ANG Commuting
 

Question for Guard pilots out there. Do most ANG pilots live in or very close to the city where their Guard base is, or is it possible to commute in if your civilian company is CASS? Are there any other ways to commute to your guard base, if you live quite a long distance from it?

What are the downsides to living several hours drive from your guard base? Is this a bad idea?
What is your typical flight schedule like?

If you want to go on orders after UPT and finish your quals, can that get approved very easily?

Is it posible to transfer guard units after several years if my wife has to move for her job because I am a pilot and obviously not the primary breadwinner?
I am putting a package together and just trying to get some opinions/info. Thanks

Generally for reservists who are airline pilots, a double commute is a bad idea...ie you want to live at either your airline domicile or your military duty station. You do not want to have to commute to two different jobs, especially if you are married.

You can use your jumpseat/nonrev privileges to commute, although there is always some risk that you will be late on occasion. But guard/reserve units usually understand that we need some flexibility, so it shouldn't be a problem if you are generally reliable.

There is a remote possibility that you could "non-rev" on military airplanes to/from guard duty (Military Space-A). But this is not as easy as airline non-reving, and is even harder for guard/reserve. Basically you would need a daily milk run between your home town and guard unit city. Even then, you can (and will) get bumped off any time, any where. Best to stick with the airlines for that.

If you live close to your base, you may have more opportunity to pick up extra drills...or you might get sucked into that whether you want to or not. Of course the same can be said of airline domiciles, but I would rather live at my military duty station...it allows me to be more of a participant in the unit, as well as a go-to guy.

You can switch guard/reserve units, but there has to be an opening where you want to go. In the reserves your commitment can be fulfilled at any reserve unit. Not 100% sure about the guard, but I think that is true for them also.

I am a reservist, but have many, many Guard friends, and I can tell you the VERY first thing they want to hear at a hiring board is how you have always wanted to live in their city and were hugely upset with your mom for not giving birth to you in their great state. All kidding aside, it is my observation that units want to hire locals. The few units I interviewed with(ANG and AFRES) before getting my current gig, were VERY interested in my settling down in their area. Now that is not to say there are guys that commute in, but they have been on those units a long time, and is also not to say it is impossible to get hired as a nonlocal, I know of one or two guys out there, but they had awesome connections in the unit.

As for full-time orders after UPT, most units will put you on "seasoning orders" for one year. That may vary from unit to unit as budgets vary.

Transferring guards units happens, although I would not mention that as an option for you when you interview. Guys move around to follow a change in their airline base or just want to move, but you want to walk in the door with the attitude of "I have been wanting to live in your city my whole life."

Are commuters paid for per diem or mileage if they live a certain distance from the unit?

Yes, if their orders are for less than 180 days consecutive (or 139 for a school tour).

Thanks for the info, how about UTA weekends or AFTPs?

It's not all paid for if I remember my interview info correctly. One of them, either drills or AFTPs are on you to get there.

Generally inactive duty drills (of whatever funding) do not include transportation or per diem. They should include a hotel if you live more than 100 miles away.

I know of only one exception for reserve navy SEALs, and only cuz they needed them so badly. This in contradiction to the federal travel regs, and was done by a roundabout means. I suppose a state could do it's own thing too with a guard unit, don't know if it's been done.

Active duty (of whatever description or funding) includes travel, allowances, housing, and appropriate per diem.

I think AFRES does now pay commuting costs for IDT's up to a certain amount.

No perdiem tho.

AFRES does not pay for my IDT travel, only for a hotel. When I am on Annual Training or MPA/ADT, they pick up per diem and an airline ticket.