grant123

Can someone explain some of the differences between a ANG vs. Reserve career?
Can you still fly for a commercial airline if with either a ANG/Reserve unit?
I am also looking for ANG/Rserve units that operate the C-17?
Any tips on where I could look or can someone list them for me please?

rickair7777

Air National Guard and reserves are very, very similar. The main difference is that reserves are funded totally by the federal government, while guard units normally get some funding from the state as well as a lot of federal funding. The reserves will normally only be mobilized for federal missions often overseas (ie war, contingency). Guard units can also be mobilized by the state governor, normally in response to natural disaster. Infantry, helo, and airlift units have an obvious role during a disaster...fighters, not so much. There are also cultural differences in the guard, and career progression may be slower and longer.

Yes, you can have a civilian job of any sort, and most folks do (there are some full-time jobs at guard/reserve units). Airline people have a lot more flexibility to do military duty than the typical corporate manager.

There are C-17's at March AFB in Riverside CA and the Charleston SC AFB, among other places. Check out baseops.net for more info.

Sputnik

C-17 Guard
Jackson, Miss
Elmendorf, AK
Hickam, HI

C-17 Reserves
McChord, WA
Travis, CA
March, CA
Dover, DE
McGuire, NJ
Charleston, SC

Think that's about it but probably missed some. Rumors of more (Wright-Patt?) and probably will be if Congress keeps refusing to axe the line.

grant123

Thank you for the great info...

One thing I was also wondering about was aircraft type. I hear about the bidding process and changing of aircraft types/positions with the airlines. Is this possible in the military? What happens if a unit changes to a different aircraft type? C-141 to the C-17?? If you currently fly for the Illinois ANG, can you "transfer" to say the Arizona ANG??

blastoff

Yes, but you will not be "bidding" on it. You will have to be "hired" by the new unit (interview and beat out other candidates) and your commander at your old unit will have to release you...the latter can be a challenge at some units.

Jetjok

From a deployment perspective, the major difference between the ANG and the Air Force Reserve is the fact that in the Guard, an individual cannot be called up to active duty or deployed, whereas in the Reserve, they can activate anyone they may need, individually. That might not be a biggie to some, but it could play hell with a civilian career, although not so much an airline career.

JJ