The Air Force Reserve is responsible for roughly 20% of the total work done the US Air Force (USAF). Officers, enlisted personnel, and civilians make up the reservists. Members of all branches of the military, including those who have never served in the military, are welcome to apply, even if they have never served in the Air Force. There are numerous job opportunities and areas of interest. Full-time and part-time Air Force Reserve jobs include aviation, personnel recovery, and intelligence.
Part-time jobs make up the majority of traditional Air Force Reserve jobs. Reservists in this category usually serve for one weekend a month in the area where they live. They will also have two weeks of temporary duty every year, though it may not be in the area where they live.
Full-time employment is another option; two types of Air Force Reserve jobs fall under this category: Air Reserve Technicians (ART) and Active Guard Reserve (AGR) (AGR). On weekdays, ARTs work as civil servants, and on weekends, they serve in the same capacity as reservists. These full-time positions contribute to the reserve’s consistency and continuity. ARTs make up 15% of the force and are responsible for day-to-day leadership, as well as administrative and logistical support. The AGR is a smaller group made up of people who have served in the military before and have been given orders to participate full-time.
Individual Mobilization Augmentees (IMA) are a small group of soldiers who are used to supplement active-duty units. Most have undergone specialized training, possess unique skills, and have previously served in the military. IMAs are assigned to specific locations around the world and serve on a one-on-one basis.
Many Air Force Reserve jobs are related to or involve aviation. The Reserve currently operates 13 different aircraft that are designed to meet a variety of operational needs and missions. Airlift and specialized missions are the two main areas of aviation.
The movement of people and equipment around the world is referred to as airlift. Strategic and tactical airlift are the two types of airlift. Strategic airlift jobs entail transporting equipment and troops from a neutral area to a theater of operations. Tactical airlift jobs entail transporting equipment and troops from one part of the theater to another. Teams of pilots, maintenance crews, technicians, and ground operations units are required to carry out these missions.
Weather reconnaissance and aerial firefighting are specialized Reserve missions that are not practiced in the Air Force. Pilots, scientists, technicians, and maintenance personnel are among the Air Force Reserve jobs available in these fields. Hurricane hunters are the teams that conduct weather reconnaissance. Hurricane hunters fly into storms to record and transmit data that aids in tracing storm paths, projecting direction, measuring intensity, and estimating landfall time. Aerial firefighting teams fight fires that local volunteer and civilian firefighters are unable to put out; this includes spraying fire retardant or dropping large amounts of water on a fire.
Personnel recovery is a highly specialized area within the Reserve. Pararescue, also known as parajumpers (PJs), is a special force that performs both conventional and unconventional rescues. This Air Force Reserve job usually entails rescuing downed air crews who are trapped behind enemy lines. PJs also assist with natural disasters and rescues at sea, in the mountains, and in the desert. Long and intensive training, which can take up to two years, are part of the Pararescue requirements.
The focus of intelligence support is on preventing attacks and surprises. Responsibilities of Air Force Reserve jobs within this realm include planning or conducting aerospace operations, mapping, charting, developing objectives and requirements, providing guidance, and oversight. Intelligence officers collect and analyze data and information while considering industrial, technological, geographic, and sociological factors. This data is shared with other services and agencies to help with planning, operations, and special missions.