Guard vs Reserves

[Don Q]

Deuce 123,

One of the guys just started American Eagle training. Another guy with an engineer background, just started a job with a local company. He is inexperience, so he is having a hard time getting his min RAP (sorties) a month. Some other guys/gals have had contracting jobs (from simulators pilots - engineer to lawyers and real estate). There are a couple of guys working for Lockheed-Martin.
I was very lucky to obtain 8 years of Active Duty out of the guard, with a total of 10 yrs of service. Now I'm in a job search mode.
Time in a fighter unit is obtained at 1.0 - 1.2 at a time, and flying at about 8 times per month (on average). So if you do the math, at the 2-3 year point you won't have enough hours to apply to a major airline. Most of the guys go to the Regionals/Commuters to build time fast.

Cheers,
Don Q

 

[psysicx]

How were you able to get 8 yrs AD with the Guard? And is it even possible to bum in a fighter unit?

 

[NWA-AirGuard]

Orginally posted by Bssthound:

"A big difference in the long run is that the Guard's annual training is comprised of "State Mandays." A manday is an active duty day. I don't know the official name for them. You can perform as many as they'll give you; unfortunately, after the first 15 they no longer count as retirement points. Every manday in the Reserves is a federal retirement point. Period. Trust me, it adds up in the long run. It's never too soon to think about retirement."

In the Guard all active duty days (Title 32 or Title 10) count towards retirement. I guard bummed for 4 years. Every year that I bummed I had well over 15 days of Title 32 (State) mandays and they all counted. Both our annual training days and our guard support (we call them Guardlifts) are Title 32. The big problem with Title 32 time is that you can't buy back that time to count towards a civil service retirement, whereas you can buy back all Title 10 time. One more point, all of our AGR's are Title 32.

 

[Don Q]

Maybe Luck

How were you able to get 8 yrs AD with the Guard? And is it even possible to bum in a fighter unit?

For a long time, any pilot candidate that was coming back to the unit, for some reason didn't make it. Some of them didn't get fighter qualified, others didn't even make it to pilot training. So I believe, every fighter squadron needs LTs to make popcorn and stock the bar (I ment Heritage Room), we can say bar anymore, nor we have alcoholic beverages for after a long debrief after a short 1.2 flight.
Seriously now, we deplyed quiet a few times and pre 9/11 we had tons of days in the guards (BTW,Mandays = AT Days which stands for Annual Training). Airlines were doing great, an most of the guys didn's want to drop trips to make 1/8 of what they were making in the airlines. Post 9/11 we (me and another dude) got activated for a year, plus deployments again, and alert missions.
Well, I end up with 8 yrs of AD.

IMO Tittle 32 vs Tittle 10, there's no difference in pay, but it affects you when you are trying to get health benefits, and or education benefits like GI Bill. Therefore the "B-Scale Air Force" we work for. No regrets on what I do though. It's just frustrating trying to get some help from the VA to get a type rating.

Cheers

 

[psysicx]

So I take it your not going to get 8 yrs of AD unless the airlines change? And they don't allow any kind of alcohal anymore?

 

[AdlerDriver]

So I take it your not going to get 8 yrs of AD unless the airlines change? And they don't allow any kind of alcohal anymore?

Depends on the unit for both.

We have several dudes in AD (AGR) positions in the unit and they will stay as long as they want/until they retire. Several are furloughed.

We have a BAR!! We call it a bar, drink in our debriefs and get rat-faced every drill AS A MINIMUM. Actually, most weeknights the dudes who flew and were in that day are drinking in the bar. Fighter squadrons without a bar? I scoff. That ain't right.

 

[malterf15]

Adler -
I hope you guys enjoyed the bottle of Macallan 15 I donated there when I interviewed last year..... Plans were put on hold for BRAC. Any word on hiring part timers?

Cheers

 

[fastbird]

I love folks who like to spout off....
You think the Guard only for use by the Govenor, check your history. They were some of the first to voluneteer in WW2, they can trace linage with combat back to WW1, WW2, Korea, Vietnam, GW1, OEF, OIF.....this use of the Guard ain't nothing new. If you don't want to go to into harms way, don't volunteer and don't bee-atch about it.

As for AFRC or ANG, go with whomever will hire you to fly! At the 2LT level, you can be anything. Get those tests done and network with various units so you can get picked up and sponsored for UPT.

You're going to be employeed for a year or more while you go thru training. Don't worry about being a BUM just yet. Focus on getting hired and earning your wings.

 

[Fox-Tree]

deleted

 

[falconvalley]

I've been in the Guard for 6 years. Was in the AD AF for 4. I don't see any difference between the two except where our pay comes from and the option to be "part time" in the Guard. Still can get deployed- anywhere, depending on your job. There is no difference between AD/Guard/Reserves- we all do the same jobs. We all do homeland defense and deploy.

 

[big_al]

BTW, the government wasn't "designed" to give welfare, but they do. Does that bother you also?

"to promote the general welfare..."

 

[big_al]

I love folks who like to spout off....
You think the Guard only for use by the Govenor, check your history. They were some of the first to voluneteer in WW2, they can trace linage with combat back to WW1, WW2, Korea, Vietnam, GW1, OEF, OIF.....this use of the Guard ain't nothing new. If you don't want to go to into harms way, don't volunteer and don't bee-atch about it.

Thats what the guard was deigned to do. Plus, lowering your regular troop numbers to take advantage of the cheaper to run guard and reserves is dishonesty at its worst

 

[AdlerDriver]

Adler -

I hope you guys enjoyed the bottle of Macallan 15 I donated there when I interviewed last year..... Plans were put on hold for BRAC. Any word on hiring part timers?

Cheers

It was consumed (big surprise) – but not by me. My unsophisticated side tends to lead me toward bourbon.
:beer:
They’re already looking for B-2 volunteers. The Eagle side of things might start to get ugly if they start siphoning off mx guys to train on the “Beet”. Can’t hurt to ask.
The B-2 Guard thing seems to be taking on a life of its own. I don’t know – seems to me “part timer” and 36 hour mission don’t really belong in the same sentence. Nice way to burn up some RUTAs though.

 

[L-1011-500]

One other point to bring up - a buddy in the reserves was going to move to an AG unit - he spoke with quite a few folks at 22AF, etc about getting MPA tours, etc. They told him the Reserves get first pick at those - then the guard. So, if you are worried about bumming and picking up tours to Germany, CONAR, C Springs Space Com exec type stuff, etc, C Oak, the reserves give you a better shot.
That's from a # AF person. Not me.

Bad information there sport. Everyone who wants in my guard unit is on MPA and I am told not the case for the Dover Reserves. All I know I have been on an MPA for 3 years now.