cajun lurch
Member
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2003
- Posts
- 7
Guard and reserve
My background is that I got sent to pilot training by the Reserves about 2 1/2 years ago and was a Guard navigator/enlisted before that.
Your prior service time will give you an edge over non-prior guys (I was enlisted in the same Guard unit for 6+ years before they sent me to nav school). They don't have to worry about you not being "militarily adaptable." However, the thing that hurt me at several places is that the guard/reserve like to hire local boys. I wouldn't limit myself to only nearby units, but you will have an advantage there.
Getting a guard/reserve job is like rushing a frat. It's all about face time. If they recognize your face/name because you call a couple times a months and showed up for a couple drill weekends, then you're ahead of the game. Go in and hang out for a few hours. Ask some questions and show interest.
Most units hold a board once a year, sometimes twice. Some of the important things they are looking for are:
1) Somebody that is going to stick around for 10 or 20 years. They have to pay a lot to get you trained so if they hire you and then you split 3 or 4 years later they have to start over again and that gets expensive. They'll understand if there is a reason, but "I like Willow Grove better than Whiteman," won't cut it.
2) Somebody they can stand for the next 10 or 20 years. Nobody wants to hire a guy/girl that they think is a jerk. Just be yourself and see if you fit in. Trying to be what you think they want you to be is just going to make you look stupid.
3) Be honest in your interview. I was asked why I wanted to fly the A-10 instead of a LGPOS. Several of the guys on the board had flown f-16s previously and i knew this, but I still told them what I thought of the f-16, which wasn't very much. I still got hired. Nobody likes a kissass.
4) Get your private liscence. If you haven't spent any of your own money to prove that you really want to fly then it looks like your a kid that watched Top Gun one too many times and just thought it would be cool to be a pilot. It's not a requirement to be selected, but most units I've talked to won't seriously consider you without it. If you are at least working on it it will show good faith.
Try these websites to get info on the different units in the Guard and Reserve: http://www.ang.af.mil/units/angsites.asp http://www.afrc.af.mil/Units.htm
Send your resume to everybody and don't take no for an answer. The last thing to think of is, usually units that are converting from one airframe to another are more likely to be hiring than normal units because they are inevitably going to have older guys that don't want to go through the transition. Jackson, MS, is getting C-17s soon. Memphis, TN, is getting C-5s. So if you want to fly heavies that will help your chances, too.
good luck!
lurch
My background is that I got sent to pilot training by the Reserves about 2 1/2 years ago and was a Guard navigator/enlisted before that.
Your prior service time will give you an edge over non-prior guys (I was enlisted in the same Guard unit for 6+ years before they sent me to nav school). They don't have to worry about you not being "militarily adaptable." However, the thing that hurt me at several places is that the guard/reserve like to hire local boys. I wouldn't limit myself to only nearby units, but you will have an advantage there.
Getting a guard/reserve job is like rushing a frat. It's all about face time. If they recognize your face/name because you call a couple times a months and showed up for a couple drill weekends, then you're ahead of the game. Go in and hang out for a few hours. Ask some questions and show interest.
Most units hold a board once a year, sometimes twice. Some of the important things they are looking for are:
1) Somebody that is going to stick around for 10 or 20 years. They have to pay a lot to get you trained so if they hire you and then you split 3 or 4 years later they have to start over again and that gets expensive. They'll understand if there is a reason, but "I like Willow Grove better than Whiteman," won't cut it.
2) Somebody they can stand for the next 10 or 20 years. Nobody wants to hire a guy/girl that they think is a jerk. Just be yourself and see if you fit in. Trying to be what you think they want you to be is just going to make you look stupid.
3) Be honest in your interview. I was asked why I wanted to fly the A-10 instead of a LGPOS. Several of the guys on the board had flown f-16s previously and i knew this, but I still told them what I thought of the f-16, which wasn't very much. I still got hired. Nobody likes a kissass.
4) Get your private liscence. If you haven't spent any of your own money to prove that you really want to fly then it looks like your a kid that watched Top Gun one too many times and just thought it would be cool to be a pilot. It's not a requirement to be selected, but most units I've talked to won't seriously consider you without it. If you are at least working on it it will show good faith.
Try these websites to get info on the different units in the Guard and Reserve: http://www.ang.af.mil/units/angsites.asp http://www.afrc.af.mil/Units.htm
Send your resume to everybody and don't take no for an answer. The last thing to think of is, usually units that are converting from one airframe to another are more likely to be hiring than normal units because they are inevitably going to have older guys that don't want to go through the transition. Jackson, MS, is getting C-17s soon. Memphis, TN, is getting C-5s. So if you want to fly heavies that will help your chances, too.
good luck!
lurch
