Originally Posted by
Tarheel
I'm an AF DUI survivor but I'm still paying for that night... I had my pilot wings for about six hours before I almost lost them forever. If you were at Vance about 7 years ago you may remember me!
It was my UPT graduation dinner at the club and the booze was flowing. Even the wing king bought us a keg! After the party I made the worst decision of my life and decided to drive home. The base cop must have watched me walk to my car, because I was quickly pulled over for "not using my turn signal at a yield sign!" After a night in jail wearing my mess dress, and two months of not knowing whether I was going to keep my wings; the AF decided to let me stay. I got smacked pretty hard for the short term, 1/2 month's pay for 2 months plus I got to meet every Colonel on base. Thankfully, the long term aspect wasn't too bad. In fact, the commander of AETC at the time wrote a MFR that ensures the DUI will not be in my promotion folder.
However, that's all for not now! I'm getting out and trying to get picked up by the airlines. That dui still has teeth! It's the worst decision I've ever made and I'll have to answer for it forever.
I haven't gotten so much as a parking ticket since then, but I'm afraid it will be enough to send my application unto the floor.
What do you guys think? Do you know of any airline pilots that have overcome a dui?
PS--get a cab.
As much as I hate to say it, it might not be a bad idea to consult a lawyer about what transgressions during active duty can and cannot be released to a civilian employer. If this DUI was handled entirely as an administrative manner, then there may not be any record of it available to the public. If it was UCMJ, then I'm not sure. Of course, if it's not releasable, make sure you don't list any references who may rat you out. If it is, just do what you did here and tell the story as honestly and openly as you can, make sure to highlight how young you were and the lessons learned from it also. Good luck.
A guy I went to UPT with got his wings yanked at Corpus two weeks after graduation after driving home from another class winging. Of course, he blew through a closed gate and hit a car full of Mexicans, then tried to run. Not good.