How does the ANG work? Need Advice

[John C. Holmes]

Hello,
I just graduated college last week and am ready to finish of the rest of my ratings. ie inst- MEI,,

Im interested in the ANG as we have a KC-135 unit here in LNK.How do you join the guard?, Will I be shipped staight to Iraq? I just am uncomfortable taking out a $50K plus loan to get done ,and am considering the ANG as an alternative.Any thoughts?

 

[L'il J.Seinfeld]

Hello,
I just graduated college last week and am ready to finish of the rest of my ratings. ie inst- MEI,,

Im interested in the ANG as we have a KC-135 unit here in LNK.How do you join the guard?, Will I be shipped staight to Iraq? I just am uncomfortable taking out a $50K plus loan to get done ,and am considering the ANG as an alternative.Any thoughts?

Call the unit. I clipped this from baseops.net. They say they don't send pilots to SUPT, which is USAF pilot training. There are other units close to you. Do the research and start calling. Ask to speak to the chief pilot. I DO NOT WANT TO START A CIV VS MIL ARGUMENT. There is no better flight training in the world than SUPT. That is why mil guys can get hired with a fraction of the hours as civ only guys.

You will not be sent to Iraq if you join a KC-135 unit. In fact, the Air National Guard and USAF Reserves are not, to my knowledge, involuntarily activating people.

Nebraska Air National Guard - Offutt AFB The Nebraska ANG is accepting applications for traditional Guard (part-time) positions at Offutt AFB. The 170th Operations Support Squadron provides aircrew training and operations support for the active duty 55th Wing at Offutt AFB. Applications will only be accepted from Pilots, Navigators, Electronic Warfare Officers (EWO's) and Airborne Systems Engineers (ASE's) with recent RC/OC/WC/KC/EC-135 experience. No full-time positions are available at this time. The 170th OSS also has enlisted vacancies in several non-flying operations career fields. THIS UNIT DOES NOT ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FOR SUPT OR SUNT. For information on officer positions contact SMSgt Peggy Brown at DSN 279-1172, Comm 402-309-1172, 800-688-2196 or [email protected]. For enlisted positions contact MSgt Alden Harriman at DSN 279-1173, 402-309-1173, 800-688-2196 or [email protected].

 

[Gunfighter]

Joining the ANG as a pilot can be a long and difficult process, but it is very rewarding. Most units typically have a UPT selection board once per year. Call the units in your area and find out when they have the next board. Sioux City, IA Topeka, KS and Wichita, KS all have 135 units that are relatively close to where you are. Talk to the Air Operations Officer or Director of Operations, not the recruiter.

It can take a year or longer to get hired by the ANG, then several months to get into training, then one year of SUPT, then your assigned aircraft, then you get to go to IRAQ the next time your Guard unit deploys.

Before committing to a flying career in the military, do some soul searching on exactly why you want to join. There is a lot more to being a military pilot than just the pilot stuff.

 

[L'il J.Seinfeld]

Tankers don't go to Iraq and they have not been deployed/activated since 2003. Gunfighter is a fighter dude and their world differs a bit. The KC-135s are being equipped with the Blk 40 mods and are among the most advanced aircraft in the world. It would definitely be outstanding experience for commericial aviation, but like Gunfighter said that's not the reason to be a mil pilot.

 

[HoursHore]

The KC-135s are being equipped with the Blk 40 mods and are among the most advanced aircraft in the world.

:laugh: :erm:

Lipstick on a pig does not make it one of the "most advanced Aircaft in the world" While I enjoy flying the Tanker, it lacks many things required of most modern Transport Jets, Like being able to Cool it on the Ground.

To answer the original question, Go to BASEOPS.net or Call your guard Recruiter. Or Go the the Unit and ask to talk to the guy in charge of Pilot Selection. Also, LNK sends people to SUPT, but OFF does not.

 

[boomlrd]

Tankers don't go to Iraq and they have not been deployed/activated since 2003. Gunfighter is a fighter dude and their world differs a bit. The KC-135s are being equipped with the Blk 40 mods and are among the most advanced aircraft in the world. It would definitely be outstanding experience for commericial aviation, but like Gunfighter said that's not the reason to be a mil pilot.

They may not end up in Iraq, but they do alot of time in tent cities in the middle east. I did alot of time over there with both Reserve and Guard units, they all claimed that they could not be sent there, but we were in the same tents together!

 

[L'il J.Seinfeld]

Point: No Guard/Reserve tanker pilot has been involuntarily deployed anywhere since 2003.

 

[NTS ALL 4]

Don't volunteer!

Don't ever, ever, ever volunteer to go sit in a tent in the sand box. And don't fall for the "you're not participating enough in the unit" crap either. The Reserves/Guard requires UTA's, TP's and Annual Tour. If you give them the UTA's, Annual tour, and TP's you have fulfilled your part of the agreement. You should be able to remain qualified in seat without any more days.

Tell the schedulers what requirements you need and they should work to keep you from going non-current.

Anymore availability is a bonus to them. Or unless you're double dippin' or you can get paid more than once in a day.

Cheers!

 

[JungleJett]

I do not agree with this train of thought. I volunteered to deploy in March of 2003 (although it was listed as involuntary.) I also have made it known that if I am needed, I will go back. Its about helping out where there is a need. Its about not watching everyone else go do the work while you sit back and do nothing. We have some folks that min run it and they are the ones you cannot rely on to help out. They went to UPT, got their wings and then you only see them for drill. They are not an asset to the unit and are pretty much dead weight. Doing all the min stuff may keep you qualified, but it makes you USELESS when there is real need. If it were up to me, I would send only the ones who min run it to the desert and then when they got back, toss them out.

This is also an indicator of the leadership in the unit that allows this not to mention the individual.

Sad really...

If your there to fly around the flag pole, then get out and let someone in who is willing to put in some serious time.

Back to the question as to joining. KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE GETTING YOURSELF IN TO! It has been and will continue to be, a great way to serve and you will not meet a finer group of people. I cannot imagine my life without it.

Best of luck.

Don't ever, ever, ever volunteer to go sit in a tent in the sand box. And don't fall for the "you're not participating enough in the unit" crap either. The Reserves/Guard requires UTA's, TP's and Annual Tour. If you give them the UTA's, Annual tour, and TP's you have fulfilled your part of the agreement. You should be able to remain qualified in seat without any more days.

Tell the schedulers what requirements you need and they should work to keep you from going non-current.

Anymore availability is a bonus to them. Or unless you're double dippin' or you can get paid more than once in a day.

Cheers!

 

[pkober]

Careful about ragging on the "min" runners. You may one day be one. Everyone has situations that put the ANG on the back burner.

Your priorities should always be family, civilian job and then the ANG. If anyone ever tells you different they are wrong. Plus the demands placed on pilots just to remain current today take almost everything out of a part timer.

I agree we should try to do our part, however my committment is UTA's, FTP's and two weeks a year. Before you start on me, I was activated for two years and spent plenty of quality time with the sand (voluntary and involuntary).

CLAMBAKE

 

[JungleJett]

Entered in Error

 

[JungleJett]

Entered In Error

 

[JungleJett]

Entered in error

 

[JungleJett]

Clam,

I understand your point but add that when someone makes it a point not to deploy, then it is time to get out. We have some that treat the Guard like thier personal flying club (or just a path to the airlines), but when the unit needs someone to deploy, these guys are nowhere to be found. I have even head one guy say "I did not join the Guard for this!", as we were deploying to the desert. If I had a weapon, I would have dropped his lame ass on the spot. They want all the good deals but when the crap rolls around, they run for cover and come up with some doozy of an excuse. We have some that have NEVER deployed while others (like myself) have NEVER missed a single deployment in 12 years. Have I missed some important things, you bet, but I would not change a single thing. I have been a part of some truly great things and my FAMILY will benefit from that involvement. You see the same people doing all the work while others do NOTHING but fly around the flag pole.

If your (not you in particular) family does like the idea of your possibly having to deploy, you need to A.) Have a talk and explain to them that is PART OF THE JOB! or B.) Ask them if they would rather you get out.

Everyone has to balance the same things. Some just do it differently then others. I have respect for those that answered the call when it came and have little use for the others that punched when the going got tough. I have a pregnant wife and a civilian job and both have been very understanding. My wife understands my COMMITTMENT to the Guard. She would NEVER ask me to do anything other than what I am doing. She makes the difference.

As for me becoming a "min runner", it will never happen. When the day comes when I cannot devote the time and effort required to be a useful member of my unit, I will either get out or find another job within the unit that will fit the needs of my family or civilian job. I will never occupy a position that may require me to deploy for up to two years if I am not prepared to do so.

I spent 14 months on AD to include a trip to the desert where I was injured but begged to return to be with my squadron mates...my other family.

Careful about ragging on the "min" runners. You may one day be one. Everyone has situations that put the ANG on the back burner.

Your priorities should always be family, civilian job and then the ANG. If anyone ever tells you different they are wrong. Plus the demands placed on pilots just to remain current today take almost everything out of a part timer.

I agree we should try to do our part, however my committment is UTA's, FTP's and two weeks a year. Before you start on me, I was activated for two years and spent plenty of quality time with the sand (voluntary and involuntary).

CLAMBAKE

 

[pkober]

Jett,

I think we were in the same sh*& hole in UAE during the summer of 2003. Five star hotel bars and Command Chief Shrek !!

Being a min runner doesn't make you useless to the unit. I will grant you the ones that never do anything extra are just extra weight that EVERYONE else has to drag around. In the end though the job of a part timer is to be current and qualified in all the missions the unit flies, period. If they mainain that then they are being useful to the unit. Do you want them to do extra? Sure. Some can't though.

I will stand by my statement about putting your family first. The Guard is only 20 years of your life, your family is there for all your life and are by far more important than the Guard.

CLAMBAKE

 

[JungleJett]

Shrek! Now there is something I have not heard in a while. We called him Chief Two Brats. He looked like he had a pack brats on the back of his head where his neck (or lack there of) and head met! Good times!!

Yeah..I was there. Did you and I talk at one time? I spoke to someone from CAL over there...maybe it was you!

Anyway, my family will always have priority over anything else in my life. It is a challenging balance. If (when) the day comes when my family suffers, then I will bow out of Guard service. I will agree that a traditional guardsman job is to remain current and qualified for the mission..BUT..the mission is not to drop training loads or doing touch and goes at the local field. It is to be ready to deploy and do what you are trained to do. I remember one night in Saudi, we were told that we would be involved in a HUGE airdrop (later canceled due to the fact that the mission was to get some Col's and BG's some feathers) with the purpose of taking a certain airfield. They were talking about the chance of higher than normal losses (WWII like losses). A few folks who were not NVG qualified were not included and they were PISSED!!! No one wanted to be left behind. We all had gone over to put to use what we had trained since day one for. We wanted to be there and do the MISSION! All that flying at home was supposed to prepare us for what lay ahead.

I just think there is more to being in the guard than doing the minimum to get your twenty and then punching. The guard is VERY rewarding to me and has given me opportunities that I could not have gotten anywhere else. I have been to 52 countries in 12 years. I would have never experienced that doing just the minimum. I have seen more than Southern Indiana and the farms west of Louisville!

Seving is a noble profession and one that should be treated with the respect, effort and time it demands. The return on investment is HUGE!

Thanks for your service!

See you on the jumpseat!

Jett,

I think we were in the same sh*& hole in UAE during the summer of 2003. Five star hotel bars and Command Chief Shrek !!

Being a min runner doesn't make you useless to the unit. I will grant you the ones that never do anything extra are just extra weight that EVERYONE else has to drag around. In the end though the job of a part timer is to be current and qualified in all the missions the unit flies, period. If they mainain that then they are being useful to the unit. Do you want them to do extra? Sure. Some can't though.

I will stand by my statement about putting your family first. The Guard is only 20 years of your life, your family is there for all your life and are by far more important than the Guard.

CLAMBAKE

 

[hoover]

I work with a woman who was in the ANG and was activated. A few days later she was back in the office. Turns out she had gotten pregnant about the same time she was activated.

I felt that this was irresponsible on her part. She made a commitment and then didn't live up to it. In my opinion she had a responsibilty to keep herself fit for duty during the term of her commitment, and she didn't do that.

I agree family is important. But it is also important to honor your commitments. If the Guard is going to interfere with your family or other things then either don't join, or put off things like family and career until your commitment is complete. Just my opinion.

 

[pkober]

People who put the ANG, or their career, before their family will only end up with no family and an empty career.

The great thing about the ANG is that they usually work with people. It gets screwed up when the AD gets involved. The best commanders in the Guard are the ones who stress that the Guard is third in your life. Family, fulltime job and then the Guard. When activated we serve, and plenty of Guardsmen have died or been wounded. When it's peace we fall back to our traditional role of PART TIME.

The opinion of one whose been through part time, activation and part time.

CLAMBAKE

 

[TankerDriver]

You definitely won't go to the middle east in a guard tanker unit unless you volunteer for it, which many guys do for the $$$, medical benefits and hours. If you want to spend 250 days a year in the desert flying circles over Iraq, fly tankers for AD. I can tell you what that's all about (I've done two 60 deployments there out of the last 180). If you want to see the world, join the ANG. They get first pick of all the good TACC taskings before AD.