dudemize

Tanker-Driver and TankerDriver,

As a long time reservist, (7 yrs Army Reserve, 7 AF Reserve now), I can tell you the the reserves is a great place to be. However, things are much different now then they were just 5 years ago. The ancillary training is getting to the point of being ridiculous (at least in the strat world), lots of units activated or deployed. A know a couple C-130 guys who got off active duty just in time to get activated at their reserve units, guess where they are right now? I'm telling you this just so you have a realistic view of life in the guard/reserve (at least right now). The "flying club" days are long gone, but it is still WAY better than being on active duty!

Another good thing about the reserves is the opportunity for full time positions, whether it be AGR (preferably) or ART (Air Reserve Technician). They are both hard to come by, AGR even more so. I'm seriously considering an ART job over the airlines. Stable, decent pay, home every night, full retirement at 57 (even more attractive now that airline retirement is gonna be 65 in the next couple years). The job itself can be a pain in the ass and you will work a lot. Every ART in my squadron is a former airline pilot and none are going back, if that tells you anything.

If you want to give the airlines a shot, there is no better place to network then in the reserves! I'm betting that you'll fly with pilots at every airline out there.

Finally, to echo what jdt30 says, DO NOT DOUBLE COMMUTE!!!!!!!!!

Also, don't limit yourself to 135 units, most units hire from all backgrounds. However, the 135 is nice in that you could move anywhere and chances are there is a 135 unit nearby.

TankerDriver

dudemize,

Thanks for the tips. I see this thread is back from the dead and that I posted to it over a year ago. Well, I've been Palace Chase'd and in the ANG for about 4 months now (and love'n it). There are plenty of opportunities for bums to make money (because there aren't a lot of bums). I too may look into an AGR/technician job instead of the airlines. I don't know why, because I used to be gung-ho about doing the airline thing, but I'm not sure I want into that can of worms. We'll see. Luckily, I live 45-50 minutes away from my unit and near a major airline hub, so I've got a few options.

EFD01

TankerDriver, did you sep through normal PC, or Force Shaping PC?

TankerDriver

Force Shaping Palace Chase. I was told by my MPF that doing it that way was the only way to get approved at the moment. Not sure how much truth to that there is, but that was the way I submitted the paperwork and got an approval in about 3 weeks. It doesn't take long, so if you're going to do it, make sure you've got your "poop" together. Once they give you a separation date, you can't move it around without an act of God. Make sure you give yourself enough time to get ready and take terminal leave if you've got a lot of leave built up. I sold mine back because I didn't have a choice. My unit had a habit of deploying you after you were approved to Palace Chase (even though they're not allowed to), so I had about 3 weeks after coming back from the desert to get out of town.

flyboy9608

TankerDriver, If you go to the Guard, live at least 50 miles from the base, that way when you are on orders you will get per diem. I am enlisted in the guard and was on orders for six months, the per diem check almost doubled my pay.

TankerDriver

Well, I'm in the middle of buying a house and according to Mapquest, it's 48.97 miles away. Ain't that a b$tch.

Thank they round up?

EFD01

Everyone I know who got approved did it through Force Shaping PC.

CAFB 04-12

Sorry, what is double commuting?

TankerDriver

Double commuting would be having to commute to an airline job and to a guard unit. For example, you live in Florida, but commute to Newark, NJ to fly for Continental and also fly for the Texas Air National Guard. There are quite a few people who do this, but they tend to be more senior at the ANG and only fly in for drills and one or two flights per month. As a new guy, this is going to be very hard to do because you'll have a lot more training requirements.

L'il J.Seinfeld

I think you are not counting the distance it takes to get out of your neighborhood!! Certainly you can find 1.03 miles somewhere? Is the distance to the gate or your unit's front door?