Air National Guard locations

You must do your own research before joining because recruiters will leave out a lot of pertinent information in order to get you to join. Even though this is considered "part time", it is the military, which behaves like full-time employment and will likely interrupt other responsibilities or interests in your life. Depending on your leadership, you could have a great career or a terrible career. Again, this is the military, so it is a fast-paced, high-pressure career.

There are almost as many different career fields in the military as there are in the civilian world, including in the Guard (the higher you score on your ASVAB, the more careers you have to select from). Part-time and full-time opportunities. Many different ways to start or transition your career. Volunteer deployment, TDY, and ADOS opportunities. Leadership opportunities. Mentorship opportunities. Countless benefits! A diverse workforce.

Free perks and discounts, and the overall respect received from being in the military.

I will not speak about the "CEO". But my direct leadership needs improvement.

Unfortunately, things are always changing for the better or the worse, depending on the ecomony, who's in office, and the state of our nation or world in general, so unfortunately, we have to just be adaptable. If there is something to be improved, it would 100% be the bottom-to-top organizational communication. There should be a simpler way to up-channel needs from the ground to the head of office. The chain of command form of communication often hinders innovation, improvement, and progression. Also, things are becoming too corporate and "politic-y", which is impacting morale and that wingman concept.

There was no interview. Study and score high on ASVAB (to have as many career fields to choose from; do not just aim for the minimum score), and get in good shape if you are not already. Also, and this is my personal experience based on what I have seen and witnessed, mental health therapy prior to joining is highly recommended if you come from a stressful or traumatic upbringing or background. A career like this will either bring out the best of you or the worst of you, depending on your personality, integrity, willpower, and even life experience. For the Guard, I also recommend having some ROTC or college credits prior to joining so you can rank up (promote) faster; that's something a lot of people won't tell you. If you can get at least an Associate's prior to joining, you may be able to get your Bachelors and Masters within your initial six-year enlistment (if you don't intend on doing a 20 year career). If you get your Bachelors prior to joining or choose to go the Air Force Academy, you can start your career as an officer instead of as enlisted. Do your research and determine what is right for you.

Part-time, you can not live on this salary unless you live at home with family for rent-free. Full-time (technician, AGR, or civilian), the pay is great, and the benefits are some of the best in the country.

The military is one of the most diverse professional careers in the country.

Serving my country

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I was proud to have worked at the 162nd ANG Base in Tucson for 20 years from 1995 to 2015 but not once did any one person ever ask me about my previous 13 years experience from active duty and the reserves. They treated everyone, much less myself, like a number. The 162nd in Tucson has a really bad reputation for poor management. Management there will do everything in their power to destroy careers of perfectly good men and women who take their careers seriously, all in the name of a "Good Ole Boy" club that, if they like you, you are welcome to join, in which case you will get promoted quickly. I was lucky to walk away with a descent retirement and a higher retained rank from the Reserves before I came to the guard but many, many others are not so lucky with their careers ending short because of excuses completely made up of lies by an extremely poor management team. Since I have retired, I have been in contact with several others whose careers were destroyed and most of them and picked up and moved on quite well. Unfortunately, there have been a couple who have either turned to either a problamatic lifestyle or worse, suicide. It is sad to see. You would think that upper management at guard bureau in Phoenix would see the contrast between the 161st in Phoenix and the 162nd in Tucson. If you are looking to start out your military career here, you might want to consider elsewhere. There are plenty of other ANG bases throughout the United States to consider and if your career field is transferrable to working on refueler aircraft, The 161st up in Phoenix is a fantastic alternative and a completely different (and positive) atmosphere. Best of Luck!

Retirement

There is nothing to like about several people being passed over promotion and being treated like trash at the same time.

Learn to listen to your people! Properly train your people! Mentor EVERYONE, not just the select few favorites! Management needs to lean Integrity and stop lying to their employees!

Well below average. Employees can get out and find a contractor job for 2-3 times the pay for the same treatment.

Racism is HUGE player at the 162nd Wing! All of that and extremely poor management. Management is all about get theirs and to heck with everyone else, excluding their favorites of course.

Doing what I was paid to do ... Work aircraft gun systems and troubleshoot weapons systems on aircraft as well.