cargo hopeful

Let’s just say that someone was a guard/reserve KC-10 driver and then finished their guard/reserve commitment and decided to go into active duty (I know it’s usually the opposite but hypothetically speaking), would they keep the same equipment or is it all dependant on the needs of the service? In other words, when they go active duty, do they get a list of what’s available and put in their selection or do they keep their same equipment; how would it work exactly?

Does it matter if it was an F-16 instead of a KC-10? In other words would it make a difference due to the fact that fighter slots are smaller and harder to come by especially in active duty?

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rickair7777

It would depend entirely on the needs of the service, but odds are good that if you were allowed to transition to regular active duty, it would be into the same (or very similar) aircraft.

It would be easier to go from fighters to heavies...I think a fighter guy could do it with OJT at the squadron, while a heavy guy would have to go through the formal fighter pipeline.

Usually guard guys who want to do AD just go full-time guard...better work environment

Riddler

A few years ago, the AF opened the flood gates to any reserve component pilot to return to Active Duty. Everyone I know of came back in the airplane they were already flying. That program no longer exists.

The latest news is that the AF was considering letting reserve folks back to Active Duty. The program got put on hold a few months ago (after some senior leadership changes following the nuke problems). The program apparently is still under consideration in some form, however, the AFPC website does not list mobility pilots as a requirement. If you're a helicopter, fighter, RC-12, or UAV guy, they'll bring you back. If you're a mobility guy, then you MIGHT be able to come back to AD if:
1. They approve the return to active duty program
2. They approve it for 11Ms
3. They approve it for 11Ms who volunteer to return for UAV/RC-12 duty
Bottom line: it's all in the needs of the AF.