As an Air Force pilot, is it possible to x-train into the tailhook side of the Navy when your AF commitment is up or will you be too old at that point?

 

Not sure. I would think if you could get a Navy Reserve squadron to hire you, it could happen, or are you talking AD Navy? Did you track 38s? Have you checked airwarriors?

 

Look up inter-service transfer, it's been done. My brother was a RAG instructor who had a ex-USAF F-15 guy who did it fly the F-14. Not very often done, though. Exchange a possibility?

GF

 

What exactly are you trying to accomplish?

I can tell you on the Naval Reserve side they don't take off the street, and you'll have a tough time getting hired into SELRES without straight up being current and qualified in what they fly. The same can be said for Guard/Reserve these days. Money is tight and there's plenty of qualified people on the street as opposed to what the airline wave cheerleaders may tell you.

I do know of a buddy o mine who went from -16s @ Homestead to Navy Aggressors in Belle Chase/NOLA. That's not something I would hang my hat on. That's just him being well connected, which is what got him the job in Homestead in the first place.

If I were you, the best bet would be to apply to AF Guard/Reserve units. Sure, apply to Navy Res units if you're interested but recognize the paperwork adds complexity and time.

As to AD to AD. I have no idea. I ask again, what exactly are you trying to accomplish?

 

Hindsight, as you eluded to it IS possible to transition to SELRES from USAF to USNR...but I agree off the street not so much. NOLA tends to hire USAF guys, I know 2 personally. I would imagine VR/VFC have taken dudes as well from the Air Force. I know several AF guys have transitioned to SELRES in the TRACOM as well and fly with their SAUs.

FLY,

AD to AD would be problematic for no other reason than the Navy would want you to be able to compete with your peers and it is just not possible. About the only option you might have is the USN AEDO program and that is provided you havea test background in the USAF.

Bdgerjmn

 

It is possible,... I'd guess the Navy just doesn't want to "go there".
I say this based on the fact that I've seen a ton of AD-to-AD interservice transfers (IST) in my career coming into the AF. We've even had some of them get command of squadrons.
Quality officers will usually make the cut, although it may be a harder road for them.
In the U-2, we've done a great job of getting our IST's promoted. Additionally, one of our squadrons is commanded by a former S-3 pilot, and another by a former Harrier pilot.

 

Huggy, I agree, big Navy has shown a propensity to scoff at ISTs and not take care of them, though I suppose it is possible if the stars aligned, just haven't seen it in my time. I think that S-3 guy was a former T-45 IP of mine in Kingsville back in the day.

 

Stranger things have happened. Dude in my interview group here @ CBP came out of Army C-12s, he is now flying Navy reserves 737's in Cali. He interviewed twice before they took him, but he hadn't even flown fixed wing in a couple years.

 

I know that a few communities take people from other services, but I think the bolded part above makes the question a little different in some respects (meaning harder than the average bear). Initial qual would mean time spent (and cost associated) with going through the RAG; isn't that right BDGERJMN?

 

If you're an air to air guy, VFC (adversary) is a possibility, if not VR (cargo) and TRACOM are your best bets, especially if you trained with the Navy at some point. The Navy has no AD transport beyond COD (Carrier Onboard Delivery) so all of the pilots are new to the equipment and many adversary slots are in planes not flown by AD.