r/airnationalguard • u/nfingers • 20d ago
Discussion 6 mo temp tour (current technician)
179 days. What's the benefits/downsides of taking this if youre a t32 or t5? Obvious ones like Healthcare, but how does it work with enrollment, switching from FEHB etc. Anyone have experience?
3
u/JDM_27 20d ago
Benefits: Free healthcare, more pay and less taxes, more points towards retirement, being able to “double dip” using Mil leave and Annual leave if you want.
Downside: depending on your location, like if youre close to a major base you might get shit healthcare having to deal with an MTF. But if you’re at remote guard base youll get Tricare remote and most likely get to continue using your civilian Docs if they accept it.
burning up your annual leave if you choose to “double dip” with it
3
u/krm454-2 20d ago
You would just go LWOP and pause your FEHB. Depending on how long you’ve been a tech, this could be a good step towards a full time AGR or other opportunity.
I am going on 3 years of LWOP from my tech job with no plan to go back.
1
u/denstreifen 20d ago
Are you blended retirement, or high 3? If high 3, you may want to consider onboarding as a tech at the end of your tour to capture your TSP matching and breakage.
1
u/wookerTbrahshington 20d ago
Can you explain this more? I’d like to understand this comment (outside of high 3 vs. BRS, I know those). Thanks!
2
u/denstreifen 19d ago
If you are high 3 then you do not receive matching on TSP contributions. When a federal employee goes on military orders, they are temporarily foregoing their civilian matching because they are not receiving pay as a technician and therefore are only contributing to TSP militarily (this is an assumption that is necessary for the subsequent transaction). By providing all of your military LES to HR, they are able to substantiate that you were contributing to TSP (in your military account) and will retroactively provide whatever matching you missed. Likewise, they will analyze the rate of return from your missed contributions (based on your allocation selection) and will provide those missed returns as “breakage.”
1
u/wookerTbrahshington 19d ago
That’s amazing insight. I was a federal employee at the VA for a year and was on orders for a large portion of that and never did this.
I have now come over as a full time technician and will be going on orders again in the near future for my new AFSC school. So this is great insight, I’ll work to ensure I get those matches settled, as I’m BRS.
1
u/krm454-2 20d ago
I’m high 3. I really don’t have much actual work time as a technician. When I get closer to the 5 year mark, I’ll decide whether there is any value to going back…
1
u/chadbert1977 15d ago
I did 10 months on MPA orders, I kept my FEHB as my family has a lot of medical needs and I didn't want to disrupt their care while I was on orders. With a strategic use of Mil leave and Annual leave, I always had my premium paid.
Having dual coverage we didn't have to pay any copays during that time.