AF Reservists fight order to wear uniform while performing civilian duties

[PHall]

Okay Mikey, a little education for you on the AF Reserve. It is very different from the USAR, but the differences are because of the different missions.

You basically find three type of troops in an AFRC unit.

- Your regular "traditional reservist", i.e. weekender.

- Air Reserve Technitions, full time personnel who are Federal Civil Service during the week who are also Reservists as a condition of their employment. They do the same job in either status. They provide continuity and expertise to the unit.

- Active Guard Reserve, reservist who is on a 3 year AGR tour. They are on Active Duty and receive all of the active pay and benefits. They are also under the UCMJ while they are in AGR status.

In my particular unit, 729th Airlift Squadron, we had a total of about 100 personnel assigned.
Of that number we had about 13 ART's, about 4 or 5 AGR's and 2 civilian employees (Commander's secretary and an order's clerk).
So we had 20 people to keep the place running day to day. The biggest function the ART's did was scheduling.
They had to make sure that everybody stayed current with all of their training requirements. (Reserve flight crews have the same training requirements as Active Duty flyers, just a lot less time to accomplish it in.)

In the maintenance squadrons about a third of the people are ART's.

The big deal about ART's is that the Reserve gets people with years of experience for about 2/3rd less then what an Active Duty member would cost.

[mikeylikey]

^ Thank you......I sit more educated now.

[sarmed1]

you forgot type 4 (or tehcnically 1.5) seemingly unique to the AF reserve....Man Day bums.

Traditional reservists who pretty much find a way to manage a full time or near enough job out of being an AF reservist.  Either serving with their unit of assignemnt on extended man days or RMP's or short tours for other units either in their carreer field or a position not requiring an exact skill set (usually an active duty unit filling in for someone deployed).  These folks are in a drill status similar to annual tour time, draw regular pay, full medical coverage and in some cases regular BAH and BAS, some depending on the length of the tour(s) and or with a waiver (usually over 180 or 270 days depending) are eligible for dependent medical coverage as well.

also well utilized by both active and reserve component units for the cheapness....only pay for days they play basically

mk

[Gunner C]

you forgot type 4 (or tehcnically 1.5) seemingly unique to the AF reserve....Man Day bums.

Traditional reservists who pretty much find a way to manage a full time or near enough job out of being an AF reservist.  Either serving with their unit of assignemnt on extended man days or RMP's or short tours for other units either in their carreer field or a position not requiring an exact skill set (usually an active duty unit filling in for someone deployed).  These folks are in a drill status similar to annual tour time, draw regular pay, full medical coverage and in some cases regular BAH and BAS, some depending on the length of the tour(s) and or with a waiver (usually over 180 or 270 days depending) are eligible for dependent medical coverage as well.

also well utilized by both active and reserve component units for the cheapness....only pay for days they play basically

mk

I'd forgotten about those guys.  I knew a couple of them - you'd run into them from time to time (same ones) doing all sorts of different things.  They had a pretty good time and made a pretty good living.

GC

[PHall]

you forgot type 4 (or tehcnically 1.5) seemingly unique to the AF reserve....Man Day bums.

Traditional reservists who pretty much find a way to manage a full time or near enough job out of being an AF reservist.  Either serving with their unit of assignemnt on extended man days or RMP's or short tours for other units either in their carreer field or a position not requiring an exact skill set (usually an active duty unit filling in for someone deployed).  These folks are in a drill status similar to annual tour time, draw regular pay, full medical coverage and in some cases regular BAH and BAS, some depending on the length of the tour(s) and or with a waiver (usually over 180 or 270 days depending) are eligible for dependent medical coverage as well.

also well utilized by both active and reserve component units for the cheapness....only pay for days they play basically

mk

I used to be a Reserve Bum for a couple of years following Gulf War I. Wasn't that hard to do in a Airlift Unit.
We had enough missions out in the system that we managed to keep about 8 - 10 Flight Engineers gainfully employed.

I looked at it this way.  10 mandays and the rent gets paid. 15 and the credit cards get paid too.
I usually managed to do 20 to 25 days a month.

All of the people in my unit who were on AGR tours were Reserve Bums who finally found a way around the 179 day limit.

[SAR-EMT1]

Are the Medical requirments the same for the Reserve or ANG as AD?

- I got bumped from AFROTC because they cancelled my asthma waiver, could i still make it into the ANG or AFReserve?

[PHall]

Are the Medical requirments the same for the Reserve or ANG as AD?

- I got bumped from AFROTC because they cancelled my asthma waiver, could i still make it into the ANG or AFReserve?

No, the medical requirements are the same.

[SAR-EMT1]

Crap

[smj58501]

(Scratches his head and wonders in amazement how ANY topic on this site with the word "uniform" in it, even if not CAP related, breeds responses like rabbits overdosed on Viagra and fertility drugs)

[DNall]

Are the Medical requirments the same for the Reserve or ANG as AD?

- I got bumped from AFROTC because they cancelled my asthma waiver, could i still make it into the ANG or AFReserve?

The standards are actually the same for all services, at least on that issue, but the enforcement is different. You can come over to Army NG/Res & we'll take care of you. The AF is just shedding people right now is all.

[Eagle400]

The standards are actually the same for all services, at least on that issue, but the enforcement is different. You can come over to Army NG/Res & we'll take care of you. The AF is just shedding people right now is all.

What DNall said.  Also, while I don't encourage people to conceal their medical information, I realize that everyone has got to make their own decisions.

But realize that while the FBI background check is done whether you like it or not, if you give a recruiter the reason to believe that you are not medically disqualified (and are not visibly ill or disabled), they will have no reason to check your medical history.

Also, I was a cadet at a military community college in the South that is one of five such institutions in America that offers the Army ROTC ECP (Early Commissioning Program).  Through this program, you can commission into either the Army Reserve or Army National Guard with an associate's degree.  This comes with the stipulation that you must earn your Bachelor's degree within 3 years from the date of commissioning.  If you don't, you will either be busted to Sergeant or given an Honorable Discharge.

One morning at PT, I was talking with my Platoon Leader about the DODMERB.  He told me that half of all Army DODMERBs do not go through.  Needless to say, I was shocked.  This was in 2005.       

SAR-EMT1, I have to tell you that U.S. MEPCOM is absolutely and unequivocally the biggest and worst bureauracracy in the U.S. Government today.  The process of military entrance processing is an absolute nightmare.  They will allow a felon to enlist, but an officer candidate cannot commission if he has anxiety and/or depression.  I have a BIG problem with that.

U.S. MEPCOM has succeeded in making military entrance processing hypocritical, unjust, and reprehensible.  Because of this, U.S. MEPCOM is doing a huge disservice to the American people.  Think of how many folks (especially young folks), who are not criminals, that have wanted nothing else in life but to serve in the military but couldn't due to medical disqualification.  Is the inequality created by U.S. MEPCOM officials doing these people justice?  I don't think so.   

I can understand disqualifying people for things like AIDS and cancer, but anxiety and depression?  Give me a break!  If the applicant has a medical problem that he or she can fix, then it should NOT be disqualifyable. 

And to those of you who think anxiety cannot be fixed, I suggest you read the statistics about accupuncture and how it has helped eliminate anxiety in thousands (if not millions) of patients.  Not only is it effective, but it also requires no medication whatsoever.

By the way, it is a fact that only 1% of the American population is medically qualified to enlist or commission.  If everybody was honest and upfront with their recruiters about their medical history, the size of the military (in time) would decrease significantly.  If that were to happen, and the medical standards were to remain the same as they are now, then we could kiss the chance of winning the Global War on Terror goodbye.

So you are faced with a decision, SAR-EMT1, and you will have to make that decision sooner or later.  Whatever you choose to do, I wish you good luck and much success.  If you have any questions, you can always PM me.   

[mikeylikey]

I can understand disqualifying people for things like AIDS and cancer, but anxiety and depression?  Give me a break!  If the applicant has a medical problem that he or she can fix, then it should NOT be disqualifyable. 

Most cancer is highly curable these days.  In fact once cured of many cancers for a certain amount of time (usually five years) you are free to enlist or Commission.  Other cancers are not even a bar to enlistment any more.  Don't lump Cancer in with Aids.  The two are not even close to being similar. 

I also have to disagree with MEPCOM and DODMERB not doing a good job.  They do an excellent job of screening those that would not be able to succeed in the military.  That may sound harsh, but the military is not for all people and will never be EO.

As far as people with anxiety, depression.....I have to agree with them not being allowed to serve.  That is one less thing I (as a Commander) need to worry about.  Sure your psychotropic and mood altering neurotransmitter inhibitors and blockers can correct the apparent symptoms but the underlying cause and actual imbalance is still present.  What would happen if you did not have access to your drugs?  I would not only loose a man to medical incapacitation, but you just became a risk to yourself and everyone around you.

Please don't hint to anyone that they should withhold their medical conditions before enlisting.  Everything has a way of becoming apparent.  I will push for an article 32 investigation and for an eventual dishonorable discharge of anyone that did not disclose medically relevant information when they enlisted.  You won't get a medical discharge from the services, you will get a dishonorable discharge.  That sir, will follow you the rest of your life.

CCSE.....you seem bitter that you can't serve, and your bitterness is directed at the wrong group. 

SAR-EMT1 I suggest you take your case to the DODMERB, there is an appeals process that should have been presented to you when your waiver was revoked.  This time, go to another Service other than the Air Force and have them fight your battle for you.  Good luck.         

[Eagle400]

Please don't hint to anyone that they should withhold their medical conditions before enlisting.  Everything has a way of becoming apparent.  I will push for an article 32 investigation and for an eventual dishonorable discharge of anyone that did not disclose medically relevant information when they enlisted.  You won't get a medical discharge from the services, you will get a dishonorable discharge.  That sir, will follow you the rest of your life.

I did not hint to anyone that they should conceal medical information in the process of enlistment.  This is what I said:

Also, while I don't encourage people to conceal their medical information, I realize that everyone has got to make their own decisions.

But realize that while the FBI background check is done whether you like it or not, if you give a recruiter the reason to believe that you are not medically disqualified (and are not visibly ill or disabled), they will have no reason to check your medical history.

I gave SAR-EMT1 some info, and he can do whatever he wants.  I don't even know him outside of CAPTalk (which basically means I know very, very, very little about him).

CCSE.....you seem bitter that you can't serve, and your bitterness is directed at the wrong group.

Uh, where did I say I was medically disqualified?

What I am bitter about is the fact that only 1% of the American population is medically qualified to enlist or commission.  If that trend remains the same, America will lose the Global War on Terror.

[mikeylikey]

What I am bitter about is the fact that only 1% of the American population is medically qualified to enlist or commission.  If that trend remains the same, America will lose the Global War on Terror.

In another thread a few months ago I think you said you were denied enlistment because you took antidepressants (that was you, right.....I don't want to go back and look through them all). 

Where are you getting this 1% being medically qualified to enlist or commission? 

Even if it is one percent....that is more than enough people to wage war.  Research World War Two.....and report back on exactly how many people served in the Armed Forces between 1940 and 1946.  It was not even 1%.  Our military does not even compare in size to what it was during the peak of the War.   

[MIKE]

Topic.

[DNall]

It's actually closer to 30% are medically qualified to enlist. Of that group 2/3rds have other issues (can't pass ASVAB, legal problems, can't clear security, failure to adapt - behavioral problems, etc). So, less than 10% of the population in the target age group are eligible to enlist, about 1.5% of that group choose to do so.

When we book a basic training seat it costs the state $76,000 for that 9wk course. If you refuse to ship, fail at reception, or can't make it thru training for whatever reason, we still have to pay that full amount. Hell, if you rebook another date within 60days of ship, we have to pay for both slots. That's just basic, not even counting AIT, which you can imagine is rather expensive for things like aviation mechanic. Plus, we're going to give you a fat bonus when you get back. That's a lot invested just to make one private. It's a ton more for officers, or God forbid a pilot. MEPS does an efficient job making sure we don't make bad investments.

I do think they do a pretty good job with a tough mission. They efficiently screen thousands of people every year at every location. Where people run into problems is just the dramatic attitude shift. You spend lots of time with a recruiter who's whole purpose in life is to get you in the service. They're very friendly/personable & work with you to make your joint goal happen. MEPS isn't on your side. They're on the service's side. It's their job to scrutinize you with a relatively simple physical & keep us from making bad investments.

[RogueLeader]

At MEPS, everyone I processed with lost at least one inch from ALL other medical facilities.  BUT I am still over the minimum weight standards by 7 pounds.