u/harav

tl;dr: Going from Blue to Green, E to O. Hitting speedbumps all along the way. Recruiting office is under staffed. Its taken so long I now need an age waiver.

I've been in the AF active/guard/reserve for 16.5 years. Currently a SNCO. I have a Masters, BA, AA, AS. I've spent most of my time in intel and technical career fields. I can sit in an office and do admin, I can run an ops floor, or I can go into the field and build/fix shit. I have a pretty varied background.

For those wondering why I want to go Blue to Green:

Two years ago my unit moved from an hour away to several states away and I now have to fly to my UTA's. Its a huge PITA. I usually end up paying about $100 out of pocket each UTA and the DTS auths/vouchers suck. Not to mention booking travel monthly and trying to fit it in budget so I'm not getting hosed. I'm also missing up to 3 days of work every month and I make more money on my civilian career. The new unit we're attached to also sucks, a lot.

Additionally, my career is at a standstill with this relocation. I may make E-8 at some point, but there is only one TR E-8 spot and zero TR E-9 spots in the entire AFR in my career field. So if I stay and don't beat out my boss for the E-8 spot then I'm likely retiring as an E-7. Also, my work between E-7 and E-8 won't change much, still leading to career stagnation. This new mission sucks and I want out.

So why Army Reserve?

Like I said before, I'm in a very niche career field and don't have a lot of ways to transfer out. My unit is a GSU and out Wing is several states away. I can't just move up to the Wing or Group because it would create a different commuting issue and likely not be TR. I have tried to commission in the Guard and Reserve and have sat through 4 boards and I've never been selected. I've also never received and pointers on my packages or interview. I'm a pretty normal guy, keep my uniform looking sharp, practice interviews, and make sure I'm squared away. I always ask for feedback, and I'm also told to keep applying and that they wanted me but decided to go with someone else.

So I went to the Army recruiter. I started working on a package. Then the recruiter ghosts me and I'm like WTF. Turns out she PCS'd to a different state and my package vanished. I started working with a new recruiter, put my package together, but now I'm 40 and need an age waiver because the first recruiter fucked me.

I can't go WO because I'm too old or don't have a feeder AFSC (MOS) because I'm in a niche career field that doesn't have an AFSC because I'm a fucking special unicorn and the military can't fathom anyone being different.

If they dick me around on this age waiver, considering enlisting in the Army Reserve and dropping a warrant package in a couple years. I really hate flying every month and losing the money and sleep over it.

fucking a.