Want to fly military. Advice please!

[CCDiscoB]

Flight Pay

This may change in the near future.

Nope, it was shot down. When the Navs and enlisted jumped on board it became too expensive. Too bad.

 

[Steeler Fan]

Guard/Reserve vs Active Pay

I was active duty for almost 10 yrs and have been AFRES for 3+

I like both, got off Active Duty because my familily wanted to settle down near Grandparents.

Active Duty earn pay every day of the month, whether they're home on the 4th of July mowing their lawn, or flying a mission.
Sometimes/Often you are deployed during holidays, but you will get 30 days of paid leave each year.

Active Duty retirement is a MAJOR advantage...I think AFRES/GUARD should get retirement immediately as well, but obviously at a lesser amount than active based on our level of participation (if I work 180 days each year, my retirement should be 1/2 of my mirror image who served on active duty w/ same rank, time in service, etc). I strongly support eliminating us waiting til we're 60 in the hopes some of us our dead.

Big difference is Traditional Guardsman/Reservists only gey paid only when they show up to work (yes double AFTPs are a good deal, but we definitely earn them). We also don't have health coverage for you and your family(unless on continuous orders >30 consec days)...if I get hurt while on orders, AF will cover me. If I'm not on orders, I need to use my company(or buy out of pocket coverage)...

Both have advantages...being in the Guard is not the scam everyone thinks it is...Just ask the KC-135 pilots who are deployed...I like knowing that I'll be working with the same group of professionals for a long time...the biggest advantage is not having to mess with AFPC and worrying about a Non-Volunteer UAV assignment that "You really need because it's good for your career"...

I have tremendous appreciation for those who serve, both Active and ANG/AFRES...THANK YOU!