Hello all,
I am deciding on what I want to do with the rest of my life. Just a little backstory here, I served in the Air Force active duty for 6 years as a crew chief on c-17’s. I got out and got a pretty decent job at a major airline doing similar work. I have always had ambitions on becoming a pilot as I was a flying crew chief and got to take many trips with pilots my time in the military. I work full time at this airline, I am in the air national guard, and go to school full time for a professional pilot curriculum that is being funded by the post 9/11 GI bill. This degree path will lead me up to my atp restricted without me having to pay anything out of pocket. When I get my degree I want to try and commission as a pilot in the Air national guard in which I am receiving fantastic guidance by my command. Once accomplished I want to fly as much as possible and build my total time in the military until it suffices for the ATP limit, to then fly for an airline or regional for more experience and ride that out until a nice retirement age. Another option that some mentors of mine both military and airline side have given me was to use my 6 years active duty and become a cop. I will only need to do 14 years and will then receive a nice pension at the age of 40. This option still includes me becoming a pilot on the air guard side as this is mainly part time. If I followed the cop path I will have a pension from the PD and will begin flying commercial at Around 40 (given I build up enough time in the 14 years) and not to mention, the PD I would work for is on Long Island NY, and pays well above the average amount so the pension will be on the heavier side. So I am kindof torn in the direction I want to go. One side would be to pursue airline/guard pilot and gain seniority from a younger age, possibly around 28 by the time I finish all of my training and flying requirements. Or become a pilot in the guard part time and work 14 years as a cop to get a pension and more home time with my family to then begin the airline process at around the age of 40(training and hours will have already be completed and paid for by Air guard job/GI Bill). I have been dwelling on this for weeks and want to make a decision. Ultimately I want what everyone else wants, to get as much money as possible at the youngest age possible to enjoy a better QOL while still enjoying what I do. I wouldn’t much mind being a cop as I have cop friends and family and understand the lifestyle. I just would like advice on anyone who has followed a similar path as this and can share while I am still young. Thank you in advance.