ANG Loadmaster
 

I am strongly thinking about joining the Alaska Air National Guard as a loadmaster. Currently I am going to school, and it sounds like I would have to take a semester off to get through all the training. Is that right?

If you are a loadmaster, how do you like the job? What are some good, and bad aspects of it?

Thanks.

I was a C-5 loadmaster for 7 years and have been on the C-130 for the last 3. Plan on a year for all the training.
-Basic Training -2 months
-Basic LM -1 month
-Airframe specific training 2-4 months
-Survival School- 3 weeks.

You'll also do about 6 months of OJT back at your home unit once you are done with all your training. It's a great job, one of the best enlisted jobs out there. You get to travel a lot. You get a lot of responsibility. The job does get old after a while, especially if you have a family at home.

Thank you.

This might be a unit specific question, but can you pick what airframe you go on? I would like to get on with the C-17.

In the ANG, you join a particular squadron, so by default you will be dealing with whatever equipment that squadron has.

Not a loadmaster but I think it would be a great job. That said, everyone's different, not for me to say what you'd like.

I would caution to look into deeply, not sure how friendly a job that will be for a college student. On the active duty side our LMs find it very difficult to go to college with the unpredictable schedules and TDY. Realize it's different on Guard side, but if you're a C17 load, if you're working by default you're most likely gone. The Hercs maybe not so TDY, but they do deploy quite a bit (parts of the unit, not entire unit).

So you cant choose to become active duty once you are done with school? It sounded like I would be active duty until training was complete, then I could become active duty again after I finished school.

The particular wing in Anchorage operates HH-60s, C-17s, and C-130s. Is there a separate squadron for each of those?

Something else to keep in mind: you'll be somewhat at the whim of scheduling, and it's fairly likely that you could quickly finish basic training and then wait a couple weeks for BLM, then wait another couple weeks for survival school, etc. Also, keep in mind that once you finish all your initial training, your squadron will want to get you "mission ready" which typically takes some time - anything from shooting the M9/M16, aircrew and ground chem defense, flying local familiarization sorties, flying a couple supervised overseas sorties, etc.

At the end of a major training event like C-17 initial qualification, you'll probably have some "prog tour" days that are already funded for you to get mission ready and gain experience and continuity. I'm not sure how the ANG works, but on the reserve side I think you get 120 days to 6 months of continuous orders after you graduate initial qual.

The bottom line: a semester off sounds reasonable. Maybe even 2 semesters depending on scheduling.

Disclaimer: I'm not a LM and I didn't go through this process. These are just my observations.

Good luck! No matter what the airframe, you'll enjoy the flying more than you're enjoying school!
Riddler

Brother I ain't going to lie, I don't even understand the question. You will be on active duty status as a Guardsman while in training and for some set period of time after you return to Anchorage for "seasoning." The you will most likely revert to "traditional" status (theoretically one weekend a month and two weeks a year--pretty hard to be a flyer and do only that much).

At any point you can apply to join active duty, your training/rank transfers pretty easily if the active duty is looking for loadmasters. Seems like this is always the case. Do you want to go active or go guard? Like I said, don't understand the question.

The 176th does operate 60's, 17's and two kinds of 130's, which are you applying to fly? My limited guard knowledge is that you apply to a squadon, each hires it's own. Have you talked to them, are they even hiring? Are they interested in you?

You answered my question right there. I wasnt sure when I reverted to traditional status.

I want to go guard until I am done with school, then go active.

They are currently looking for people. I am just trying to get some info before I deal with the recruiter.

I hope that made a bit more sense.

Now I'm with you. First, keep in mind I'm active duty and a pilot, so take my advice for what it's worth.

Heard nothing but great things about entire 176th, but the only part I know is the 249th (C17), been working with them for years. Great unit, great group of guys, you'd have a great time.

Flying is more than 1 weekend a month/ 2 weeks a year. I think it will be a challenge as a college student. Granted, more you work more money you make, which is a good thing. Just be aware the commitment you'd be buying into.

When you say you want to go active when you finish college that brings up 2 questions:

1--Why in the world would you want to do that?

2--Active as a load, or would you seek a commission?

Keep in mind the guard recruits for the guard, you might not want to mention your intent to go active once you finish college.