AD vs Reserves/Guard

[psysicx]

This question is for all you prior service guys.Would you have gone reserves/guard instead of AD if you knew about it?Or was AD a better experience that you can't get in the reserves.Thanks

 

[qmaster3]

Don’t ever whore yourself out on the weekends.

 

[AdlerDriver]

This question is for all you prior service guys.Would you have gone reserves/guard instead of AD if you knew about it?Or was AD a better experience that you can't get in the reserves.Thanks

Personally, I wouldn't trade my AD time. I got to go into combat as well as see places/do things I never would have if I started in the ANG.

That being said, the ANG has a bunch of pros (and a few cons as well.)

 

[psysicx]

It seems if you want fighters your best chance is AD.

 

[AdlerDriver]

It seems if you want fighters your best chance is AD.

That depends. If you've got an "in" at a ANG fighter unit and they hire you, as long as you get your wings, you've got a fighter. As long as that unit doesn't close or convert aircraft, you've also got a fighter for your whole career.

Going the AD route means you have to compete with all the other dudes who want fighters too. If you're not in the top 10% of your class, you won't touch a fighter straight out of UPT. That assumes they have fighter assignments to give out when you get your wings.

My UPT class had 30 start, we graduated 20 and the fighters were a reserve F-16 and a F-15. We also had a F-111 and an OV-10. The rest were heavies and UPT instructor slots.

Each way has its pros/cons. If I was just starting out and had some time to play the system (not getting close to age limit), I'd try the guard first and then go with the AD second.

 

[psysicx]

Thanks thats what most say.

 

[potrack]

Stay away from AD.

The guys in my Reserve unit made airline contacts and got hired by the majors 2 to 3 years ahead of their peers who went the AD route and got stuck with 8 years of AD. I believe the committment is now 10 years after pilot training!

AD you are stuck....like it or not. A good friend of mine who is an AF pilot recently got told--"Hey, you have been non-vol'd to fill a 120 day ground assignment in Baghdad" 120 days of paperwork...away from the kids. Doesn't matter what you had planned in your life....you gotta go.

Go Guard or Reserve. You can turn it up or turn it off if it gets to you. There are enough oppoortunities for work that you could get long term orders or when you find another job, just do it for extra pay. You can be an AF pilot and officer only when you want to be. Short of an activation...they can't make you go somewhere for a crappy assignment against your will. Travel when you want....stay at home when you want....have every holiday off...have your family's birthday's off....be there for the birth of your child.

Get a good Guard or Reserve job. The fellas are close knit, will take care of you, and put the word in for an airline job---you can have your cake and eat it too. When you are on the 757 and flying F-16s whenever you want, look at your buddies that are still on AD working their tails off as Executive officers and sent to the desert to be a planner.

The charm of combat and "Been there, seen that" wears off. Relish the time spent doing what you want, when you want, where you want, and with the people you want to be with. Keep control of your life.

 

[AlbieF15]

Potrack,

I agree, sort of....

When you get activated, you don't get a vote. Doesn't happen much, but when it does you are as stuck as an active duty guy. Not trying to discourage ANG/Reserve hopefuls, but realize Reservists are going to the combat zones as much if not more than some active duty units. When your unit gets called up, you can't say "nah...I'll stay home and fly for my airline this month..." You go, you may take a pay cut, you may get shot at, and you might not even make it home....but you will go.

Not trying to be a cold glass of water--just know what it does mean when you raise that right hand.

 

[sardaddy]

I'm glad someone agrees but I think the last post potrack posted was the most selfish, load of dookie I have seen in a long time.

You aren't a pilot or an officer when you want to be. You are one 24/7 if you choose to be unprofessional and not fulfil you commitment that is a reflection on you.

If you have that attitude in the Guard or active duty you won't be in either very long. People will quickly understand what you are all about and will do everything they can to distance themselves from you.


As far as the original question goes, I knew about the guard and reserve before I joined and wanted nothing more than to go active. Not to take away from those that serve in guard or reserve but I wanted my military experience to be my primary focus not something that I had to break away from my "real life" to do. To each his own. You have to do what is right for you.

 

[freddriver20]

For what its worth...

My unit has enough work to keep plenty of guys on voluntary active duty orders. We've got plenty of Majors laid off from their airlines who are still making six figures flying for the reserves. We've had these orders for years and they don't look like they're going away. There's no problem getting off or on anytime. Of course the orders could go away at some point...

Maybe not a reason to go one way or the other, but a consideration.

 

[psysicx]

I know the C-17 unit i'm looking to join has plenty of days to bum.One guy I talked to said he wouldn't have taken a full time position with the unit if he could get insurance.Thanks again.

 

[talondriver]

I know the C-17 unit i'm looking to join has plenty of days to bum.One guy I talked to said he wouldn't have taken a full time position with the unit if he could get insurance.Thanks again.

They need to start a board just for this subject.

You might want to talk to Yahtzee about the C-17 reserves and how much flying (time away from home) you'll get...especially working OIF and OEF.

Will you be able to leave your cush job and do the military thing with a happy face?

It's not always about getting to wear a flightsuit and fly a cool jet. You might actually get to die for your country when some "Haj" flies an SA-7 into one of your fans.

 

[trashhauler]

I've done both. 13+ years of active duty and 4 years in the reserves. If you want to fly for the airlines, I recommend the guard/reserves. You make better contacts and don't have to do as many non-flying things as you do on active duty. The transport guard/reserve units are very busy right now and you can get plenty of work days. There is that chance you'll be activated, but who knows what will be going on in 2-3 years when you finally finish your training. My unit was active in Iraq for most of one year already.

Active duty on the other hand provides a steady solid pay check while you're building your time. If you're interested in fighters, it'll probably be a little hard to make a living as a bum in the guard/reserves.

I have definitely had a lot more fun in the reserves, I can pick and choose what I want to do. But I joined the unit as a qualified instructor in the airplane, which gives me a lot more scheduling flexibility. Last summer I spent a week in Hawaii and a month in Germany. I also realize some less pleasant stuff needs to be done to keep the unit running and take some less fun trips and teach classes and write reports.

Just find as much info as you can, and make the best decision based on your goals.

 

[mgg20]

I chose AD because of the stability. To me, it looked much more competitive to go guard/res. I didn't have to go to all the different units, send in multiple packages, and wait for each board. Most airline types will tell you that Guard/res is a better route though. To me, splitting you time between a regional and a guard unit would be very tiring. I'm in no hurry to join the airlines anyway, so thats why I like AD. However, I may be back on here in 6 months complaining.

 

[pkober]

I would go Guard/Reserve and never look back.

You have to remember that when you are activated with your guard unit that it is only for two years. That's better than having to do it for 10 years. You are activated with your unit. As a pilot, 99.9% of the time you won't be sent somewhere without your unit. Even when you are activated you still have plenty of choices. It rarely gets to the point where you are ordered by your unit to deploy against your will. I have plenty of AD buds who never have a choice. They are told you are going somewhere for 180 days in 5 days.

When we were activated we left in 7 days and were gone for 6 months. That was the first time that has ever happened to my unit in over 40 years. After that first six months we would pick our depoloyments for the remainder of the two years. After two years you're done. Now that's not to say that Congress can't change the law, but that is unlikely.

It's also by far the best way to go if you want to fly in the airlines. Since I have been furloughed I haven't missed a pay check and I have the ANG to thank for that. With that said though the AD paycheck is pretty nice also.

As far as having no time because you are working two jobs. That's not true. Unless you work both jobs you can't make an accurate statement. When I was doing both I had plenty of free time and I can gaurantee that I worked less days per month then a guy on AD. It also nice to know that you will be in one place for a whole career if you want.

Either way in the end if you go the AD route you will have a pretty good life and fly the best aircraft in the world. If you go the ANG route you will have, I think, a better life with more choices.

Choose wisely Grasshopper!!!

CLAMBAKE

 

[white E]

I'm going to have to agree with the Guard side of things. I am a guard baby and life couldn't be much better. We get to do everything the AD does and then some. Airshows, flybys, X-C, etc. Not saying that doesn't happen AD, but I can assure you that a 4 ship 500' across have the country for a few days doesn't happen very often in the AD world.

If you want to fly fighters you already know what you are going to fly. If it is fighters you only have to kick ass for 2.5 years and then it is over. Oh btw, if you are in the guard and you need a full time job you could always do a 3 year tour AD and then return to yout unit...pending an approval from your unit.

I would wait until after BRACC before I made any decisions.
-W-

 

[HoursHore]

This question is for all you prior service guys.Would you have gone reserves/guard instead of AD if you knew about it?Or was AD a better experience that you can't get in the reserves.Thanks

Without a doubt the guard / reserve side of the house is a better deal:

HOWEVER:

If you are low time, i.e. not an airline guy, there is a degree of uncertainty to making a living off it. I wouldn't change going AD first, and then transitioning after my commitment was up. Mainly for the certianity of the AD paycheck, and the health insurance. However, once you get the time for a civilian job, I highly recommend palace chasing into the reserves/guard.

If you have enough time to get hired as a civilian before joining the Air Force, I highly recommend the Guard and reserve, especially for the variety it provides and the added insurance against furlough.

 

[Hawg68]

Potrack,

I agree, sort of....

When you get activated, you don't get a vote. Doesn't happen much, but when it does you are as stuck as an active duty guy. Not trying to discourage ANG/Reserve hopefuls, but realize Reservists are going to the combat zones as much if not more than some active duty units. When your unit gets called up, you can't say "nah...I'll stay home and fly for my airline this month..." You go, you may take a pay cut, you may get shot at, and you might not even make it home....but you will go.

Not trying to be a cold glass of water--just know what it does mean when you raise that right hand.

Psysicx,

Albie has some excellent insight, however I have spent the last 16 years in the reserve components (10 guard, 6 reserve) and I have yet to see a "Full Activation". The boys at that 5 walled building in DC are very hesitant to "Activate" a reserve/guard unit (unless you are a C-130 unit). They first pole (so to speak) the unit commanders to see if they can support a deployment with VOLUNTEERS. If they can (and usually they can), the deployment is covered with an all volunteer force. Having said this, it is very aircraft dependent as to your rate of deployment and make no mistake, even if you are not "activated" no unit commander is going to keep a slug that never volunteers for deployment. AD or Guard/Reserve YOU ARE GOING OVERSEAS, count on it!

In my view there are more important questions to ponder than rate of deployment for the big choice. They are:

1. Aircraft assigment
2. Promotion opportunities
3. Retirement

AD clearly gives you more choices, but the only sure way to make your selection is with the guard or reserve unit that hires you. In the Guard that also means staying in the same town for the rest of your military career. In the Reserves you have other location chioces (if you like) and may transfer to other assignments within the Reserve. If you want to switch to another Guard base it is far more complicated and less likely to happen.

In my opinion the Reserve offers the best mix of aircraft assignment and promotion opportunities. In the Guard, if you keep your nose clean and fly a good jet, you will make it to the rank of Major without too much problem. However, after that the promotion opportunities start getting very scarce. Each Guard unit only has about 1000 members total and about 1/4 of those are officers. So, you can see that unless some older guy retires (or buys the farm) you are stuck at the rank of Major. In the Reserves you have almost as many opporunites for promotion (and location) as the AD. You can volunteer for transfer to get a promotion if you like. Nice option, if rank matters. It doesn't to most until it is time to start thinking about retirement. Which brings me to my final point.

Without a doubt the AD has the best retirement gig going. After 20 years you draw a pension the very next day after you retire (and start that great airline career with somebody like Eastern or US Air). In the guard or reserve you have to wait until retirement age (now 60, but may be reduced to 55 some day) to draw you cash and it is a much smaller sum than that of the AD. In some cases if you are a full-time Guard pilot (AGR) then you can enjoy the same retirement benes as the AD guys, but most pilots in the Guard/Reserve are part-time (obviously).

You will find folks from all branches that love and hate the choices they've made. Just weigh the differences, make a choice and don't whine on flightinfo.om after 10 years of whatever you choose.

Good Luck!

Hawg

 

[psysicx]

Thanks for the post.I did not know that the guard was harder to get promoted.The problem with AD is not staying in one location that I like.Right now i'm trying to figure out if I want to go AD or reserve.

 

[Steeler Fan]

That depends. If you've got an "in" at a ANG fighter unit and they hire you, as long as you get your wings, you've got a fighter.

But if you don't do good enough in UPT to go fighters, then you're basically either going to have to scramble to find a heavy unit, or you may actually get washed out of UPT.

Adler's right in that you don't have to wait to see how many fighters are in the "drop"--Just make sure that when you get to UPT, you still have to bring your "A" game. I've been in meetings where the Ops Group Commander was being briefed on the struggles of 2 AT-38 pilots. 1 was Air Ntl Guard, the other was a prior T-37 FAIP. Both ended up flying something else.

 

[Steeler Fan]

Without a doubt the guard / reserve side of the house is a better deal:

If you have enough time to get hired as a civilian before joining the Air Force, I highly recommend the Guard and reserve, especially for the variety it provides and the added insurance against furlough.

Pros and Cons with both: It's really up to you, and your life plans/family situation.

ACTIVE DUTY:

Active Duty Retirement--Retirement checks start immediately (don't have to wait until you're 60 like you do Guard/AFRES)
Health coverage--(I know ANG/AFRES gets some of this when activated, but the peace of mind of having this is awesome, especially if you have a familty).
MOVING--You'll move around alot more while on Active Duty--Every 2-3 Years
LIVING ON BASE--My wife and kids really enjoyed it.
Flying a desk--Career broadening assignments--You're always thinking about what could happen next assignment--Parts of flying different airplanes is great, but for most guys, flying a desk is a drag--

GUARD/AFRES
Live where you want--Obviously it's easier to live near your unit--Or live where your airline is--Take it from my personal experience, DO NOT COMMUTE TO BOTH
Deployments--They're bad on AD and ANG/AFRES--It's part of the deal, so grin and bear it--If you're single, it's often one of the best deals going--If you're missing kid's birthday, it gets old pretty fast
Additional duties--just like Active, you'll be expected to do more than just drive planes
"My fun meter is pegged right now"--If you're in the ANG/AFRES, you get to "escape" the military for a few weeks if you need to.
PROMOTION--More straightforward in the ANG/AFRES...be careful though because there are a limited # of slots in each unit (specifically for LtCol and above)--Sometimes people retire early or switch units trying to keep building their mil retirement.
Base/Unit Closures--I had a close call in my AFRES unit--Nothing like being on furlough from your airline AND having to worry about your AFRES unit closing at the same time.