stay or go
09-01-2014, 06:05 PM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2008
Posts: 290
I am currently an active Army CW4 so have a bit of a bias. You have 12 years in and will get nothing if you get out now (other than veteran status). You don't stay for the huge paycheck you'll get at a 20 year retirement, it's the insurance and benefits you'll have for life. You can stand on your head for 8 more years or use it to REALLY set yourself up for life.
I had almost 8 years enlisted before I applied to go to flight school, so you are right in there. Apply to WO school until you get accepted. You'll spend 18 month training and the army is now putting WO1 right into fixed-wing as a primary track starting this next year.
Once you get to your first duty station, knock out your school. You'll get about 50 semester hours from flight school alone so getting your degree will be relatively easy using your $4500 a year Tuition Assistance (TA). Once you have 90 hours; apply to the WO degree completion program.
Save you're Post 911 GI Bill for all of your FAA ratings. I am getting about 400 hours per years flying OSA VIP missions CONUS. Try and go to Korea right out of flight school. There you will get 600-700 hours a year flying the King Air. In fact, I'd stay there until you retire. I have a friend who got nearly 1000 hours last year flying the VIP mission there.
In eight years, you'll have everything you need; your degree, you're retirement check, your insurance for life, and all your ratings. You'll also be YOUNG and have retired military pilot on your resume.
My .02 worth; but STAY!!! Use the Army and it's benefits to benefit YOU.
I had almost 8 years enlisted before I applied to go to flight school, so you are right in there. Apply to WO school until you get accepted. You'll spend 18 month training and the army is now putting WO1 right into fixed-wing as a primary track starting this next year.
Once you get to your first duty station, knock out your school. You'll get about 50 semester hours from flight school alone so getting your degree will be relatively easy using your $4500 a year Tuition Assistance (TA). Once you have 90 hours; apply to the WO degree completion program.
Save you're Post 911 GI Bill for all of your FAA ratings. I am getting about 400 hours per years flying OSA VIP missions CONUS. Try and go to Korea right out of flight school. There you will get 600-700 hours a year flying the King Air. In fact, I'd stay there until you retire. I have a friend who got nearly 1000 hours last year flying the VIP mission there.
In eight years, you'll have everything you need; your degree, you're retirement check, your insurance for life, and all your ratings. You'll also be YOUNG and have retired military pilot on your resume.
My .02 worth; but STAY!!! Use the Army and it's benefits to benefit YOU.
09-02-2014, 05:07 PM
#12
More Cowbell!!!
Joined APC: Nov 2011
Position: Spreading the LUV from the "Write" seat!!!
Posts: 344
Something to keep in mind/check on if you go warrant. I believe (don't quote me) Title 10 requires 10 years of commissioned service to retire as an officer. Not sure if you could still retire at 20 years 0 days and revert back to your enlisted rank. If so, not that big a deal since your retirement pay is based on High 3. Your ID card would just say E-6 vice CWOXX.
09-10-2014, 07:25 PM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2014
Position: 141 IFR Student
Posts: 114
Originally Posted by heericane13
got 11yrs in the army right now (E6) (infantry). Got about a year left till i can leave and go do somthing else on the civilian side of the house (would like to fly). Or do I stay for the full 20 then proceed onto a career in aviation.
About 10hrs away from PPL
Thanks
About 10hrs away from PPL
Thanks
I am currently active duty Army (E-7 25W) with 19 years of service Stationed at Camp Humphreys Korea. I will retire and go to flight school starting next summer. I think you should stay. The medical benefits alone are worth staying for. I only wish I had come to the decision to fly for a living sooner. I would have (hint hint) got all of my ratings and worked my way towards ATP mins so that when 20 years hit I could begin applying towards regionals or anywhere else that requires ATP mins. Get your CFI/CFII/and MEI; there are plenty of rotor heads in the Army that would love to pay an enlisted Soldier to teach Fixed-Wing Transition
. If you think you want to go flight warrant do it now. You're getting close to needing waivers. It's not impossible to do with waivers, just don't give them a reason to say no. If you stay enlisted you are likey to make SFC in the next year or two and probably MSG before you retire, which will make the deal even sweeter. If you were to get out now keep these things in mind:
Pilots between 250TT and 1500TT don't earn nearly what you earn as a SSG. They earn what you would earn as a retired SSG. Minus the medical benefits.
Your post 9/11 GI bill will pay for 100% of your flight training if you go to a University program. In order to receive 100% of the BAH benefit that comes with that you'll have to go to school full time. Can you sustain your household on BAH alone? (If your wife has a job then nevermind).
Take a look at some of the pay rates for the first year FO's. Yeah, I know. Kinda depressing especially when you fly tens of millions of dollars worth of machinery with priceless souls on board. Having that retirement will take the edge off that painfully low pay not to mention the medical benefits.
Did I mention the medical benefits? Do some research and find out how much insurance costs civilians and what they can get covered for. You'll laugh out loud when you try to compare what they pay vs. what you'll pay as a retiree. Not having to pay those comparatively huge sums for medical coverage will put more money in your pocket.
One more thing about medical benefits and I'll shut up about it. EVERY retired Soldier, Sailor, Airman, and Marine I've met can't talk enough about how glad they were that they stayed in. Having those benefits has saved many of them from financial ruin and quite possibly their lives and the lives of those they cover.
Ultimately this is your choice. Good Luck to you and come home safe.
09-11-2014, 06:48 AM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2014
Posts: 208
All great advice listed above.
A happy medium would be to transfer to the guard or reserves. You would not lose credit for your service, rather you would delay the retirement benefits. You could also, potentially, get a IERW slot in a guard or reserve unit and that would look great on your career as an airline pilot. Also, the Army Guard and Reserve have more FW aircraft than most realize.
The drill checks are a great way to supplement your Regional FO pay and TRICARE Reserve Select is cheap and is a great insurance.
A happy medium would be to transfer to the guard or reserves. You would not lose credit for your service, rather you would delay the retirement benefits. You could also, potentially, get a IERW slot in a guard or reserve unit and that would look great on your career as an airline pilot. Also, the Army Guard and Reserve have more FW aircraft than most realize.
The drill checks are a great way to supplement your Regional FO pay and TRICARE Reserve Select is cheap and is a great insurance.
09-13-2014, 11:25 AM
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: B757 Ca, Retired.
Posts: 195
Originally Posted by BlackhawkIP
I am currently an active Army CW4 so have a bit of a bias. You have 12 years in and will get nothing if you get out now (other than veteran status). You don't stay for the huge paycheck you'll get at a 20 year retirement, it's the insurance and benefits you'll have for life. You can stand on your head for 8 more years or use it to REALLY set yourself up for life.
I had almost 8 years enlisted before I applied to go to flight school, so you are right in there. Apply to WO school until you get accepted. You'll spend 18 month training and the army is now putting WO1 right into fixed-wing as a primary track starting this next year.
Once you get to your first duty station, knock out your school. You'll get about 50 semester hours from flight school alone so getting your degree will be relatively easy using your $4500 a year Tuition Assistance (TA). Once you have 90 hours; apply to the WO degree completion program.
Save you're Post 911 GI Bill for all of your FAA ratings. I am getting about 400 hours per years flying OSA VIP missions CONUS. Try and go to Korea right out of flight school. There you will get 600-700 hours a year flying the King Air. In fact, I'd stay there until you retire. I have a friend who got nearly 1000 hours last year flying the VIP mission there.
In eight years, you'll have everything you need; your degree, you're retirement check, your insurance for life, and all your ratings. You'll also be YOUNG and have retired military pilot on your resume.
My .02 worth; but STAY!!! Use the Army and it's benefits to benefit YOU.
I had almost 8 years enlisted before I applied to go to flight school, so you are right in there. Apply to WO school until you get accepted. You'll spend 18 month training and the army is now putting WO1 right into fixed-wing as a primary track starting this next year.
Once you get to your first duty station, knock out your school. You'll get about 50 semester hours from flight school alone so getting your degree will be relatively easy using your $4500 a year Tuition Assistance (TA). Once you have 90 hours; apply to the WO degree completion program.
Save you're Post 911 GI Bill for all of your FAA ratings. I am getting about 400 hours per years flying OSA VIP missions CONUS. Try and go to Korea right out of flight school. There you will get 600-700 hours a year flying the King Air. In fact, I'd stay there until you retire. I have a friend who got nearly 1000 hours last year flying the VIP mission there.
In eight years, you'll have everything you need; your degree, you're retirement check, your insurance for life, and all your ratings. You'll also be YOUNG and have retired military pilot on your resume.
My .02 worth; but STAY!!! Use the Army and it's benefits to benefit YOU.
Go Army WO, try and get into the KingAir and when your 20 is up, you will be toward the end of the current wave but still at 40 years old a prime candidate for the majors.
BTW; I'm one of those former USAF enlisted kids then Iowa ARNG WO that was hired at NWA at age 28. Did both rotor in the Guard and fixed wing as a civilian. Several pilots who I flew with as their crew chief in the T39 from 77-80 wound up way junior to me at NWA. But we all made it.
One more note on the wave. In the past the best companies hired cookie cutter pilots. They were 30-32 years old, 3-5000 hours with college degrees. Today's new hire pilots are similar, but with a much wider age range (anti-age discrimination lawsuits, don't get me started) so the industry will see more steady rates of retirements than this current wave. Also, it's been a while since I have looked at the numbers, but only half of the pilots ever made it to age 60. 10-15% died, 35% left for medical reasons! That gives you additional hopes of higher turnover rates. Now with the age 65 retirement, one would think even fewer make it to mandatory retirement age, but I don't have data on that yet.
09-14-2014, 11:27 PM
#17
On Reserve
Joined APC: Sep 2014
Posts: 10
Originally Posted by F224
Given your situation this is possibly the best advice I have ever seen online. I'll add a friends story. He as a church music director at age 36-37. He started flying and less than 4 years later was sitting in class at then Northwest Airlines in 1991.
Go Army WO, try and get into the KingAir and when your 20 is up, you will be toward the end of the current wave but still at 40 years old a prime candidate for the majors.
BTW; I'm one of those former USAF enlisted kids then Iowa ARNG WO that was hired at NWA at age 28. Did both rotor in the Guard and fixed wing as a civilian. Several pilots who I flew with as their crew chief in the T39 from 77-80 wound up way junior to me at NWA. But we all made it.
One more note on the wave. In the past the best companies hired cookie cutter pilots. They were 30-32 years old, 3-5000 hours with college degrees. Today's new hire pilots are similar, but with a much wider age range (anti-age discrimination lawsuits, don't get me started) so the industry will see more steady rates of retirements than this current wave. Also, it's been a while since I have looked at the numbers, but only half of the pilots ever made it to age 60. 10-15% died, 35% left for medical reasons! That gives you additional hopes of higher turnover rates. Now with the age 65 retirement, one would think even fewer make it to mandatory retirement age, but I don't have data on that yet.
Go Army WO, try and get into the KingAir and when your 20 is up, you will be toward the end of the current wave but still at 40 years old a prime candidate for the majors.
BTW; I'm one of those former USAF enlisted kids then Iowa ARNG WO that was hired at NWA at age 28. Did both rotor in the Guard and fixed wing as a civilian. Several pilots who I flew with as their crew chief in the T39 from 77-80 wound up way junior to me at NWA. But we all made it.
One more note on the wave. In the past the best companies hired cookie cutter pilots. They were 30-32 years old, 3-5000 hours with college degrees. Today's new hire pilots are similar, but with a much wider age range (anti-age discrimination lawsuits, don't get me started) so the industry will see more steady rates of retirements than this current wave. Also, it's been a while since I have looked at the numbers, but only half of the pilots ever made it to age 60. 10-15% died, 35% left for medical reasons! That gives you additional hopes of higher turnover rates. Now with the age 65 retirement, one would think even fewer make it to mandatory retirement age, but I don't have data on that yet.
Two great stories to learn from with great advice! I agree that staying in while building time on the side is probably your best choice at the moment! Good luck!
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