21 December 2013

Flash Mob? Flash in the pan

Originally written on 9 December...

One of the Air Force bands executed a flash mob at the National Air and Space Museum recently.

While it's nice to see the USAF embracing 21st century concepts and technology, and actually working positive press for themselves for a change...I would prefer to see this combined with greater institutional depth to our care of people.

As a counterpoint, if Congress does nothing, military incentive pays for all branches stop on 1 January.  For an RPA pilot, major, with 14 years in, flight pay (and incentive pay he will lose) is 8% of his take home pay. 

Where's the press on how the government is hamstringing military personnel who are at war?  A friend mentioned the loss of flight pay to me, and it took some heavy searching to find the article at Stars and Stripes linked below.  Merry Christmas.


"Special pays would be first casualty of delayed defense bill" By J. Taylor Rushing, Stars and Stripes

 Update 21 Dec:

Of course this issue has now been resolved.  Congress has passed a budget, averting the loss of incentive pay mentioned above...but including a large cut to pensions.

More links on the topic: