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Timing on Joining Air Force Reserve/Guard
Howdy! I just had an inquiry and wanted to seek some advice before settling on a decision!
I’ve been contemplating joining the AFRC or the ANG for almost half a year now, and it seems like now more than ever might be the best timing.
I’m currently working for the Space Force as a DoD civilian at the Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base, but have my sights on becoming a pilot (ideally fighter pilot but that seems to be everyone’s ideal) in the long term. My question is: would joining the AF reserves now but not seeking a pilot slot because I don’t want to leave my current job at AFRL (due to time commitment) help bolster my position to becoming a pilot 3 to 4 years down the line?
I graduated in May with a double bachelors in Electrical Engineer and Computer Science, and currently have my student pilot license and am working on my private pilot license on the side.
Would it be best to join AF reserves now while working full time at AFRL and continue to gain flight hours? Or would it be best to wait and just try to get a pilot slot as a civilian a few years from now?
Thank you for your time and consideration with reading this and providing a response!
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16 Replies
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Im in a similar position just finished a fellowship at Edwards AF base with AFRL.
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It could help you out, but I would personally recommend not doing that. You could absolutely join a guard/reserve fighter unit as a non flyer and get to know all the people around there and get hired eventually. Couple things with that to think about are that you pretty much limit yourself to that one unit, and second that you now have a 4 year contract to do that job. There’s also always the chance that they’re unable to offer you a flying job.
Alternatively, you can just keep your current job and go out and rush all the units you’d potentially want to fly at. This gives you the option and flexibility to check out all sorts of places. Most units will like you to rush a few times, and it may take a few hiring cycles as well as a few years to get hired anyway.
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Yes sir! Thank you for your insight in this matter. I will follow the latter of your recommendations and begin identifying units to rush while I work full time! Thank you for your reply, sir!
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No problem! Feel free to shoot me a message if you ever need help with anything!
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Yes, sir! Will do!
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You have your 4 year degree (either of them insane individually, and you’ve got two!). Why not start applying for pilot positions right now? I don’t understand the angle of becoming an officer generally if your main goal appears to be a pilot slot. Is your first priority to become an officer?
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This reply was modified 4 months ago by Colin.
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No, sir! My priority is becoming a pilot over an officer, but given my current timeline and position at AFRL, I wasn’t sure if getting prior experience in the AF Reserves now before rushing for a pilot slot would be an effective approach. I’ve heard in some cases it can help bolster your application to have prior service in either the guard or reserves before attempting a pilot slot, but I was not certain if this was the case. What would you recommend?
Also, thank you for your comments and taking the time to reply!
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I should specify that I am wanting to remain active in this position for at least two to three years to ensure I have meaningful professional experience within my career field to always lean on for potential future endeavors!
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Disclaimer: I am a civilian but have been applying for long enough that I have a good barometer read on the hiring situation right now.
I am assuming you understand the commitment and the potential windfall of obtaining a reserve/pilot position; this is the aspect we tend to plug and it’s the mil pilot/airline pilot lifestyle. It sounds like you would like to fly for the military but potential keep your civilian side job of being an engineer, if I understand that correctly. In that case, I’m not sure joining the military as a non-flyer hoping to fly makes the most sense. I’d almost encourage you to join as a non-rated officer in an engineering contract if that were the case. You could reach out to an RLO recruiter and do some digging on the non-rated side if that sounds like the path to you.
Alternately, if becoming a pilot and exercising the “ultimate pilot career” path is what you are after (i.e. part time mil pilot and then multi-million dollar airliner career), then I would start applying to pilot positions right NOW and toss those couple years of your engineering job out the windows as they will be rounding error compared to your life long pilot career.
I think either are very good options, but I’m just trying to understand which side you’d prefer. I think, either way, you would need to commit more toward the flying or the engineering side (and that’s an “exclusive” or). The way to have your cake and eat it too would be to apply and get a pilot slot now and then use USERRA (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/userra) to keep your engineering job. There are many people that fly for the military part time and are lawyers/doctors/etc. on the side. If this is what you’d like, I wouldn’t necessarily wait. Would you give up your flying career for a couple extra years of doing engineering? To continue the cake analogy, the way to get a stinky bowl of broccoli would be to join the military, potentially not get to fly, and delay your engineering career, which would be the option of joining a unit as a non-flyer.
Vets of Bogidope, please correct me if I’m way off base here. I’m definitely not trying to throw shade on joining as a non-flyer and/or enlisting, but it just doesn’t make the most sense here.
dol.gov
USERRA - Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
USERRA - Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
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This all being said, nothing wrong with your plan of waiting a few years to apply. It is the simple fact that there is the risk associated in delaying which is in tension with the fact that, when applying to fighters, the younger you start, the better. Due to the nature of hiring, you could wait a few years and then there could be a hiring freeze say for a few more years, and before you know it, you’re close to 30, putting yourself nearly out of contention. Just food for thought. Trying to prevent people from making the mistake I made!
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I see. Thank you for the explanation and analogy. You have helped shift my perspective on the matter. I don’t think I will look at joining the AF Reserves in a non-flying role as it is apparent that it could interrupt my professional career and possibly deter me from transitioning into a pilot slot later on.
The immutable reality of my current situation is that I have signed a contract with AFRL that requires two years of work in return for them paying back all student loan debt I accumulated during my time in university. During this two year period, I will begin prepping and taking the AFOQT/TBAS and compiling a list of fighter units to begin applying to. I will also continue to work toward my PPL and achieve a minimum of 60 hrs (as I’ve been told is necessary to be competitive for fighter units). I’ve already started researching UPT and the steps from there, but I realize getting my foot in the door is the most arduous aspect of the process. If I applied within a year, would units potentially backlist me given my current contract?
My end-term “dream” goal would be to become a test pilot, pushing the bounds of both engineering and piloting. This is, of course, the ideal and I’m not sure if it is feasible.
Thank you for sharing the link to that resource, I was unaware it existed!
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Thanks for the background, that totally gives the insight as to why you’re kind of “locked in” for the two years and your perspective totally makes sense. I see nothing wrong with, while working, polishing yourself up to be the best applicant you can be. The test pilot aspiration is really cool! Something someone like me who was a bit of a bum during my schooling years can definitely respect and look up to.
As far as “blacklisting” goes, I’m unaware of anything explicit and I don’t think there is any precedent at this level for such a practice; however, my instinct here is that honesty is key. Not to put the cart ahead of the horse, but, without knowing any more details, if you did nail a slot while in your AFRL contract, it may be worth consulting with a professional at that point to not get into any contract trouble. I bet there may be other folks on here that have dealt with deconflicting current jobs with UPT slots before and they could also help you with getting a game plan for when you’re ready to start applying to stay out of hot water. My guess is that by the time it’s all said and done, the pipeline is so slow that you’ll be near enough to the end of those two years
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Yes sir! I think my prerogative going forward is, while I’m working full time, focus on physical and mental development to become a more attractive candidate and rack up flight hours. I also just saw BogiDope post a memorandum regarding fighter slots and how for the next year or two it’s going to be slow and difficult but after a year or two out there should be a greater demand, which seems to line up with my timeline perfectly (how interesting haha). I think this lines up well with my 5 year plan and if all goes well I will be seriously applying for slots a year and a half from now to potentially streamline a transition from engineering to piloting. I think having a TS clearance and some experience in and around Airmen and Guardians should assist with this (or at least I’m hoping)!
As for contractual obligations, I will definitely be sure to seek professional assistance as I finish up my second year at AFRL. I do plan on getting a masters and I hope it’s feasible while piloting.
Colin, I truly appreciate your time and your consideration in your responses. It only makes me admire this community even more! If you are ever around the Albuquerque, NM area, feel free to reach out!
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This reply was modified 4 months ago by
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Apply! Apply now! Like right now go get a PCSM and apply.
Clearly you are a smart guy (I am not so afflicted), so I think you’ll get a great AFOQT score right out of the gate. That + TBAS + flight hours and we’re can start shopping you around
I would advise against waiting because I think you might be overvalueing work experience over youth. The USAF can teach you how to fly, but they can’t make you younger. Also applying young hedges you bets. If youth is more important then you’ll get picked up right away, if experience is more important then you’ll get pick up in three years (and you can tell me you told me so – you’ll be in good company).
Your role as part of AFRL is pletty Air Force-y, you don’t need to also join a Unit.
So get out there and send blast out some apps!
Cheers,
Husky
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Don’t wait! Apply NOW!!!
It will take 12-24 months before you rush, get the interview, hired and then sent to training.
Will joining an AFRC or Guard Unit to improve your chances of getting hired? It depends.
I always tell my clients to evaluate “what’s important to them” when they make that decision.
Bottom Line – The above advice is good. There is no “cookie cutter” scenario for each persons experience getting hired and going to UPT. You have decide “what’s important to you”?
Your timing right now looks really good. I wouldn’t delay any longer.
Let me know how I can help going forward.
D.J.
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Awesome post DJ!
It really is never too early to get started in this process. Some of my favorite coaching sessions are General Strategy sessions with young guys and gals just getting started on this adventure. Even before you take tests, start flying, enlist, etc. you can be taking proactive steps to up your chances and get headed in the right direction.
-CHAOS
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