Career Opportunities

Whether you're flying a low level VISCAP in Fallon or taking a CAT 1 out on their first BFM in the F/A-18, TSW members are at the forefront of training the warfighters of today and tomorrow.  FRS SAUs take newly minted aviators and make them ready to join the Fleet while adversaries hone the skills of squadrons getting ready to deploy. 

TSW personnel attached to adversary squadrons have the opportunity to attend the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) Adversary course at NAS Fallon.  Approximately 9 weeks long, the "Red Course" is a challenging program that matches up adversary students against future NAWDC and weapons schools instructors.  Adversary students will attend lectures, conduct briefing labs, complete a BFM phase, and develop adversary presentations for Blue course students.  Graduates participate in the TOPGUN patching ceremony where they receive their Adversary Course graduate patch. 

TAR & SELRES personnel promote via the same process used as the Active Component but through Navy Reserve channels.  This distinction means those who may have failed to select on the Active Component side will have additional looks at promotion. 

TAR:  TAR officers have the opportunity to compete for squadron command following a career path similar to that of the Active Component.  TAR aviators may also command Navy Reserve Centers should they not be selected for or desire squadron command.  Both cases afford competitive pathways toward selection for O-6.

SELRES:  SELRES officers may command squadrons or SAUs as part of their career progression.  Post-command, SELRES have the ability to continue to compete for command of other Navy Reserve units and enhance their ability to promote.

TSW squadrons traditionally follow a TAR-SELRES rotation in the front office while SAUs are commanded solely by SELRES aviators with TAR personnel serving as officers-in-charge.

While TAR personnel are technically Reservists, they follow the same retirement schedule and plan as their Active Component counterparts.  SELRES are eligible for retirement payments starting at age 60 after completing 20 qualifying years of service.  Specifics regarding Reserve retirements can be found on My Navy HR. 

TAR officers typically affiliate as squadron department heads and are then eligible for the department head retention bonus.  For 2023, VFA/VFC pilots were eligible for 3 or 5 year contracts at an annual bonus rate of $35,000/year.  TAR officers selected for command are also eligible for the Aviation Command Retention Bonus totaling $100,000.

SELRES officers are eligible for an affiliation bonus of $5,000 when they transition out of the Active Component.

The majority of TSW missions involve dynamic flying in tactical aircraft, affording the opportunity to continue applying those skills outside of the regular Active Component mission.  Whether it be full-time or part-time, TSW's reach means the opportunity to fly current Fleet aircraft such as the F-35, F/A-18, EA-18, or E-2 as well as non-traditional Navy aircraft like the F-16 and F-5. 

TSW units offer the ability to do meaningful work with a high quality of life.  SELRES members are generally expected to participate at higher rates than the traditional reservist depending on the command, however these requirements typically offer greater scheduling flexibility than the standard one weekend a month drill model.