I have a few questions about being a loadmaster in the reserves. First, with the training provided by the Air Force Reserves, are there any civilian job opportunities available for a loadmaster? Second, I know there are a few different schools I would need to go to during my training. How long do they all add up to and in the reserves would I go straight from one school to the next or does that depend on the availability of the classes?
Thanks!
Brooks

Yup...me again.

Not a lot of civilian jobs for Loads in the civilian sector, but they do exist. I have a friend that recently separated as an Active Duty C-5 Loadmaster, and he has a part time gig with a government contract carrier. He's in the Reserves as well, and spends a lot of time on active duty orders for the Reserves. Between the two gigs, he makes a pretty fair living...even for the West Coast cost of living.

He is the exception to the rule, to my knowledge, and he was 'working it' for a few years to make sure he had this opportunity locked up when he discharged from Active Duty.

It can be found...if you know somebody...

...as far as being a C-130 load, as you would likely be in your neck of the woods (or desert, rather), not a lot of opportunity. Same with my job...the Flight Engineer job field is disappearing rapidly.

But it's a HELL of a COOL part time job (a LOT more time and pay available in that job than your average "weekend warrior", too)...and every now and then, full time jobs (both Civil Service civilian "technician", or actual Active Duty Guard/Reserve "AGR" slots) come open. These pay fairly well for your area, but are usually snatched up by guys with some time in and some experience. I did have a kid who was buck new, and snatched one of these slots (Army) at 21 years old after his first deployment...

But...You can't hold your breath for one of those. You'll turn blue (Oxygen "ON, 100%", (ALL) )

Loadmaster time does nothing to help you earn hours for the civilian flying sector. Might open some doors in that field...simply because you are an aircrew member...but it won't close any deals. My job is only slightly different in that regard.

But again...what a COOL part time job.

Most people work at Blockbuster, wash dogs' butts, or do Lawn Maintenance on the weekends for a part time job...they surely don't kick Air Force Special Ops ParaRescue guys out the back of a multi-multi-million dollar aircraft, refuel helicopters in mid-air at low level...at night...with the lights out...(do a Google image search for Air Force Combat Rescue...you'll see what's up)

The Reserves tend to get you from school to school a little more expediently than the Guard does (money/funding issues), but you never know. There are NO guarantees until the orders are in your hand (and even then...ya never know).

The Loads I know here at the C-130 school in Little Rock have all rolled smoothly from one class to the next one, so I'd say the chances are good you could knock it out in a time-expedient manner.

There are many schools you need...Aircrew Fundamentals, Land Parachute, Water Parachute (Survival), Combat Survival, Basic Loadmaster, Initial Qualification, Mission Qualification (Airdrop), and then finally, the Rescue Specific course in Albuquerque. Long time, but at least Albuquerque isn't all that far away for you to come home and visit the rug-rat.

Anyone with more Herk Load specific knowledge, please chime in here. I've e-chatted with this fellow. He's a non-prior, thinking of a Herk Rescue 1A2 slot in an AFRC unit, and he's not a young buck fresh out of school, either...family man and a serious candidate (pre Class 3) looking for relevant info.

Thanks once again. Your knowledge is a great asset to this forum.
Brooks

Yeah, but I only know a little. There are other folks here that know a LOT.

You'll see.

Brooks520-

I'll try to answer a bit here... there isn't much on the outside that is equivalent to the same job as a loadmaster outside the military. We had a couple guys work for Southern Air back when they were around. I think Evergreen still hires loads, but I can't be 100% sure.

As far as schools, Aircrew Fundamentals (3 weeks) and Basic Loadmaster (5 weeks) are taught at Lackland. For C-130s, you'd follow on at either Little Rock or Dobbins for LIQ/LMQ. It's 16 weeks and 2 checkrides. You'll also go to SERE up in Fairchild (2½ weeks) and Water Survival in Pensacola for a couple days.

The Aircrew Fundamentals and BLM courses run back-to-back, then you'd likely have a break before LIQ/LMQ. Depending on the length of the break you might do the survival schools while awaiting the flying schools.

Good luck to you!
Load clear...

What years were you at McClellan there, Chief?

Late reply so I hope it is not too late. I spent 12 years as a C130 (Slicks) Load with the ANG and most recently switched to the Reserves as a Gunner on Pave Hawks. First...being a Load was a blast and took me all over the world...50+ countries. More desert towards the end but that was cool too. As for what it will do for you on the outside...ZERO..other than your employer having more confidence in you due to your affiliation with the military. More trust worthy, more mature (for the most part), dependable...ect. In my case, I fly professionally and it HAS helped me in that respect. It has made me a better pilot..it really has.

Now, if you are close to a Rescue unit and they have helos, I would look into being a gunner. Nothing wrong being on Herks, but look into the helos...it is a kick ass job.

Schools in the rescue community are all run by Kirtland AFB unfortunately. My LM training at the Rock was a breeze and very well run. The information was presented in a logical order and you knew what your schedule was a head of time. Kirtland...I am not sure what their problem is but it is jacked up as hell. I am telling this that if you decide the rescue route and you are told you will be at Kirtland for an X number of days, do NOT take that as gospel. There are people here that will go 60 days past scheduled end dates. Since you have a family, you need to think about that. Just a word of caution.

Either way...being in the USAF is a great part time gig and really helps with the monotony of every day civilian life...plus you are doing something good for you fellow man and country.

I'm thinking of being a Reserve Loadmaster myself. How much flight time do you get initially? I'm currently an E-5 on AD. In order to keep the pay similar would I have to get another job or does the flight time make up for it?

Flight time depends on the unit, the mission, the manning, and many other things. I've talked to guys that have a hard time staying current, and I've talked to other folks (KC-10 and C-5 types) that are on orders so much, they almost make as much as they did on active duty, only with a lot more flexibility, as they get to choose when they come off orders, vs. having "x" amount of leave to burn and a lot of ground duty.

Different for each unit, I figure. Best way to pre-game that one is to talk to the enlisted flyers directly at the unit you are thinking of going to...screw the recruiter in this aspect...he has no idea. Get the recruiter to let you roll in there on a drill weekend when everyone is around and doing paperwork and briefings and the like, and talk with the NCOIC, the Chief, and the troops in the shop you are looking at joining. They'll give you the real deal answers on how much flight time you can anticipate. If it's an undermanned shop, and the full timers are burned out of flying TDY trips, you might find yourself pretty busy once you are Mission Qual'ed and ready to rock.

There are many people that "Guard Bum" as their only source of income (just don't try that in MY neighborhood, or you'll be in a homeless shelter...WAAAAAAY too expensive in the San Fran/Silicon Valley to Guard Bum). It can be easier for flyers to Guard Bum (or Reserve Bum...same same), as we get additional pay resources allocated from your everyday Guard/Reserve member (AFTP's and ground TP's). Just more ways to get an extra day's pay than your average ground troop.

In certain parts of the country, you can make MORE money flying ocasional trips and the local lines than you can at a mediocre full time job, too. (just not ANYWHERE near here).

You mentioned flight time, again flight time only helps pilots, become competitive for flying jobs, and certainly it can help engineers, but they key part is the type of flying time you would earn as a loadmaster would only help you compete for other loadmaster type jobs.

As somebody mentioned it is a great way to see the world and earn part-time pay, because there are evening local training sorties or weekend trips; still it is a lot of work, but in a good way, plus the loads work their tails off, but people who have done it have enjoyed it. Good luck!

Hey guys, I'm getting ready to join the USAFR and was looking at Loadmaster MOS. What schools will I attend, where are they, and about how long should it all take? Accounting for BMT, I think it would be 4-6 months, but I don't really know.

quote:

Originally posted by 19236546:
Hey guys, I'm getting ready to join the USAFR and was looking at Loadmaster MOS. What schools will I attend, where are they, and about how long should it all take? Accounting for BMT, I think it would be 4-6 months, but I don't really know.

For the 1A2 AFSC you'll stay at Lackland after BMT for Aircrew Fundamentals...approximately 2 weeks long. Right after Aircrew Fundamentals, you'll start another class at Lackland called BLM (Basic Loadmaster). That's 4-5 weeks long. Depending on the plane you'll be on, you'll either go to Little Rock (for C-130's) or elsewhere. I don't remember where LIQ/LMQ are for 5's or 17's.

I would plan on longer than 4-6 months if I were you. Oh, you also have SERE and Water Survival.

Ok, thanks for the heads up. Do they do any TTS @ March ARB though?

5's stay at Kelly, next to Lackland for Initial Qual...I think 17's are still at Altus, but not sure...and LMQ should be at duty location, I think. I know of guys at both Travis as well as Dover doing C-5 stuff after Kelly, so I'm guessing. I'm a 130 guy (FE), and it was all at Little Rock for me except for EAUC/Aircrew Fundamentals at Lackland.

When you are on active duty orders do you get paid according to the regular pay chart? ie: base pay, BAS, BAH etc...?

Active duty over 30 days is active duty...period. Same as title 10 (Federal), even if you are Guard and are title 32. Once you pass the 30 day mark, you are entitled to Type I BAH, which is full boat (not the Type II crap that you get on AT or extended duty under 30 days).

But, double check your orders, and double check your LES. NEVER, EVER assume that finance or training has taken care of things for you. Assumption like that is the mother of all F*&kups...somewhere, somehow, sometime...your orders WILL be wrong, and you WILL need to MAKE them fix it.

Can you tell from my tone that I've been through this once or twice?

Heed my warning........read the orders LINE by LINE. If you don't understand them FULLY, RAISE YOUR STINKIN' HAND, and ask someone BEFORE YOU DEPART HOME STATION!!!!!!

Roger that...I just got accepted for a load spot here and the unit says I will be on AD orders for at least 2 years while I get Q'd up. Just making sure I'm not going to be hurting financially right away. I will be going from AD to reserves if my palace chase gets approved.

I don't know about 2 years for Load...even counting your seasoning training. I'm an Engineer, and have to do the Rescue school as well, and my training is just at 2 years, including my seasoning months.

You should be done quicker than that.

Good thing is that, most times, when you are between the many different schools you'll need to complete, they can usually keep you on "downtime" orders, and that keeps you on pay-status. If there is a really long break in the courses for some reason, however, they can cut you off and send you back to the civilian world. I got back from Initial Qual, spent 2 weeks on downtime, then went to SERE, and came back from Fairchild to find myself OFF of orders from July through mid October. Non pay (drill only) status.

Back to the civilian market for a bit.......

Gotta make sure you know what is coming, as far as orders and the training pipe goes. Never trust...always verify.

And DOUBLE CHECK THEM ORDERS!!!

Maybe the trng isn't 2 years but they said to look fwd to be on active orders for the first 2 years. Not complaining tho, at least I will have some steady pay. But I will head your warning and "check them orders"!.