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P-8 NFO to Air Force Reserves?

Waveoff

Waveoff

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I'm a P-8 NFO currently on my disassociated sea tour who will be reaching my MSR in about 18 months. By that time I'll have 11 years in. I don't have much of a desire to stay in for traditional Navy active duty routes or VP-62/69 SELRES for 9 more years since we are looking to move closer to family in Ohio. I see that there is an AF Reserve ISR Wing at Wright Pat. Has anyone done or looked into a transfer like this before that could offer advice or opinions?
 
Yes. I looked into it back in 2017 but ended up going to Air Force active. I'd recommend your first step to reach out to them and see if they are hiring. Some units take rolling applications and others do a periodic application board throughout the year. bogidope.com used to list the upcoming boards but I think they make you pay for it now. Just call their ops desk and/or recruiting shop and ask.

Also go visit. That way they can put a face to a name. I guarantee they get a lot of applications and you need to make it so they know your name when it pops up. They'll most likely have a drill weekend monthly so the best bet is to get there for one of them and hang around. If you know someone in the unit, or can do a third party introduction, even better.

The actual transition piece isn't necessarily difficult, it's just a long paperwork process.
 
Have a buddy from my JO tour who did that, IIRC he was doing MQ-9 stuff out of Nellis. This was 6 years ago so no idea if he’s still doing that though.
 
Definitely visit the unit and talk to them on a drill weekend.

I went with some Navy pilots when they rushed Reserve / ANG Fighter units and it seemed to be part of the process.

Too bad the USNR doesn't have any real good / viable flying careers for NFOs. Mostly just staff / training work in the SELRES or coloring books in the IRR.
 
CommodoreMid said:
Have a buddy from my JO tour who did that, IIRC he was doing MQ-9 stuff out of Nellis. This was 6 years ago so no idea if he’s still doing that though.
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Pretty sure flew with the guy when he was on his disassociated tour now that you mention it. I'll see how he went about it.

I see that there's also an MQ-9 wing in Springfield, so maybe that would be an option to stay in a flight suit.
 
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Waveoff said:
Other than 62/69 and maybe the 30 SAU, idk what they are for VP folks. Have they stood up VUP reserves?
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VUP-19 has a SAU. I understand the desire not to commute; it's not easy being an out of town reservist. But that doesn't = "no good/viable flying careers for NFOs".
 
Waveoff said:
I see that there's also an MQ-9 wing in Springfield, so maybe that would be an option to stay in a flight suit.
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Ohio isn't in a hiring posture right now, but that can always change.

Also remember that an NFO will have to compete to go to pilot training, even for an unmanned pilot slot and will have to go to URT. Why? Because Air Force.
 
Mos said:
Not sure what you mean by this. There are in fact USNR squadrons where qualified NFOs can continue flying.
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I guess my information is dated and particular to VF/VFA RIO/WSOs - in the VFA community when I left AD they had only just started the VFA-106 SAU and VAQ-129 was still flying Prowlers at the time.

Not really relevant, but the Airline Pilot Mafia will always reign supreme in the Navy Reserves (in and out of squadrons) - because their day job can be put on hold at any time, they can get free flights anywhere, and they can return to work with no negative effects.

OP, good luck in your search. Even if you don't transition, 11 years AD is work continuing service, even if it's watching paint dry in some staff unit on drill weekends or coloring books in the IRR>.
 
RHINOWSO said:
I guess my information is dated and particular to VF/VFA RIO/WSOs - in the VFA community when I left AD they had only just started the VFA-106 SAU and VAQ-129 was still flying Prowlers at the time.

Not really relevant, but the Airline Pilot Mafia will always reign supreme in the Navy Reserves (in and out of squadrons) - because their day job can be put on hold at any time, they can get free flights anywhere, and they can return to work with no negative effects.

OP, good luck in your search. Even if you don't transition, 11 years AD is work continuing service, even if it's watching paint dry in some staff unit on drill weekends or coloring books in the IRR>.
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The amount of WSOs in the VFC world has increased in the last few years (which to my knowledge was previously 0) on both the SELRES and TAR sides.

-122 and -106 both still have SAUs.

Never heard of a WSO going to -209 or the -129 SAU.
 
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