Originally Posted by
captnskyhawk
I'm scheduled to interview with an Air Force Reserve unit (for the second time) sometime this spring. Let's assume I get the job and go through the 2 years of training and end up flying with this unit. If I suddenly decide that I really like the military life, what would be involved in transferring from the reserve to active duty? I know most people make that transfer in the opposite direction, but is it possible to go from reserves to AD?
For the record: I'm not joining the reserve for the sole purpose of switching to active duty. I've been debating AD vs the reserve for a while, and I'm still not 100% sold on either, I just know I want to join the military.
If I don't get this slot with the reserve, and I decide to do AD, what is the process for deciding who gets a pilot slot? I know I'd go through OTS. After OTS, does anyone who wants to be a pilot get to go through UPT, and then if you don't wash out you get to pick a plane based on your class rank? Is that kinda how it works? Thanks a lot.
Getting on Active Duty as an already rated Reserve pilot is almost certainly gonna be easier than getting an AD OTS pilot slot--those tend to be few in number. Getting the Reserve slot is also, of course, challenging. Going from there to AD will be situational--the Needs of the Air Force At the Time. Are we drawing down, are we building up, does AFPC know which way to jump to meet whatever total end strength versus rated requirements? The big picture is a big puzzle. No one here can tell you how it'll be in two years time. Best wishes.
Zach