A319
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure
We were cleared direct to FMG VOR. We were issued a descent to 16;000 and I believe we were somewhere around FL210-FL220 when we received a call from Center advising us that we had F18 traffic at one o'clock. Seconds later we received a TA that showed the F18 5000 ft below us and climbing. It immediately turned into a climbing RA which we complied with and advised ATC. During this whole ordeal I was trying to divide my time inside and outside the cockpit to locate the traffic. There were a few transmissions to both the F18 and us from the Controller. At one point I believe he mistakenly told us to descend and then corrected himself. When I got a visual on the F18 he was climbing rapidly and rolling and then seemed to level off. I believe [ATC] told him to descend to FL190. He then passed behind us. We recovered from the RA and continued our descent into RNO.
A319 First Officer reported an airborne conflict with an F-18 on descent into RNO.