Fjeter and Jesterc-
I'm a 21 year old wisher, dreaming of being an ANG pilot like yourselves and have spent PLENTY of time researching. First of all the ANG is QUITE a bit different when it comes to recruiting for pilots than active duty military branches. When they recruit, they recruit by Base. Each base usually has one or two pilot slots open up every year. Applying for those slots is alot like applying for a job. You send in your package, and if your lucky, you get a call for an interview. JESTERC, this is where you'll have the biggest trouble. Cause here you can't really explain the GPA. But IF you DO get the interview, be prepared to have a good explination about it and make it sound good. In the interview its ALL about the person as a whole. Make the board (Who by the way is made up of the actual pilots who are in the squardron you are applying for, and potentially flying with) understand it and think its not a big deal cause your such a great guy.
And to Fjetter, you actually don't HAVE to go through any training to GET the pilot slot! It only helps your chances of getting the slot. once you GET the slot, then you have to go to basic and UPT.
Now the biggest difference of the ANG and other branches comes at UPT. All the others go to UPT competing with each other for the best pilots spots, and don't nessicarily get what they want, and DEFINATELY don't know where they will end up before hand. In the ANG however you DO know. Though you go to the EXACT same school as they do, while they compete against each other, you are only competing against yourself. When you get the slot and go to UPT, you know what your flying and where your flying, and only have to prove that you deserve the spot you've been given.

 

You guys do realize the Air Force Reserve exists right? All this talk of ANG and no love for the Reserves.

 

Most units require a cover letter with application packages. It may be a good idea for you to address your GPA issue in that. If I were you, I'd call up the unit(s) you're interested in and start rushing them. Once you get to know the bros in the squadron, bring up your low GPA to the sqcc, do, chief pilot or someone who's going to have some pull in the hiring process. Make friends with the Lt or Capt who's collecting packages too (everyone loves booze). I guarantee you that units would take a good dude with a 2.31 over an asshat with a 4.0.

ANG4me, don't rule out AFRC: very similar to the ANG, except there is no obligation to the Governor. AFRC units still do help with disasters (airlift people out ahead of a hurricane, etc). Some say that the ANG avoids the Active Duty BS better than the Reserves do, but I'm not in a position to compare.

Best of luck to both of you.

 

Very true but a Big difference between the two, that may make a difference for these guys, is that in the AFRC, you don't know where or what your flying before UPT. Other than that thought, plenty of love here for the AFRC! And I'm definitely not ruling it out for myself.

 

I think you're confusing AFRC with going through the OTS (AD) application process. Reservists are hired by individual units just like they are in the ANG.

There are AFRC/ANG threads posted in this forum on a seemingly weekly basis. Take some time to read through them and get the info you need. Also head over to baseops and wantscheck and read. Key word: read. Don't ask questions that have already been asked and certainly don't make statements that are blatantly incorrect. Edit: I'm not trying to be mean here, just trying to save you some hassle over on those less friendly boards.

 

No need to jump on a high horse and put other people down. I'm not hear to say I know more than you, and will be the first to admit that I've done minimal research on the AFRC and what info I have gotten may very well have been false. A simple your wrong would have done.

 

The Reserve (AFRC) system from hiring to juggling civilian/Military life works identically to the ANG. Don't miss out on quite a few units that I guess you accidentally ignored. In the same token, when you go to Units, don't go to a Reserve guy and ask about the "Guard" or go to a Guard guy and ask how he likes the "Reserves." As with any interview in life, know who your interviewer actually works for. We're kind of like twins, but you better know our names.

 

The ANG DOES avoid the active duty BS better than the Reserves. I'm sure there are reservists on this forum that could chime in with their own examples. Stories I've personally heard from reservists is how different their promotions are and their deployment schedules. There is a lot less red tape for the Air Force to go through to abuse a reserve unit compared to a guard unit.

Good luck to everyone in the job hunt. I was 20 when I was hired and am thankful every day for it. Hard to believe it was 10 years ago.

 

Honestly, its not enough that it should turn a kid away from the reserves. It also depends on Airframe. If dealing with just a little (we're talking VERY little) more crap turns you're stomach, you don't belong in any component of the Air Force. We're talking about street hires with no prior service, they're getting a pretty sweet deal for a free Commercial-Multi and various type ratings, and career stability. You might spend a month or two deployed longer than in the Guard over a 20 year career. Not a big deal. And while it is easier to activate an entire Reserve Unit, it's still hard to do. Honestly, the BS you're talking about shouldn't even be on the radar of a 21 year old, and most of that is at Reserve Associate Units. There are still plenty of Unit-Equipped Reserve Units that operate just like the Guard in every way.

 

I agree that it is going to be unit/airframe specific. Several guys from my guard unit have transferred to reserve units and all I'm doing is passing along some of the gripes I've heard from them. These same gripes I've heard at my civilian job from reservists. If a 21 year old wants to chaff it off, fine. I'm not telling them the reserve is crap, just that there ARE differences.

BTW, the guard isn't perfect either. There are some bad squadrons/units out there.