PRS Guitars

You're either a troll or a kid, but I'll bite. Just based on the way you phrased the question...it's probably not for you.

In case this is a real question, I did both, and value my Air Force career far and above my civilian. It's not even close.

FredFlyer

Air Force Reserves...best kept secret. You'll be the envy of your Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT/UFT) classmates.

rickair7777

He's 15, obviously a kid but he's probably thinking further ahead than I was at that age

rickair7777

Yes, Air National Guard or USAF reserve would be the way to go, many, many good reasons for this. I wish I had known about the guard as a teenager.

PRS Guitars

Ok, now I feel like a complete A-hole. Yes he's thinking way further ahead than I did as well.

MooseAg03

Best advice you'll ever get. Find a guard/reserve unit that flies the airplane you want and enlist while you are going to school. Then be sh*t hot as an enlisted guy while you do a little civil flying and get your degree. You'll then be an internal applicant with the unit when they hold UPT boards. Otherwise you'll need to go to school and get your degree and work on your PPL to prove you have some sort of aptitude for flying before "rushing" a unit and applying as an off the street guy.

I got a pilot slot through OTS after college, but I can tell you without a doubt if I could do it again I would have gone guard/reserve. I was able to do one operational tour in the C-17 and then got banished to RPAs and will likely never see another cockpit on active duty. A 10 year commitment for that crap... Don't say you haven't been warned.

Aviator89

Agreed

[/QUOTE]Yes the air force (or any military branch) will pay far, far better for at least the first ten years of your career than any conceivable civilian path would. But it's a whole different level of commitment and effort required. [/QUOTE] I disagree on the pay, it is certainly possible to make pay similar to officer pay your first ten years. Just not highly likely. But with the amount of commitment you need to give, it should pay 3 times what it does now

[/QUOTE]That said, you'll be a better person and pilot and be money ahead if you go the military route...assuming you have the commitment, aptitude, and pass all the screening.[/QUOTE]

Hmmm. Im gonna have to go ahead and really disagree here. No disrespect to good, honest, and skillful military personel/pilots but just because you are in the military, doesnt mean you are a better person pilot, or be ahead with the money. Yes, most military personnel are more responsible and professional than others their age. But we have all met the hard ass, stuck up prick who thinks he is hot **** off the set of top gun. Not a better person. Likely isnt smart with money, and probably a big risk taker.

As for being a better pilot. Uhh, what? Are you serious? On average, yeah there aren't really "bad" pilots in the military since they aren't allowed to fly haha. But compare military guys to civillian commercial pilots operating the same aircraft in the same kind of operation and Id argue its a level playing field. True, many civillian pilots arent as good, simply because the FAA's standards arent as high as the military's. Those are not likely to be found in a airliner or corporate flight deck anyway.

I have flown with some really sketchy pilots that are active duty military or were trained in the military. Good stick, yes, decision making. Not so much...One of the guys I flew with was at a loss of function without a crew or SOP's, or being able to eject haha. As for being a good stick, kinda depends on the aircraft in question. I saw that same F18 instructor pilot damn near crash a archer when I was giving him his civillian IPC and BFR. But I would not say that ALL mil. pilots in general are better pilots. Because that just simply isnt true. Way too many variables to say that in general, military pilots are always better. Top of their class? Some of the better pilots in the world? Yeah, but better than all civi pilots. No.

And being ahead with money? Well thats just depends on ones pay and financial decision making. In the military a lot of costs are covered for you but that doesn't mean you cant get in debt or burn through your money.

Just my .02, I went the civilian route but always had an interest in military flying. They are two very different options. Know what you are getting into, before you decide either way.

Aviator89

I have considered this myself. But cant ever get a clear answer from anyone what the entire process would be for me. I will have my degree real soon and I am well under 30 so I am not too old to start flight training in the military.
Also I have had a broken leg, and knee surgery. Even though I am in shape, due to my one knee I likely cant run the Air Force require time for the 1.5 mile run 100% of the time. So from what I hear, I am likely do be DQ'd or would need a waiver or two.
Also, I am not in guard unit now so I would need to be an off the street guy. But I know the local unit (115th) has hired some civilians off the street.
if you dont mind, can you pm me some details?
Thanks

rickair7777

I've been down both roads.

A better way of saying it is that the lowest common denominator for pilot skill is higher in the military than the civilian world...there are civilians who really have no business being in an airliner.

Employers know this, so military guys get some benefit of the doubt that civilians do not.

Obviously not every military guy is a better person than every civilian but again the LCD is higher. You will definitely experience more personal and professional growth in the military than doing the puppy-mill/cfi/regional track. In the latter case you might get a one-hour powerpoint session on leadership during upgrade training. Maybe.

Aviator89

Now that I can agree with! haha
And before you ask, no I have not been presented with a leadership power-point at all. Took it upon myself to get all the leadership training I cant get just to better myself. Had a few management jobs as I was working towards my CFI, but nothing like I would learn in OCS or afterwards. Mostly I have read books, taken some classes at school and kept my feet wet with management/leadership duties. Still worth every penny as a civillian.