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Hey everyone., I am thinking about switching services. I have fourteen years in the Coast Guard Reserve and currently commute to drill every other month 355 miles. There is an AFB approximately 25 miles from my house. I am currently an E-6 and would drop back to an E-5 and no one is able to tell me how long it would take to put my E-6 back on. Also most of the jobs I looked at there are no positions available near me for now. The recruiter wants to put me in a fleet manager job for now and said I can change later. I want to do something in intelligence and might switch my rate in the Coast Guard to that. I heard AFR reserve intell is hard to get into. The Coast Guard is broke right now and opportunities for training and active duty are barely nothing. Any advice would be appreciated.
Hey everyone., I am thinking about switching services. I have fourteen years in the Coast Guard Reserve and currently commute to drill every other month 355 miles. There is an AFB approximately 25 miles from my house. I am currently an E-6 and would drop back to an E-5 and no one is able to tell me how long it would take to put my E-6 back on. Also most of the jobs I looked at there are no positions available near me for now. The recruiter wants to put me in a fleet manager job for now and said I can change later. I want to do something in intelligence and might switch my rate in the Coast Guard to that. I heard AFR reserve intell is hard to get into. The Coast Guard is broke right now and opportunities for training and active duty are barely nothing. Any advice would be appreciated.
The way the Air Force reserve and the guard work is you need to find a unit that does intel work. Most units have a specific mission.
As far as advancement it works this way you'll more than likely go in drill a few months then leave to tech school. Your school will be about 6 months in length. When you finish school you'll be a 3 level, then you'll receive your career development books and after completing them you'll be award your 5 level. At this point you'll be in about a year to 18 months. When a E-6 slot opens in your unit depending upon your time and participation level you can advance. Also their is a political element involved sometimes.
Does your time in grade clock start all over again? My guess is that you would retire (after 20 yrs total) from the USAFR as an E-6.
I think it is a bit more complicated:
Quote:
Reserve retirement is sometimes called non-regular retirement. Members who accumulate 20 or more years of qualifying service are eligible for reserve retirement when they reach age 60 or, in some cases, a lesser qualifying age. There are two non-disability retirement plans currently in effect for reserve qualified retirees. These are Final Pay plan, High-36 Month Average plan. There is no REDUX retirement plan under non-regular (reserve) retirement.
Hey everyone., I am thinking about switching services. I have fourteen years in the Coast Guard Reserve and currently commute to drill every other month 355 miles. There is an AFB approximately 25 miles from my house. I am currently an E-6 and would drop back to an E-5 and no one is able to tell me how long it would take to put my E-6 back on. Also most of the jobs I looked at there are no positions available near me for now. The recruiter wants to put me in a fleet manager job for now and said I can change later. I want to do something in intelligence and might switch my rate in the Coast Guard to that. I heard AFR reserve intell is hard to get into. The Coast Guard is broke right now and opportunities for training and active duty are barely nothing. Any advice would be appreciated.
I've been out of the Guard for eons but most of CG intelligence would most likely be based in either DC, at the Intelligence Coordination Center, or one of the major bases like Miami, Clearwater Fl, New York or San Diego so depending on where you are, your commute may be much further than 355 miles.
There are a few AF reserve units with intel missions, but you'd have to find them and hope they're close to your home. If not, you can attach to an active-duty intel-unit as an IMA (Individual Mobility Augmentee). However, IMA billets may be difficult to locate due to the military draw down.
And whether you switch rating while in the Coast Guard or after joining the AF, depending on which intel-field you switch to, the school length ranges from 6- to 24- months. Include that time-away from home and work in your calculus.
As for promotions, they are dependent upon billet availability and some politicking.
There are a few AF reserve units with intel missions, but you'd have to find them and hope they're close to your home. If not, you can attach to an active-duty intel-unit as an IMA (Individual Mobility Augmentee). However, IMA billets may be difficult to locate due to the military draw down.
And whether you switch rating while in the Coast Guard or after joining the AF, depending on which intel-field you switch to, the school length ranges from 6- to 24- months. Include that time-away from home and work in your calculus.
As for promotions, they are dependent upon billet availability and some politicking.
IMAs are one of the easiest positions to draw down. At my last assignment before retiring we had three in our allocation as a active/Guard/Reserve mix of USAF and Army positions. They're all gone now, victims of cuts, as well as personnel not willing to relocate to SW OK. However, they ARE quite cost effective, one just has to ask about their availability.
To the OP: Have you looked at the Tucson ANG (I assume Phoenix is your home). They have UAVs and a significant intel requirement at DM, plus the 162nd at TUS has a fairly robust intel shop. A lot of non-USAF personnel there, too.
Yes Phoenix is my home, I am going to expand my search to Tucson Davis Monthan. My choices are Intell, Pavement and Construction, Command and Control for now for AFSC.
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. I want to do something in intelligence and might switch my rate in the Coast Guard to that. I heard AFR reserve intell is hard to get into. The Coast Guard is broke right now and opportunities for training and active duty are barely nothing. Any advice would be appreciated.
