I spent 16 years in the Army Reserve and recently switched to the Air Force Reserve.

2014-03-06T10:37:50-05:00

I want to hear what others have experienced when switching branches.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2014 3:26 PM

2014-03-11T15:26:51-04:00

I switched from army active to air force reserve. I didn't really want to go to any reserve not because it's wrong or some (Of course I've never been in the reserve so I can't say anything about it anyway), but because I just wanted to focus on school and get my degrees done. But I was convinced when I was getting out so I was like let's give it a try. For what I see so far there is difference not only between the two branches but also between active and reserve. I just feel like the Air force reserve is an option if you like the military but can't keep up with the military hardcore and all that. Don't get me wrong I am not saying it is easy, it is relax and all that but there is a difference.

Response by LTC Bryan Wood made May 1 at 2015 11:13 PM

2015-05-01T23:13:22-04:00

I went the opposite direction. Air National Guard for 16 years, then Army Guard and now Army Reserves. For me it was about opportunities as an officer. At the time I was in the Air Guard, I was a Security Forces Squadron Commander and it was only an O-4 slot. To make O-5 I would had to compete for the very limited number of slots in the Support Group. After I left, the AF upped all the Guard SF Squadron CO positions to O-5. Also, unless things have changed, the AF does not have non-specific job positions. In Army, they have what are called O1A positions. Basically officer slots that don't require a specific branch. As an MP, I was most recently a Battalion Executive Officer position that was a 31A MP branch specific slot. Now I am in a Division O1A non branch specific slot. For me the Army provided me with ways to advance that the AF simply dis not offer. You'll like the AF. I did.

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Dec 3 at 2018 11:42 AM

2018-12-03T11:42:28-05:00

So.... was it a cakewalk compared to what you put up with in A.R., SSGT.?