Originally Posted by
MAGNUM!!
I hear what you're sayin. I think if I was a 17 yr old HS senior right now and planned on attending a civilian school, I'd find a state with a fighter unit I wanted to join. Enlist prior to entering college and be a crew chief or something for four years while you go to school. Maybe do ROTC, part-time Guard, angle for a commission from the Guard unit, and try to get a UPT slot that way.
My G'dad advised me to do that in my state and I thought he was crazy. Little did I know. I ended up going to the Academy anyway, but my G'dad's idea would've been money if I stayed in-state.
I agree with this approach. A guy in my unit is doing it this way, crew chief in the unit trying to judge if he would like to be a pilot in the guard unit and also doing the ROTC thing in college. You keep your doors open, get amazing experience and a little time in service. Not to mention the free tuition and extra cash from the GI Bill is nice to have.