Posted on Sep 3, 2014
Will applying for Voluntary Separation Pay impact your career if denied?
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I never had the opportunity to apply for this on Active Duty, but know many close friends that applied for VSP and have been denied. Do you think applying for VSP adversely impacts your career progression in the future? Why or why not. I'm curious to know how the community generally feels about this issue facing many of our members.
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Air Force
Air Force
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
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I have heard quite a few Chief's and Commander's talk about what they would do with officers and SNCO's that applied for VSP/TERA and did not get approved. Most of it was not good.
If a CC has to rack and stack his Officers or SNCO's even NCO's (which he will have to do with the new EPR system), where is he going to give his very limited (10%) of Definitely Promotes to the SNCO/NCO that already showed they have the desire for one foot out the door? Especially when that DP holds a huge amount of weight for promotion points?
Who are they going to vector and groom more? The Officer/SNCO/NCO that is there getting the job done and did not apply or the person that tried to leave and got denied?
Right or wrong, there will be the perception that the person who applied for VSP/TERA has one foot out the door.
If a CC has to rack and stack his Officers or SNCO's even NCO's (which he will have to do with the new EPR system), where is he going to give his very limited (10%) of Definitely Promotes to the SNCO/NCO that already showed they have the desire for one foot out the door? Especially when that DP holds a huge amount of weight for promotion points?
Who are they going to vector and groom more? The Officer/SNCO/NCO that is there getting the job done and did not apply or the person that tried to leave and got denied?
Right or wrong, there will be the perception that the person who applied for VSP/TERA has one foot out the door.
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Capt Brandon Charters
TSgt Joshua Copeland I was hearing that this really is the unspoken truth. Really appreciate the honest answer on this tough dilemma facing many Airmen. I have several close personal friends that have lost a lot of sleep over clicking the 'VSP Apply' button. Finding out their application was later denied has been a real hard fact for them to face. In such competitive & tight manned USAF right now, getting into the top 10% is not an easy road.
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
The impact might be limited to 1 or 2 years for a CC (depending on how far in to their command they are) but on the enlisted side, if the CEM is sticking around a while that stigma might have some long legs for staying power. With such a competitive environment, back to back lower strats, or not getting that DP when your competitive. It can hurt.
Here is a scenario. a unit has 10 MSgt's all competing for the 1 DP the CC has to give out under the new system (10%). 1 MSgt is the SNCO of the Year, another is the First Sgt of the Year, another is the SNCO Sijan winner, another is the 3D1 Info Dominance winner, another is the 3D0 Info Dominance winner, and another is the SNCO Jumper Warfighter Integration Winner. So the CC has 6 (out of 10) legitimate "#1's". Lets make it easy as say that all but 2 have not complete some pre-req like Course 14, CCAF, PMC, JSEPME which leaves the CC to pick his DP from someone who is doing all the right things and did not choose to volunteer for VSP/TERA or someone who is doing all the right things and DID volunteer to get their ticket punched early. Which one do you HONESTLY thing MOST Commanders are going to give the Definitely Promote and all the promotion advantages (WAPS points, and Board Score) to?
Here is a scenario. a unit has 10 MSgt's all competing for the 1 DP the CC has to give out under the new system (10%). 1 MSgt is the SNCO of the Year, another is the First Sgt of the Year, another is the SNCO Sijan winner, another is the 3D1 Info Dominance winner, another is the 3D0 Info Dominance winner, and another is the SNCO Jumper Warfighter Integration Winner. So the CC has 6 (out of 10) legitimate "#1's". Lets make it easy as say that all but 2 have not complete some pre-req like Course 14, CCAF, PMC, JSEPME which leaves the CC to pick his DP from someone who is doing all the right things and did not choose to volunteer for VSP/TERA or someone who is doing all the right things and DID volunteer to get their ticket punched early. Which one do you HONESTLY thing MOST Commanders are going to give the Definitely Promote and all the promotion advantages (WAPS points, and Board Score) to?
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Maj Matt Hylton
Excellent response and exactly the things I've heard from my leadership and other O-6's I've talked to about the VSP. Technically, it can't be held against you at a promotion board because applying for VSP wouldn't be directly shown in your record, however the affects to your record that can come out of applying for VSP will be seen on your OPRs. If you apply for VSP, your senior rater will know about it, so why should he give you any kind of stratification or job push on your OPR if he knows/knew you were trying to get out of the AF?
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I'm not sure about it negatively impacting your career because it's there to assist those who are not financially prepared for transitioning to civilian life.
However, if you are awarded VSP and later receive a VA compensation there is a schedule for recoupment of the VSP. It can be found at M21-1MR Part III, Subpart v, Chap 4, Section B...or do a search on va.gov
However, if you are awarded VSP and later receive a VA compensation there is a schedule for recoupment of the VSP. It can be found at M21-1MR Part III, Subpart v, Chap 4, Section B...or do a search on va.gov
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Capt Brandon Charters
TSgt Angela Allmon - Wow. Had no idea that there was a VSP recoupment clause. That's great info. Thanks for sharing!
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
Isn't that true of all forms of separation pay? I have has a few troops get MEB'd out with a less then 30% rating and were advised to not take the separation pay, because they if they were going to get VA disability, they would have to pay it back to the VA before they would get their VA pay.
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SSG (Join to see)
TSgt Joshua Copeland, that is correct. The other part of separation pay is they had to have 6 years or more of service. Hopefully when they got to the VA, they did Compensation & Pension exams or during the MEB everything was managed through IDES. The military mau have given them 30% but after the VA exams are done, the rating could be higher.
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
SSG Jose Garza, they did end up getting a higher VA rating. The AF only rated them on the MEB'able condition vs all ratable conditions.
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Most certainly it would. If I was a SQ/CC and someone put in to leave and then didn't, they'd be far from my first choice for anything. Simply the truth and we all know it.
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Capt Brandon Charters
It's definitely interesting to see the voting on this topic. I'm personally in your camp.
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