Originally Posted by
djrogs03
Hey guys,
I'm 24 years old and have been flying now for almost 9 years. I'm curently flying an RJ900 for a Delta Connection carrier. Furlough is legitamately on the horizon for me and I'm not sure how long it's going to last...my guess is at least enough time to run out of unemployment bennies. I've thought about joining the military for sometime now as a Pilot. I meet all the qualifications but have yet to take the AFOQT. I have taken the ASVAB several times and have scored very well. I have been surrounded with a few guys in the cockpit that fly for the reserves or were one time active duty. They seem to highly tout the military and their training programs. All say, I would do very well. I have family that are pilots in the military and love it. One of my best friends is going through UPT right now and is very informative about whats going on...
My biggest thing right now is I need a challenge. While I know this is a huge commitment (10 years). I'm tired of being stuck at my employer making subpar wages, and no upgrade in sight. I've always been one to push myself and be thourghly involved. The rank structure the military offers I think would provide the challenge. My love for flying could be also met.
There are however a few things that worry me:
One, Physically I'm in good shape 6'0" weighing about 160...
The only bad thing is I've had both knees disloacted (8 years ago) but havent had problems since...I have had left shoulder problems with it popping in and out of place from time to time...I've heard a few stories of friends from college that accepted money to dequal later and have to go the enlisted route to pay it off
Idealy I would like to fly transport category aircraft C-17 would be right up my ally...but I know how the selection process works with UPT.
Currently I'm sitting at 1450 hours. With a CMEL CFII
10 years is a little worrysome, I've heard it doesn't start until training is over...but my main concern is having some sort of retirement down the road.
For those out there that have any advice I'm definately all ears.
djrogs03,
Frankly I don't see anything in your post that tells me that you have what it will take to become either a military officer or a military pilot. All I seem to be able to find is that faced with a potential furlough, you are now realizing that our military might be a way out for you. That in and of itself is not so bad, but I didn't see anything that told me you actually understand the process.
As an example, you say "I've thought about joining the military for sometime now as a Pilot." No one "joins the military" as a pilot. They join, go to a bunch of schools, for between one and two years, and then if they're lucky enough, along with being skilled enough, as well as being able to persevere all the trials and tribulations of: OCS/Basic Training then UPT (Undergraduate Pilot Training), then A/C specific training, then Survival Schools, then and only then, do they actually get to strap on some sort of aircraft and slip the surly bonds. And even then, it's in an aircraft that the government wants you to fly, not necessarily the one that you had your heart set on flying.
Having said all that, you very well might be exactly what this country is looking for in our next generation of military officer and pilot. My point of the above paragraph is to let you know that in order to succeed in the military, you need the right attitude. Otherwise it's too tough a job. So be in it for the right reasons. Good luck.
Originally Posted by
hindsight2020
As far as a pension, not exactly. Reserve retirement is a fractional system, where you are paid a pension at age 60 as a percentage of active duty "points" you have relative to 20 years worth of active duty retirement points. Ergo you'd have to be active duty for 20 years worth of credit in order to attain an AD pension. A Reservist would have to accrue the equivalent of 20 years worth of AD retirement points to get the pension. This will take a Reservist not on an AGR status longer than a one-for-one year, since he won't be in AD status 365 days a year normally. But yes, if you're willing to finish it out in the Reserves and don't get bumped out by rank TIG limitations (you still gotta promote to buy time to get that check) or "sanctuary" shenanigans at a less than gracious unit, you can get an AD retirement check out of the Reserves (you do forfeit a Reserve retirement check in the process of course, who cares though...)
hindsight2020 is not exactly correct in the above paragraph. Here's how it works: for every day you're on active duty, you get one point toward retirement. That's 365 points per year (for all the years you're on AD.) Then for the sake of argument, let's say that after 12 years you decide to leave the active duty community and join the Air National Guard. At this point you have 365 x 12, or 4380 points toward retirement pay. So now you are sworn into the ANG and you serve, let's say 6 years, but now you only get a point on days that you actually work (drill weekends, "summer camp", flying days, other active duty days, etc), so that (again for the sake of argument, let's say) you average 120 days a year for those 6 years. You've added 720 points, to your already accumulated 4380, to have a total points for pay of 5100.
You can continue to work in your ANG unit until (basically) they tell you it's time for you to leave. That usually happens after the 20 year point, or if you stay longer, sometimes when you make Lt. Col. or Col. (so that they can award your slot to another deserving individual.) However, if they have a reduction in force, which has happened over the years, they might offer you an "early out". Say that happened for you at your 18 year point (the 12 AD and your 6 ANG years). At that point, there are tables that you can find on line that will tell you exactly how much you will get in pension (once you turn 60). These tables are a combination of years of service and highest rank held, and number of total points for pay.
The above example shows that you don't need to have a full 20 year active duty service history to receive a pension. However, if you don't put in 20 years of service, you'll get less than a 20 year active duty pension. A 20 year pension is based on 7300 points, whereas (in our example) you had earned 5100 points, or roughly 2/3 of a full retirement.
As well, there has been a movement in congress to lower the age at which one can start to collect their military pension. The age I've heard is 55, which would give you 5 more years of pension. Another really terrific benefit of a military retirement is the health care coverage that's available, in addition to your civilian health care benefits, such as a company plan, or when you're old enough, medicare.
Again, good luck, and make sure you join for the right reasons.
JJ