If you are looking for a Reserve/Guard gig, DON'T overlook the opportunities in the Air Operations Center (AOC) community. For mobility folks we are called AMOS, Air Mobility Operations Squadrons (McGuire and Travis). For the Combat Air Forces, I believe they are called Combat Operations Squadrons.

There are also a handful of Guard AOGs around that have mobility and combat squadrons.

The beauty of these positions is that they can be non-flying traditional reservist (API 3 code) or an attached flying position (API 6 code). You can be a traditional reservist and do the minimal reserve participation per year, or you can be put on long term active duty orders to an AOC. In my unit, we've had folks who have lived at Ramstein now for years. We also have sent folks to Hickam and to Scott (TACC) long term. The Syracuse 152nd, those bubbas live so much at Ramstein that their EUCOM portal, NIPR, and SIPR accounts stay active.

At McGuire, we will retire 4 of 6 tanker bubbas next year. We also have a full time ART position (filled by a LtCol right now) available (DO position). We also have mobility spots available too (C130, C5, C17, anything with a "C" in front).

Since USAF/USAFR is trying to put everyone and anyone in cockpits, these AOC jobs are becoming unfilled. Don't over look them!

They can be just the thing you need to get your foot in the door while still drawing a paycheck and then moving to a flying unit of your choice. Or they can be the extra pay/work you might need while you're junior flying with your airline.