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Step 3: Choose the right path
Guard or Reserve: Air Force Reserve
The Air Force Reserve
supports the regular Air Force in fulfilling its national security objectives
by providing professionals in mission critical roles. In addition, it is a major
force in your community by contributing manpower and expertise in the wake of
national disaster or civil unrest to protect life and property, and to preserve
peace, order and public safety.
Although the Air Force Reserve is a separate command
of the U.S. Air Force, its aviators and personnel have played significant roles
in all of America's wars and most of it's major contingencies since the beginning
of the 20th Century.
Location
To find an Air Force Reserve base, consult this
list.
Guidelines
If you are interested in enlisting in the Air Force Reserve, you must:
Be between the ages of 18 and 35 (you can be 17 with a parent's signature).
Prior service have a different set of age limits.
Have a high school diploma, although in some instances GED certificates
can be accepted.
Pass a physical.
Complete an aptitude test (the ASVAB)
which will determine career paths available for consideration. For tips
on doing well on the ASVAB, see the Ace
the ASVAB section.
For more on general Reserve benefits and pay, see the Reserve
Help Pages.
Education Benefits and Skills Training
Community College of the Air Force - The CCAF enables students to earn
an associate in applied science degree. The college is only open to enlisted
active duty Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve members. CCAF
offers 66 programs in five career areas: aircraft and missile maintenance, allied
health, electronics and communications, logistics and resources, and public
and support services. It is the largest multi-campus community college in the
world and has over 372,000 airmen enrolled.
To earn their two-year degrees, students combine Air Force technical training,
professional military education and general education credits from accredited
colleges and universities. Most technical training is completed at schools on
four bases: Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.; or Lackland, Sheppard and Goodfellow
Air Force Bases in Texas. All technical courses are completed at CCAF affiliated
Air Force schools. For liberal arts prerequisites, students can complete these
at civilian colleges and universities.
Air Force ROTC - If your hope is to become an Air Force officer then
Air Force
ROTC is one of three ways to achieve that goal. With detachments at over
143 universities and colleges nationwide, and more than an 850 schools offering
the program with host schools in their locations, AFROTC is an excellent way
to work toward a commission while obtaining your degree. The program annually
commissions over 2,000 new second lieutenants and is the oldest and largest
source of commissioned officers for the Air Force.
Air Force ROTC offers 3.5-, 3-, and 2.5-year scholarships in all majors. There are two categories of scholarships:
Type I -- This scholarship offers full tuition and fees with a textbook allowance per year.
Type II -- An annual payment for tuition and fees, and an additional annual book allowance.
All scholarship cadets receive a monthly nontaxable stipend throughout the school year. To be eligible you must:
Have a GPA of 2.5 or higher.
Prior to applying for the scholarship you must complete at least one term
of full-time college-level work (does not include college-level work during
high school) and have at least 24 semester hours of college-level credits.
Meet weight, fitness, medical, age, citizenship, Air Force Officer Qualifying
Test score and other eligibility requirements.
Selection goes to the most qualified students, those selected must participate
in the AFROTC program and successfully complete a field-training encampment
after selection.
After completing all AFROTC program and degree requirements, students will be
commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force and serve a minimum of
4 years on active duty.
If you are interested in becoming a pilot, all pilot slots are selected during
the junior year on a competitive basis. Good college grades, physical fitness,
medical qualification and military performance are the keys to selection.
Officer Training School - Officer
Training School is an intensive 12-week program that prepares officer candidates
for the technical, physical and professional requirements of commissioned service.
Approximately 1,000 OTS graduates enter skill training or supervisory positions
each year in all major career areas. In years past, OTS has surged to meet wartime
officer requirements in its "flexible partner role," producing as many as 7,000
new second lieutenants in one year.
Montgomery G.I. Bill for Selected Reserve - The MGIB-SR allows you attend school full-time while serving in the Reserve or National Guard and get over $10,000 for school in addition to your paycheck and any other educational benefits you may be eligible to receive. For more on the GI Bill for Selected Reservists, go to the Reserve GI Bill section.
Tuition Assistance - The Air Force Reserve offers you tuition assistance. You can be reimbursed up to 100 percent tuition assistance up to $250 per semester hour, or $166 per quarter hour, not to exceed $4,500 annually per servicemember. For more on this program, see the Tuition Assistance Overview.
CollegeCredits-By-Exam - Members of the Reserve can also take advantage of free College Level Examination Program tests (CLEP). For every test you pass on a particular subject, you earn up to six transferable college credits.
Voluntary Education - As a member of the National Guard you can also pursue college and university courses through the Community College of the Air Force. The Community College of the Air Force provides two-year educational programs to enlisted members of the active duty Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserves. These programs combine Air Force technical training with general education course work from civilian accredited colleges.
Promotions and Career Path
In the Air Force Reserve you can expect steady advancement in rank and pay. Promotions are made with what the Air Force considers the "whole person" approach:
Job performance
Time in rank
Career specialty
Leadership
Job responsibility
The Air Force Reserve also looks favorably on your education. Being part of one of the most advanced branches of the military, the USAFR constantly looks for qualified people to advance to more technical positions.
Prior Service
If you have prior military service, then the Air Force Reserve is an excellent way to continue accruing time and money for retirement while continuing to serve your country and passing on your experience and knowledge. When you join the Air Force Reserve you'll receive benefits for both your prior military and reserve experience.
There are opportunities if you are currently transitioning from active duty or if you've been out of the service for awhile.
Even your experience in another service could be put to good use in the Air Force Reserve. This coupled with the financial and educational opportunities in locations close to where you live, work or study.
The Air Force Reserve Experience
The Air Force Reserve offers you the ability to go to school full time or pursue a civilian career while serving your country. As a member of the Air Force Reserve your commitment, after going through basic training and your initial technical schools will be for one drill a month and one period of annual training per year. People with no prior military experience who join the Reserve will incur an eight-year obligation. These eight years are broken down into two segments. The first six years you will be an active participating member. The last two years, if you choose, you will be in the inactive ready reserve. Although you are not active within the Reserve you will be subject to being recalled in the event of a national emergency.
Drills - A drill consists of two days of training per month. Your pay
will also be adjusted automatically for cost-of-living increases. You'll get
pay increases for every two years of accumulated service and may earn special
duty pay. To calculate your drill pay, visit the Drill
Calculator.
Annual Training - Annual training in the Air Force Reserve is held for
two weeks per year. Depending on the unit and your specialty you could be stationed
at a shore location, with an aviation squadron or aboard ship.
Travel - As a member of the Air Force Reserve you will have the opportunity
to travel both on duty and off. You also qualify for military Space Available
travel within and between the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam
and Puerto Rico. For more on military travel options and benefits, see the Travel
Center.
Life Insurance, Medical Care - The Air Force Reserve provides comprehensive
medical care while on duty. You also qualify for low-cost life insurance. For
more on these and other benefits, visit the Reserve
Help Pages.
Home Loan Program - Members of the Air Force Reserve with at least six
years of service are eligible to apply for the Department of Veterans Affairs
Home-Loan Guarantee program. For more on this program, go to the Home
section.
Base Privileges - As a member you can access to all recreational facilities
on military bases such as gyms, tennis courts and libraries. You and your family
can also enjoy unlimited access shopping at any Military Exchange nationwide.
Air Force Reserve members and their families are also entitled to use base commissaries
for up to 24 days annually, plus any days spent on active duty. For more on
recreational and family benefits, see the Reserve
Family and Individual Help page.
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