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Question for civilian pilots

Old 03-17-2018, 04:40 AM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by daddysocks View Post
What were the reasons you didn't become a military pilot? Do you regret not joining the military?
I didn't become a military pilot because I needed glasses. The most lenient I could find was the army, and my prescription was too strong even for them. It seemed foolish to me at the time, as I was already a pilot when I graduated high school. I thought that would indicate some sort of dedication to my goals, and I know that if my eyes got bad after I was accepted into flight training that I could continue with being a pilot, so the 20/20 requirement isn't really a requirement to be a pilot ...
That said, I do occasionally regret not joining up. I don't think I would've been a super great for in the military, but I couldn't adjusted to it. I sometimes wish I would've served my country, and I could be retired by now.
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Old 03-17-2018, 06:30 AM
  #12  
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I tried to fly in the military. I didn’t make it past the medical. I ended up doing a desk job for four years in the Air Force.

I’m proud of my time in the service, but it was a tough time for me for various reasons. In retrospect, I should have gone reserve or guard, regardless if I had been able to fly or not in the military.

They also say timing is everything and going active duty for four years was a set back to my civilian flying career. Had I flown in the military, it would have been a different story. There were some highlights from my four years, but I would have done things differently.
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Old 03-17-2018, 06:35 AM
  #13  
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Originally Posted by daddysocks View Post
What were the reasons you didn't become a military pilot? Do you regret not joining the military?
No guarantees in the military. I interviewed with AFROTC in college and there were no guarantees of a pilot slot. Being a pilot was the only job that interested me (one of those dreamed about it since I was a little kid types), and it was a guarantee on the civilian side. Made the decision a bit easier. That said, to fulfill a desire to serve and help, I went to an ACMI that flew DOD missions and I volunteered at the VA for three years.

No regrets as I have no idea what a military career would or or wouldn't have done for me.

And has been said, plenty of pilots would have liked to fly in the service, however medical issues prevented them from doing so. And let's also not forget that it's uber-competitive, at times more than others, and some times they simply aren't filling pilot slots at all.
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Old 03-17-2018, 06:40 AM
  #14  
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Originally Posted by rickair7777 View Post
I would say the majority of the older people I know in the civilian track tried, to one degree or another. Many ways to get sidelined, medical, timing/downsizing, etc.

These days, many of the new pilots are simply not military material (and they know it).
Please, enlighten us all to what you consider "military material".
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Old 03-17-2018, 07:09 AM
  #15  
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Originally Posted by PotatoChip View Post
Please, enlighten us all to what you consider "military material".
Fitness culture. Willing to shave off the manbun, stache, beard, or other grooming affection which is central to your identity. Little to no history of drug use. ASVAB scores (just because everyone automatically gets an "A" in HS, doesn't mean the ASVAB got any easier). Willingness to automatically comply with authority in dynamic situations. Not too concerned about their own comfort and well being in the short-term.

Now that said, most of the millennials who actually enter the military are better prepared than my generation. They have access to a lot more information and they make good use of it. The only thing I had going for me was enthusiasm and natural athleticism... my generation (or at least me) had to flail around and figure it out the hard way. No complaints from me about the young people currently serving. But it's gotten hard for the services to find people like that, and they can't get enough of them... even though the military is far smaller than when I joined during the cold war.
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Old 03-17-2018, 07:29 AM
  #16  
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In 30 years in 2 Reserve forces units with vastly different missions (A-10 and C-5), I saw good and bad pilots, just like anywhere in civil aviation. BUT, because of the mission, we had guys that were airline pilots, but we’d never give them the “keys to the jet”. They may have been poor leaders at getting the mission done, their flying skills were just okay. When the mission success requires “getting the gas” off the tanker in the dark IMC or land in high threat Mogadishu, there were guys who commanders trusted. Those pilots were good anywhere in aviation.

GF
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Old 03-17-2018, 11:02 AM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by rickair7777 View Post
Fitness culture. Willing to shave off the manbun, stache, beard, or other grooming affection which is central to your identity. Little to no history of drug use. ASVAB scores (just because everyone automatically gets an "A" in HS, doesn't mean the ASVAB got any easier). Willingness to automatically comply with authority in dynamic situations. Not too concerned about their own comfort and well being in the short-term.

Now that said, most of the millennials who actually enter the military are better prepared than my generation. They have access to a lot more information and they make good use of it. The only thing I had going for me was enthusiasm and natural athleticism... my generation (or at least me) had to flail around and figure it out the hard way. No complaints from me about the young people currently serving. But it's gotten hard for the services to find people like that, and they can't get enough of them... even though the military is far smaller than when I joined during the cold war.
I don't get this. It seems like every generation says something similar about the new kids. Folks latch on the minority that they don't like that they feel embodies the whole group. Man buns? Really? I just spent two weeks on the ASU campus. I can count the number of man buns I saw on one hand. And I dislike them as much as anyone. You really feel that certain "grooming affections" are that central to an entire generation of people that they aren't fit for the military. Okay.

1960's. I guess none of them were fit, either. ALL of them had long hair did drugs.
1970's. I've seen That 70's Show. And that generation smoked A LOT of pot. Oh, and they were anti-estabilishement and didn't trust the government, because, you know, Vietnam.
1980's. Well they all had big hair, dressed like women, and did cocaine like there was no tomorrow.
1990's. Bunch of losers. No ambition Gen Xers. Hate em.
2000's. Selfish brats. All raised to be special.

But you're right. It's only today's kids that aren't fit. And let's just lump them all together.
And please, what HS are referring to where everyone automatically gets "A's"??
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Old 03-17-2018, 12:01 PM
  #18  
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The Pentagon reported a few years ago, 71% of 17-24 year-olds were unfit for military accession. Over half for health or physical fitness disqualifies—obesity is number one problem. 25% for lack of HS-level education and 10% for criminal backgrounds or drug use. It’s NOT because of mere appearance. The current generation is, by a strong majority, unfit for military service.

https://www.heritage.org/sites/defau...-02/BG3282.pdf

GF
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Old 03-17-2018, 12:14 PM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by galaxy flyer View Post
The Pentagon reported a few years ago, 71% of 17-24 year-olds were unfit for military accession. Over half for health or physical fitness disqualifies—obesity is number one problem. 25% for lack of HS-level education and 10% for criminal backgrounds or drug use. It’s NOT because of mere appearance. The current generation is, by a strong majority, unfit for military service.

https://www.heritage.org/sites/defau...-02/BG3282.pdf

GF
The pentagon was asserting that 25% of 17-24 year olds in the US lacked a HS or equivalent degree? That sure is interesting since the Washington Post reported that we recently set a modern record for high school graduation rate in this country at 83%, and the Dept of Education has reported 69% of high school graduates attended some sort of college after graduating in 2017.

Weird. Statistics and all...
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Old 03-17-2018, 12:26 PM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by galaxy flyer View Post
The Pentagon reported a few years ago, 71% of 17-24 year-olds were unfit for military accession. Over half for health or physical fitness disqualifies—obesity is number one problem. 25% for lack of HS-level education and 10% for criminal backgrounds or drug use. It’s NOT because of mere appearance. The current generation is, by a strong majority, unfit for military service.

https://www.heritage.org/sites/defau...-02/BG3282.pdf

GF
If it really came down to it, the majority of those “unfit” would magically become fit for service in the eyes of the military overnight. Hell, let’s not pretend the majority of the military enforces height and weight standards as it is now. If I had my way probably about 30-40% of the military would be discharged tomorrow for being fat or out of shape.
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