I need opinions from people who are in or have been in the air force reserve?

Question

Is the air force reserve worth it and what is it like? I would like details about it, about the 2 month basic training and how hard it is, is the money worth it, and anything else anyone can possibly think of that can help me decide if I want to enlist or not. Thanks so much.

Answer 1

I was in the Air Force Reserve and spent a lot of time on active duty; in fact I was on active duty from 1995 until 2006 when I retired after thirty-four years total. Now adays with the high ops tempo and delpoyments you have a fifty-fifty chance of getting activated and deployed. Some jobs require a long and lengthy tech school and you come out of them with a five level and so you can be deployed-untrained you can't be. Other jobs you get out of tech school with a three level and then you get your five level through correspondance courses and then you are eligible to be activated and deployed. Not all people are nor is there a huge need for all jobs as far as deployment goes. To a lesser extent it also depends on what type of squadron you belong to. For those units that don't have that type of function or mission I am afraid that the money is drying up for them to operate because of the money going elsewhere to support those squadrons and units that do deploy in larger numbers. There is a huge cost in preparing and equiping them and some costs are paid for by the units. So it is becoming more of a financial management nightmare the longer this all goes on. When you enlist it is for a slot and specific job in a particular reserve unit so that will be the big factor in how much chance of activation and deployment, how close they are to the tip of the spear and what kind of opportunities there are. Without knowing what jobs and units you are considering I really can't tell beyond what I have said here if it is worth it or not. E-mail me if you like about where and what jobs and units and I can give you a better idea. As for basic they have upped the standards now to be closer to that of the Army's and while it is not difficult for someone that works out or is an athlete it can be for someone that does not work out or has not worked out regularly.