Hey everyone. I know you are all probably sick of answering this question. Hell, there's even one a page back. Anyway... I really can't think of anything I'd enjoy as much as flying (feel free to suggest your dream career). I'm just stuck on the decision to fly military or civillian. I'll give you some background.

I just got out of high school, been thinking about my career choices for awhile. My brother flys for SWA, flew with him in light planes on his x-countries and stuff... So I'm interested to say the least. =). I'm lucky enough to have 20/20 with no color blindness. Gonna head to a flight doc to make sure I can pass Class I. I'm also lucky enough to have the means to pay for civillian training, which makes the dicision actually hard =) (some of us bastards have it real tough). I've been told it comes to how bad I want to fly military aircraft, and how much i want to serve my country. Suffice it to say, I wouldn't just join to get the training/hours.

What I'm really looking for is the REAL info on military flying. I'm not some dumb-struck teenager drunk on dreams of Top Gun. I understand that that isn't the reality.
Some Questions: What are the other duties and jobs you have to do as an officer? How long will you actually be FLYING as you move up through the ranks? Can you get stuck on non-flying assignments very easily? Whats the toll on the family life? Do you ever lose sleep over any kind of "lethal weapons, life risking" type issues? Exactly HOW cool is that F-16, F-22, C-130? After seperation, how much time/skills would you say is lost/gained from being in the military when transitioning to civ (Civillian being based on seniority can be kinda jacked up)? How does salary compare (per diem, on base housing/food, base salary, after taxes, flight pay)?

I've heard things like, you are an officer first, then a pilot. That's the kind of thing that concerns me. I don't want to go in and then get stuck on a non-flying assignment after promotion to O-4 simply because they don't need me anymore (UAV's, w/e it actually is).

I just really want an insiders view. Do you regret it at all? Maybe I'm not even asking the right questions, and you guys know things that people like me wouldn't think about.

If I were to go military, I'd probably go ROTC, instead of OCS. I actually have an appointment to the AFA, but I need to go to a semester at one of their little "pre-schools" cause I slacked off in highschool. Just got in on my ACT. I probably wouldnt go because I have 35 credits at another college anyway, some of which I'd lose going to the AFA. I've also been investigating the Reserve/ANG option so I could work civillian at the same time, but I'm getting exhausted of researching.

I really just don't know how bad I want to fly military aircraft. If I went civillian my job would JUST be flying, and I would prefer that if there are a TON of other jobs/duties that come from being in the military, or if there is a high chance of a non-flying assignment. However, the military has pensions/retirement/benefits, that if civ flying goes south, will still be there.

Or should I just muck the whole thing and be a Doctor in a health-care system about to fall apart?



Thanks!