Airline Pilot Forums

I was either thinking of going to a flight schools to pay 70k or the air national guard. Is it very hard to become a pilot in the Air National Guard? Would it be better than going to a flight school? Would I have to go to war if there was one....ect. What are my pros and cons? Thanks in advance...

IF? IF there was a war? Brother have you been paying any attention for the last 10 years?

Would I have to go to war if there was one....ect.

If you become a pilot in the military, and their is still a war going on. Your question should be, WHEN can I go to the war! If this is not your mentality, the military is not for you.


If you're just out of high school, I would enlist in the guard, and use all their benefits to pay for college. I graduated college with all the way up through my CFII with <5k in debt. It was a huge piece of mind to have zero debt within a year of graduating college. When you're close to graduating college apply for pilot positions throughout the country. You could even apply active duty/Navy/Marines if you wish. Joining the guard was the best thing I have ever done.

That's big picture, now search on here as this topic has been discussed hundreds of times before. Check on baseops.net, I would recommend using the search function before posting. This has been discussed one thousand times before on there.

Goodluck.

If you become a pilot in the military, and their is still a war going on. Your question should be, WHEN can I go to the war! If this is not your mentality, the military is not for you.



Bingo. Words for emphasis.

Thanks, I'll check the search bar out. Also, would I know I would be in a pilot slot before committing myself? I would hate to join and not become a pilot...

Thanks, I'll check the search bar out. Also, would I know I would be in a pilot slot before committing myself? I would hate to join and not become a pilot...
Depending on the path that you chose - would you hate to fly 3 times a month (changes depending on community) and do other military duties (read office work) the rest of the 14-16 hour duty days.

To tell you the truth boca - it sounds like you are very young and do not know a lot about military aviation and the realities of the job, committment required, and as you said - the pros and cons. The comment "Would I have to go to war if there was one....ect" is of concern because it speaks more to the mindset than even education. It sounds like the mindset that we were warned about when starting out my training early on. A senior officer got us together and made sure that we understood the job. We all stared at him in disbelief until he told a few stories of people that he had heard about from Desert Storm where people all of the sudden had problems "doing the job" when it came down to finally putting that expensive training to use.

It is good that you have ventured onto this site for information before making long range plans; but READ first so that you have a better understanding of the information, so that the answers given and the questions asked, will be more directed and useful to you as you begin putting together your plan.

USMCFLYR