Originally Posted by
Michken
I actually looked into WOFT about 3 months ago. I went to the briefings, spoke with 2 CW5s and started prepairing my warrent packet. Unfortuantly I have a slight stigmitizem in my left eye which prevents me in the Army from getting a Class 1 medical cert. I still have 20/20 vision in both eyes because I gess they cancel each other out. I sent the medical packet to ft rucker hoping for a waver but it got denied. Regardless it ended my military flight training before it started. So the 2 CW5s I spoke with teach a flight school near my post and they took me in for my private license. I am now 2 months in and have 37.1 hours. Im about to do a short cross country today and a long one tomarow. JUST ABOUT THERE!
Not to much longer and ill be out of the military and on my way to a flight school, hence why I need all this great info you guys are givin me.
Thanks again to everyone for posting.
This may seem counter-culture, but just go for the degree that pays for your flight training - between the GI BILL, the Stafford Loan Program, civilian job, and applying for various scholarships you should be alright without taking one of the mafia loan shark-dead fish in the mail-take your first born-cut your knee caps off loans...I mean sallie mae loans. I never thought I'd be saying this, but an aviation degree isn't
that bad. First off... it's a degree, half of the program is gen. ed. classes with the later two years being more degree specific. If you get an aviation business degree let say (minor in flight?....or spelling
), chances are you can transfer the gen. ed. and most general business classes into a Business Admin degree (at a state school) - which can be very useful. You may only need 40 (?) more credits to get another degree. So at the end of the day, you could have two degrees and a commercial pilot's license for the price of 40 credits at a state school... not bad. You may just have to be creative... I'm not sure how the GI Bill people feel about you switching majors at the last minute (after you get some flight time), but that's a possibility also - not trying to tell you to game the system....but.....
As far as the industry goes.... since everyone is tight with money (i.e. banks) not
as many people are going 0-hero anymore, some are leaving the career, etc... well, if you just keep plugin' along you may find yourself on the better side of fortune. I wouldn't try to go super fast though- not much treasure on the other side of the rainbow these days.. it may be a while... just build yourself a solid network!
Best of luck - keep us updated!