Air Force Reserves

[machina]

Obviously we don’t have this, and my guess is that it’s not required. Can anyone confirm if this is correct or if there are other reasons?

[McFly]

[tbf2504]

For those long serving personnel who retired or left the service, there was a period where you were held against the general reserve. (In my case after 35.5 years of service this was 5 years)
The air force reserve also covered Air Traffic Controllers who could be conscripted if required, and specialist personnel in critical trades who had retired, but could be called back.

[machina]

Thanks to both of you for that. If I understand that diagram correctly there is a reserve component but it’s only for former full time active personnel?

I said ‘obviously’ in my previous post because as an outsider I can apply to the army or naval reserve but there is no Air Force option.

[McFly]

Hopefully this explains it in a bit more detail...

Composition of the Non-regular Air Force

The Non-regular Air Force consists of:
a. the Territorial Air Force (TAF), and
b. the Air Force Reserve.

Territorial Air Force
The TAF consists of:
a. the RNZAF Band;
b. qualified Air Traffic Control (ATC(1), personnel of the Airways Corporation of New Zealand (Airways) employed on RNZAF bases; and
c. the RNZAF Undergraduate Scheme (RUS).

Air Force Reserve
The Air Force Reserve (comprising the Reserve of Air Force Officers and the Reserve of Airmen) is subdivided into the Active Reserve, the Standby Reserve (SBR) and the General Reserve.

The Active Reserve
Service personnel of the Active Reserve may be called upon to carry out some form of duty or training. The Active Reserve comprises:
a. Service personnel authorised for transfer on release from the Regular Air Force,
b. Service personnel authorised for transfer on release from the TAF, and
c. Service personnel appointed to, or enlisted into the Active Reserve.

The Standby Reserve
The SBR is a subset of the Active Reserve.
The SBR comprises selected personnel who are in key trade groups and possess specific skill sets. Those in the SBR will continue to be attested members of the RNZAF and subject to the Defence Act 1990 when in uniform. As such, they will keep their uniforms, ID cards and security clearances.

The General Reserve
Service personnel of the General Reserve are not normally required to carry out any form of training. The General Reserve comprises:
a. Service personnel released from the Regular Air Force who have a reserve obligation, and
b. Service personnel released from the TAF or transferred to the Active Reserve.

[machina]

Thanks McFly, that explains it.

Last question would be: it doesn’t look like you can sign up as a civilian to the reserve force like you can the other two branches, correct?

[McFly]

Nov 18, 2021 14:26:17 GMT 12 machina said:

Thanks McFly, that explains it.

Last question would be: it doesn’t look like you can sign up as a civilian to the reserve force like you can the other two branches, correct?

Correct. Unless you apply through the Air Traffic Control (ATC), NZ Met Service or RNZAF Band as members of those organisations. The usual pathway is for ex servicemen on discharge to be transferred to one of the reserve options.

[Dave Homewood]

If the Territorial Air Force still had Baffins and Vincents, I'd definitely be tempted to join.

[machina]

Thanks McFly.

To avoid having a last last question then I’ll re-ask one of my first

Is the reason there is no pathway for civilians like there is with the other two branches because there simply isn’t a need?

[camtech]

The idea has been tossed around at various times, but frequently air force personnel with special talents or trade knowledge are retained as civilian staff. The cost effectiveness and rationale of establishing a reserve for the air force just don't stack up.

[nikifonk]

How much do the different reserve branches get paid?

[tbf2504]

There is no pay unless you are called back into active service, at which time you would be paid the going rate for whatever rank you hold, nominally at the lowest rate for that rank, not counting on seniority in that rank.