Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve?
 

I have been contemplating both the Air National Guard or the Air Force Reserve.
1. Is it really difficult to get a pilot slot in either one?
2. How does one go about applying?
3. If I had a medical disqualification from enlisting in the Navy years back, do they have the same standards?

Thanks!

:D AH! But the question is........are they contemplating YOU!

yes - all military flight slots are very competitive - but you'll never know if you are until you try. (Just have a few backup plans)

NUMEROUS threads on this subject, pus check out baseops.net' forums for more in-depth inforamtion (hint - - read MUCH MORE before posting over there)
:eek: YIKES!
You had a medically disqualifying condition for enlisting in the US Navy? If so - - military flight physical are QUITE A BIT more stringent. Unless it is something that has disappeared over time or gotten a lot better that is not good and does not bode well....but again - try and have them tell you NO.

What he said. If you care to share the nature and status of the medical issue, folks here might be able to guess at whether or not that could be overcome.

Stop contemplating the Reserves...go Guard.

stop cotemplating the military for 12-14 years of your life. get the cfi and be done with it in 4.

Disregard ClarenceOver, just about everyone who served said it was the best, most rewarding experience of their lives. The training is vastly better, the challenges will define your flying abilities; the responsibilities will make you a better person, PERIOD.

If you qualify medically, pursue every unit that will open the doors; speak with a recruiter, tell him exactly that you want a UPT slot, and get introduced to the flying squadron operations officers. Do NOT give up, if you think you are running into a wall. Persistence counts and is rewarded.

GF

This. The reserves is like an extension of active duty. The guard has way more leniencies.

Hmm. It's just a different business. Each state has their own set of rules for specific things. The Guard is less standardized from state to state. Yes, the Reserve can be more seamless with the Active Duty but I assure you it is not an extension. Any Reservist will tell you that their QOL is better in the USAFR than RegAF. Apply to every unit where you might possibly consider living (or commuting to) and go with the one that hires you (Guard or Reserve). As the flood gates open up from Active Duty, the part time slots will be more competitive. There is currently a lot of turnover in the full time (Air Reserve Technician) slots because lots of folks are bailing for the airlines. The ART world will become the soft landing for guys between Active Duty and the airlines.

Disregard ClarenceOver, just about everyone who served said it was the best, most rewarding experience of their lives. The training is vastly better, the challenges will define your flying abilities; the responsibilities will make you a better person, PERIOD.





lolololololol. or you could get there FASTER. you cant even get into the navy and you expect to become a pilot. HAH.

Thanks for all the responses!

Apply to as many units as your can(Guard and Reserve). Some units may have more applicants than others. I see guard and reserve guys get picked up fast for airlines thanks to their military experience.

Plus lets be real. Would you rather build time air dropping humvees into country, flying formation with 3 other F-15s, or teaching college kids how to do power-on stalls in a Cessna 152?

As a SQ/ DO, I sent maybe 20 guys and gals to UPT. Everyone is at, or very competitive for a legacy job. They are IP/SEFEs with several thousand hours of heavy jet time and lots of networking. I doubt anyone who went thru ATP and is at a regional is even close to being hired. At least 10 of those guys and gals are at majors or legacies.

No, the criteria is the same, but the ANG is somewhat more willing to pursue waivers. Rush some units, take the physical and let THEM say no, don't self-eliminate by listening to online posters with no medical knowledge.

GF

I have a slight curvature in my spine that prevented me from enlisting in the Navy, so it isn't one that can be cured. I was just wondering if the guard or reserves had less rigorous medical criteria?

the navy has the less stringent standards than the other branches. if you reported it in meps and they know then you are probably screwed. so how does atp sound now huh

Somebody urinate in your Cheerios this morning?

are you saying he seriously has a chance at being a military pilot with a screwed up back? if this is true please enlighten me

Slight scoliosis is not disqualifying for a flight physical. They will X-Ray your back for your initial and let you know. There is no difference in medical standards between the reserve component and active duty.

Thanks for the answers! I'm probably going to research it a bit more and give it one more go.

Do you....like movies about gladiators?

Yes, it's possible. It's possible that the test was performed wrong, or it might be waiverable. The doctors and techs don't care at all if you pass or fail a test. You're just a number to them. You are your only advocate (and maybe your unit if Guard).

During my first flight physical before going to OTS (not the MEPs physical) I failed an eyesight test. I was devastated but did some research, got ahold of the AFI for the test (thanks to baseops.net and Dr Google).

The tech had performed the test incorrectly. All my recruiter cared about was trying to get me to accept another job. I asked him to set up another test. On the second test I was very prepared, I knew the exact range of acceptable numbers and how the test should be performed.

This time an AF eye Doctor performed the test. He also performed the test wrong. I pointed out his mistake and he read ministered the test. When he got the results he said "you failed". I asked him "what were the numbers?". He said "it doesn't matter there terrible". "What were the numbers" I asked again. He gave me the numbers and they were within limits for my age range. I pointed this out and he said "well I guess you passed, but these numbers are terrible". "Yeah, well I passed and that's what matters".

Bottom line, if I hadn't pushed this myself I wouldn't have gotten in. I've met lots of people who say "I wanted to be an Air Force pilot, but couldn't because of x problem" usually the problem they had wasn't really an issue, but I don't point that out unless they are young and still have a shot. The difference between them an me is that I didn't accept the "no" until I had exhausted all options.

Again, nobody cares about these tests as much as you do, so you have to fight for yourself.

I'm sure this wasn't your intent as your message but I'd also prefer it if my country's pilots flying our most expensive military aircraft aren't ones finding loop holes to get past poor medical condition/eyesight.

Reread the post.

I didn't find a "loophole". The test was administered incorrectly...twice. All I did was point that out to the doctor. When I retested, I tested within the correct range (in other words I passed). The whole point is that mistakes happen and it's up to you (the applicant) to catch them and correct them.


The test was for accommodation by the way, which has to do with how close to your eyes you can focus. This is not a test that you'd ever see at an FAA exam. My vision at the time was 20/10 and is now about 20/20 (though I think I will need reading glasses soon).

I'm convinced 1/3 of the pilots in the Air Force at some point had to challenge the Flight Surgeon kingdom to get/retain their jobs. There are a lot of Junior Varsity players in medical that don't know their own regs and do their jobs with minimal competence. I had a similar story as well...D-Bag flight surgeon told me I can challenge the results but I would never be an Air Force pilot. I think about that moron every day I put on a Flight Suit.


Few of these regs exist to preserve our "expensive" aircraft. The bulk of the regs serve as an arbitrary weeding-out. When short on pilots, the regs suddenly relax. Most of us are flying airliners painted gray with "USAF" slapped on the side. The Astronaut Physical should be for actual astronauts.

Air Guard first choice, then Reserves, then Active Duty. But definitely Guard if you have a choice.

+1

For every Air Force rule there is an equal and opposite Guard waiver.

For every Air Force rule there are at least two more Air Force Reserve rules

Now that's funny...and probably true!

Admit nothing, make them find the problem.

Yeah, rack up that 150k in debt for s&$@ pay flying crappy routes for many years or fly all over the world, get paid for tons of time off, oh and get better training for pay! And then double dip for 20 years. Really a No brainer, go all ATP's! Republic is within reach!!!

Double Dip? Could you work for both the airlines and guard the whole time? for 20 years ? how is that possible? what about legacy ? how can you work at the guard and then get hired at a legacy?

Yes you can work for guard/reserve and any airline concurrently for as long as the military will let you stay (20-30 years, assuming you get promoted enough). Legally, airlines have to release you for practically all military duty, and in the grand scheme of things airlines are a lot more flexible than most other employers.

He was being sarcastic. Athough you CAN be a guard or Res baby and go directly to a legacy. Happens all the time

Are you retarded?

Another thing...working two jobs is not "double dipping", it's working.

Double-dipping in military context means a reservist whose civilian employer continues to pay his regular salary while on military duty, either for a limited amount of time (typically 30 fays/year) or indefinitely. Most civil servants enjoy this benefit, but not surprisingly very few private sector employees.