ANG or AF RESERVES?
 

Please give any pros or cons you may know for each.

I have almost got my "packet" together for a pilot slot... Just trying to make the right decision here on which to apply to. If you have first hand experience, and want to provide some input, then thanks in advance for your help!

I still haven't completely ruled out Active Duty either...

You should apply to all three. You'd be lucky to get an offer either way.

That was actually my initial plan, and the recommendation of my recruiter (even though he said that "technically" you are not supposed to do so). I am aware of how competitive it is, and am doing everything in my power to make myself as competitive as possible. I was really just trying to hear what differences there are between AF RES or the ANG.

I understand that the ANG is controlled by the US GOV as well as the STATE GOV. And from what I understand you can apply to a specific unit, and if selected for a pilot slot, will be guaranteed that units A/C (upon successful completion of UPT). This differs from Active Duty in that the aircraft and location you end up in depends on 1) the needs of the military, and 2) the rank you finish in UPT.

Really, I am just looking for someones first hand experience with either. Again, thanks in advance for the help.

Does anything stand out as a PRO or a CON over the other???

Your recruiter (im assuming reserve) is saying that because they want you in the reserves, not the guard.. they are your RESERVE recruiter... Why even mention it? I had guard and reserve interviews scheduled, and ended up in the reserves... differences I saw was the ANG squadron was a lot smaller, a lot more relaxed....they also seem a bit more difficult to get into, they are tight knit, like a family and like to hire from within..... Again, apply everywhere. They know you are going to have your package all over the place....You are very lucky to get picked by any of them.... I only made it to one interview though, got offered the job at my first one and took it.....

Thank you for your input. Believe it or not, my recruiter is an Active Duty recruiter. As I said, I plan on applying to all. I should probably rephrase the original post; Not only have I not ruled out AD, I am probably even leaning that way now. I definitely have not ruled out any option.

I do know that the ANG gigs tend to be more competitive. Luckily, I have a good friend at a nearby unit that I hope could help pull some strings to at least get me an interview.

From what you know, are there any differences in duty required, or pay, or benefits, or anything of that nature between the two??? I can't seem to find many, if any at all.

I have wanted this for awhile...Just trying to get any UNBIASED info I can from guys that are actually doing it. I am ready to get out of Cessna's!

Apples, Oranges, and Bananas
 

dcutting:

The Guard and Reserves, from the pilot's perspective, are almost identical. The money is Federal in the Reserves; it's state in the Guard. Whether active, Guard, or Reserve, the airplanes all say "U.S. Air Force" on the side.

In the Guard or Reserve, you sign up for one unit, and most hope to spend their whole career there. However, if your unit gets closed to save the budget, you might have more options in the Reserve...you have national options. In your state's Guard, your primary options are in that state; then you could try to get on with another state. This is an assumption on my part, as I was active-duty and am currently a Reservist...never been a Guardsman.

Pay is identical in the Guard or Reserve for the same pay status (and there are 4 different pay statuses). I don't understand the "Technician" positions, so I won't address that.

If you want part-time work, the Guard or Reserve is the way to go. It's difficult to get a full-time position (AGR) in the Guard or Reserve at most units. If you are a part-timer, your family doesn't get health-care unless you are on 32 days of orders or more.

In the Guard or Reserve, you don't get any retirement pay until you turn 60, although recent rule-changes may allow you to see it as "early" as 58 or 59. Regardless, you don't get retirement medical until you turn 60.

Active-duty: you'll move every three years, you may not fly for more than 10 years out of 20. Overall, I would say it is harder to make LtCol in the active AF than the Guard or Reserve. You will get 30 days of paid vacation a year (not necessarily all at once), and the day after you retire, you can get medical. You get a retirement check the beginning of the next month.

They're all good options. Pick the one that suits your life the best, and if not given multiple-choice, take the one offered.

dcuttin,

I was 8 AD Air Force (T-38s and C-130s), 15 AFRS, retired 5 years. I'd say apply AG, Res, AD, and Navy. Take the first offer you get. Either way you'll love it, and swear you can't imagine you ever thought about the other three.

Good info. What I highlighted in bold was another question that I had: which you answered. I have been told "why don't you just go reserves and work full time?" That seems like the best of both worlds, in that you won't be relocated every 3, and that you could go part-time more or less whenever you wanted. But, as with most things in life, I assumed that would be an even harder position (maybe lucky) to land.
Now the Navy is something that I HAVE NOT devoted much time into researching. Just the idea of living on a ship for that long doesn't sound too appealing. But hey, if they'll let me fly, I could reconsider:o. I should be so lucky...I think I will do a littler more research on em'. I am assuming that you don't mention ARMY or MARINES just because of their lower percentage of fixed wing slots?

I made about $3000/mo as a 2Lt "troughing" ("guard bumming" if you're in the guard) before I went to my Airline Job. There is usually enough inactive pay-status days in a month to make that much, even if your unit doesn't have you on full-time orders. Even more if your unit has some kind of alert obligation...this varies based on airframe and location. Remember, as a young Lieutenant out of UPT (Save money in UPT too!), you'll be on orders for quite a while anyways while you get "mission ready." About a year later, you'll probably get another set of long orders (6-12 months) to upgrade. If you're really hurting for cash, do a desert rotation, etc...

Depending on how young you are, $3000/mo may be enough for you to call it a "full time" job...and you'll be making as much as a 3rd year Regional FO.

If you got P-3s in the navy you will not end up on a ship also I have tons of Navy friends who spent very little time on sea duty..Oh and another thing nothing wrong with Rotary...lol let your fixed winged friends try to Hover... lol