Does anyone have any insights if I should add both my Army Career and Air Force Reserve career to an updated Air Force Professional Bio?

2021-01-10T08:44:56-05:00

I was Army from 2001 to 2011 and have a Professional Military Bio there but updating my Air Force Reserve bio, I can't find any specifics if I should do both? Feels like it'll be really lengthy. Thank you

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jan 10 at 2021 1:19 PM

2021-01-10T13:19:19-05:00

I was a hiring manager in both private and public business. I have read hundreds of resumes. Some were very good; most were not.

Biography or resume should be constructed with your audience in mind. If the bio is for Air Force consumption, I would mention prior service experience, but not make it the most important thing in the bio. For example, your positions, responsibilities, and accomplishments in each of your USAF assignments are important and should lead your bio or resume. Prior service in the Army should be summarized. Same for our civilian employment. It should be summarized.

As a technique, I developed a "long version" resume in MS Word. It includes every job and assignment I ever held since Commissioning. It also lists all my education and training, civilian and military. A list of military and civilian awards and published works. It's about 5 pages long. Way too much. I use this long version as a set of information modules I can copy/paste into customized resumes. I summarize stuff that doesn't apply to the job for which I'm applying. If an application asks for detailed information, then I have it readily available. Very important to record dates, job titles, responsibilities and accomplishments. Supervisor names and contact information are only good for a few years because everybody moves around.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jan 10 at 2021 2:11 PM

2021-01-10T14:11:57-05:00

I would add it, but possibly in summary? It will help explain why you have Army decorations at the end. When you say bio, I am thinking it looks something like:
MSG S graduated Lockjaw HS, Lockjaw VT in 2000. He entered the Army in 2001 and conducted (BCT/OSUT) at Fort Schmuckatelli, GA and Adavnced Individual Training at Ft Whattheheck as a 99A Mess Kit Repairmen. MSG S served in various positions rising to the rank of (Staff Sergeant?) and serving as a (highest position held). <list any deployments here or if you were in a particularly notable operation like Phantom Fury, Battle of the Haditha Dam, Hurricane Sandy Relief etc). In 2011 MSG S entered the Air Force Reserve.

Pick up USAF bio here. Always end with current assignment.

(If it is open To the public, sanitize names and ages) MSG S is married to the former (wife's maiden name) and has two children Mark (12) and Amy (10). In his civilian career, he is is a (blank) working in the industry for XX years. List Academic Degrees and institutions. Then Military Schools except basic and AIT. List any Civilian HonorsAwards here. MSG S's military awards and decoration include: decorations first, qualifications badges (like the master parachutist badge or EIB), quasi awards like branch awards or Cavalry spurs.

As for length, think insert in a change of responsibility program. 1 page.