Are guaranteed job contracts doable for prior service? If so, how?

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Jul 2018 00:12:57 -0400

Prior service separatee strongly interested in reenlistment, but am looking at an AFSC different from my original. The AFSCs I am interested in (1A9X1 and 1A2X1) are on the shortfall requirements list. I need a no-BS, straightforward answer about reenlisting with a guaranteed job contract. I do not want to "list 5 jobs and hope for the best" -- been burned by that once before. Are guaranteed job contracts doable for prior service? If so, HOW? I saw several people come and go through DEP the first time I enlisted with guaranteed jobs. What do I need to do to be one of them this go-round?

If I DO have to reenter service in my old AFSC, how long until I can submit to retrain since I am no longer considered a First Term Airman?

Thank you to anyone who can provide insight, advice or information.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2018 2:46 AM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Jul 2018 02:46:20 -0400

Thank you for the input. That's odd, because the recruiter I spoke to said that unless I wanted to be a Battlefield Airman or maintainer, the only other way in (right now at least) was direct duty back to my old AFSC. This is the problem I've run into... there isn't one answer, there's several and none of them support each other.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2018 4:10 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Jul 2018 16:10:05 -0400

Absolutely! In the Army!!!

Response by TSgt Gerald Wilson made Jul 21 at 2018 11:50 AM

TSgt Gerald Wilson — Sat, 21 Jul 2018 11:50:25 -0400

I wish I had happier news but in my experience the Air Force is unbelievably negative and reluctant toward any prior service seeking accession to AD. Understand, I did it myself in 2004 as a fully qualified C-5 load (1A2) going from the USAF Reserve to AD - with prior AD time too. And you would think, that would have been simple but it was a massive pain requiring a HQ AF level exception-to-policy waiver. Remember I said "fully qualified" - no training, no check-ride, not even any shots. Likely, the only reason it worked at all was the fact of a "free" qualified crew member being provided to the AD. (Just change patches and go.) If you can apply at a time when the Air Force lifts the general ban on prior service - and this happens occasionally, it could work but it all depends on the policy. Getting a recruiter to actually help you do something non-standard is another challenge too because you're up against inherent laziness at that point. I genuinely hope it's an easier thing for you than it was for me. Best wishes.

Response by SrA Roy "Abby" Abernathy made Nov 7 at 2019 7:57 AM

SrA Roy "Abby" Abernathy — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 07:57:44 -0500

You can get "soft booked" for a job, you just have to tell your recruiter that you absolutely want those jobs and those only. You might be in DEP for a bit but if you're okay with waiting, you can do it.