Originally Posted by
crewdawg
Ya, because those guys can't get over themselves and can't fathom anyone following a path different that the one they took.
Not sure what axe you have to grind, but I see plenty of guys over there who understand the value of ANG pilots with a diverse path into a fighter cockpit. Lots of support for new guys trying to go the "guard baby" route.
Originally Posted by
crewdawg
However, there is nothing wrong with getting a civilian career lined up before going off to UPT.
Never said there was anything wrong with that. Draw me a realistic line between our current 250 hour friend and 1500 hours, an RJ job, indoc, IOE followed by mil leave in the next 20 months. Impossible? Maybe not, but I'd like to hear the plan.
Also, there's the underlying assumption in this discussion that success through UPT and the rest of training is assured. I had a 3000 hour commercial pilot wash out of my class. Prior time sometimes helps in the early stage of training, but I think it's rare to have it matter in the least once into the T-38 phase.
Originally Posted by
crewdawg
n fact, when I interviewed at my Guard fighter squadron, I was asked multiple pointed questions about what job I would be doing to support myself when they kicked me back to part time after seasoning because they likely wouldn't have full time available.
In my opinion, asking a new wingman or maybe fresh 2-ship flight lead to go part time is a failure on the unit's part. We never did that at my unit and always ensured our new arrivals from FTU had years of full time orders. The one guy who pushed to go part time early was never more than a place keeper in a formation. He upgraded to 2-ship FL after a struggle and stagnated there until he left. There's a reason most guard units would rather hire a 2 or 3 tour senior O-3 or O-4 with 1000-1500 hours of fighter time.
I hope our OP can make all his plans work. I hope the flow through thing works they way everyone says it will. Otherwise seniority at a regional carrier is still just seniority at a regional. Still start from scratch when you get to where everyone really wants to be.