Flying Reserves and 121?

[46Pilot]

To all you flying reservists out there who are also flying 121, where is the best place to live? Where your reserve job is, or where your full time job is? I will be getting off AD shortly and will be flying for a regional airline as well as flying for the reserves and trying to decide where to live.

Thanks,
46

 

[pkober]

I've done both.

I think living in your arline base is the best. It's easier to commute to your mil unit than to your airline job, less commutes with less pressure. The ANG won't fire you for missing a line because of your commute, the airlines might. Also living in domicle allows you to use your flight bennies.

However, first year pay is hard and you will be leaning on the ANG pretty hard.

I'm currently commuting to both until I sell my house. Then it's off to the domicle. Double commutes really suck.

Good Luck

CLAMBAKE

 

[46Pilot]

Because of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd.......year pay is 1 of the the reasons I'm thinking of living where reserves are. Hopefully more oppurtunities to make money, and more importantly, get PIC time, which my 121 job won't get me for quite some time.

And part of my thinking as well. Once I'm off reserve for the 121 job, I'll be gone most of the time on duty. If I'm commuting to my reserve gig I'm away from home that much more, but if I lived where the reserve job is I can go home every night.


Thanks for your response.
46

 

[Mamma]

1st - 3d year pay sucks at most 121 outfits so I make up a lot of cash whoring myself out at the squadron on my days home. I recommend living near the unit until you can start making a living with the 121 job.

 

[bssthound]

Hey, Mamma, ever take that C-17 off any sweet jumps??

As far as where to live I'd also vote for being near your military base. Yes, you make more money doing military duty plus when you're doing mil duty you're also staying at home. Very big deal if you're married, involved, etc.

 

[pkober]

Think about the type of commute you will do. From my ANG unit it was a two hop commute. A serious pain in the A$$. I did a count of how many night I would be at home. Domicle vs. ANG base. Living in domicle gives you more time at home. Also most ANG units will pay for your hotel rooms when you commute in vs. having to get a crash pad or hotel at your own expense.

The other issue is that the ANG runs third to your family than civilian career.

In the end talk to your spouse and come up with whatever works best for you. Everyone is different.

CLAMBAKE

 

[AlbieF15]

Live at my ANG unit...

Already had the house, family, friends, and church, so it was easy to stay. Work at training base so day at base=night at home with family. I also have a very commuter friendly company, so it works for me.

Big picture is figure out which town is best for you, then pick one or the other. You'll find guys like me who like living at unit, others who like domicile, but you will find VERY few who have anything good to say about a double commute.

 

[Purpledog]

I vote for mil unit also. I fly mostly double DHs at work so commuting to 121 isn't an issue. It just depends what kind of sched you'll keep at both.

 

[MarineGrunt]

I just got hired at a regional and long story short, in order to make it work, I'd have to commute to both, so I haven't decided if I'm going to take it yet. The mil commute would be a little bit of a hefty one, but it's a direct flight, and the 121 job is only a 1hr hop.

For you mil commuters - how do you do it? I was thinking giving the guard one solid week a month plus all the trips I can. We only have one commuter right now and it doesn't seem to be working for him. Of course I need to do the best thing for my family and career, but I don't want to short change the guard.

 

[HoursHore]

I commute to the AF Reserve Job, and give them between 4-6 days a Month. I sit reserve in Domicile and get used very little, so its not a big a deal to go out there.

I would live where ever you income potential is greater, I would also avoid commuting to sit reserve for any longer than nesesary.

Most guys who commute to the Mil job do just enough to stay current and kill the beans.