hawgdriver

In a recent job interview for a Reserve unit the SQ CC asked me "so you're ready to come to the dark side"? I replied with "no, I'm ready to leave it". Then straight from the Group CC's mouth (paraphrasing) "you can do what you want here. You can just show up and fly and have a great career in the Reserves and retire a Major/LTC or you can continue to go for bigger things and we'll support you in what ever you want to do".

LivingInMEM

We're already seeing TR'S get passed over for O-5, do despite what anyone says it's moving towards the fact that only the O-4 portion of that statement will be true for many.

grasshopper

yep...and i think it will take quite a few years for that pendulum to swing in any other direction...then again there's always N. Korea/Iran

crewdawg

Great, that's how it should be!

I've deployed with and sat alert with other squadrons, all backed by the bosses. We have guys go up to the staff ...if that's your thing. We have part timers who barely get their sorties and others who, at times, fly more than the full timers. We had a dude go from part timer, to full time, IPUG, to WPNS school. We've also had dudes who were full time, go back to part time for other lucrative opportunities in the civilian sector. When/if this airline hiring kicks off...I'm guessing the opportunities are going to be even better. If you want to go to schools, you can generally make that happen, especially if they are paid for by someone else. Also, when/if you deploy is YOUR decision...having that decision making power is huge dudes with a family.

It's a good ride, enjoy it while you can and hope your squadron doesn't get BRACed... Don't think it can't happen to your squadron...having a good backup is key.

RogAir

"Also, when/if you deploy is YOUR decision...having that decision making power is huge dudes with a family. "

Hold on. I see a scenario where the AD is short of deployers and the AFRC is asked to cough up some bodies (One Team!!). I am not an expert, but I believe they can individually mobilize you. I am not even sure you can quit in lieu of going ( unlike a 7 day opt). It's kind of the nuclear option for the USAF, as Reservists would probably quit en masse if they knew that was on the table, but right know, I think they can do it (once again, not an expert).

crewdawg

Sure they can mobilize us, but that's not what I'm talking about. If they need us so bad that we're being mobilized...things have gone south, big time! I don't know how the Reserves do things, as I am in the ANG. I've been in well over 10 years and I have never seen any of our pilots be mobilized. I personally don't know any Air Guard pilots that have been mobilized...not saying it hasn't happened, I just don't know any.

What I'm talking about is normal AEF deployments. When our AEF comes around you generally have the choice to go or not. We never really have a problem filling trips, so it's usually not a big deal.

Is it all that often that an AD squadron would be short on pilots? I would just imagine they would tell everyone that they are deploying.

RogAir

I'm not talking about being deployed as a crew. I'm talking about getting a 365 day order to be the command post chief in the desert, or some other rated desk job that needs to be filled by a pilot/officer.

crewdawg

I wasn't either. I am the crew...we rarely deploy by ourselves

What I posted still stands. I have never seen, nor do I know of any pilot in ANG that has been tagged with a 365 or anything like that. If they are in that position, I'll bet that they volunteered for it...most likely hard up for days and dollars. Or they're trying to get to their 20 year mark.

I'm not smart on mobilizing reserve guys vs guard guys. I think it's a lot tougher to tag guard guys for jobs like that. Someone else will have to chime in on that.

golfandfly

I agree. I've been in the ANG some time now, and I've never seen a pilot get a 179/365 that they didn't volunteer for (again, on an individual basis). I have seen others, intel, security police, LRS guys, but never a pilot.

RogAir

I haven't seen it in the Reserves either; I am just warning that the way things are going, I see a scenario where it could happen. I was responding to a post where it was posited that you are bulletproof in the Reserves from a 365 (individually) to the desert....