08 April 2026

Air National Guard Units | Pilot

United States

Airplane Pilot (Accelerated Hire) - Air National Guard

Position Summary: The California Air National Guard (ANG), 144th Fighter Wing, is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Airplane Pilot (GS-2181-13). Located at the unit level within the Operations Group, the primary purpose of this role is to pilot unit-equipped (UE) aircraft while performing essential administrative tasks in support of the Air Operations program.

Position Details

This is a T32 Excepted Service position that may be permanent, indefinite, or temporary. Indefinite positions may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to permanent status based on funding and position availability. Temporary positions may be extended for up to four years in accordance with applicable directives.

Conditions of Employment

  • Membership Requirement: Applicants must be or become members of the California National Guard. Acceptance of this position constitutes concurrence with requirements to maintain military membership and adhere to all military uniform and grooming standards.
  • Compatibility: Candidates must maintain a compatible military unit, grade (O-1 through O-6), and job assignment as required by current directives.
  • Security: Candidates must maintain the appropriate level of security clearance.
  • Compliance: Participation in direct deposit is mandatory. Male applicants born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.

Qualifications

General Experience

Candidates must possess a Federal Aviation Administration certification from an accredited civilian aviation program or an aviation certification from an accredited military aviation school, plus one year of on-the-job experience in the grade or comparable military rank immediately below the next higher level.

Specialized Experience (GS-2181-13)

Applicants must demonstrate at least 36 months of specialized competence in the following areas:

  • Operating specific main-frame military aircraft.
  • Mission planning, preparation, and analysis of tasking, intelligence, and weather information.
  • Filing flight plans and conducting crew briefings.
  • Aircraft preflight inspections, loading, and equipment assessments.
  • Navigation, in-flight refueling, search and rescue operations, or surveillance and reconnaissance.
  • Supervising or training crew members in mission-specific tasks.
  • Developing plans, policies, and monitoring operations to advise commanders.
  • Knowledge of flight theory, air navigation, meteorology, flying directives, mission tactics, and operating procedures.
  • Knowledge of flying, explosive, and ground safety programs per Department of Defense, National Guard Bureau, and OSHA policies.

Education and Certification Requirements

Applicants must provide proof of FAA certification or military aviation school graduation. If using education to qualify, official or unofficial transcripts must be submitted at the time of application. Foreign education must be evaluated by a recognized organization to ensure equivalency to U.S. standards. Failure to provide required documentation will result in disqualification.

Areas of Consideration

  • Area I: Current California National Guard employees serving on Permanent/Indefinite/Temporary appointments.
  • Area II: Current California National Guard members.
  • Area III: Current military members of the Air Force/Army National Guard, Air Force/Army Reserve, or Air Force/Army Active Duty.

Incentives and Benefits

Recruitment or relocation incentives and Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs may be authorized subject to funding, approval, and agency determination. Current military members receiving bonuses (e.g., REB or GI Bill-SR Kicker) should note that acceptance of this position may impact incentive eligibility. This position includes a comprehensive federal benefits package; eligibility depends on the specific appointment type.

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