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I'm seriously considering joining the Air Force Reserves. I need to know a few things beforehand though.
In previous years I had considered joining the active AF, but was told straight up on the "Live Advisor" line on the AF website that I couldn't because of this:
--I have a DUI on my record. I've also heard you can get waivers for these sorts of things. Before the age of 23 I was pretty stupid. I have a few speeding tickets and that DUI.
I'm now 25 and it's been two years since the DUI. I haven't even gotten so much as a warning in these last two years. I was wondering if anyone thinks I have a chance of getting a waiver to join the AF Reserves????
--Aside from that I was wondering if the BMT has indeed been extended to 8 weeks? I don't think it's a big deal, but I was just wondering?
--Also, how does the pay work then??? I've seen some of the "drill pay" charts but I was really confused by them. Do you get a BASE salary per month??? Or are you only paid for the actual dates you drill?????
--ONE last thing...... I have an associates degree...... would I enter at a higher rank????
Understand the reserves is part time, the one weekend a month, two weeks a year. There are some very competive full time slots that open, but I don't anyone could make a living without a full time job. If you go reserve, you get two stripes immediately and a third upon completing tech school. College doesn't gain you anymore rank in the reserves or guard...You only get paid when you drill, miss a drill, you don't get paid that month and will be forced to make up that drill later then get paid.
Associates will gain you two stripes in Active Duty. A recruiter and their commander can approve a waiver to get you in. You may have to try multiple recruiters, I'd start in areas in the boonies where the recruiters seem more desperate. With all that being said, rules may of changed and their may be no way to get in. Also the recruiter may also want you to pick unpopular jobs to get you in...This is in regards to active duty.
My advice assuming you can get in...Look at a ROTC detachment 1st, they will pay you to get a degree and you become a reserve officer, assume it's harder to get in with a DUI, but it's the AF's best deal...Next if you don't already have a good career/job, look into active duty...
Edit: Feel free to ask me any questions on here or via pm. However I would start with a ROTC recruiter then Active Duty recruiter to determine if this is an option.
Last edited by TheJagMan; 12-29-2008 at 03:14 PM..
ok..... so I'm a bit confused when it comes to the Air Force Reserve. I understand you do it part time and that you have to drill once a month. But then I also read about how there are Air Force Reserve jobs...... are those full time or part time????
I was under the impression that the drill part was the "part time" part and there wasn't really anything else.......
So once I go to BMT then i have to go directly to Tech Training for me job?????
The jobs I"m interested in are:
Public Affairs
Photojournalist
Something to do with broadcast
Intelligence Specialist
Meteorologist
Does anyone who has trained for these jobs KNOW how long tech training is for them??????? So i know just about how long I'll be away from home
ok..... so I'm a bit confused when it comes to the Air Force Reserve. I understand you do it part time and that you have to drill once a month. But then I also read about how there are Air Force Reserve jobs...... are those full time or part time????
I was under the impression that the drill part was the "part time" part and there wasn't really anything else.......
So once I go to BMT then i have to go directly to Tech Training for me job?????
The jobs I"m interested in are:
Public Affairs
Photojournalist
Something to do with broadcast
Intelligence Specialist
Meteorologist
Does anyone who has trained for these jobs KNOW how long tech training is for them??????? So i know just about how long I'll be away from home
You're probably sick of hearing from me, lol...
There are full time reserve jobs, they are very competitive. The main one are ART air reserve technicians which is sort of civilian anyways. There's a few other "slots". Also there is AGR, which stands for Air Guard RESERVE, which can be confusing as it's really GUARD.
You do one weekend a month and two weeks typically in the summer...After BMT, you typically report back to your unit and attend tech school at a later date...
Air Force Enlisted Job Descriptions and Qualification Factors You need to find bases that are within driving distance and see what "slots"/jobs they are hiring for. With the school length remember there are holiday and xmas break. Lastly, while it's pretty rare, Air force at any time can decide to increase or decrease training of that job.
There are full time reserve jobs, they are very competitive. The main one are ART air reserve technicians which is sort of civilian anyways. There's a few other "slots". Also there is AGR, which stands for Air Guard RESERVE, which can be confusing as it's really GUARD.
You do one weekend a month and two weeks typically in the summer...After BMT, you typically report back to your unit and attend tech school at a later date...
Air Force Enlisted Job Descriptions and Qualification Factors You need to find bases that are within driving distance and see what "slots"/jobs they are hiring for. With the school length remember there are holiday and xmas break. Lastly, while it's pretty rare, Air force at any time can decide to increase or decrease training of that job.
Just a few clean-up items. AGR actually stands for ACTIVE GUARD RESERVE and it has nothing to do with it belonging to the Guard or the Reserves. It is a full-time position assigned for a term of 4 years (with elegibility to renew said term) to any member of the Reserve Components. (those are the Army/Navy/Air Force Reserves and the National Guard Bureau, i.e. National Guard and Air National Guard). AGRs receive all the benefits allocated to an Active Duty personnel, to include an active duty retirement if said individual completes 20 years worth of active duty.
ARTs are Air Reserve Technicians, and these are full-time civilian status positions categorized under the federal civil service (with the civil service benefits and pay schedule) with the caveat that said individual has to be a member of the Reserves and said membership is what qualifies him/her to work as an ART in his unit. Essentially this person does the same military job at the unit in a civilian capacity, in addition to his military inactive duty periods that are guaranteed to him/her by membership in the Reserves. Civilians are not eligible for ART jobs, military Reservist membership is a prerequisite for an ART job. ARTs are entitled to the federal civil service retirement and medical benefits.
Both are extremely competitive to get as they comprise the minority of jobs at the units. AGRs are more prevalent in the Air National Guard than in the Air Force Reserves (the branch I'm intimately familiar with), but by no means does that imply that there are no AGRs in the Reserves. Both allow the member to have a full-time job without the hassle of having to PCS like the active duty, which is in general one of the benefits of Reserve service. You could also perform an AGR job for the stated 4 years at a different location and return to your home unit at the end of the period, those are also possibilities. With ARTs, you're kinda expected to be there for life (civil service baby, govt cheesseee!).
All that said, you're putting the cart before the horse. It is HIGHLY unlikely to land an ART or AGR from the get go. Believe me, AD people salivate at the idea of getting out of AD and landing an AGR (the same job and benefits while staying home for life when not deployed) or an ART (federal cheese and again no AD bull). Units are like unions, there is a pecking order for these jobs, banking on getting a full time position at the unit right off the bat is unrealistic (I would know), and there's no set time guarantee for when and how these positions become available. It could take a couple years, it could take forever, it all depends.
Just a few clean-up items. AGR actually stands for ACTIVE GUARD RESERVE and it has nothing to do with it belonging to the Guard or the Reserves. It is a full-time position assigned for a term of 4 years (with elegibility to renew said term) to any member of the Reserve Components. (those are the Army/Navy/Air Force Reserves and the National Guard Bureau, i.e. National Guard and Air National Guard). AGRs receive all the benefits allocated to an Active Duty personnel, to include an active duty retirement if said individual completes 20 years worth of active duty.
ARTs are Air Reserve Technicians, and these are full-time civilian status positions categorized under the federal civil service (with the civil service benefits and pay schedule) with the caveat that said individual has to be a member of the Reserves and said membership is what qualifies him/her to work as an ART in his unit. Essentially this person does the same military job at the unit in a civilian capacity, in addition to his military inactive duty periods that are guaranteed to him/her by membership in the Reserves. Civilians are not eligible for ART jobs, military Reservist membership is a prerequisite for an ART job. ARTs are entitled to the federal civil service retirement and medical benefits.
Both are extremely competitive to get as they comprise the minority of jobs at the units. AGRs are more prevalent in the Air National Guard than in the Air Force Reserves (the branch I'm intimately familiar with), but by no means does that imply that there are no AGRs in the Reserves. Both allow the member to have a full-time job without the hassle of having to PCS like the active duty, which is in general one of the benefits of Reserve service. You could also perform an AGR job for the stated 4 years at a different location and return to your home unit at the end of the period, those are also possibilities. With ARTs, you're kinda expected to be there for life (civil service baby, govt cheesseee!).
All that said, you're putting the cart before the horse. It is HIGHLY unlikely to land an ART or AGR from the get go. Believe me, AD people salivate at the idea of getting out of AD and landing an AGR (the same job and benefits while staying home for life when not deployed) or an ART (federal cheese and again no AD bull). Units are like unions, there is a pecking order for these jobs, banking on getting a full time position at the unit right off the bat is unrealistic (I would know), and there's no set time guarantee for when and how these positions become available. It could take a couple years, it could take forever, it all depends.
Good luck.
Thanks for the correction as I feel dumb about the "air" v "active"...The worst part is, I've replied to AGR posts at least two time and did use the word active. Guess I should of re-read my post before submitting.
Thank you for elaborating of the odds of landing a AGR/ART job, my intentions were there, I should of said highly unlikely instead of competitive
The Air Force rarely has a problem meeting its recruiting goal which makes waviers rare, near hurts to talk to a recruiter in person.
BMT is longer and now suppose to be more combat oriented.
Not sure about the pay questions.
An associate degree would get you a higher rank.
True we don't have a problem making our recruiting goal, but depending on your location waiver approval may or may not be easy. Usually the south do not process as many waivers as the north. A DUI waiver is not really that hard as long as you are a decent person and it's been longer than a year since it happened with no other major offenses in your lifetime.
The DUI being more than a year ago is what we look for with DUI's and has there been any other offenses since the DUI. You said you haven't so that is good. I am Active Duty so I don't deal with Reserves, but the Reserves may be easier to get a waiver approved.
Do you need a full time job or only a part time job? You can't live off Drill Pay so if you need a full time job why join the Reserves?
BMT is now 8.5 weeks long.
If you have an Associates degree from an accredited college you will come in as an E-3 (requires 45 semester credits...at least for active duty and should be the same for reserves).
Understand the reserves is part time, the one weekend a month, two weeks a year. There are some very competive full time slots that open, but I don't anyone could make a living without a full time job. If you go reserve, you get two stripes immediately and a third upon completing tech school. College doesn't gain you anymore rank in the reserves or guard...You only get paid when you drill, miss a drill, you don't get paid that month and will be forced to make up that drill later then get paid.
Associates will gain you two stripes in Active Duty. A recruiter and their commander can approve a waiver to get you in. You may have to try multiple recruiters, I'd start in areas in the boonies where the recruiters seem more desperate. With all that being said, rules may of changed and their may be no way to get in. Also the recruiter may also want you to pick unpopular jobs to get you in...This is in regards to active duty.
My advice assuming you can get in...Look at a ROTC detachment 1st, they will pay you to get a degree and you become a reserve officer, assume it's harder to get in with a DUI, but it's the AF's best deal...Next if you don't already have a good career/job, look into active duty...
Edit: Feel free to ask me any questions on here or via pm. However I would start with a ROTC recruiter then Active Duty recruiter to determine if this is an option.
I'm pretty sure that even in the reserves you come in with a higher paygrade with college. I'm 99% sure they use the same AFI we use in Active Duty and that is what the regulation states period.
Once again ROTC is competitive and with a DUI I don't know that your chances getting a scholarship would be high. If anyone could just walk in the door and say I want to do ROTC and you all can pay for my school everyone would be doing that. It's not that easy...
A DUI goes to the group commander, so the recruiter, flight chief, and squadron commander all have to give it a thumbs up before the group commander will look at it.
Speaking to multiple recruiters is kind of worthless unless the first recruiter blows you off and says he doesn't want to work with you on it. Once you start processing with one it all goes into a computer system and other recruiters will be able to see that and not be able to work you because you are under another recruiter.
I was under the impression that the drill part was the "part time" part and there wasn't really anything else...
For all intents and purposes that's true (ie the AGR stuff has been explained but odds are very slim you will find such a slot). The "drill" is usually one weekend a month and 2 weeks/year, but the 2 weeks is not "typically" in the summer or any other time of month; it can and often does vary. Also there are what are called "IMA" slots (I am one) - they are reserves who (at least traditionally) deploy less. Also there are diff kinds of IMAs - some drill each month, a few once every other month, and some just to earn points towards retirement w/o pay. And sometimes depending on the situation you can "lump" drills together eg if you live far away from your unit.
Quote:
Does anyone who has trained for these jobs KNOW how long tech training is for them??????? So i know just about how long I'll be away from home
Contact a recruiter who can give you that info. I think Intel is pretty long, but most are a few months at most.
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Air Force Reserve Jobs???
