hit major, I'll have about fifteen years of service - the direct commission captain will have about eight (and will also be a major at that point). She'll never catch up to my pay. At major the basic pay difference is nearly a grand a month.
The O-1E to O-3E pay also keeps you ahead of the direct commissions from the get-go.
True it does not just in base pay but also BAH. When we get promoted to O4 the percentage of the pay increase will not be as much as a O3. But in the long run we more then made up for it. I am already maxed out for an O3E so I will only get the yearly raises everyone gets and then when I get promoted in a couple of years.
Mickey,
I am 35yo and currently active duty going on 16 years. I have applied to AECP a commissioning program for AD USAF enlisted if accepted to the program I will start Nursing school this fall and Commission in 2012 at the ripe YOUNG age of 38. While taking my prereqs there were always several students my age or older (male and female ) pursuing their BSN degrees as well. You're never to old to or crazy to go for what you want.
mickey1172
40 Posts
Thanks Carolinpooh for the info...encouraging! Also thanks to AdammRN for the kind words too!