What is it like switching from the Army Reserve to the Air Force Reserve?

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 12:11:41 -0400

I was considering switching from the Army Reserve to the Air Force Reserve, has anyone done this? If so what has your experience been like? What was the transfer process like? Were your MOS options limited to re-class? Did you get to keep your rank?

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2016 12:17 PM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 12:17:01 -0400

I switched from Marine reserve to AF reserve is a complete different animal for me but I would think Army to AF would be easier at least some of the same language Took me a year and a half for the magic scroll to pick me up so isn't an easy process at least for me. But I can say it has its benefits

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 27 at 2016 1:00 PM

PO1 John Miller — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:00:15 -0400

No experience in that myself, but my last job I was a contractor with the Air National Guard, and they had a lot of inter-service transfers. All the prior service Airmen said their transition was pretty easy. The NG recruiters would really work with them.

So if it's an option for you, consider the Air National Guard.

Response by SSgt Alvar Lam made Jul 27 at 2016 4:21 PM

SSgt Alvar Lam — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 16:21:26 -0400

Prior Active AF, current ANG here.

Prior-service accessions are pretty straightforward - you'll meet a recruiter, pick from a list of AFSCs that are open, and you are guaranteed that job. Until you are sent to Tech school you'll attend regular drills assigned to Student Flight (similar to RSD). At Student Flight, non-prior service will learn to march, attend briefings, and learn customs and courtesies. Non-AF Prior-service gets released to their future units to learn on the job.

EDIT: Apparently Student Flight is not applicable to your question; it's an ANG-only program. But I'm leaving this here in case anyone else is curious.

For ANG (I assume AFRC is similar) most traditional slots are guaranteed up to E-5 (SSgt), with some E-6 (TSgt) slots as well. As an E-4, you will most likely get to keep your rank for transfer but you won't be eligible for E-5 until you reach your 5-level (job skill) and complete Airman Leadership School. Some units are doing promotion boards now too - but they're a little different from Army boards.

For you, service culture will probably be a shock. I've been stationed on Army posts before and although customs and courtesies are still very much a thing, the ANG and AF Reserve are more casual in their day-to-day interactions.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2016 7:06 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 19:06:05 -0400

Made the same switch years ago and have never looked back! It is so different. I got the afsc i wanted so there was no trouble there. It will depend on what your base needs. Enjoy it! A recruiter can tell you more details but personally I can tell you to go for it.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2016 7:07 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 19:07:15 -0400

Btw i kept my rank when i did it spc to sra.

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Jul 27 at 2016 7:24 PM

Capt Tom Brown — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 19:24:03 -0400

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member From the comments here it sounds doable and if you are a good trooper and there is a place for you, the AF should be glad to get you on board. It might take awhile to pick up on the new culture and ways of doing things but if you are motivated go for it and best wishes.

Response by SMSgt James R. made Jul 27 at 2016 8:48 PM

SMSgt James R. — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 20:48:28 -0400

I have put dozens of PS Army folks into the AFR.... It can be quite smooth or quite the pain. You keep your rank (unless you are an E-7 or above and voluntarily demote-officers cannot change rank unless switching comp cats). If your MOS converts directly to an AFSC you will not HAVE to retrain. If it doesn't, you will

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2016 10:23 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 10:23:24 -0400

I tried, but could not. The AF recruiter told me that to come over, I'd have to revert to my previous enlisted rank. That's not happening, so I stayed Army Reserve.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2016 7:59 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 07:59:53 -0400

Your rank will be kept, your options in AFSC is only limited by the options in the AFR and your ASVAB scores. I crossed over from the Navy and eventually retired from the AFR.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2016 2:36 PM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 14:36:08 -0400

My MOS didn't transfer so I had to reclass but other than that it was a seamless process.

Response by SSgt Pete Pope made Jul 31 at 2016 1:00 PM

SSgt Pete Pope — Sun, 31 Jul 2016 13:00:28 -0400

E5 and below you keep your rank. E6 and above there has to be a slot available. Most reserve jobs are OJT. After active Navy, I was Army National Guard, Air National Guard, Navy, Marine, and Ait Force Reserves. Held a different MOS in each service, none related to my active Navy NEC.

Response by CCMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2016 10:45 PM

CCMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 31 Jul 2016 22:45:52 -0400

The only problem you could run into is CCAF, Community College of the Air Force. Its basically an Associates degree based on your Air Force Specialty Code. This may be irrelevant, but the reserves require a CCAF degree for promotion to E-8 or E-9. This may reach to E-7 soon.

It would be no problem if you go to Tech School in the AF Reserves. But, if you transfer the MOS -> AFSC then you may have challenges. You will have to talk to an Education and Training specialist (usually a civilian on the base). They will figure out a way to transfer your AIT from the Army and your experience in the MOS to transfer into CCAF credits.

Be forewarned, they may stop giving you CCAF credits for previous work experience -- if they have not already. What this means is that you won't be able to get a CCAF degree if you don't go to an AF Tech school..making going to a school mandatory for promotion past E-7. This is future stuff, but if you want to make the AF Reserves a career, it's better to plan ahead.

Response by Sgt Micah Fitzsimmons made Aug 2 at 2016 6:19 PM

Sgt Micah Fitzsimmons — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 18:19:19 -0400

Well, I was AD navy and went into the AFR... Other than learning the different rank structure it was very smooth... There are a couple minor differences between the branches, but is easy to adjust

Response by TSgt John Deemer made Aug 4 at 2016 3:58 PM

TSgt John Deemer — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 15:58:49 -0400

It honestly depends on which MOS you have. I was a 92Y10 Unit Supply Spec. but my supply MOS from the Army wouldn't transfer over. I decided to go with Air Transportation. It was actually a great move for me and it increased my knowledge of Logistics tremendously. Good Luck!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2016 3:42 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 15:42:03 -0400

I went from AD Army to AFRES, I had to separate completely first. Rank wise I kept my pay grade. The highest you can cross over at is E-5 (I think). You may be able to find an AFSC that is the same as your MOS or close to it.

Response by SSgt Thomas Crosser Jr. made Aug 18 at 2016 10:10 PM

SSgt Thomas Crosser Jr. — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 22:10:41 -0400

I went from the Marines to the AF, but I entered the Security Forces Career Field with a unit who's primary mission was Air Base Defense of a bare bone facility. Living in fighting (fox) holes, pulling patrol, LP/OP's, manning an overwatch, etc. and they made me an M-60 GPMG gunner. My transition was pretty smooth, as although I still thought as a Marine, I gradually learned to translate Army/AF slang in my head for the appropriate Marine slang. What we call Deuce gear, the AF calls an LBE, Cammies were BDU's, etc. I still thought and acted as a Grunt afield, which was no problem, that is what the job calls for. The Law Enforcement mission was a bit tougher, Cops respond one way to a threat, Grunts another. However, given that my unit contained more than a few Civilian Law Enforcement Agencies SWAT team members, shift supervisors (SGT's) Training and the like. Officers from whom I learned how to do that job in short orders. I just enjoyed the time behind the Pig more than I did rolling in a patrol car. Not that Code 3 is not a kick in the pants and in some instances, very intense. My point is, I found a job that was within my wheelhouse and comfort zone, and one that I already had a great deal of experience. Just realize if the job is not 100% transferable, you may be in for a long stint at the school house. As such, I went through the SF Academy at Lackland for 30 days.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2016 10:42 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 22:42:51 -0400

I completely seperated from the USAR, the joined the USAFR years later. It took 2.5 yrs and 3 different recruiters...an intense process.

Response by SMSgt Clayton Cortinas made Sep 14 at 2016 7:50 PM

SMSgt Clayton Cortinas — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 19:50:10 -0400

As soon as you do you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner. Many troops have transferred (both ways) from 1 service to another, sometimes more than once. If nothing else, you'll be able to explore the absurd rumors/legends about how "soft" the Air Force has it compared to the other branches (e.g., hotel rooms, color televisions in the tents, latte machines, Barco loungers, etc.). I did Army and Air Force, both having their own attributes, and would choose Air Force every time. But that's me, think hard.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 10 at 2016 5:55 PM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 17:55:02 -0500

I switch from the Marine Corps to the Air Force Reserves. It was a culture shock.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2016 10:43 AM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 10:43:45 -0500

I switched from Army National Guard to the Air National Guard one day I was in a army uniform next day I was in the Air Force uniform but I payed for a Abu top and had my rank and name on it when I swore in then I put my Abu top on and they had the boots and Abu bottoms an cap waiting for me

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2017 2:41 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 14:41:39 -0500

It sucks..... being honest I did 20 years army reserve to air force... its more educational.... if you don't like books ... reading ... more books .... then stay in army reserve

Response by SMSgt Herman Orr made Jan 10 at 2017 7:56 AM

SMSgt Herman Orr — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 07:56:14 -0500

19 years ago I made the switch I got to keep my rank and my MOS crossed over where I did not have to retrain

Response by SMSgt Clayton Cortinas made Jun 16 at 2017 3:01 AM

SMSgt Clayton Cortinas — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 03:01:07 -0400

An area of difficulty does occur in the medical MOS ( 91W) to the Air Force's 4NO AFSC. Most of the Army medics that have transferred to the Air Force Reserve have either failed to maintain their National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician certification or have failed to obtain it in the 1st place (usually having failed the exam 3 times). This is a mandatory requirement for the USAF Aerospace Medicine Specialist AFSC. If you transfer in without it, you have 6 months to obtain it or you are returned to the Army Reserve. Medics take heed, there at no waivers for this requirement! I'm unaware of other difficulties in transferring MOSs to AFSCs (Air Force Specialty Code). The pertains to both ground and flight medics.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2018 9:49 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 21:49:21 -0500

I transferred from the Army (2years) to Air Force(12years). My MOS was 92A Supply and my AFSC in the Air Force is a medic 4N071. The transfer process was easy for me. I did incur a debt for the break in contract but I assure you the good in transferring outweigh the bad. The Army is way more structured and there’s more respect between the ranks than the Air Force. The amenities, accommodation and opportunities to grow are way better in the Air Force. I don’t regret it at all!! Good luck!!

Response by Lt Col Melody Hof made Mar 10 at 2018 11:04 PM

Lt Col Melody Hof — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 23:04:13 -0500

I transferred from Army to Air Force; my army unit was disbanding so had to find a new home, could of stayed with Army however it was much farther so went Air Force, both units helped me and it was pretty smooth; I was an officer so not sure how different it would be for you; there were enlisted that also transferred some kept there MOS others retrained, mainly due to their desire to change, we were a medical unit so that may have contributed to their change; never regretted it. (I was also in the Navy)

Response by Lt Col Melody Hof made Apr 22 at 2018 8:52 AM

Lt Col Melody Hof — Sun, 22 Apr 2018 08:52:54 -0400

I did it, other than the time and paperwork it went pretty smoothly. Great decision

Response by SMSgt Herman Orr made Dec 3 at 2018 12:29 PM

SMSgt Herman Orr — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 12:29:51 -0500

The switch was worth it, using the experience from the Army to the Air Force puts you ahead of the curve in so many ways. Training, physical fitness and knowing that you were trained in so many tasks in the Army. I got to keep my rank and had a blast cross training my Air Force troops. I got to do more traveling and deployments with the Air Force.