ugleeual

If your looking for a part time reserve or guard gig then don't see why not... The time spent in UPT and follow on trng will be about 1.5 years dependent on the type... So don't think you'll be missing out too much in the long run if your under 30. I had a regional pilot in my UPT class over 20 years ago do exactly why you mention in your post.

Ace Hotshot

If deployment is a concern, wait until after the next Presidential election. If a ******ican gets elected, then they will make up stuff just to go to an unjust war. If a ****crat gets elected, then your military flying job will go away due to cutbacks in military spending.

Dodo

Because that drawdown in AFG is going so well.

Sliceback

Thirty years ago, with only a three month RTU, no requirement to do Hondo/fishpot, and only a 90 day AD post RTU, it took 25 months.

Now everyone has to do pilot screening in Colorado, RTU is six months, and post training AD is six months. That would increase start to finish to 33 months. Based on that it's probably 30-36 months.

With breaks in training he could go back to work when he's off orders awaiting training. He'd miss out on three of his most junior years at the airline in exchange for 11+ yrs in the military.

A300drvr

Wow, seriously? I can't speak for everyone but the guys at my old unit would have had a field day with someone at a UPT board who is already with a major. I respect you want to join the military, but there are so many others who could use the slot a lot more than you could. Think about that.

crewdawg

Realistically, I would expect to be gone 4+ years before it's time to go back to your job, if hired by a fighter squadron. You have flight screening, UPT, IFF, FTU, and survival schools...thats ~25 months of training courses. Then when you get home, you get ~15 months of seasoning orders. Add in breaks in training here and there and you're easily over 4 years. Also, if you wanted to stay longer to finish flight lead upgrade (preferred), before going back part time, you could easily extend another 6 months to a year by working you part time pay days in between seasoning orders.

Wait, did you see your hiring boards as a jobs program? Only giving them to people who needed a job? Having sat of hiring boards I can assure you if his app was good enough for an interview, he would be looked at just like anyone else. It's not about who needs a job, it's about who WANTS the job, and is someone we feel is a good fit for the squadron. I guess I don't understand why they would have a "field day" with a guy just because he a job at a major airline?

Merle Dixon

I'm an AF Reservist and DAL pilot (former F-16 pilot, now a T-38 reserve IP). Trust me, and as others who have posted, go find a Guard job (I wish I would have). The Guard does a MUCH better job with promotions and QOL.

Please note, your 3 to 4 years of Mil leave from DAL to complete SUPT, FTU, MQT, and seasoning, will be a large pay cut.

Good luck!

Merle

crewdawg

But worth every penny! Money can't buy the friends, the fun and the experiences I have had so far in my military career. You'll have plenty of years to fly straight and level...

HuggyU2

Completely agree. If he was coming out of a $200,000 a year job at Google, the conversation would be roughly the same. However, if he wants to chase his dream, let him.

After all, you did, right?

It has nothing to do what "taking a job away" from someone else.

PRS Guitars

Is your old unit in a socialist country or something? You have to be joking...

Personally, I think guys that can pull off a job with a Major Airline before getting a Gaurd job have hit the jack-pot of an aviation career. Good for them. This will become more and more common over next decade, timing is everything in this business.