Thinking about it.....any advice?

Acoustic2 · 06-21-2008, 02:17 AM

My info:

- In the Navy (E-5 aircrewman rotary Wing)
- 30yrs old
- 1,800 hrs (est)
- Squadron NATOPS Instructor
- CRM Facilitator
- 98.1 hrs TT civilian
- 23.1 hrs multi civilian
- Currently a RAG instructor
- BA Degree

Totally understand military flying and would like to stay military for easy and free time building that pays very well. Really have a tough time throwing away 10yrs of active service in hopes of getting out and getting hired by a regional once at their minimums.

Too old for Navy pilot option if I were to drop an OCS package- limit is 27 (waiverable up to 29 for prior enlisted). Thought about Air National guard.

Does anyone know how competitive it is for a Navy enlisted guy to get on w/ a ANG unit to fly fixed wing? My local unit flies 15s out of JAX- would love to do that.

Any info is greatly appreciated.

scrapdog · 06-21-2008, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acoustic2

My info:

- In the Navy (E-5 aircrewman rotary Wing)
- 30yrs old
- 1,800 hrs (est)
- Squadron NATOPS Instructor
- CRM Facilitator
- 98.1 hrs TT civilian
- 23.1 hrs multi civilian
- Currently a RAG instructor
- BA Degree

Totally understand military flying and would like to stay military for easy and free time building that pays very well. Really have a tough time throwing away 10yrs of active service in hopes of getting out and getting hired by a regional once at their minimums.

Too old for Navy pilot option if I were to drop an OCS package- limit is 27 (waiverable up to 29 for prior enlisted). Thought about Air National guard.

Does anyone know how competitive it is for a Navy enlisted guy to get on w/ a ANG unit to fly fixed wing? My local unit flies 15s out of JAX- would love to do that.

Any info is greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your service to our country. However, as an ANG fighter pilot, I can tell you any ANG/AFRES slot right now is extremely tough, and is getting harder by the minute. As units get brac'ed and more and more current and qualified active duty fighter guys get out, an ANG/AFRES unit is much more likely to hire that person than someone off the street they don't know from Adam. Units now have multiple senior capt's/young majors that are either 4 ship flight leads or instructor pilots that just finished their active duty commitment and are trying to get maybe one or two slots (and usually they're only part time). Unfortunately, that's the reality....

Best of luck.

UPTme · 06-21-2008, 08:18 PM

You need to be in UPT by your 30th birthday. I've heard age waivers are hard to come by these days.

Good luck.

bifff15 · 06-21-2008, 08:25 PM

FYI I'm pretty sure the Army will let you in over the age of 30. They have fixed wing as well as rotary, AND you have ten years towards retirement already.

Sputnik · 06-21-2008, 09:52 PM

Yeah, you really ought to look at Army warrant officer, you'd be incredibly competitive with your background. Most likely start out rotary but fixed wing transition seems pretty doable. My last squandron sent two enlisted guys over in three years--none with the qualifications and aviation experience you have.

Acoustic2 · 06-21-2008, 10:07 PM

Thanks for all of the great advice. I regret not acting sooner. I think I might drop an OCS package for NFO option and see what happens. Age limit on that is 31 (I think).

I appreciate the replies. One think I like about this forum is the realistic responses coming from you all that are actually doing the job. Thanks again.

fallujahff · 06-21-2008, 10:07 PM

Quote:

In the Navy (E-5 aircrewman rotary Wing)
- 30yrs old
- 1,800 hrs (est)

I gotta ask---

How does an enlisted guy in the Navy Fly Helos--to the tune of 1800 hours?

I know the Army has warrant officers that fly but I thought the Navy/Marine Corps required a commissioned officer to go to flight school--?

I know they did do it in the Vietnam era but thought that was stopped in the 80's.

Hacker15e · 06-21-2008, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fallujahff

I gotta ask---

How does an enlisted guy in the Navy Fly Helos--to the tune of 1800 hours?

I don't think he's saying he has 1,800 pilot hours.

Aircrewmen, like Navigators/NFOs, track flight hours, too.

SaltyDog · 06-21-2008, 10:57 PM

And us Navy types have seen the start of Warrant Officers flying in the Navy. Helicopters are in the slot for Warrants. We select sharp enlisted sailors. Unfortunately, age 27 is cutoff age for commissioning as a Warrant.

USMCFLYR · 06-21-2008, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaltyDog

And us Navy types have seen the start of Warrant Officers flying in the Navy. Helicopters are in the slot for Warrants. We select sharp enlisted sailors. Not sure of the age drop off hand though. Did you look at it Acoustic2??

They are going into the P-3 community too - and if they were to get the P-3 replacement (737 type isn't it?) then that would be a great set-up for the future.

USMCFLYR

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