National Guard

J-ROD

J-ROD

New Member
What do you guys think about joining the air national guard? Is that a good route to become a pilot? There are a lot of incentives which are nice! Approximately how long does it take to become a pilot in the military?

I searched other posts and couldnt find much.
THANKS!
 
It's a great idea.

I'm helping one of our users hook up with a unit in CA as we speak.
 
I am looking into the Oklahoma Air National Guard. I am not sure what I want to do, but I know I want to be on an aircraft. Any type of aircraft is fine with me. How long do you have to sign up for to be a pilot?
 
Search the military forum.

Also, baseops.net and wantscheck.com.

Guard flying jobs are few and far between, but very sought after. You're looking at 10 years after getting your wings, but most guard units want the type of guy that is in it for even longer than that...i.e. - "I've lived here my whole life, served on AD for a number of years but want to stay in this area while continuing to serve my country, etc."

If any of you guys snags my slot with the 136th...big trouble ;)
 
But network.

I was never in the guard, but one of my good homies is Vice Wing Commander at the nations largest unit so you never know until you ask! ;)
 
Doug Taylor said:
I'm helping one of our users hook up with a unit in CA as we speak.
Click to expand...


Any chance its the 144th FW?


J-Rod, Here is great thread with a lot of good info.

http://forums.jetcareers.com/military-pilots/59273-air-national-guard.html

I am currently an enlisted member in the guard. I plan to put in for a pilot slot with my unit within the next 2 years. Flying for the guard is a great route to becoming a pilot, but a flight slot is very hard to obtain. These slots are few and very competitive.

Good luck and its definitely worth looking into. check out www.goang.com Its mostly geard towards enlisted recruitment, but its got a little info on UPT and stuff. And you can also look up guard units in your area.
 
Don't talk to recruiters unless absolutely necessary. If you do, make sure it's an officer recruiter. I know the reserves have them by region.

Commitment is 10 years from the time you PIN YOUR WINGS.

You'll go to AMS to get your commission, and then sit on your ass for a year waiting for a UPT class. UPT is a year long, and you'll be on full orders for about another 18 months after UPT to get seasoned on your aircraft.

Reserves push you through much faster, but the hiring is very different. The unit sponsors a guy who they submit to AFRC for their big selection board. Short story is that if you're sponsored, you'll get selected.

Yes, it's a good route. I'm trying to get hired myself. Don't do it to help out your career, do it to serve your country. It's going to be a pain in the ass for you to take MIL leave from fedex in 12 years to go play in the sandbox for 60 days if your only goal was to advance your airline career.

Get over to baseops.net and read. Do not even create an account until you've read everything: read the ANG/AFRC forum all the way back to 2003. Then, if you have a question that hasn't been asked yet, fire it up. People get eaten alive over there for asking questions that have been asked before. UTFSF is said quite often. "use the .. search function"

Good luck.
 
I'm a prior enlisted and current UPT student, you can pm me with any questions if you'd like. Good luck on your search.
 
Hey, thanks for all of the help!
For some reason I have always been interested in the military. It has always interested me because of the lifestyle and many other things, so I figured to look into it a little more. Kinda weird, but thanks for everything!
 
If you are interested in the mil, why not look into active duty though OTS as well? You can always transfer to an ANG/AFRES unit after a couple of years of AD.
 
MDPilot said:
No, you can't. You'll be serving your 10 year ADSC (post UPT graduation) on active duty. After that, go for it.
Click to expand...

Yeah, you can switch over to the Guard whenever you like. We have AD guys that request Guard slots right out of UPT. It might not be the easiest process, but definitely doable.
 
PALACE CHASE is the program where an active duty pilot transfers to the ANG/AFRES before fulfilling his original commitment. Approval, even the existance of the program varies from fiscal year to fiscal year, and is never a sure thing. For example, note the next to last sentence in the last paragraph of this news release.

Also, see AFI 36-3205
http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/AFI36-3205.pdf
Note in table 1.1, officers must complete 2/3 of their original ADSC before applying, so for a UPT graduate, that would be 6.66 years on active duty.

Air Force officials announce 2008 force-shaping plans
By Staff Sgt. Monique Randolph
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

WASHINGTON -- Air Force officials recently announced plans to meet the 2008 fiscal year end-strength of 328,600, which calls for a force reduction of about 5,400 officers and enlisted members through normal attrition, retirement or force-shaping measures.

The reductions are in line with Air Force efforts to balance the force and recapitalize and modernize aging weapons systems.

Officials believe a vast majority of the reductions will come from normal attrition, said Col. Chuck Armentrout, the chief of the military force management policy division.

This leaves only about 645 officer losses as a result of force-shaping measures, a number significantly lower than last year's goal. To achieve the required end strength, Air Force officials will offer limited programs for voluntary separations and retirements, as well as a force-shaping board to achieve a limited number of involuntary separations.

"The (2008) force-shaping program will again be targeted by skill and year group, and primarily officer-focused. However, we will require far fewer losses in fiscal 2008," Colonel Armentrout said.

The Air Force will begin the 2008 force-shaping program by offering voluntary separation pay to approximately 200 officers in overage career fields with 12 to 15 years time in service. Officers approved for VSP will receive a lump sum payment equal to three times the standard involuntary separation pay rate, but must separate before June 30, 2008. Eligible officers will be able to submit applications for VSP from Sept. 5 of this year until the force-shaping goals are reached, or March 31, 2008; whichever occurs first.

Additionally, under the 2008 program, officers with a minimum of 20 years active service and at least 8 years of commissioned service may apply for retirement.
Eligible colonels and lieutenant colonels may also apply for a waiver to retire with two years time in grade instead of three. Retirement dates must be no later than Sept. 1, 2008.

The Air Force will also hold a force-shaping board in March 2008 to reduce the force by approximately 130 officers in overage career fields in the 2005 year group. In addition to career fields that are short or balanced, Airmen in the 14N and 32E specialties will be exempt from the board.

Currently, no service commitment waivers are offered to enlisted members under the 2008 force-shaping program.

"For the enlisted force, we will be able to use the tools we have in place to adjust and keep the force balanced," Colonel Armentrout said. "As we go through the year we assess (the process), and if it doesn't look like the goal is going to materialize, we'll look at waiving service commitments for enlisted."

The new force-shaping message supersedes prior messages. Other force-shaping programs such as "Blue to Green," for officers and enlisted, and the enlisted retraining program remain open. The expanded Palace Chase program for fiscal 2008 remains open only for officers in the 2005 commissioned year group. Other officers and enlisted Airmen may apply for Palace transfers to the Guard or Reserve, according to Air Force Instruction 36-3205
 
I'm just saying it can be done. Obviously things are a little tighter these days, but guys just putting on their wings are listing Guard as #1 on there dream sheet. Apparently they are being told there is a chance. I personally know of a couple guys that are in the process of switching to Guard from AD and they have not fulfilled 2/3 of their commitment.
 
Latest from AFPC FY2008 PALACE CHASE

http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil/Forceshape/palacechase2.asp

BASIC ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
  • Officers in the 2005 commissioned year group only.
  • All MSC, Chaplains, and LAF AFSCs (including Academy grads) and officers once deferred for promotion are eligible. Officers once deferred for promotion must apply and be approved prior to their next promotion board meeting.
  • AFSC and career fields not eligible are: 11B, 11F, 11H, 11M, 11R, 11S, 12B, 12F, 12M, 12R, 12S, 13B, 13D, 13M, 14N, 16F, 16P, 21R, 31P, 32E, 35P, 51J, 64P, 71S, and BSC/MC/DC/NC</SPAN>.
BTW, 11 Series AFSC are rated pilots. Good luck with your UPT buds.
 
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