Posted on May 3, 2018
SPC(P) Samuel T.
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Would it be better to make E-5 then transfer or would the Air Guard demote me to E-4? I would also have to be sent to AIT. Would this stop me from taking the courses needed to earn E-5 in the Air Guard anyway?
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Responses: 8
SGM Bill Frazer
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1. This is a service transfer Army to AF- your current rank is immaterial since the ANG will slot you where they want you and in the rank they need. 2, You can hope that the deal will let you keep your current grade- but no guarantees.
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SMSgt Thor Merich
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If you are a E-4 and below, you will not lose a stripe. I was Active duty Army, had a long break in service and then went to the Air Guard. I was told that whatever rank was in my DD-214 is the rank I will keep. My DD-214 showed I was a E-4 and I started out as a Senior Airman (E-4) with in the ANG. I was also a Army MP and I didn’t have to go to tech school (AIT) for the Air Force because I went Security Forces in the ANG.
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SMSgt Thor Merich
SMSgt Thor Merich
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SGT (Join to see) - I had a great CO who liked civilian LEO’s. However, not everyone in unit appreciated us. I wish you luck.

The Guard is a good way to go. My unit had many prior service Marines and Army in the unit. I ended up leaving the Guard because of the many deployments and the schedule (2 days a month and 2 weeks a year) was rigid and didn’t work well with my LEO job. I switched to an IMA position with the Air Force Reserve which has much more flexible scheduling. However, the Guard was a great ride and it gave me my Air Force credentials.
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SGT Military Police
SGT (Join to see)
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Did you run into a lot of prior service that came back into Air Guard with over 15 yr break? Or is that unusual? I'm assuming this is my biggest obstacle. I have an RE:1 and I'm in pretty decent shape, so not worried about anything but their thoughts of such a long break in service.
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SMSgt Thor Merich
SMSgt Thor Merich
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SGT (Join to see) - Its rare, but not unheard of. Our CMSgt (E-9) had a 17 year break in service and another guy (highway patrol) had a 15 year break in service. Most folks seem to have a break in service of less than 10 years though.
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SMSgt Thor Merich
SMSgt Thor Merich
>1 y
SGT (Join to see) - Being a Civilian LEO will be helpful in getting the job. Being former Army will help too. Air Force Security Forces basically operates from Army FM’s. I don’t think the break in service will be a big deal.
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MSgt Neil Greenfield
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I went Regular Army (SGT E-5) to ANG (SSgt E-5). Granted, that was a while ago. I would say that it's dependent on the unit, but promotion in the ANG is almost automatic to E-5, so it's not a big deal. Although my MOS translated to an AFSC, that wasn't the type of unit I was going into and I had to go to Tech School. It's once you get to E-5 that promotions to TSgt (E-6), MSgt (E-7), SMSgt (E-8), and CMSgt (E-9) are more difficult to attain. When I said I was going to retire, the powers that be offered me a chance for SMSgt, but I had already made up my mind (although it did make me hesitate for a moment).
Going from the Army to the ANG was the right decision for me. The USAF relies heavily on the ANG (and the AFR) and considers both as an equal partner in most respects. The units that I was part of (Combat Communications Squadrons and an Air Control Squadron) each had an Active Duty Senior NCO Advisor for the Commander (LtCol). The one that I remember most was promoted from MSgt all the way up to CMSgt, a lot of it based on his experience with the ANG. But he was probably out of the norm, being a hard charging NCO. But just be prepared for an increase in operational tempo.
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