Army Active Duty RW to USAR FW

[Xponent]

Howdy, this is my first post but seeing if there’s any advice to be had or networking to do here.

I’m a CW2 AH-64D/E pilot with about 2 years left on my Active Duty ADSO. I estimate I’ll have 900-1000 hours at the end of it. I’m currently a tracked PC (Safety) and scheduled to dual track to MTP later this year.

I’ve been exploring different options post-ADSO and USAR FW is near the top of my list. I have a couple connections that I’m working on getting in touch with but if there is anyone here that can shed some light on the process of transitioning or has some advice I would love to have a discussion.

I’m open to the Guard as well and living most places in the States, preferably the Southeast or out West (Colorado, Montana, Idaho, etc).

Thanks for reading and I look forward to chatting with y'all!

 

[Ian_J]

Howdy, this is my first post but seeing if there’s any advice to be had or networking to do here.

I’m a CW2 AH-64D/E pilot with about 2 years left on my Active Duty ADSO. I estimate I’ll have 900-1000 hours at the end of it. I’m currently a tracked PC (Safety) and scheduled to dual track to MTP later this year.

I’ve been exploring different options post-ADSO and USAR FW is near the top of my list. I have a couple connections that I’m working on getting in touch with but if there is anyone here that can shed some light on the process of transitioning or has some advice I would love to have a discussion.

I’m open to the Guard as well and living most places in the States, preferably the Southeast or out West (Colorado, Montana, Idaho, etc).

Thanks for reading and I look forward to chatting with y'all!

Welcome to JC.

Just to confirm, your primary goal is USAR FW or NG FW? What about full-time employment?

Regardless, step one is to join the FB group RTAG. They have a ton or folks with your experience who have made jumps to various places.

I can’t speak to the reserves, but for the guard reach out to the officer strength manager for the state(s) you’re interested in. Their contact info is available online. Additionally if you have buddies in the units, do a tour and get a meeting with the SAAO. Keep in mind though getting a FW slot won’t happen immediately. They are few and far between and they’re going to want to see you perform for a while before getting you a slot if one happens to open up.

Let us know if you have any more questions. There are a handful of former/current army pilots here.

 

[Xponent]

Welcome to JC.

Just to confirm, your primary goal is USAR FW or NG FW? What about full-time employment?

Regardless, step one is to join the FB group RTAG. They have a ton or folks with your experience who have made jumps to various places.

I can’t speak to the reserves, but for the guard reach out to the officer strength manager for the state(s) you’re interested in. Their contact info is available online. Additionally if you have buddies in the units, do a tour and get a meeting with the SAAO. Keep in mind though getting a FW slot won’t happen immediately. They are few and far between and they’re going to want to see you perform for a while before getting you a slot if one happens to open up.

Let us know if you have any more questions. There are a handful of former/current army pilots here.

Hey there, thanks for responding!

The primary goal is reserves since that should offer the best opportunity to move states if I ever need and from what I hear would be an easier transition.

I’ve been on RTAG for years and good point!...I should give that a look as well. Just wanted to post on here as well.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[MikeD]

Line is long for the one-airplane C-12 Det that hauls the TAG around, here in AZ. The number of Apache and Hawk guys vying for it is big. And both get miffed if the Lakota/former -58 peeps try getting it. Kind of funny to see.

The Army, only place where the C-12 is treated as if it’s a space shuttle.

 

[Xponent]

Line is long for the one-airplane C-12 Det that hauls the TAG around, here in AZ. The number of Apache and Hawk guys vying for it is big. And both get miffed if the Lakota/former -58 peeps try getting it. Kind of funny to see.

The Army, only place where the C-12 is treated as if it’s a space shuttle.

lolol you’re absolutely right. Its the bottom of the class in the air force and the SR-71 over here. Worth a shot I suppose

 

[MikeD]

lolol you’re absolutely right. Its the bottom of the class in the air force and the SR-71 over here. Worth a shot I suppose

It’s absolutely worth a shot, I’d definitely pursue it. Aside from my quippy joke, any additional ratings or flight time you can accrue, especially multi turboprop time, is well worth pursuing for someone in your position and can only help you along in your aviation career desires, not hurt you. Just my 2 cents.

 

[scoobs]

If the C-12 is a space shuttle what is the UC-35?

 

[Lawman]

If the C-12 is a space shuttle what is the UC-35?

Mars mission.


In all seriousness there is a massive index of FW Army that is waiting to hear what they are doing from month to month right now because it’s all in flux.

Hades is the Army’s long term fixed wing intel platform and it’s all of 11 planes.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[///AMG]

You wouldn't be the strangest USAFR or ANG transition. I know back seater dudes who got picked up to go to UPT for both on the FW side. Don't listen to MikeD, he did the opposite.....fighters to guard (or was it reserve?) RW.....that's how you know someone is really nuts!

If you are looking for online resources, I assume baseops.net is still active? That used to be the generic USAF resource, to include guard

 

[MikeD]

You wouldn't be the strangest USAFR or ANG transition. I know back seater dudes who got picked up to go to UPT for both on the FW side. Don't listen to MikeD, he did the opposite.....fighters to guard (or was it reserve?) RW.....that's how you know someone is really nuts!

If you are looking for online resources, I assume baseops.net is still active? That used to be the generic USAF resource, to include guard

Ran into a couple guys at the Luke BX (NEX to you) from my A-10 days years ago when I was still in. Hadn’t seen them in 16 years then. After the formalities and all, and getting caught up. When they found out I was now a helo guy, they kind of got hushed, and asked “helos? Really? What happened?” As if I’d gotten in some trouble of some kind or had effed something up and gotten FEBd (FNAEB to you) to helos or something. Sheesh….

 

[///AMG]

Ran into a couple guys at the Luke BX (NEX to you) from my A-10 days years ago when I was still in. Hadn’t seen them in 16 years then. After the formalities and all, and getting caught up. When they found out I was now a helo guy, they kind of got hushed, and asked “helos? Really? What happened?” As if I’d gotten is some trouble of some kind or had effed something up and gotten FEBd (FNAEB to you) to helos or something. Sheesh….

Haha that is classic. Funny, I showed that pic of the penis sword fighting game to a strike eagle buddy of mine and said I found the box in the BX strike eagle department. He said "whats a BX?" As a retired dude, his SERE skills are still on point

 

[MikeD]

Haha that is classic. Funny, I showed that pic of the penis sword fighting game to a strike eagle buddy of mine and said I found the box in the BX strike eagle department. He said "whats a BX?" As a retired dude, his SERE skills are still on point

Ha! Ever notice Army posts and AFBs with AAFES have Burger Kings, and Navy/Marine NEX/MCX locations have McDonalds? There are some oddball rando ones, like AFBs in New Mexico have Blake’s Lotaburger. And I think Camp Lejeune has Wendy’s. But the former arrangement I mention is the most common.

 

[///AMG]

Ha! Ever notice Army posts and AFBs with AAFES have Burger Kings, and Navy/Marine NEX/MCX locations have McDonalds? There are some oddball rando ones, like AFBs in New Mexico have Blake’s Lotaburger. And I think Camp Lejeune has Wendy’s. But the former arrangement I mention is the most common.

Navy also always has a subway. Used to also be rice bowl or something like that, though I think their monopoly has ended. There is a 5 guys at the north island NEX now. Of note, the commissary sandwich bar is normally pretty good at most places. We have a Wendy's on base at whidbey, though it is physically separate from the main side mini NEX. If I'm not mistaken, MCAS Miramar still has a Chipotle on site, which wasn't the case when I was stationed there.

 

[MikeD]

Navy also always has a subway. Used to also be rice bowl or something like that, though I think their monopoly has ended. There is a 5 guys at the north island NEX now. Of note, the commissary sandwich bar is normally pretty good at most places. We have a Wendy's on base at whidbey, though it is physically separate from the main side mini NEX. If I'm not mistaken, MCAS Miramar still has a Chipotle on site, which wasn't the case when I was stationed there.

I know 32nd St Naval Base has a McDonalds. MCRD San Diego has none of them, if I remember right. But it has some other in their small MCX. Don’t remember what Lemoore, Pt Mugu, China Lake, or Alameda have/had. George AFB had the standard BK, as did Norton and March, no longer at any of those locations. Now, George and March are a pain to go to.