Inside a year out...just only thinking about it puts you close to Vstall.

As the hiring guy here at Dover, I've had to turn a lot of people down because they were simply too late and we didn't have room for them.

The guys we have been picking up started the process and networking much more than a year out. Many squadrons are at desired manning levels, so open slots are few and far between.

Guards reserve jobs are not a given.

 

The Navy reserve squadrons have had some manning issues the past couple years. Consider rushing them as well, depending on whether one is local/commutable.

 

This right here.
Being proactive and precise planning is key to success. I rushed the reserve units when I was still on AD (2 years out) and was hired before I separated. I communicated with the reserve unit what I was doing (planning on getting passed over twice by not doing PME) and they were cool with the idea but did inform me that I needed the PME completed before coming over since I still needed to be promotable in the reserves. I was also offered a job with my choice airline just before separating and was in class during terminal leave. All this was happening with stop loss in effect. Of course, stop loss was eventually lifted. I was very blessed.
I recommend having multiple backup plans. Remember Murphy's law!

 

Usta not be unusual to see Senior Airmen with Command wings.

 

???.......

 

Before DOPMA.

 

Depends on the unit. I can tell you my -135 unit is darn desperate for pilots right now. Between this past year and this year coming up, we'll be down over 10 Lt Col's from retirements. People just aren't going to put up with the rotating mobilizations with no end in sight without dropping papers. We even lost people under 20 to non-deployable Guard/Reserve jobs. People are spent and we can't keep up with it. When most of them are 10-12 year FO's on wide bodies making $200k a year, they don't need the Guard. From a leadership standpoint, you're always between a rock and a hardplace keeping guys after 20. They're your most experienced guys you don't want to get rid of, but they hold your nuts in their hands when i comes to controlling manpower. It helps to have more people in the 10-15 yr range when times are tough.

 

Heard a story about one of those guys at a unit in Vietnam: a complete loser, hated the AF, hung around with suspicious characters, and was absent a lot. He disappeared for several weeks, but then one day he stopped in to say goodbye. He was an O-6 who had been under cover with OSI, and had just busted a large theft ring.

 

Which unit? How desperate?

 

You've got a PM.