I am pretty sure the answer is no but I figured it may have a lottery player's chance.

Can you retire from AD and then go and join the reserves? I am about to retire from the Navy where I am a ground officer and would love to go to the reserves as a pilot.

Again just asking and I think I know the answer.

 

I'm pretty sure you cannot retire from a federal component and join the reserves.

But you might be able to get into the guard in some states, I have seen some really weird manpower arrangements in the guard. You might have to forfeit part of your retiremnet pay equal to your guard pay...ie work for free.

As far as flying, you would already need to be winged, I'm not sure if you are or not. If not, you are too old, period...no way you can retire with 20 and still meet the age cutoff for flight training.

 

The Air Force (and I believe the Coast Guard) currently have provisions for you to Retire and go into the Reserves. The Dept of the Navy does not. There are Title 10 law changes that the DON never asked for when the others did - so it is against policy, and Title 10.

If you look in the USAF Retire / Recall thread you can see my posts about trying to get into the USAF Reserves as a Retired Marine Pilot. No luck.

Good Luck,
Bayou

 

This is true it can be done in the AF. How do I know? I did it. Currently in the AF Reserves. That being said, I only know this to be done when retiring from AF active duty and going to AF Reserves. It is on a case by case basis and it depends on the AFSC. I believe going to a rated AFSC under this program will NOT work. I was rated on AD for 14 years then changed to a Foreign Affairs AFSC for the last 11. Then went into the AF Reserves as a Foreign Affairs Officer. You will have to speak to a knowlegable AF Reserve Recruiter. Recommend you speak to MSgt Damien Maddox at ARPC (303) 676 7057. He will hand you off to the RMG at Warner Robbins, I just don't have their contact info.

 

From personal experience, I know that you can in do this. I will say that the unit has to want you very badly, and it takes a minimum of six months to get it through all the wickets. Your unit will have to continually advocate for you throughout the six months to get your paperwork through each of the offices along the way. They have to convince every office along the way of why they need you instead of a non-retired guy. They can't even start the application process until you are actually retired. There are a couple of guys in my unit that are doing this, and are actively flying. They are a real bargain, because they are working for very little money. They lose retired pay on the days they work, so they are essentially working for about half pay. To tell you the truth, I'm amazed that they even bother with it.