Posted on Feb 19, 2016
How do you go from Army National Guard to active Air Force?
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Any advice for someone looking to switch branches and also jump ship to active duty
Posted in these groups: 
Military Career
Inter-Service
Military Career Inter-Service
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 11
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I did that many years ago...here is my take on this:
1. Air Force does not like to take many prior service, especially from other branches (think costs.... it is cheaper for them to train someone from scratch then to train you in air force ways and pay you for time already served and potentially at a higher starting rank!)
2. If the Air Force is interested in you, it is because you have something they NEED and they are having problems filling the bill..... Infantry to security forces will not do it generally.....
3. If you are looking to go from enlisted to officer, try to have all your ducks in a row so you can work the commission FROM THE START with the Air Force. Not saying that they don't have programs such as Boot Strap or Green to Gold in the Air Force, but for a Prior.....this may be the easier way to go.
4. TALK WITH A RECRUITER. They know the numbers. They know the options.
Good luck! AF is a great branch. For a prior Army, it has moments of frustration, but overall, good.
1. Air Force does not like to take many prior service, especially from other branches (think costs.... it is cheaper for them to train someone from scratch then to train you in air force ways and pay you for time already served and potentially at a higher starting rank!)
2. If the Air Force is interested in you, it is because you have something they NEED and they are having problems filling the bill..... Infantry to security forces will not do it generally.....
3. If you are looking to go from enlisted to officer, try to have all your ducks in a row so you can work the commission FROM THE START with the Air Force. Not saying that they don't have programs such as Boot Strap or Green to Gold in the Air Force, but for a Prior.....this may be the easier way to go.
4. TALK WITH A RECRUITER. They know the numbers. They know the options.
Good luck! AF is a great branch. For a prior Army, it has moments of frustration, but overall, good.
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TSgt Gwen Walcott
" ... something they NEED and they are having problems filling the bill... "
Tell the recruiter that you want AFSC 1N3x4G (or even better, 1A8x4G)
Given that they've never been able to mann those shreds above 50% (especially 1A8), then if you score 95%+ on ALL your ASVAB/AFQTs and subsequent qual tests, they'll grab you like a cocked grenade. And what they've needed in those shreds is likely minuscule to what is coming soon.
Tell the recruiter that you want AFSC 1N3x4G (or even better, 1A8x4G)
Given that they've never been able to mann those shreds above 50% (especially 1A8), then if you score 95%+ on ALL your ASVAB/AFQTs and subsequent qual tests, they'll grab you like a cocked grenade. And what they've needed in those shreds is likely minuscule to what is coming soon.
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SGT,
You probably will be denied. It isn't you, it is a matter of you are prior enlisted and trained by the Army. The blue side of the house isn't as good about translating the training from the green side of the house to meet their needs. Though it has been a year since I last looked into the process for a soldier, I'm pretty sure it hasn't changed. You will need to transfer either to the Air National Guard, or Air Reserves, spend a year with that unit, and then apply for a transfer to Active Duty Air Force. Good luck to you.
-MSG Reeve
You probably will be denied. It isn't you, it is a matter of you are prior enlisted and trained by the Army. The blue side of the house isn't as good about translating the training from the green side of the house to meet their needs. Though it has been a year since I last looked into the process for a soldier, I'm pretty sure it hasn't changed. You will need to transfer either to the Air National Guard, or Air Reserves, spend a year with that unit, and then apply for a transfer to Active Duty Air Force. Good luck to you.
-MSG Reeve
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From my experience with the recruiters,
Know the job you want to go into
Make sure you have a good ASVAB score. If you don't you can retake it.
You don't have to stick with a local recruiter, sometimes going to another town you can find a recruiter who cares.
Make sure they are not in a draw down of troops!!!
Good Luck, and I can help contact me.
Know the job you want to go into
Make sure you have a good ASVAB score. If you don't you can retake it.
You don't have to stick with a local recruiter, sometimes going to another town you can find a recruiter who cares.
Make sure they are not in a draw down of troops!!!
Good Luck, and I can help contact me.
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