Posted on Feb 16, 2017
Should retirees have the lowest priority (6) on Space A flights?
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Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 3
As a retired guy, I have no issue being a CAT VI...none, zero. I believe all the others listed are higher priority then me as a retired guy.
CAT I: Emergency Leave Unfunded Travel
CAT II: EML (Active Duty and their accompanied dependents)
CAT III: Active Duty Ordinary Leave and accompanied dependents,, House Hunting Permissive TDY, Medal of Honor Holders, dependents of deployed service members whose sponsor is deployed 365 consecutive days or more (selected behind active duty members regardless of date/time of sign up)
CAT IV: Unaccompanied Dependents on EML or dependents whose sponsor is deployed between (and including) 30 to 364 consecutive days and DoDDS Teachers on EML During Summer
CAT V: Unaccompanied Command Sponsored and Non-Command Sponsored Dependents of Active Duty, Permissive TDY (Non house Hunting), Students
CAT VI: Retired and their accompanied Dependents, Reserve, ROTC, NUPOC, and CEC
CAT I: Emergency Leave Unfunded Travel
CAT II: EML (Active Duty and their accompanied dependents)
CAT III: Active Duty Ordinary Leave and accompanied dependents,, House Hunting Permissive TDY, Medal of Honor Holders, dependents of deployed service members whose sponsor is deployed 365 consecutive days or more (selected behind active duty members regardless of date/time of sign up)
CAT IV: Unaccompanied Dependents on EML or dependents whose sponsor is deployed between (and including) 30 to 364 consecutive days and DoDDS Teachers on EML During Summer
CAT V: Unaccompanied Command Sponsored and Non-Command Sponsored Dependents of Active Duty, Permissive TDY (Non house Hunting), Students
CAT VI: Retired and their accompanied Dependents, Reserve, ROTC, NUPOC, and CEC
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It's not ideal, but I think it is based on mission requirements. I know I may have to wait days or weeks for a flight after I retire. When I first learned that retirees were Cat VI I was surprised, but after reading the article (http://www.amc.af.mil/Home/AMC-Travel-Site/Space-A-Travel-Categories/) I see why it is this way. Bottom line it's still a free or steeply discounted flight.
Air Mobility Command Home AMC Travel Site Space A Travel Categories
The official website for the Air Mobility Command
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LCDR Dave Spurlock
Thanks for that link "Billy Bob"! I've seen and wonder about things like this one: Unaccompanied family members (18 years or older) traveling on EML orders. what I'm about to write will probably cause a stir but... 18 yrs old is a fully functioning adult and why would they be traveling on Environmental and Morale Leave orders? Aside them being a family member, how many years did they spend away from family and home as compared to retirees who spent years or more deployed away from family and friends.
Again, I'm not hard over about this - just trying to ask thought provoking questions.
Again, I'm not hard over about this - just trying to ask thought provoking questions.
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MSgt (Join to see)
The family member must be a dependent, not just a cousin or adult child. Additionally, I think the family members of a service member would have priority over a retiree because of the support system in place at home. Stressing over a family member stranded because of a low priority can take a toll on a service member. Even though unaccompanied dependents area a higher priority than retirees, I have seen many in that category get stranded at busy terminals like Baltimore for a week or more.
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I have never flown space A. however, as a retired Marine, I think it is fare. At least the opportunity is there for the retired.
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