I am in the process of joining the air force reserves, and am intent on doing so, nothing said can turn me away (so don't be afraid to tell me the truth (unlike recruiters. LOL).

when I spoke with my recruiter the first time he was playing the "I want you to join" game telling me anything and everything to get me interested. (which is not necessary because I am intent on joining, but thats how they play the game).

Anyways, I am in college and want my degree to become an officer. So my question is How does the reserves work with college.
Will I get enough notice before I am deployed to finish the semester? Are they generally more willing to work on deployment dates with college students?

My recruiter told me its strictly voluntary and that everyone getting deployed volunteers (he may be correct that people from my base are not mobilized). However, I know Air Force reservists are getting mobilized.

So, my questions are:
How much notice is typically given before you have to leave?
Will they work around school schedules (say I need a couple of extra weeks before leaving to finish the semester)?
How long are the deployments usually?
(preferred Jobs: Aerospace ground equipment, civil Engineer, Special Vehicle Maintenance, Aircraft electrical and environmental, vehicle and vehicular maintenance, And Beale AFB in California if any of that makes a difference.
If I get called up am I allowed to switch with someone if they are willing to go instead?

Thanks!

Hi Andrea,

I'll give you my perspective on the matter - which does not necessarily translate into what the AFIs say. I'm a 2Lt Civil Engineer in the ANG. I can only speak from the guard perspective, not the reserves.

1. The guard typically tries to give you a year notice - so you can prepare yourself, your family, and your employer. However, it is possible that they can deploy you on a moment's notice. Also, don't put much stock into the "everybody volunteer's bit" - you're essentially "volunteering" for deployment when you sign that dotted line. Kind of a stretch of the truth.

2. Often the military will TRY to work with you on personal needs - such as your semester. However, when it comes to deploying - when it's your time to go, it's your time to go. All you can really hope for is you'll know far enough ahead of time to cancel the semester or make alternative plans.

3. Air Force deployments are typically 6 months. There are still a few AFSC's that do 4 months. I noticed you're possibly thinking of becoming a Civil Engineer - I can tell you that young CE officers are a highly deployable asset. Heck, I'm writing this from Sather AB, Iraq!

4. I've heard of concessions being made if somebody would like to deploy in somebody else's stead. This is usually reserved for hardships - like your wife/husband having a terminal illness or something. I would not join with that mindset however. Join fully knowing that you are going to deploy, when they want you to deploy. That's the sacrifice, and what it means to serve.

Other tidbits - you cannot be accepted into an officer position until AFTER you've completed a BA degree. I just wanted to clarify that for you. If you join on the enlisted side, don't discount how much training you'll need to accomplish on the front end. This could also impact your school schedule - many tech schools are 13-20 weeks, not including the basic training.

All that aside, I'm glad you're joining. You sound like you have the conviction to do well in the Air Force. Good luck to you!

The young LT was correct on some instances. You may know of a deployment a year in advance however by the time the manning document for the deployment gets hashed around a few times, afsc's added or subtracted, the amount going may change 3 or 4 times before the actual document is approved. Once that is done, you might have 3 months notice before you deploy. Also not all deployments are voluntary. I have seen a few people told to pack their bags because they are in an AFSC that is in high demand. its part of being in the military and part of your commitment. Also there are still 45-90 day tours for guard and reservist. though 120-179 days seems to be the norm now

Im getting my degree in Mechanical engineering. I know full well I need my degree before I can become an officer. My dad and step mom are both officers in the Navy. My original plan was to complete my degree before joining, but its too darn expensive.And I saw reserves as a good way to pay for it and get experience before hand (my school doesn't offer ROTC). And I figured with the reserves it would be a bit more possible to get my degree then going active duty enlisted.
My recruiter says I don't have to finish my 8 year contract reserves before going active duty officer. As long as I stay with the Air Force. Which is nice because I plan to be done with my degree before 8 years is up. And he also said since I am getting an engineering degree I will get scooped up pretty quick.
I sign the dotted line this Friday. I already have my prospective dates for BMT and Tech school (I will be gone about 8 months). My school is willing to work around that, and I am already planning around getting called up at least once in regards to planning on when I will graduate.
Im not afraid to get called up to go. I just am afraid of going to work on Saturday and being told "by the way you ship for 'insert place here' in the morning for 6 months." and I have class monday morning.
I was looking at the differences of volunteering to go, and being mobilized. Volunteering doesn't guarantee any time home. Whereas when you are mobilized they try to make sure you get some time home before going again. I was going to volunteer to spend some time there to make sure it was planned to not miss too much school (as my recruiter made it out to seem) but that wont guarantee me home when I need to be because I can called up the day I return. I will probably still do that though.
I will just keep my fingers crossed getting called up doesn't interfere too much, or my teachers/school will cooperate in working around that!
Thanks!

also keep in mind that once you graduate Tech school chances of you deploying right away are slim. You will need to be trained just like everyone else. An officer or enlisted, both need to know what they hell they are doing before they deploy. You could probably count on atleast a year before you go anywhere.

A couple things...

1. I found out I was deploying a day BEFORE I graduated from AMS. Meaning, I wasn't even a commissioned officer and they had a line item already worked up. Engineering officers deploy quite a bit. However, the deployment, at the time, was a year away. This gave me time to attend my schools - which in my case was 4 weeks + a little 3 day refresher right before deploying.

2. You're correct on the volunteering issue - but I just wanted to clarify for you. Right now the Air Force Active Duty is in a 1:1 Dwell. This means that you can potentially deploy for 6 months (with another month or two for CST and mobilization), and then you're guaranteed at least 6 months off. The GUARD is currently at 1:4 Dwell - which means you deploy for 6 months, and then you're guaranteed 2 years off. I believe the reserves is on the same operational tempo right now.

That said, if you VOLUNTEER for a deployment, it does NOT count toward your dwell cycle. As you mentioned, if you volunteer, you could come home and be sent back the next day. If you're trying to get some school done, I would advise NOT volunteering for a deployment.

With the amount of time they give you to prepare, don't sweat it too much. It is EXCEEDINGLY rare to be called up on a moment's notice to deploy - as your example suggests with being called on Friday and missing your Monday's class.

Good Luck!