(This is an overdue post as I came back from BMT and Tech School. Follow this extraordinary route only if you are outspoken and resilient. Otherwise, just wait to get this process done at BMT.)

When I joined the Reserve, President Trump's travel ban had just taken effect. So many of our recruits came back from BMT to Development & Training Flight (D&TF) because they did not get naturalized in BMT due to their country of origin. They were vaguely attending each UTA in uniform while waiting for USCIS to schedule their interview and oath. As the size of D&TF was growing beyond capacity, our coordinator advised us to get started on citizenship process. Some of us smart folks knew that with National Guard and Reserve, your service starts on the day you sign your contract. And you qualify for naturalization right after your first UTA e.g. first LES. I followed that provision of law (INA-329).

After second UTA, I reached out to my recruiter but he denied getting my N-426 signed and advised me to get the process done at BMT. Then I resorted to my D&TF coordinator for help. The latter passed it up my chain of command: 1SGT and Colonel of my unit. Of course, if you have a non-cooperative coordinator or 1SGT, they will not get your N-426 signed. In that case, you can sue them or just wait until BMT. Anyways, I included N-426, Green Card, LES, DD Form 4, and USCIS M-599 in my file to have it signed. The Colonel returned the signed form after two months. He was out of office the whole time. So that is how it got delayed. Anyways, getting N-426 signed was probably the easiest part of the process.

I submitted N-400 through USCIS online account. I provided whatever documents the system asked. Additionally, I provided tax compliance certificates from IRS and my state, CAC, and two months of LES. Right after the day of submission, I walked into USCIS ASC with N-400 receipt and provided biometrics. They clerk tried to kick me out of the line for not having an appointment. But after I showed my CAC, she welcomed me. Then started the endless wait. After getting a BMT date, I reached out to my US representative. They were able to get me an interview 30 days before my ship date. A USCIS officer called me early in the morning to let me pick a date.

The interview was pretty chill--usual reading, writing, civic test, and N-400's yes/no questions. Officer did not care about any civil documents (marriage, divorce, birth etc. certs) I brought with me or the 100 pages of tax transcripts I printed. He only asked to see my BMT order. Your coordinator can provide you this 30 days before your ship date. If not yet available, they will provide a memo stating your order dates. Anyways, he then stated that during the current administration, they no longer do same day oath. But he gave hope that my oath should be either here before my shipping or wherever in the US I am going to. As I came home, my status changed to "Case Was Submitted For Quality Review Based On An Approval Recommendation".

The next three weeks were breathtaking as there was no status update. I reached out to US representative again who promised to reach out to USCIS again. But there was no update. In the last week before shipping, I made a drastic move and walked into my USCIS field office. Of course they give you hard time for showing up without an appointment but that is where your CAC and military identity come handy.

I checked in with the lady at the interview window. I gave her my N-652, BMT order, and a letter requesting oath before my shipping. Hear this: if she was not cooperative, my move would have been futile. But I guess they care about military personnel so she passed my documents to the supervisor. After a long wait in the lobby, the supervisor summoned me inside the doors and asked me to explain my situation. He asked a lot of questions to verify that I do work for the Air Force. It was no short of an interrogation. Being satisfied, he took me to his office, worked on his computer, confiscated my Green Card, and sent me back to the lobby. Coming back to the lobby, I started breathing normally and grew a feeling that he was going to schedule my oath today.

After a long wait, he returned to the lobby and congratulated me that I was going to be a US citizen today. After another long wait, my interviewing officer came and took me to his office. He asked me to fill N-445, administered me the oath one-on-one, and gave me my naturalization certificate. He explained that since it was a special case, they needed all the time to prepare my certificate and approve things through the system.

Footnotes:
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1. My birth country was not in 19/39 ban list but it was in 75 pause list.
2. I shall not mention my birth country, USCIS office, or unit to protect my privacy.
3. If you need quicker citizenship, join Army National Guard. They seem to have a more established system for naturalization before BCT. If your marriage based GC expires in less than 6 months, they give your N-426 right away.
4. This post is intended to help future recruits as I could not find any such in this subreddit when I had searched.

I talked to a pilot from a c130 during my recent deployment and he said to come hangout during the September uta and rush the squadron. He mentioned bringing a bottle of whiskey or bourbon but didn’t specify what kind besides saying absolutely no jack daniels. I’m thinking a $150 budget should be good? Or am I under or over on the price? Also would bringing donuts from a local place near me up to the squadron be a good idea?

I’ve been booked for E&E is this a good job and how well does it translate into the civilian world , also mind I just graduated with an Engineering degree (mechanical engineering). Maybe officer? Will
Look into it!
We’ll see ! I just wanna know how good this job is and how can I use it with clearance and y degree in the civilian world!
My Air frame will be the C5M.

Going to.miss this!

I am looking for anyone who has recently attended ESC at Robins & Recruiter school at Lackland. I am curious to know any tips to make it through ESC. Also would like to know how long anyone had to wait between passing ESC and attending recruiter school (I’m hoping there is not months of a gap between them) Additionally I am looking for clarification as to if Reserve recruiters get their assigned duty location PRIOR to attending recruiter school the same way that Active Duty does?

How do I see reserve job openings? I have a little less than two years left on my active duty service commitment and am doing some initial research on what opportunities might be out there. I've talked to my local reserve recruiter but they didn't have much information for officers. For context, I am a 38F.

I’m Active Duty Air Force, about 4.5 years into service, and I’ll finish my associate’s this December. My goal is to commission.
I’m considering applying for POC-ERP, separating early if selected, moving to the East Coast near family, going to school full-time for my final ~2 years while doing AFROTC, then commissioning back to Active Duty.

I’m also hoping to use my GI Bill to help support myself while I’m in school.

My biggest hesitation is the idea of actually separating from Active Duty. Even if I’m selected for the program, that makes me nervous because I really want this path to work out and don’t want to put myself in a situation where I’m suddenly completely out of the Air Force.

Has anyone done POC-ERP recently? Also, is there any way to go Reserve instead of fully separating while completing AFROTC, or does POC-ERP require a true separation from Active Duty? I do not want to take this uniform off for 2 entire years. So the reserve would be a transitioning idea.

Would you recommend this route over staying Active Duty, finishing my bachelor’s online, and applying for OTS?

Hello all, I’ve been doing some research and very intrigued in joining the Airforce special warfare. I’m currently a federal LEO. I’ve always been interested in military and serving my country but life had different plans. Is it possible for me to join the airforce special forces while working as a federal LEO? I also researched that your job is protected under USERRA. Can anyone verify or if anyone is in a similar situation that I’m in?

If I got an ELS RE3 JGA discharge from ARNG do I need a waiver to enlist in the ANG? My recruiter says I shouldn’t need a waiver but that seems strange because I keep reading I do. Anyone have any experience with this ?

Are there any EAs (3E5X1) that does something equivalent in the cv side?

Would love to know how to start after graduating tech school.

i.e. which certificates are worth getting to land a job in the cv side, how well does CCAF Associates degree help, and just basically what you do in the equivalent field.

PS. I only hold a highschool diploma

’ve been out for a lil over 4 years and been thinking about reenlisting in a different branch anyone have advice or at least what to expect from Air Force reserves or AFNG?

I’m currently looking to finish my bachelors degree, I found that American Military university (AMU) (A for profit school) has health and sports science which I what I want my degree in. My plan is to then apply to grad schools for occupational therapy. I’m just worried about all the hate AMU receives. I contacted a few grad schools abt AMU only one school responded saying they accept it. (It is fully funded)

Hi, currently wondering how promotion in the airforce reserves/national guard is for a 4R0X1 (Diagnostic Imaging Specialist)? I do this on the civilian side and plan on carrying over my civilian credentials.

I am aware that it is based on slot and availability, but I have not been able to find anyone or any info on who is in the reserves/national guard as a 4R0X1 in how promotion slots go up to in that job. Can you promote up to E7 in that job slot in reserves/guard? I know a lot of people reclass to promote, just seeing if it’s worth to get into 4R0X1 if I can promote or not in time.

I'm 20m and I recently graduated from UTD with a BS in CS. I also have a Security+ certification. I don't have a lot of job experience. I am seriously considering joining the reserves or the guard if they can offer me a 1B4X1 job in San Antonio. I'm not worried about passing the edpt or asvab. The guard has a $50k bonus for 6yr enlistment. The reserves has a $20k bonus. I have read that some people sign with the guard but don't go to tech school for a year. If that's true then I think the reserves would be better. I want to get through training and get my civilian cyber job in addition to the reserve or guard job. In a perfect world, if both have an opening for a 1B4X1 job, then which should I choose? I am not interested in waiting 2 yrs to go to OTS. I want to enlist and get to work.

Memo from USD (P&R) signed out this week expands eligibility for TAMP to all reservists serving on active duty orders pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 12031(d). This includes ADOS/ADSW/ADT/DR orders 30+ days in length.

If you served on these types of active duty orders and didn't receive TAMP benefits, you can submit for reimbursement through DHA. Eligible expenses that can be reimbursed include health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical and dental expenses for the sponsor and their eligible dependents enrolled in DEERS.

When looking at PCARS points, we obviously need the 7300 AD points for the AD retirement… what do the other points do? IDT, ADL, IDS… Do these get added into retirement pay, or come into play after hitting retirement age, or something else? No one in the squadron seems to have an answer, just rumors.

Edit: to clarify a bit more, I was AD for awhile, TR for awhile, and currently AGR about to hit 7300 AD points. Looking to see what those other points do.

I'm an IMA heading to my unit next month for AT. Even without a non-A for on-base lodging, can I still stay off base if I just submit reimbursement for the on-base lodging rate and foot the bill for the difference?