Posted on Feb 25, 2020
How difficult is it to transition to the Air Force from the Army? And what is the process to become a TACP?
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Hello, I am a recent graduate of the U.S. Army all-source Intelligence Analyst school (MOS 35F). I am also enrolled as a cadet at the University of Central Missouri in their ROTC program. I have not contracted yet. And before I do I have some questions that I need to have answered. The first being how difficult is it for an officer in the Army to transition to the Air Force and about how long does that take? And is it easier to transition to the Air Force as an enlisted soldier? The reason I'm asking this is that I have always been extremely interested in transitioning into the special forces community. I have looked at multiple different SF units and groups throughout all branches of service. But the one that has peaked my interest the most is TACP. I know that I'm a very new soldier and just starting my military carrier. But if at all possible I would like to find a way to get a TACP contract and the best way to do that post branch transition. I'm also curious as to the process of becoming a TACP. Both the officer and the enlisted route. As well as what to expect when going through the pipeline. I don't plan on acting on any of this for a while because I plan to finish my degree. But any information on both transitioning to the Air Force from the Army and the TACP life, in general, would be greatly appreciated.
Posted in these groups: 
1C4X1: Tactical Air Control Party (TACP)
ROTCAFSOCMissouri ARNG
Career Advice
1C4X1: Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) ROTCAFSOCMissouri ARNG Career Advice
Edited 5 y ago
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 6
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If you want them to cut you loose before your contract is up, that can depend on a ton of factors, your MOS, how over-strength or under-strength it is, your component etc. You're going to need a DD-368: that is, a conditional release that's basically saying "We're allowing you to leave the National Guard on the conditions you do x and y, if you fail to do this in the time we've given you, you're coming back to the guard" that has to be signed by the first general officer in your chain of command. Your unit can choose to bless off on it, or not, sometimes that helps, sometimes it doesn't. This process can take a very long time, I'm currently in the middle of it myself. If it gets denied, you're more or less stuck, so all you can really do is keep sending it up until it gets approved or wait until the end of your contract.
If you're waiting until your contract is up to transition, it's way easier to do, but you also have a smaller timeframe, because prior service air force billets seem fill up within 2-3 months of the fiscal year starting.
As for the actual process, basically, you'll get in contact with an Air Force recruiter, who will get you in contact with a Special Warfare liaison, and that liaison will be your mentor to get you physically ready to take the PAST test so you can ship. It's basically a special PT test the Air Force gives anyone who's entering all the cool guy career fields. You cannot ship until you pass it. Once you take care of that, you're administered the PAST again when you actually get there, and if you pass, you'll again move on to the actual TACP pipeline.
It's super important to note that the Air Force is changing the way all of the Special Warfare career fields work, and you will basically be "open contract" as a special warfare candidate, and will go through an evaluation and be told what you qualify to train into. That could be any of, or none of the jobs you wanted. So if you're waiting a couple years, the way it works may be radically different, and you may not even be guaranteed TACP even if you complete the indoctrination program like you would be now.
Just some food for thought though.
If you're waiting until your contract is up to transition, it's way easier to do, but you also have a smaller timeframe, because prior service air force billets seem fill up within 2-3 months of the fiscal year starting.
As for the actual process, basically, you'll get in contact with an Air Force recruiter, who will get you in contact with a Special Warfare liaison, and that liaison will be your mentor to get you physically ready to take the PAST test so you can ship. It's basically a special PT test the Air Force gives anyone who's entering all the cool guy career fields. You cannot ship until you pass it. Once you take care of that, you're administered the PAST again when you actually get there, and if you pass, you'll again move on to the actual TACP pipeline.
It's super important to note that the Air Force is changing the way all of the Special Warfare career fields work, and you will basically be "open contract" as a special warfare candidate, and will go through an evaluation and be told what you qualify to train into. That could be any of, or none of the jobs you wanted. So if you're waiting a couple years, the way it works may be radically different, and you may not even be guaranteed TACP even if you complete the indoctrination program like you would be now.
Just some food for thought though.
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PFC (Join to see)
Thank you so much this was extremely helpful. Since you're in the process of a branch transition yourself. Would it be alright if I have any questions come to mind if I could ask you?
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SGT (Join to see)
PFC (Join to see) - I'll try and help out where I can, but there may some questions you'd be better off asking a recruiter.
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It's very difficult to go prior service enlisted TACP. If you do complete your degree, then apply for 13L, you'd have much better chance.
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