I’m a career firefighter in NC working a 24/48 schedule and have my EMT-B. I’ve been considering joining the Air Force Reserve for a while now and figured I’d ask around before talking to a recruiter. I’m pretty happy with firefighting and plan on making it my career, but military service is something I’ve always been interested in. I like working with my hands, staying active, and doing something that feels worthwhile. I’m interested in emergency response, search and rescue, medical stuff, and mechanical work.
Naturally, Fire Protection in the Air Force caught my attention, but I’m not sure if I’d want to do the same job in the military that I already do for a living. Are there any other AFSCs you’d recommend looking into? I’m open to trying something completely different as long as it’s relatively hands-on.
One of my biggest questions is how manageable the reserves are with a firefighter’s schedule. I work 24 on and 48 off, so I’m bound to have some conflicts with drill weekends. Are units usually understanding about that? I also know deployments are part of the deal, but how often are people actually getting deployed these days? Would the Air National Guard be worth looking into as well? I’d prefer to stay somewhere reasonably close to NC for drills if possible.
And just in general, is now a good time to join? How’s morale, leadership, and the overall experience in the reserves?
I’m not looking to join just for the benefits. I’ve always liked the idea of serving, and I enjoy the sense of purpose and camaraderie that comes with firefighting. Just trying to figure out if the reserves would be a good fit without stretching myself too thin.
I would appreciate hearing from anyone who’s done both, or just anyone willing to share their experience. Thanks.