TS91

I am 17 years old, and i will be graduating high school in June. My career goal is to be a pilot for a major airline. I am about 95% sure about joining the Air Force to achieve this goal and get my degree. I have constantly heard the Air Force is the best way to get into the airlines. Is that true? If not, what is the best way? I have tried searching forums everywhere and I cannot find straightforward advice. No one in my family is in aviation in any way so I have no one to talk to who knows anything about the industry. I know it is sort of a broad question but any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

scambo1

Call/Go to your nearest guard/reserve base after talking to these folks:

Air Force Reserve: Non-Prior Service

TS91

The main difference i see between the Reserves and the Air Force is that the reserves is part time. I also see that the reserves and the Air Force go to the same basic training and tech schools. Considering my goal to fly for an airline...eventually, would it be better to go into the reserves? The main problem i have is that my recruiter doesnt know, in detail, what the airline industry looks at when it comes to this.

rickair7777

Do you mean a military recruiter? They know nothing about airlines and should not even be discussing airlines with you.

Also if you are interested in flying for the military, you should be looking at ROTC scholarships or possibly a service academy. If a recruiter is trying to get you to enlist in order to become a military pilot, he is lying to you. The military does not recruit enlisted men to fly airplanes...you need to go to college and become an officer first. The only exception is the army, they will hire you to fly helicopters as warrant officer, but you still need some college (2 years?).

If you are considering enlisting in order to pay for college that's a different story, the new education benefits are pretty damn good. You will have to complete your enlistment, go to college, then rejoin as an officer. Just don't think you are going to go from boot camp directly to an F-16.

Actually the best path to the airlines (for many, many reasons) is USAF reserve or Air National Guard. The part time option allows you to get full military training at no financial cost to you, and then you can get an airline job and advance both your military and airline careers in parallel. If you go active duty, you will not be able to start in the airlines until your commitment is up...ten years later.

But either way, the military route is the best, assuming you are competitive and are truly interested in military service...if you are just interested in getting free training, it's probably not for you.

TS91

I think the Air Force and/or the reserves would be a fufilling career, and i want to serve my country...but it looks like I would have more time for school if i go the reserves route, and i still get the benefits and the fulfillment of a military career. But my end goal is to fly for the airlines, that may change if i get into the military and want to stay. But ROTC isnt an option for me because i know the Air Force is not hurting for people, so it is extremely competitve to get into their ROTC program. That being said, would it be harder to get into the reserves because not everyone wants to go active duty?

I appreciate the advise

seaav8tor

All military pilots slots are extremely competitive to get. Getting a slot is just the start of a very long competitive journey. If you do not fare well in an extremely competitive arena, the road ahead will dead end before you reach your goal.