Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/retrainining TOS requirment?

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Expert: - 7/22/2009


Question
i am a SrA in the Air Force.  I just recently PCS'ed to my current station about 2 months ago as a 2W0X1 and am wanting to retrain into loadmaster and already know that 1A2X1 can not be assigned to my current base.  I was just wondering if there is a certain amount of time i need to be stationed here before i can crosstrain?   ...Thanks!!

Answer
Matt -

Basic Time on Station (TOS) requirements between PCS's is two years ... 24 months.  Unless you have Secretary of the Air Force approval, that is the minimum time you need to be assigned to a base before you can move again.  I had a SecAF directed PCS when my KC-10 unit was reassigned to another base.  I was only on station 105 days between moves.  That was really rough on the family and not one of our favorite times to look back on.

I know this may seem really long if you don't want to stay at the base you are currently assigned, but it is designed to protect members from being bounced from one base to another every few months.  At least the two year limit provides stability so you can sink some roots and have stability in your life, however short-lived.

Sincerely,
James Bell

Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard

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James Bell

Expertise

I am a retired MSgt (2004) with 24 years experience in the aircrew career field, both as a loadmaster (AFSC 1A2x1) and flight engineer (AFSC 1A1x1). I have been to every continent at one time or another, and regularly flew 300 to 500 hours a year. I have been involved in the operations in Grenada, Panama, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. I can answer most questions you may have about enlisted Air Force life in general, assignments, benefits, and enlisted aircrew operations. NOTE: If you have specific recruiting and/or medical questions about how to get into this career field as a civilian, they have changed since my time, so that is best answered by a recruiter or MEPS. I can answer questions about military personnel wanting to RETRAIN. If you are asking about being an Air Force pilot, please be advised my area of expertise is ENLISTED aircrew operations, NOT OFFICERS.

Experience

Loadmaster (AFSC 1A2x1): 7 years - 2,000 hours - C-5A Galaxy cargo plane. Flight Engineer (AFSC 1A1x1C): 7 years - 2,500 hours - C-141B Starlifter cargo plane, 10 years - 3,800 hours - KC-10A Extender aerial tanker. Served as aircrew Flight Instructor, Flight Evaluator and Training Manager

Education/Credentials
Aircraft Loadmaster Initial Qualification - 1980. Mission Qualification (C-5A) - 1981. Fixed Wing Aircraft Performance Course - 1987. Initial Flight Engineer Qualification (C-141B) - 1987. Mission Qualification (KC-10A) - 1988. KC-10 Initial Qualification Course - 1994. Mission Qualification (KC-10A) - 1995. Instructor Qualficiation (KC-10A) - 1997. Evaluator Qualification (KC-10A) - 2000.

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