What is the purpose of the Air National Guard?

[So Broke]

PLEASE NOTE I AM NOT TRYING TO START A FLAME THROWING CONTEST!

The reason I would like to know why states, such as my own, have guard units stems from an article that was published in our local paper. This article was about a young 29 year old captain who is making close to $100,000 a year flying a KC-135 full time. My brother, who flys the same aircraft as an active duty member does not come close to making this type of money. Is it more demanding to be in the guard than active duty? It just seems a little unfair that a guard pilot can make more than an actine duty person with over 10 years service flying the same aircraft. Any input in helping me understand this would be appreciated.
Thank you,

 

[Weasel Keeper]

One thing about the Guard (and Reserves) is that they hire Civil Service people to work through the week when the weekend Guard folks are working their civilian jobs. These people have to be in the ANG, but are eligible to work full time for the ANG. I'm guessing this 29 year old pilot making $100K is working civil service...which in the Guard pays very well in most cases.

Just as an example (since I was a crew chief), a crew chief job in the AF pays the same as anyone in the same grade (peanuts), but as a full time technician in the Guard they pay nearly $21.00 an hour.

It's not about being more demanding or anything. He's being paid at a state government employee rate for his job rather than a USAF rate which is standard.

 

[CrewDawg]

Weasel Keeper pretty much hit it on the head, but at our unit temporary technician crew chief make about $21.00 and hour, and hour full time guys make more like $24.00 and up. It's a great deal if you can get on with a tech. job. I remember when I told my tech. school instructor how much a full time guys made, she about had heart failure.

 

[slacker]

Art

The guy is probably an ART (Air Reserve Technician). He can work his civil service job during the day, and fly at night or on the weekend as a military member. This allows you to "double dip." You can make good money doing it, however it will wear you out. Example: I came it to work yesterday at 0630 for my Civil Service job and flew last night as a reservist, landed at 2215 and stayed in the squadron until 0015. Almost an 18 Hr day but 2 pay checks. The kicker is I had to be back at work this morning at 0630. Ouch.

 

[Otto]

Yep, he is probably an ART. They are all very well paid but they also work very hard. The article probably presented it as he was making $100K to fly airplanes, failing to mention all the other stuff he does. Flying airplanes is secondary...he has many other duties that go with his job and unlike active duty, there aren't nearly as many guys to spread the work around. You can argue ARTs are overpaid but they are like any other civil service employee, paid at GS rates. So to say they are overpaid is to say all government employees are overpaid. Probably true! That's why housing is so expensive in the D.C area...government salaries have inflated the market.

 

[AlbieF15]

ARTs and AGRs are there to support the part-time guys, or TGs in our unit lingo.

Can't speak for ARTs, but I am a friggin' bargain for the taxpayers. For about 36k a year, they get a LTC, current and qual'd in the F15, more or less ready to be deployed world wide when called upon. They get all this without paying a dime to my family in health insurance.

Why do I do it? Well...my airline gig pays the bills, but the ANG allows me to still have fun, serve my country, and provides some extra income and "insurance" in case of furlough or other work problems.

100k full timers? Yes...more than active duty. But when you average in the other part time guys in the unit the sum total is likely less than the active duty equivelent. The ANG also provides contiuity and experience--both short supplies in the active duty world. Finally--there is something powerful in saying our nation will mobilize its pilots, doctors, teachers, policemen, etc etc when a crisis arises. The fact our social fabric is interwoven with 21st century minutemen should send our potential foes how dearly we will hold our freedom and how aggressively we will defend it.

 

[HoursHore]

exactly

 

[milplt]

TR's are a good deal financially for what Albie said plus: we only get paid for the periods/days we work (vs. weekends and holidays for AD), TR's don't get 30 days of paid leave per year, TR retirement checks don't start until age 60, and (I think) retiree medical benefits don't start until age 60. Of course, once a TR's orders go over 30 days continuous - it becomes Active Duty.

This isn't a slam against active duty, I was one until 1-1/2 yrs ago, it's just the financial reality of the good deal that TR's are to the military; especially since the Reservists in my associate squadron have on avg 2,000+ more hours than the active duty pilots.