detpilot

Posted this over in baseops, with no response as of yet.

In planning for the future, I'm curious as to what would work out better logistically; living close to your Reserve/guard base and commuting to an airline job, or living in your airline base and driving a certain distance to the guard unit. Are there barracks available if you were to come from a decent distance away and wanted to sleep on the base? Whats the farthest you'd live from your base (Driving time), assuming you were a traditional guardsman? 2 hours? 3? 5 hours?

Thanks.

geddy lee

What aircraft for the guard? Fighters have a high requirement of squares to fill each month these days that make it (almost) impossible to be a commuter. It can be done but would wear you out pretty quickly. Heavies can get more done per sortie, swap seats in-flight, weather generally is not as much of an issue, etc... I know more heavy guys that commute to the guard than fighter guys...

Jetjok

Personally I've always lived close to my guard base and commuted to my airline job. There are of course pros and cons to living in one place rather than the other, and only you will be able to attach some sort of value to those pros and cons.

However, I've got friends who live closer to their main job (not flying related) and so they drive to the guard. The one in particular I'm thinking of lived about 140 miles away, and so he would schedule two consecutive days of guard work, ie, drill, ftp, ad, special ad, etc, and he would then be entitled to a hotel room. He use to put in for mileage and per diem, but I believe those rules have changed. If you talk with your guard unit, they'll clue you in on the ins and outs of maximizing your pay and entitlements. We had a number of other airline types who lived as far away as South Florida, commuting up to Connecticut. By the way, during this time, my guard unit was an A-10 unit.

JJ

HoursHore

With a heavy unit, you'll have guys living al over the country commuting to the unit. We have guys that live in NH, FL, NV, WA commuting to my central midwest state unit.

detpilot

Thanks guys, that's what I was wondering. It's a heavy unit, and I'm not in yet... just trying to get as much information as possible.

Deuce130

Keep in mind the very real possibility your unit might get activated at some point in the future. It would be tough for you and your family to live in State X while you were working five days a week at your unit in State Y. I've done it both ways, and I prefer to live near my AFRC base.

detpilot

If activated, you don't live on the base?

rickair7777

Rarely. Base housing is limited, most officers live out in town. The waitin list is usually long...by the time a mobed reservist's number came up, he would probably be getting demobed.

As to the original question...I vastly prefer to live near military activities. That way I can react quickly when stuff needs to be taken care of (I am leadership), and things like SIPR and VTC are available.

With the airlines you know your schedule in advance, and when you commute in to work you don't have to rent a car...when your flight blocks in you are there.

crewdawg

View from a fighter squadron.

We have guys that live 3-4 states away but live close to where they work. They manage to get all their stuff done but I would guess they are more "current" than proficient. It's hard for them to meet the min. requirements sometimes, especially when the weather is bad. We had a dude last week drive 150 miles, spend two days here and get zero flying. Two wasted days away from the family.

Small consolation but if you live >100 miles from your guard/reserve base, you can write off all your travel expenses, when you stay overnight.

TankerBob

I am a guard bum, and I live an hour and half away. I am currently looking for something closer because the drive is getting old after 3 years of it. If you are traditional at a unit that isn't busy, I would say live where you want. However if you unit is busy, which most are these days, I would live closer to the base then the airline, since its more fun and the pay most of the time is better.