yesbuddhaluvsme

Hey e'ry body, I'm new and just chiming in. I didn't read the whole thread, but I'll just throw a mobility ANG perspective out there. Things are scarce everywhere, I got out of AD and went ANG C-17s because I was told there were plenty of orders to make a good living with it... That has changed since last October, now I'm hastening my chase for the airlines. that being said, for my money, I would have rather known what I was flying and where I'd be living while I was at UPT over the actual airframe. I'm pretty ok with flying the C-17 as a guy who originally wanted fighters, now I'm very relieved I didn't get them, turns out I'm not cut out for that, and I'm totally fine with it. That being said, anyone looking to rush an ANG unit, now is a good time for it, there are lots of UPT spots going up out there. Three in my unit alone in this next FY, a quick peek at baseops.net shows there's quite a few others.... if you want to fly tankers or herks especially. I can't speak much for the hiring process, since I'm an active duty turn-coat, but apply early and often, and show up.

yesbuddhaluvsme

For what it's worth too, having made the jump from AD to ANG, I will say that if Airlines are in the cards for you, I made more solid airline contacts in two weeks in the ANG than I did in 6.5 years of active duty, being Guard plays way more heavily to your advantage for the airlines that Active duty does, IMO. As far as leadership opportunities, I think it's a myth that you cant do them in the guard, it's just something you have to go out and find and make happen for yourself, no one is going to push you towards them. We have had plenty of guys working on AMC and TACC staff, doing deployments. at any given time there are a dozen or more short term ground leadership opportunites for guardsmen to get on a year or two of active orders and do, you just have to want to do them and apply for them (also, if you want to go SOS in residence, you won't have to compete, no one else wants to go and there's no need to, so they'll put you in a slot). This is just from what I've seen, but the only reason people think there's no leadership opportunities in the guard is because most guardsmen don't want them... because leadership and staff jobs in the Air Force are terrible and frustrating and everything is inefficient. If you want to do non-flying things in the guard you can... but frankly, why would you want to?

ExE3toUAL

Just to add to the above. I just got hired by an -135 ANG unit and had a few more write back to me asking if I was going to apply. All of the Midwest units are pretty much looking, so definitely check them out if you are looking for a Guard unit. Lots of opportunity out there to get picked up if you want to!

kaputt

Wow, this thread really grew over the past few months.

Looks like I'm not able to edit my original post anymore but thought I would post another update. As I posted earlier, I chose the Active Duty route. Over the past few months I've been waiting on approval for a vision waiver for my flight physical. It was a long wait, but finally today got official word that my waiver and physical were approved!

Now I'm just waiting for an OTS class date, but I think I'll be in one of the classes between October and January. Very excited and a huge weight off my shoulders to know my waiver was approved.