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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 10 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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I got some hints and helps. I tried joining the Air Force several times after getting out of the Army. I can tell you this that most AF recruiters either don't know how to work a prior service from a different branch.......or they don't WANT to work a prior service from a different branch. Stay on them. Go to their office daily or weekly. Call them weekly. Stay on their 6 like a starving dog with a piece of steak.
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SGT Matthew Reid
I scored a 124 on the ASVAB. An Army SFC at MEPS in KC could not believe that I wanted to go Airborne Infantry, could have done anything. Thirteen years later I had a BS Electronic Engineering degree. Almost 20 years of engineering now. Truth is, I wish I had the focus and drive to pursue engineering when I was younger. I do not regret my service, it just took 10 years to figure it out.
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Its easy really, if the Air Force is taking prior service talk to a recruiter. I was Army Reserves for 4 yrs, switched to active Air force, I lost 2 stripes and went through Air Force basic training but it was worth it. I retired from the Air Force. Good luck.
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As long as the airforce gives you the ok I don't see why not. Just get with your s1, ua or rpac and talk about a conditional release (368)
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Go forth quickly? Seriously though, from what I've read, the Army is going through a much more significant draw down right now. I don't know the numbers or whether your MOS is affected, but I can say the Air Force is a great place to be. I have yet to find a prior service member regret their decision to "cross into the blue."
You mentioned you want to fly. Are you looking to go Officer?
You mentioned you want to fly. Are you looking to go Officer?
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
I would like to go officer in the long run I'm currently a generator mechanic in the guard and a full time technician in my state so I work on all ground vehicles and equipment
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Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin
Obviously you will need a degree if you do not have one already. That degree may in turn likely influence what you will do as an officer. Requirements for pilot are heavily determined by those who have exceptional GPAs for their bachelors, preferably in a technical/mathematical field. You would also need to score well on the AFOQT. If you decide to go aircraft maintenance, your experience on vehicles I would assume could help. There are also officer positions in the maintenance field as well.
If officer is your choice, your steps are this, get a degree (Air Force loves technical ones), make good grades, and complete either OTS or AFROTC (or apply to the Academy if you feel you can). There are no guarantees for anyone getting the job they want, but if you come away with a 3.5+ GPA in a technical degree and a job you didn't expect, you're not exactly ruining your life are you?
If officer is your choice, your steps are this, get a degree (Air Force loves technical ones), make good grades, and complete either OTS or AFROTC (or apply to the Academy if you feel you can). There are no guarantees for anyone getting the job they want, but if you come away with a 3.5+ GPA in a technical degree and a job you didn't expect, you're not exactly ruining your life are you?
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If the Air Force recruiter seems disinterested or like they don't know what they are doing, ask if they can get you in contact with their Senior NCO who can point you to a more seasoned recruiter. From what I've seen, they usually have one recruiter per location unlike army and a central supervisor that works a region that has a handle on the quality of his/her recruiters.
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Talk to an Air Force Recruiter, They would be able first the let you know the possibilities of being accepted as a prior service, if they think it looks good then, you just need a release from the guard.
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