AD vs Reserves/Guard

[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.