LoadClear

Not sure how much the ANG covers as far as tuition goes. You would have to talk to a recruiter about what sort of benefits you would be eligible for. Keep this in mind though: When you are in the military, MOST colleges do not charge you out of state tuition. You would have to show proof of veteran status, but thats not an issue once you're out of tech school (military ID, DD214, etc), so I wouldn't worry about that aspect of it. Chief Load was still out sick today. Maybe he will be in tomorrow. I'll see what I can find out for ya.

Personally, I think you are in for an awakening once you start applying. You will be competing with guys that have been enlisted for a few years, have a PPL, and have been deploying/drinking/knowing the people on the hiring board very well with additional military/work experience that you do not. Hell, I know a Loadmaster and Flight Engineer that were hired without a PPL on a board competing with guys that had more than a PPL. Why? Because the board knows their work ethic, motivation level, and character. Can you sell those qualities in a 30 minute interview? Best of luck.

College distance varies for some guys. When I was in the MOANG, I was about 45-50 minutes to the base. While in the NYANG, I was about 30. Both were fairly convenient. As far as max distance, there are a few factors there. Some units, especially in positions that require you to show up more than one weekend a month like to hire guys in the "local area", which is usually within an hour or two. Keep in mind, going in off the street, you'll probably be an A1C (E-3) and even if you flew a double, you might make $100 after taxes. Do the math, living in Florida and driving to Charlotte fairly often would not be financially conducive. Not sure if you are willing to relocate because of school at this point... We do have some guys that live out of state though... DC, SC, a LM that even lives in Seattle. We also have a pilot who is an airline guy that lives in Hong Kong. Yes, Hong Kong. Because he is an airline guy, he is able to come back to Charlotte to fly some but we don't see him very often (shocking). How can he make it work? He's a Major and has a good airline gig with flight benefits. If you're serious about joining a unit while you're in college, it would probably be a good idea to do your homework as for transfer possibilities or a unit closer to home... There are some units in Florida beyond Patrick, Maxwell, and Savannah. Someone else might pipe in with the info but there are some SpecOps 130 units in FL. Here is a list of units: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Lockheed_C-130_Hercules_operators#.C2.A0United_States Some of those are active duty, which obviously don't play into your decision. Don't rule out the AF Reserves either. If you have a desire to fly with the 156th in Charlotte, look into schools here. UNCC is a HUGE school and alot of our college going LMs go there. Go to UNCC's transfer credit advisor and find out what you would get credit for if you did move and transfer: https://selfservice.uncc.edu/pls/BANPROD/ywsktrar.P_Disp_States I'll ask tomorrow if our Chief LM is in about how many open slots we have. I know we are pretty full right now but another LM and I are leaving for AMS/Nav school in the next few months so that might open up some slots. Let me know if you need any other info on the unit/LM section. Hope this info helps.

Daniel, got your PM but saw you were curious about other things so thought I would respond here in case the information was useful for someone else... As far as the work load, I'm sure this has been covered somewhere but I'll try and cover it briefly. The thing about being a flyer in the ANG is there are about 10 ways to get paid and it can get really confusing. You have your UTA's (drill weekends) that equate to 48 pay periods per year. Each period is 4 hours and equals one active duty day. So a 2 day drill weekend (16 hours) is 4 pay periods of that 48 equaling 12 months. Additionally, you have 48 AFTP's (additional flight training periods). It's alot like UTAs but are used for flights. You can burn 12 a quarter (48 for the year) but can max out at 16 a quarter if need be. At least in the herk community, I haven't seen many units giving you your "2 weeks a year" because your on active duty throughout the year equaling more than 2 weeks. You will have the opportunity to go on trips, some work out great for college students (Friday-Sunday, etc), some don't (a week or longer). I got through my undergrad and graduate school as a Loadmaster that never worked another job. There are different types of active duty (title 32 vs title 10), but I won't go into that, it would be explained when you're in the guard. Then there is flight pay. There are differences between enlisted and officer flight pay and the longer you're in, it goes up. When on active duty, there's housing and food allowance, in some cases, perdiem. Hell, I'm probably forgetting something else. Regardless, most of the younger (and some older) LMs are college students. It's very easy to make it work. I took Tuesday/Thursday classes and flew on my days off, used my 4 day weekends for trips. I deployed over Christmas break and summers, etc. With that and your GI Bill, you won't need another job, you'll be building up military experience, airmanship, time in service, etc. I see you're in florida and are interested in our unit in charlotte. If you need some info on the unit, lemme know. Hope this helps. If I've missed something and someone else wants to pipe in, please do! -Ryan

Prior military service is certainly not going to hurt you during an interview. As far as being a LM, this will be beneficial in applying to UPT/UNT/any commissioned position in Ops. You will be working/going TDY/deploying/drinking with the people that will be on your UPT/UNT interview. If you're a good LM, have a positive attitude, and have kept your nose clean, you will have a serious leg up on the competition. Its tough to sell yourself in a 30 minute interview but if you know the people on the board well before you even show up, it certainly helps. Additionally, being a LM or a Boom Operator are arguably the best and most rewarding enlisted jobs in the Air Force. Alot is expected of you (beyond knowledge level but also in attendance) but moving up front appears to be much easier. In the three units I have been in now, alot of the pilot and navs were prior service LMs, FEs, crew chiefs and intel. As for joining the unit, there is no official "interviews" per say for Loadmasters but they are a little more selective than Security Forces or something (I can say this because I was a cop before a LM). Call the recruiter, tell them you are interested in joining the ANG/AFRES and if they have any Loadmaster positions open. If they do, set up an appt to meet with a recruiter AND meet with some of the LM section. There will probably be someone there that would be willing to take you out to a plane and show you what we do. While doing this, and if you get into the LM section, I wouldn't make it known that you are using the Load section to get a pilot slot. Some people wont have a problem with it, but some of the old timers that didn't have the educational opportunities that we do today or those who dont have the patience for new blood might. People in the squadron are going to find out you are going to college and getting closer to graduation and will probably ask you what your plans are afterwords. Moving up front is fine (and you should!) but don't walk around with a sign on your back saying "I want a Pilot slot". When I was hired for a Nav slot and moved to my new unit the Stan Eval and Chief LM sat me down and said straight out "Its great that you are going to Nav school but you're a LM until you leave and we expect you to perform as if you weren't going." Strict, but very good advice. Best of luck! Being a LM has been an amazing experience but I'm ready to move up front too. If anything, you will have an appreciation for what goes on in the back of the Herk and for the sweatys on the crew and make you a better Pilot/Officer/Aircraft Commander.

You are interested in a unit in the southeast close enough for commuting, but a more specific location would be helpful. Where exactly do you live? With your experience, I'm sure you would be competitive in a pilot interview. How old are you? Have you taken the AFOQT? Is there an airframe you would prefer to fly? This sort of information may help you in your search. Also, take a look at https://www.guardreservejobs.com/ for job postings. Best of luck!

Is your FC1 physical still current or has it expired? I know a guy that was an Army warrant, then went the UPT route. Because he was going to be commissioned in the AF, he had to get a commissioning physical prior to AMS. There are a handful of things past the commissioning physical that pertain to rated positions (Pilot, Nav, ABM). The ANG unit that hired me was doing commissioning physicals for a handful of us on a UTA, some will be rated, some not. They just added the extra stuff that the rated guys had to do and it was still all accomplished the same day. Because I already get an enlisted flying physical, all of the things that were beyond the commissioning physical and for the FC1 on my enlisted flight physical were pulled from my last physical and I did not have to accomplish them. So my thinking would be if you have a Army FC1 physical and its the same as the Air Force FC1 and its CURRENT, you should have no problem. BTW, your flying experience will be a huge plus for the board but they will also be confident that you will pass the FC1. They "hire" alternates for a reason because theres always the guys that don't pass the FC1/FC1A physical and security clearance. Your two steps ahead of the game. Good luck!

Have you tried Dobbins? Or are you set on the C-17?

Good point. Ill fight it if its looking good. If not, its about $500 difference at 10+ years. We shall see!

IDT points, I believe are from drills and flying AFTPs as a Loadmaster. Racking up another 200 points before AMS is probably not doable unless they don't send me to AMS till next year sometime. I'm finishing up my Masters degree right now and can't volunteer for a long deployment or anything until I graduate in December. If it ends up being next year, I'll just guard bum as a Loadmaster as much as possible or see what the MPF has to say about AD vs. retirement points. The reg seems pretty cut and dry when it says Active Duty points but as you can imagine, its certainly a difference in a pay as I've got 10 years in. When I get a definitive answer, I'll be sure to post it up for anyone else interested. Thanks.

Ok, I've got nearly 10 years TIS in the ANG. After some activation time and alot of flying as a Loadmaster, here is my point breakdown. I am asking because I have been selected for a CSO/Navigator position and am curious if I will receive O-1E pay... I know the breakdown is 4 years or 1460 points. Is this just Active Duty points or retirement points? Currently my vMPF records states this: AD (Active Duty points): 1226 points IDT (Inactive Duty for Training points): 448 ECI (Extension Course Institute- PME points): 55 MBR (Membership in Guard points): 135 Retirement: 1792 Total: 1864 The pay chart says "Active Duty Points" but I'm curious, does this mean ONLY active duty or does it mean total retirement points that include Active Duty, Inactive Duty for Training, PME (ECI) and Membership points? For active duty alone, I'm just shy by a few months but if its a total of retirement points, etc, I'm good. I'm obviously asking because of the pay difference. My rational is this... say you enlisted for 4 years and your tech school was 9 months. Technically you would have 3.25 years of AD points and .75 years of IDT points. If the answer is purely AD points, I don't see how anyone on a 4 year AD enlistment would have "4 years and 1 day" of points that matter when it comes to being paid as an O-1E. Thanks!

I'll be heading down south for a pre-interview meet up over Charlotte NCANG's drill weekend. Potential Nav's packets are in but they have not asked anyone to come to an interview just yet. However, I'm driving 10 hours each way to pop in for their Saturday UTA, say hello and chat with them a bit. I"m already a Loadmaster on the Herk so I would think I could talk shop a bit with them. Just curious though, how much shop talk is too much on a visit like this? I want to show them I'm interested in the unit and our mission but want to ensure I'm more than just a Dash 1 in a flight suit. The LtCol POC Nav has told me they go to the all ranks club after business is conducted, so I'll be sure to go to that and SIP my beer, not be doing keg stands like we would be doing on a TDY in Key West. Anything I should bring with me on my first visit? I know they are flying and its crossed my mind to bring my helmet and headset but I won't officially be on a pay status and don't have an interfly agreement set up. But, I want to come prepared. Would it be overkill to bring my pro-gear? They are gonna be doing some airdrops, so I could always offer to lend a hand when it came to stuff out on the plane. I'm sure their roll call is at 7, or around that. Is it a good idea to show up then or a few hours later? The POC mentioned he would be in around 0700 so it almost seems he is alluding to me being there about then? If I were there at rollcall, it might be a good chance for me to be introduced like I'm visiting the unit and this way, everyone knows who I am and what I'm doing. Don't want to be that guy that is just creeping around the squadron like a lost pup. Anything else I'm missing here before my visit? The POC down there has been VERY helpful, we've swapped a dozen emails, and at least appears to be very interested. Want to make sure this visit is a positive one prior to my interview. Also, I know Nav school and AMS (or ANGOTS, whatever its called now) has quite a backlog so if I get hired on, I'd be more than happy to transfer as a LM prior to commissioning and keep flying for the time being. Should I make this known to them now, during the interview or just don't bother? I would think them getting a fully qualified LM waiting for school dates would be beneficial rather than a civilian sitting in the corner on drill weekends. Thanks! -Ryan