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Hi! I have some questions. My husband is wanting to go reserves/palace chase. He is looking for a reserve unit in Fort Worth Texas. We are currently stationed in Minot AFB, ND. We had some questions.
So, if he goes reserves, will he be able to apply for OTS at a later date if he wants and go active officer? He is enlisted right now.
Do you have to go reserves in the same job field or will they cross train?
How long does it usually take to go from active to reserves?
If he wanted to re-enlist and go active enlisted later, would he be able to do that?
What would make him get turned down for palace chase?
Hi! I have some questions. My husband is wanting to go reserves/palace chase. He is looking for a reserve unit in Fort Worth Texas. We are currently stationed in Minot AFB, ND. We had some questions.
So, if he goes reserves, will he be able to apply for OTS at a later date if he wants and go active officer? He is enlisted right now.
Yes, this doesn't matter. He will need to meet the requirements.
Do you have to go reserves in the same job field or will they cross train?
Usually it's the same career field, and most likely they will not be given an opportunity to retrain.
How long does it usually take to go from active to reserves?
Depends on the availability. Also he will be extending his time, there's a formula.
If he wanted to re-enlist and go active enlisted later, would he be able to do that?
Almost a %100 no. Unless manning takes a huge downturn.
What would make him get turned down for palace chase?
Lack of slots at Guard bases around Dallas...Article 15's, etc.
Thanks for any helpful answers!
I would advice him to not go palace chase, after serving with multiple people who did palace chase and absolutely hated it. They either hated the guard and deployments or they wanted to go back active duty and they were pretty much black balled at that point by the Air Force.
I take it the main reason he is looking at this is he hates Minot or his career field or both correct?
I transferred from AD to the Reserves last year, so this is based on my experience. If he's interested in the Reserves, he should take to a Reserve Recruiter ASAP.
Quote:
Originally Posted by etjaipleure
So, if he goes reserves, will he be able to apply for OTS at a later date if he wants and go active officer? He is enlisted right now.
If he wanted to re-enlist and go active enlisted later, would he be able to do that?
Once he goes into the Reserves, going back to active duty is almost impossible. The Air Force would need to announce a "Recall to Active Duty", which is extremely rare. However, as a Reservist he could become a full time ART, which is essential a GS civilian in uniform.
Quote:
Originally Posted by etjaipleure
Do you have to go reserves in the same job field or will they cross train?
Just like on active duty, it will depend on the manning levels in his current career field and his target field. I recommend he talk to a Reserve Recruiter at Minot to see what programs are currently open.
Quote:
Originally Posted by etjaipleure
How long does it usually take to go from active to reserves?
The 'official' timeline is 90 days minimum, however he should start ASAP. Ideally, he will want to transfer into the Reserves with no break in service.
He first needs to find a unit with an available or upcoming vacancy. Recommendation: contact the Reserve Recruiter at a unit he's interested in to see if they have vacancies or any upcoming openings. Finding vacancies is done primarily through personal contacts and networking; the position listing on VRS is only the tip of the iceberg. Many opening are filled before they get advertised.
Once he has a position, then he will need to do all the paperwork. The important stuff is the medical and dental clearances, which he will need to do in conjunction with his separation (which is a lot more paperwork...)
Quote:
Originally Posted by etjaipleure
What would make him get turned down for palace chase?
Unfavorable information or lack of available openings. If he has any remain obligations to the Air Force, he can also try the Palace Front program.
Regarding people hating Palace Chase, it depends on the individual and their unit. In my unit we have a great sense of camaraderie; in fact it's much better than what I experienced on AD. To each their own.
One of the things I meant by people hating it were they didn't want to be in the reserves anymore or they really just wanted out of their location or career field.
It's not that we hate Minot, which we do, definitely, but it's more we are so far away from family and it's so expensive to live here and fly out here or go anywhere. Also, I can't find a job here and I have been looking for the past 2 years. I have student loans due soon and we don't make enough here to pay for his and mine. I was actually offered a job in my field,making double what I make now, and close to family in a cheaper community. I was just wondering if he would be able to do Palace Chase and move with me before I moved myself.
Thanks for the info! His career field is critically manned and I don't think the Air Force is big on keeping family together if they choose to move away so the likelihood of him coming with me is probably slim. Worth a shot, though.
There's a guard unit in FW, I would check out vacancies there as well...With AD to reserve cross training, it's by the individual slot/vacancy, if the unit is willing to pay for the cross-training or not...But it's extremely rare; often the except is a pilot for a non-popular cargo plane...
The Palace Chase program allows active duty officers and airmen to voluntarily transfer from active military service to the United States Air Force Reserve (USAFR) or the Air National Guard (ANG). The member's remaining active duty service commitment or term of enlistment may be waived, for approved applicants, in exchange for the member's agreement to participate in a Selected Reserve USAFR or ANG program.
I have a question I just recently joined the Air Force reserves through palace chase. Because of the locations that the reserves offer which differ from the guard could I transfer into the guard from the reserves if I palace chased? Or do I have to serve the remaining years that I palace chased from active duty to the reserves in order to transfer to guard?
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