prior service air force...reserve or guard, which is better?

Question

i was active duty air force (enlisted) for a few years and have been a "civie" for a couple, just looking for feedback on reserves vs. guard. i know everyone's situation is different but i'd like to know different opinions, i'm thinking about trying it. i am primarily interested in prior active duty gone reserves/guard but i will appreciate any info. career field was in maintenance. thanks.

IYAAYAS

Answer 1

Ammo--Huh!

Kewl dude. Me too. I was active duty USAF for nine years and became a civilian for three years before joining the reserves.

I have many friends who did the same in went guard/reserves.

My advice...

If you plan on moving out of state sometime before military retirement. You might want to consider the reserves.

Guards are funded by the state, and the reserves--by the federal government.

Example Points:
1. If you enlist in the Guards as an E-5 with a retirement slot of E-7, and moved from NC to NY you might lose your E-7 slot for an E-5/6 slot in NY.

If you enlist the Reserves and did the same move, you take your E-7 slot with you.

In the Guard you need to request a transfer, and get approval. With the Reserves, you put in a request to transfer without a need to of approval from you losing and gaining bases. (You might need to crosstrain.)

2. With the Reserves, you can request TDYs up to 365 days. So for example, Nellis might need you AFSC for 90 days. You put in the request, get selected, and go TDY.

Best thing is if you cross-train, like Info Mgmt, you can pick TDYs for Ammo or Info Mgmt.

The Guards don't have this luxury. It's great if you're in-between jobs as a civilian.

3. If you decide to go Reserves in say in Ammo, you can get a IMA slot. Which basically means the USAFR will pay for your UTA weekend (duties). So you can live in NY and your weekend duties are in FL.

4. You can also apply for ART position which are full-time permanment civilian service jobs with the Dept of AF, that requires you to join the reserves.

Great benefit is that you can collection a civil service retirement and you USAFR retirement. Also, you can buy back you military time for the civil service job. Example, you have nine years active duty, you work 20 years civil service--by buying back you military service you can get 29 years of civil service as a retirement.

5. Guards and Reserves retirements are the same. You get 1 point for every day you served on active duty. (As of now, roughly, a traditional guardmen retiring at E-7 can see about $900 a month. Depending on how long you were on active duty, you can see a lot more.

Summary:

Great rule of thumb (and this is what some of guard friends say), if you plan to stay in the same state, you might want to considered the Guards.

Also check the benefits you get with each state guard versus the Reserves.

Also, right now, more Guards are going to Iraq, then Reserves. And, if you should every get the opportunity and want to go back in active duty, you have a 80-90% better chance to go from Reserves to Active duty, then from Guards to Active.

Answer 2

In Montana or North Dakota, Air Guard. Reserve everywhere else.

Answer 3

Well my cousin went into the guard after serving 7 in the air force. He disovered he missed it and just fully re inlisted w/ a amazing bonus in 2 years, plus a great pension. Talk w/ a recurter they will help you find what best suites your situation

Answer 4

If you go into the reserve you may spend more time in Iraq then you would if you were active.