Air Force
Reserve
Build your future on your terms
With over 200 available careers, part-time options and educational assistance, you get more ways to grow as you continue to serve—on duty and your own time.
Make the move
Find out which opportunities best fit your goals and ways to get there.
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Palace Chase
For active-duty Airmen who have served half of their enlistment, are interested in leaving, but do not have a separation date.
Growth
When you transfer into the Air Force Reserve through the Palace Chase program you will continue to grow valuable career skills and benefits.
Early Release
Airmen approaching the halfway point of their first enlistment, or Officers about to hit their two-thirds mark can apply. If accepted, the term of enlistment with the Reserve depends on the amount of time left on the initial active-duty contract.
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Palace Front
For active-duty Airmen who have chosen to leave the Air Force and are within six months of completing their enlistment contract.
Part-Time / Full-Time
You can serve in the state of your choice either full-time or part-time, one weekend per month and two weeks per year.
Benefits
When you transfer through the Palace Front program you can maintain your rank and current job or cross-train into another at the Reserve base of your choice. You'll also continue enjoying the benefits of the Air Force without any break.
explore air force reserve careers
Questions? We have answers.
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The following selected and individual Reserve programs are available:
Individual Mobilization Augmentees (IMA)
Reservists serve as backfill support on contingencies and deployments throughout the Air Force, Department of Defense and other government agencies.Active Guard Reserve (AGR)
Reservists serve full time on active-duty assignments and receive active-duty benefits for the duration of their contract.Air Reserve Technician (ART)
Reservists serve in a dual-status position. They’ll work full time as a civilian employee one weekend a month and perform at least 14 days of annual training per year.Traditional Reserve (TR)
Reservists serve in traditional part time service. They’ll work one weekend a month and perform at least 14 days of annual training per year.Learn more about Reservists programs.
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To join the Air Force Reserve, you must be between the ages of 17 and have not reached your 42nd birthday, a current U.S. citizen, and have obtained either a high school diploma or GED. Applicants can’t have any serious law violations or drug use or serious health problems.
Additionally, you must pass the Armed Services Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) and a physical. The ASVAB covers four critical areas: arithmetic reasoning, mathematics, word knowledge and paragraph comprehension. This is used to determine whether you’re a good fit for the Air Force Reserve and the best career field to place you in.
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Yes, while most of the Air Force Reserve careers are part time, we offer numerous full-time careers for those who are willing. These positions are available to you once you’ve been fully trained and established in your Reserve unit.
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Your initial military service obligation (MSO) will require you to serve for six years (one weekend a month and two weeks once a year) plus two years of inactive service. During inactive service, you’re not expected to attend drills but could be called upon by the president to serve. Subsequent enlistments can range from two to six years.
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Deployment depends on your AFSC (Air Force Specialty Code), your assigned unit and the needs of the Air Force at any given time. In general, there’s no set deployment schedule for Reservists.
Most Reservist missions will be for logistics and support, but some specialties such as the Security Forces are more combat-oriented. While it’s not unusual to not deploy at all, all Reservists have to deploy when the circumstances require.
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Reservist pay is based on the days served. Pay rate is determined by whether they serve on the weekend (inactive-duty training) or active duty (two-week annual tour). Pay also depends on your rank and years served.
