Aviators transitioning to reserve VFC squadron

[U-Aviation]

For aviators transitioning to SELRES, is there a full-time “getting up to speed” period or is it directly to part-time status? I’m thinking specifically about those coming out of the fleet heading to advisory squadrons like VFC-13, VFC-12, VFC-111. Are their opportunities for SELRES to fulfill positions like Department Head or Squadron Command or are those all covered by full time personnel? Thank you.

 

[Gatordev]

For aviators transitioning to SELRES, is there a full-time “getting up to speed” period or is it directly to part-time status? I’m thinking specifically about those coming out of the fleet heading to advisory squadrons like VFC-13, VFC-12, VFC-111. Are their opportunities for SELRES to fulfill positions like Department Head or Squadron Command or are those all covered by full time personnel? Thank you.

Typically a hardware unit will have TAR department heads. There will be SELRES DHs, as well, but often it's mostly on paper. Sometimes there may be a gap on the TAR side, so a SELRES can come on orders and be the primary DH. Command is usually alternated between a TAR and SELRES (or active component if the squadron is manned that way), but usually every other CO will be a SELRES.

When first showing up to a hardware unit, the amount of "full time" a SELRES can get will depend on their currency as well as available funding. If the aviator isn't current, they'll go back through the RAG on Schools funding which will be active duty time. This funding doesn't come out of the squadron's budget. If they are current, then how much time beyond drills and AT will be depend on available funding, although there should be enough additional drills to get your 100 hours.

All that said, funding is very lean on the CNAFR side currently, so there's a lot of variability on what might available right now.

 

[U-Aviation]

Thanks for the reply. Would you happened to know if the those heading to VFC-13 in the Viper or the F-5’s at VFC-111 do there transition training in house or are the Viper guys going to AF courses? About how long does it take to get NATOPS qualified in those the F-16 and F-5?

 

[Gatordev]

@MIDNJAC may know the answer.

 

[MIDNJAC]

Thanks for the reply. Would you happened to know if the those heading to VFC-13 in the Viper or the F-5’s at VFC-111 do there transition training in house or are the Viper guys going to AF courses? About how long does it take to get NATOPS qualified in those the F-16 and F-5?

F-5's have been all in house for as long as I have been around. NAWDC has a "Viper U" transition course, which came about when the USAF stopped supporting A/B model training in their RTUs. Not sure if VFC-13 is using that or something else, given that they fly C/D model jets. I do know they were standing up an F-16 SAU in Fallon a couple years ago, not really sure what ended up happening with that.

 

[U-Aviation]

Thanks MIDNJAC. Do you know about how long those programs take to complete?

 

[MIDNJAC]

Thanks MIDNJAC. Do you know about how long those programs take to complete?

When I went through it back when, it took about a month and a half, depending on scheduling availability and aircraft availability. Think it was something like 14-16 flights, and a handful of sims (there was an F-16A sim in Fallon). Pretty straightforward transition short course if you will. I have no idea what it looks like now though, that was 10 years ago.