Ways to finish out 20 besides AFRES/ANG?

[Boxboy]

I'm looking for other options than the reserves/ANG to finish out 20 years of military service. Extra $ would be good, but really is not a factor for me. It would be a shame to let my 11years of service go down the tubes. I'm flying for a major airline so I can get my flying fix there. If you guys/gals know of any other options, let's hear 'em!

 

[av8raaron]

You might want to look into Reserve IMA programs like being a USAFA admissions liason officer or CAP assistance IMA. Technically AFRC positions, but much different from traditional ANG/AFRC positions.

 

[JCJ]

http://www.au.af.mil/au/cap/index.html

USAFR IMA's for the CAP are badly needed, as the Assistant State Director (formerly Liason NCO - now civil service positions) are being eliminated 1 Oct due to budget cuts.

The State Director positions (formerly Liason Officer - Retired USAF Pilot now in civil service position) will remain for each state but they will obviously welcome IMA's as the Assistant State Directors leave.

PM me if you want the e-mail of the Arkansas CAP State Director (Retired Lt Col C-130 pilot, nice guy)

 

[Boxboy]

Thanks for the posts thus far folks! What does "IMA" stand for? I'm looking for something in San Bernarndino/Los Angeles area. Do you have any point of contacts down here? Thanks.

 

[talondriver]

IMA stands for Individual Mobilization Augmentee.

If money is not factor....that may be a factor with some IMA positions. Most are strictly for points towards retirement.

 

[talondriver]

Oh...this link might help too:

https://vrs.afrc.af.mil/

 

[Boxboy]

For you seasoned ANG/reservists out there...... Do you know of any guard/reserve jobs that truly only requires the 2 day/month, 2 weekends/month deal? AETC would be nice (being a former tweet dude) but even they want atleast 6 days out of me. Thanks for your inputs!

 

[talondriver]

I think it would be tough to find a "flying" reserve/guard job that will allow you to min run your participation.
In reference to the 340th FTG (of which I'm a part of), they did the math when it came to matching the active duty's numbers (student sorties). For every three Traditional Reservist (TR), the active duty gives up one active duty IP. So...those "three" TRs have to match the numbers one active duty IP would have produced (theoretically).
Plus, proficiency is a big deal with us. If you come in once a month for two days would you trust yourself giving good instruction to a fledgling student? I wouldn't...especially on a backseat no-flap .

 

[CCDiscoB]

I don't think Boxboy is asking about flying jobs.

Boxboy, that's a good question you ask. I often wonder what IMA jobs are out there. 11 years may be a lot, but 9 years to go is a lot too. Especially if you're not thrilled with your reserve job. We've had guys in my unit quit flying thinking they'd finish up the 3 years non-flying, to eventually just quit. The burden became too much. Those drill weekends get to be a real drag.

The bottom line is, you need 50 points a year of which 15 are automatic. So you need to find a job that will let you earn 35 points a year. ACSC will get you some points too.

 

[Tweetdrvr]

Boxboy,

You might luck into some command post type of jobs just answering phones and doing a few MPA days. My old guard unit hired some non-flyers into some of those kind of slots. A few guys eventually came back to the flying side of the house even though they were airline guys.

There are some limited kind of IMA things at the TACC at Scott AFB, IL that don't require too much participation. I have also heard of some guys working at the B-1 SPO in Wright-Patt as IMAs that kind of name their terms for when they work.

Some of the individual squadrons of the 340th have hired some guys into exec officer positions, but that is mostly a way to gain people to the Reserve system while they wait for a flying slot to open in the group. If you are not an exec background kind of person by trade, I am not sure they would hire you just to be an exec, unless you were looking for a flying slot later on.

If you're looking for points only things, the Academy Liason/Civil Air Patrol things seem like the way to go.


CC,

correct me if I am wrong, but the 15 auto points only come in if you are a particpating Traditional Reservist (Category A), if you are Category E, then you need to earn all 50 points for a good year.

Talon,

I think the other part of the 6-8 day a month equation that the creators of the 340th looked at was the then pre 9/11 ops tempo of the average ARC unit and they sorta felt like their idea of 6-8 days was a good deal in the ANG/AFRC system.

 

[talondriver]

Talon,

I think the other part of the 6-8 day a month equation that the creators of the 340th looked at was the then pre 9/11 ops tempo of the average ARC unit and they sorta felt like their idea of 6-8 days was a good deal in the ANG/AFRC system.

I also heard some guard units found out about the 340th's
6-8 day rule and are trying (or tried) to implement it.
A squadron mate was jumpseating and mentioned to the FO that he was a T-38 reservist. The FO almost went off on him because his unit (Baltimore, I think) was thinking about doing the 6-8 day participation thing. Apparently, it's not a good deal in all reserve/guard units.

 

[Tweetdrvr]

In a non white jet ARC unit, the Full timers exist to get the part time force current in the event of a call up. There is no way anyone in the 130 world can stay NVG, Airdrop, Assault Landing, Low-level, SKE, and approach and landing current without living at their airline job and having their ARC unit in the same city. Even at that, we had guys non-current all the time in my unit.

A 6-8 day average participating part timer would be nice in every commander's perfect world but it just doesn't make sense. What are they gonna do, hand out mini-active duty activations to make guys come to work?

The idea does make some sense in our world where the focus is on undergraduate student training. We don't have enough AGRs to keep part timers current, and our active duty customer doesn't have enough IPs for that either. So you really have to stay current, meet your CT beans, and do your required number of student sorties in a quarter/half/year.

BTW I am not saying that I agree with all of our policies, just that I understand where they are coming from. I key on the word average. After 12 plus months of troughing, if I ever get a real job, I figure I could not show up for a year and still be doing 6-8 days as an average.

 

[CCDiscoB]

correct me if I am wrong, but the 15 auto points only come in if you are a particpating Traditional Reservist (Category A), if you are Category E, then you need to earn all 50 points for a good year.

Really, I didn't know that. That makes it even harder for IMA guys, I would think. Now we're talking about 4.1 days a month to get your required 50 points.

 

[talondriver]

You may not want to hear this...but a good way to get your 20 is return to active duty. We have a good number of (furloughed) dudes going back for at least a three year tour hoping they get recalled after that. They'd love an AGR position but AFRC isn't coming up with them fast enough.

 

[talondriver]

You may not want to hear this...but a good way to get your 20 is return to active duty.

...unless you're one of the fortunate ones still with a job

 

[Tweetdrvr]

CC,

I was not quoting from a position of authority on that points thing, I was asking if you knew. As always, these things don't matter to you until you are in the situation to need the information, and then as with most things in Reserve World, you don't learn about it until it costs you money.

 

[peepsmover]

IMAs: Make it your world

There are a couple of ways to crack the IMA nut, first, a lot of good posts on the subject, so I will try not to restate them.

As an IMA assigned to an ADuty command, and a former unit puke, I like the change. Per FYr I only have to work 24 UTAs(actually 12 days if i double up on them) and 14 days of Annual Training, plus it is possible, depending on the availability of ADuty days to work extra days. I'm a category B, so I get paid, my wife really likes that part.

There are a variety of ways to perform your duty, as there are positions. You could join PACAF or some other far flung locale, and actually work out of a local unit, not saying it will happen, but some people do get that option. Additionally, the real sweet deal is if you have a project, you might be able to telecommute, which is authorized by the regs. So, it ultimately comes down to getting permission. Some entities might be hurting that they would be willing to work with you, but be forewarned, all deals are off once you get a new supervisor, ha!

Another way is to find a unit or a position you like and see if they will try to create an IMA slot for you, or if you can be double slotted with a current IMA. The respective bases have a Base Individual Mobilization Augmentee Administrator (BIMAA), who should have a list of all the IMA slots on the base.
see http://arpc.afrc.af.mil/bimaas.htm for their directory. Also I think you have to log in now, see the cite below on how to log in.

http://arpc.afrc.af.mil/dpabb/IAMUNITselres brf.doc

The general page on IMA stuff is this

http://arpc.afrc.af.mil/assignments/Off IMA Assign.htm

The Volunteer Reserve System is a temp jobs board, sometimes they are looking for any AFSCs and the locale or number of days may not be desireable, but you might find something that interests you. https://vrs.afrc.af.mil/

Of course all of this is explained in the latest Reserve Guide you can download it is an Adobe doc, so it is a great resource, see section 1.4 of the guide for more info about searching for an IMA job. http://arpc.afrc.af.mil/dpst/irguide.pdf

Better yet, try this Hill site, it has a listing of current slots, it gives you a good perspective on types of slots, plus they are helpful.
http://www.hill.af.mil/ima/opportunities.shtml

Hope this helps!

 

[Spur]

BTW I am not saying that I agree with all of our policies, just that I understand where they are coming from. I key on the word average. After 12 plus months of troughing, if I ever get a real job, I figure I could not show up for a year and still be doing 6-8 days as an average.

Except now its 6-8 days average, 6 days a month MINIMUM EACH MONTH. No more 5 one month, 7 the next... Also minimum 5 stud sorties and 2 CT each month (for tweets)... although that is not enforceable.

As far as where they got the 6-8 days... There are an average of 21 training days per month. Supposedly an AD IP works all 21 days, so for 3 TRs to take his place they would each need to work 7 days. I guess we should thank them for giving us that 1 day of wiggle room, at least until they change that policy too.

 

[skiddriver]

To pitch in for the USMC types reading this post, I and II MEF have long lists of IMA billets that often go unfilled (primarily training exercise support in SoCal and the Carolina MAGTF). That plus doing your MCI's (Soups, Salads & Sandwiches anyone?) can provide enough points for a good year.

Contact MarForRes or a local reserve unit for openings on the IMA front.

http://www.mfr.usmc.mil/