Thinking about joining the airforce reserve

[LANTIRN]

worst advice I've seen here...

Did 5 years Active, been stateside and overseas... then I Palace Chased into the ANG. I would do ANG over reserves, and carswell is right there. Hit me up w/ a PM if you want my opinion. I had a successful career and feel I could provide some good/honest advice. Not sure what kind of troops these other guys were, maybe they were studs too!

That wasn't advice; I was stating fact. I separated in 2008 and all the security jobs outside of the flightline were going contract. SF were being sent off to be trained as infantry and most of them were not happy. I was stationed at 3 different bases in 6 years and at every base I had cops tell me the same thing. I also witnessed it first hand while pulling augmentee duty at Cannon AFB. I know what I am talking about, and I never told him not to do it. I just provided information.

[BULLET_DRIVER]

No way in hell im going to lose a rank going from the Marine Corps to the airforce. hell I should gain one in my opinion. I have copies of every single document I have from when I got out of the Corps.

I have no Idea why they pull rank when swapping branches, but thats how they do it. The 2 people I know of that that went AF from another branch bothe went down 1 pay grade but got it back real fast.

Keep in mind though, in the reserve someone in yoru career field at yoru base has to die or get out for you to make rank.

Basic will be a breeze for you if you have to do it at all. You should only have 1 week of Air Force familiarization. All you will have to do is inprocess into the AF, and go through a few AF classes. Only part that sucks is, you'll be doin it all with basic trainees.

[matts5.0]

I have no Idea why they pull rank when swapping branches, but thats how they do it. The 2 people I know of that that went AF from another branch bothe went down 1 pay grade but got it back real fast.

Keep in mind though, in the reserve someone in yoru career field at yoru base has to die or get out for you to make rank.

Basic will be a breeze for you if you have to do it at all. You should only have 1 week of Air Force familiarization. All you will have to do is inprocess into the AF, and go through a few AF classes. Only part that sucks is, you'll be doin it all with basic trainees.

So at what rank are you considered an NCO in the airforce? I would be ok going in an e4 as long as it was an NCO and I picked e5 back up in a year. I don't mind being around a bunch of young airmen in my school and what not, that is fine with me. I'll ask a recruiter for sure about the rank.

[DieselSmoke]

What did you do in the Marines?

[MutherjuggZ]

So at what rank are you considered an NCO in the airforce? I would be ok going in an e4 as long as it was an NCO and I picked e5 back up in a year. I don't mind being around a bunch of young airmen in my school and what not, that is fine with me. I'll ask a recruiter for sure about the rank.

E-5 Staff Sergeants are the lowest ranking NCO's in the USAF

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force_enlisted_rank_insignia

[Chili]

E-5 Staff Sergeants are the lowest ranking NCO's in the USAF

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_..._rank_insignia

That's true for all but the Marines I believe. Unless the Army started using the Corporal rank again, which is an E4 NCO. When I was in we still gave people the Corporal rank but only as a position. So if they were acting in an NCO role and were E4 they would be assigned as a Corporal but when they PCS'd or the slot was filled with an appropriate level soldier the E4 would put the Specialist rank back on. Same way an E7 can hold and wear a First Sergeant position.

[Chili]

So at what rank are you considered an NCO in the airforce? I would be ok going in an e4 as long as it was an NCO and I picked e5 back up in a year. I don't mind being around a bunch of young airmen in my school and what not, that is fine with me. I'll ask a recruiter for sure about the rank.

Also note, not sure on the Air Force but in the Army you have to go before a board, go to PLDC (Primary Leadership Development Course) and make the promotion point cutoff before you can be promoted to E5. Same for the step to E6. E7 you must be selected by the Department of the Army and make a list.

It's not just time in rank and time in service for NCO promotions.

[matts5.0]

Also note, not sure on the Air Force but in the Army you have to go before a board, go to PLDC (Primary Leadership Development Course) and make the promotion point cutoff before you can be promoted to E5. Same for the step to E6. E7 you must be selected by the Department of the Army and make a list.

It's not just time in rank and time in service for NCO promotions.

it is not just time in rank and service for the Marines either, there are other factors.. i have taken corporals course and sergeants course and have completed all my appropriate learning courses MCIs etc. not that it will probably matter to the airforce.

[tribaltalon]

yeah you'll probably go in as a senior airman but depending on your mos you should bump back to e5 (SSGT) pretty quickly within a year. my brother was also considering the same career change, but he's still active marines and just couldnt get over the thought of joining the same branch he makes so much fun of. LOL

[Chili]

it is not just time in rank and service for the Marines either, there are other factors.. i have taken corporals course and sergeants course and have completed all my appropriate learning courses MCIs etc. not that it will probably matter to the airforce.

That's what I'm saying, just that you may have to take ther course equivelant and make the "points", but that probably won't be hard considering your college classes / awards / etc that count for points in the Marines should work for the Air Force too.

[MutherjuggZ]

he's still active marines and just couldnt get over the thought of joining the same branch he makes so much fun of. LOL

I have had many many friends over the years in the military repeat exactly that.

I have much love and respect for every branch of service, I just like to give extra hell to the USAF on behalf of my friends for fun. My grandfather was in the USAF and was security police over in saigon @ Tan Son Nhut AFB. He was one of the biggest, baddest motherfuckers amongst the men, and we still randomly get letters from his friends talking about how much love and respect my grandfather earned amongst them. ( I hear that's rare since most military police are loathed by many)

[matts5.0]

i talked to the civilian recruiter at the 1800 number and they said i would no way in hell lose any rank, i would retain all time in grade and time in service, and could possibly be able to go in as an e6 depending on job.
im pretty excited to go in and sit down with a recruiter. he is also an e5 so hopefully he wont try and bullshit me to much. he is supposed to call in a couple days.

[MutherjuggZ]

i talked to the civilian recruiter at the 1800 number and they said i would no way in hell lose any rank, i would retain all time in grade and time in service, and could possibly be able to go in as an e6 depending on job.
im pretty excited to go in and sit down with a recruiter. he is also an e5 so hopefully he wont try and bullshit me to much. he is supposed to call in a couple days.

Thank GOD recruiters don't lie.

[CJ]

i talked to the civilian recruiter at the 1800 number and they said i would no way in hell lose any rank, i would retain all time in grade and time in service, and could possibly be able to go in as an e6 depending on job.
im pretty excited to go in and sit down with a recruiter. he is also an e5 so hopefully he wont try and bullshit me to much. he is supposed to call in a couple days.

my brother was bumped up a rank switching from AF active to Army Reserve.

[matts5.0]

Thank GOD recruiters don't lie.

I'm not a nieve 18 year old kid. I will be able to sniff out the bullshit and call their bluff more times than not. Iv don't this before, this isn't my first rodeo dealing with Recruiters. They know this as well, so the don't talk out of their ass as much.