Looking at AF Reserve
 

I am an AF F-15E pilot separating after 12 years in November. I have a few applications in but am targeting SWA and went to HPA to get the 73 type last month--still waiting to be called for an interview. I am wondering if any Guard/Reserve types have any advice for a Strike Eagle guy who has no direct translation into part time AF (there might be some reserve opening up next year, but that's what they said last year too).

Here's what I'm concerned about:

1) Amount of time spent at the unit per month (in addition to airline trips). The unit I have been talking to wants 6-8 days/month, is this normal?
2) Having to spend 3+ months transitioning into a new aircraft.
3) 8 more years of USAF bull***t in the form of UTA's and mini-deployments...just to get a retirment at age 60
4) Conversely... giving up the retirement and the Tricare if I decide not to finish the 8 years.

How do guys tackle this? I would like to go for the retirement but I don't want to DECREASE my quality of life. That's the reason I'm getting out in the first place. All ideas/spears/advice/insight welcome.

Don't be afraid to go to a heavy unit. If you get hired at an airline you can go to training and complete IOE and then take mil leave to train on your new mil aircraft. That way you make a good living the first year at the airline. After 1 year is up you can return to the airline on year 2 pay, but will still be on probation, which is no big deal if you show up to work on time.

You should be able to swing 4-5 days a month in the unit. If you get hired by SWA you'll probably not want to add to time away from home doing the USAFR. You should consider a non-flying IMA, ALO, or CAP job just to complete your 20 years. That way you avoid the AF BS, whisch is a lot less in the USAFR anyways.

Another thing to consider is where your AFRC unit is located. Your choices are to either live in your airline domicile or your Reserve location. Anyone I've ever met who has commuted to both jobs has been either miserable or has quit the Reserves. It's a good idea to plan your training to maximize your time at home and your pay. First year pay at the airlines is miserable, so like Lil J said, I'd recommend getting your airline gig first then go with the Reserve training. Keep in mind you can also make around 15-25K a year just bumming at a Reserve unit as an 0-4. I hear you loud and clear about the retirement benefits at age 60. It's a lot of work and time to go through without any tangible reward until 25 years down the line. I'd recommend sticking with the reserves until it becomes unbearable or unmanageable. You can at least say you gave it a shot and it just didn't work out. It will also give you some amazing flexibility your first year at the airlines with regard to pay and time off. A last bit of advice, revisit my first sentence. Double commuting is doomed to fail. Unless you're single, then you've got a few more options.

1. That seems typical for fighter units or maybe even a little on the low side.
2. If you have to go to RTU, you have to go
3. In the Reserve or Guard, you trade in your active duty bull for Reserve bull. You'll still deal with bull, but it will be different bull than you're used to.
4. don't know what to say about that.

If you don't live driving distance from your Guard/Reserve unit, it will make your life a pain. Some units will require you to live there.

A plus is the security you get from a Guard/Reserve unit. If you get laid off, most units are pretty good about letting dudes trough or transition to a full time job...If you are a participator.

If you're joining the ANG/Res to get away from deploying, my advice is don't join. We only want people who still want to serve and participate. We already have the best deal going in the military; 45 day AEF's every 18 mos or so. If you can't handle that and a couple two week deployments in the interim, then you need to do something else. If that sounds like a good deal to you, then you should love it.

Thanks for all the insight. I have been running through all the different scenarios in my mind and have decided that there will probably be some aspect of each of them that will be uncomfortable for awhile. I've still got 6 months to figure it out so hopefully things will become clearer as I move forward.

SJ

Don't forget the white jets!
 

Remeber as a new guy, your past is just that....the past.
Many units don't care how good you once were, the new guard/reserve unit knows its the best with the best people! Be humble, listen more than you speak! Better yet don't say ANYTHING the first year!! Active duty turn over is every 3 years. For gaurd/reserve its on about a 20 year rotation......some very long memories if they have fragile egos!:eek: And those egos may have lots of influence with their airline's hiring! Stated earlier on type of BS for another longer term BS.

Lay low and enjoy the extra money, you only go on deployment if you VOLUNTEER to go! (you will have to do some!) After a few years, when you are one of them, it gets much easier and more relaxed about participation. That assuming you maintain MR status and currency!

Good luck

No I haven't forgotten about the white jets; I have a FAIP tour in my past so I could probably get hired flying white/smurf/oreo jets (whatever color they are these days). Of course I don't know about commuting to Laughlin...

I also got a lead on a job working as a reserve CAOC guy. Anyone have any experience with this type of job as a reservist?

Caoc?
 

Yes, I've worked CAOC and didn't care much for it! Of course I'm a Tanker driver! It may be OK IF you already have a job offer, if not I would stick with the something that keeps me in the cockpit! Took me 4 years of building time before multiple offers. That was 4 after seperating weeks before 9/11! My advice about the guard/reserve and saying anything is from what I saw in my unit. Just some friendly advice that is VERY GOOD. In time you become "part of the family", just not as fast as AD. Also never ever say "on AD we did it this way"!!!! kiss of death (even if your correct!) sometimes rules don't apply to them!

Good Luck!

If you would pass on ANY flying job to work in the CAOC....I don't know what to say next.

You fly fighters in the Air Force?:confused:

Something ain't right here. Say why are you getting out of the Air Force again?

I guess how much you make in the USAFR varies widly depending on the aircraft and unit. I made well over 40k in the USAFR as an O-3/O-4 with no deployments while on probation. I also knew plenty of O-4s who made over 100k bumming.