teamflyer

I want to know if the air national guard is for me?
is there a service requirement to stay with them for 10 to 20 years?
i heard the army requires people to make a commitment of 10-20 years...
i fly part time for a medevac carrier, have 1500tt and recent upgrade to left seat on the king air
my goal is to get to any major airline...

Also, which AAG regional has the best flow/progress towards AA?
envoy/psa/piedmont?

i have a shiny jet syndrome, so I would prefer the bigger jets like the crj900 over piedmont's dash's....

also, i am finishing up some credits from university full time at the moment...

fiveninerzero

Coast Guard pilot commitment=11 years
Air Force pilot commitment=10 years
Army pilot commitment=6 years
Navy/USMC/ pilot commitment=8 years
all (except USCG) start after flight school so add a year

AF gives a 25k per year bonus to stay until 20 years after the commitment is up, I don't know about the other services.

If you choose the mil route, join the regional first and then sign up for the ANG or Reserves and take military leave from the regional to go to mil pilot training.

OrionDriver

Air guard is a good deal, especially if you can get full time (called AGR).

3inthegreen

Envoy has the best flow, 20 a month moving to 30 a month in Nov. Pdt has a much smaller flow but they are only a quarter the size of envoy. PSA does not have a true flow.

PA Slammer

The AF 25K bonus is only active duty, I.E. full time military... not part time Air National Guard. Unless you get an AGR job (full time at a guard unit). The AGR positions are a highly coveted position though. Very tough to come by.

My guard unit is "requiring" our guys to deploy for 60 day rotations to the desert now. Used to be 30... and 15 years ago. Guarantee you'll see 120 day rotations before too long.

There are pluses and minuses to gaining your time in the military. When it comes down to it, you have to ask yourself, "Do you want to be a pilot?" or "Do you want to be a military pilot?". Yes you can do both if part time in the guard, but there is a lot of give and take, sacrifice if you will, when you commit to Uncle Sam.

If you're end goal is to be an airline pilot at a major airline, you might be better off pursuing the regionals to gain your time. You'll get there a lot faster, with less asked from your personal life.

FWIW...

teamflyer

Thanks for the input to all. PA Slammer, I've had an itch to join the military since high school, but to be straight the secure airline life is my ultimate objective. And I'm not too sure if I can be away for 120 days straight, might be hard on the young family.
I think my decision will come down to which regional to pick from. In my case, bigger the better. Most people seem to suggest choose any, but not to commute. Which is alright for now because I'm willing to pack up and go.

TF

USMCFLYR

What is this?

That 120 days is just part of the time.
There are many more days away than just the actual deployment.
Have no doubt - -it is hard.
No every family can handle it.
Many can. Many can't.

PotatoChip

Haha, "secure airline life." I am certain that there is no such thing. It is far, far from certain.

Slim11

Something to consider...

I am retired NG (started ANG, retired ARNG) and have been in the airlines well over 30 years. I started UPT then ran into some medical problems. The FAA knows about it and isn't concerned.

While I couldn't fly, I found the military environment very suitable. A non-aviation job in the NG/RES is a nice fit with an airline schedule. If you complete 20 years, you become eligible for a military pension and retiree health care at 60.

As 65 approaches, I'm not which will be more valuable...the pension or the health care.

Benwhaa

If you already have 1500TT, and almost done with your collage, stay away from military...

I started out in the Active Army to gain flight time and educational bennies, got out with about 2000TT after 7 years, missed the military and then went ARNG in 2001. Been deployed, flown different aircraft and gained some valuable experience, have some lifetime friends too (most all from active duty though), all good stuff.

However the bad side is, while in the NG I was pursuing a airline career as well, during this time I have flown for a regional, and corporate. As I look back I see areas that I made mistakes in and areas where the military may have interfered with my main career (airlines), now I sit here looking to apply back to the airlines and start over at a much lower seniority than what I could of already had.

so long story short if you have your time and schooling, focus on one main career, either stay fully civilian, or if you have to scratch that military itch, then go full-time active with them.

In this day and age, I wouldn't try to do both again, just my 2 cents, others mileage may differ...