What is an air reserve technician (ART)? Do they receive the same pay as an active duty soldier?

Question

Does anyone know what an air reserve technician is? I know that they get paid on a GS scale vs. a military scale, but it seems like you would be taking a big pay cut because you would be losing your other military benefits like housing allowance, BAS, flight pay, etc. Could anyone explain this to me? Thanks!

Right now my husband is on active duty status in the Air National Guard. He will be coming off active duty orders soon, and will start "guard bumming" again. There is a position coming available for an air reserve technician job, and he is trying to decide whether to take it or keep "guard bumming" which is basically flying as many missions as possible and only getting paid for the actual missions you fly, drill pay, etc. He is a C-130 co-pilot with 12 years of military service b/c he is prior enlisted. The whole concept is really confusing to me, lol. Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

As an air reserve technician one is a civilian employee of the Department of the Air Force. This person is still required to be a member of the reserves and that portion of their job and pay would be just like any other reservist.

In the civilian side of the job, this person could be paid on the GS or General Schedule or the WG ( Wage Grade).

The GS rating and WG rating are similar. Each is an hourly pay scale and vaires depending upon location. For the most part the WG scale is used for mechanics and or specialized technical fields. The GS scale is for Managers, pilots secretaries ect.

It does seem as though there would be a pay cut, but for the most part they are fairly close. It is true that you don't get the BAS etc, but then the hourly rate is more and you are paid by weekly and are paid for actual hours worked.

I, for example, am a WG 12 my compensation as a WG -12 is comparable to that of an E-5 or E-6. In addition to that I also receive drill pay for the week end drills and Active Duty pay for the Summer Camps. I am given 120 hours of leave each year to use for military type orders, plus regular vaction time. Each new hire (depending on hire status) earns 4 hours of regular leave per two week pay period and 4 hours of sick leave per two weeks. There are a total of 26 pay periods.

One other benefit I have is the Additional Flight training periods. As a crew member on the UH-60 I am required to meet certain flying hour requirements. I am paid in a Military status for those and they are generally completed after work hours. There are time when I can take leave from my regular job and do those as well.

All in all its not a bad deal, the retirement is ok, but you pay into that and there is a 30 year retirement as opposed to the 20 year eligibility in an active duty status. You must retire at age 60 unless you can get a wavier.

Hope this helps....

Answer 2

Air Reserve Technician

Answer 3

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RE:
What is an air reserve technician (ART)? Do they receive the same pay as an active duty soldier?
Does anyone know what an air reserve technician is? I know that they get paid on a GS scale vs. a military scale, but it seems like you would be taking a big pay cut because you would be losing your other military benefits like housing allowance, BAS, flight pay, etc. Could anyone explain this to...

Answer 4

The simple answer is, NO! as a Reservist, the pay would be based on your actual service time... which is generally a part time, a weekend per month, and a two week stint, during the summer months (usually). Govt pay grades are the same: an E4 makes the same, but the time put in is the difference. If you are called to active duty, your pay would be the same.