In general, I would love to know what advice you would give today to your younger self, along with which opinions presented by others back then had the most right answers for you.

Also in looking back, what would be benefits/drawbacks to ERAU + ROTC then AF vs AFA then AF for someone with dream of being an airline pilot someday? Could the additional cost for ERAU be considered a premium paid for a bit more freedom than one would have at AF, and then determine if the cost is worth it? Conversely, will AFA grads always receive preferential treatment over ERAU w/ROTC after graduation, or is placement truly based on merit alone? I would like to think that because of the ROTC component, the highest performing graduates from both schools will be independently assessed by AF in determining placement for their first active duty assignments post-graduation, and from there all are equal again. But I don't want to be naive.

Comments from others are welcome too.

 

Aircraft placement is based on flight school performance.

 

Today I would emphasize a parallel career approach of ANG/USAFR while simultaneously pursuing the civilian track. Prevents you from getting stuck in some active duty rut which isn't conducive to airline employment, and also allows you a good chance of getting major airline seniority started in less time than a AD wings obligation. Especially relevant with all the retirements, don't want to miss the wave.

Although academies and ROTC will still set you up well for non-flying success, if ever needed (ROTC will pay full ride for some very expensive big-name schools, including ivy league).

I still think I'm right about aerobatic and UPRT training, glad to see that 15 years later the FAA finally agrees with me now

 

I'd enlist in the Air National Guard during my senior year (starts the service commitment clock). While I'm serving in the ANG as a part-timer, I'd go to college for mechanical engineering (good backup degree) while accomplishing my flying at a local FBO. Then I'd apply for every Guard pilot job I could during my senior year of college. In the mean time, I'd get a regional gig so I have something to come back to after UPT. After 2-4 years of training you can go back to a part time status at the military and go back to your regional gig to build time. You'll likely get to the major much faster than the Active duty or straight civilian route.

 

Thanks for responding, [MENTION=15892]sailingfun[/MENTION], [MENTION=13871]RickA[/MENTION]ir777, [MENTION=4959]crewdawg[/MENTION] - very much appreciate your perspective. Very consistent responses.

When the thread was open 15 years ago, there was a lot of banter about ERAU quality vs other places. Seems like that perception is something ERAU still promotes heavily today. Trying to filter out all the smoke and mirrors from both AFA and ERAU and get to what's important. Is this similar to the old saying about why buy a Cadillac when a Chevy will do the job just fine (but if you can buy the Cadillac and want it there's nothing wrong with it)?

Beyond that, as a HS varsity/elite athlete the competitiveness, pressure, and time management issues of prospective pilot training are not intimidating anywhere. But when you feel almost "owned" by sports in HS when there isn't even a scholarship involved, not anxious to get in that situation earlier than necessary. My job will own me long enough someday.

 

The service commitment for UPT begins at graduation, not enlistment. Of course, the commitment is to the ANG or AFRC as a reservist, not ten years on AD.

 

UPT commitment started at commissioning I think in the 80's and prior. At some point they changed it to start at wings. Navy should be eight years... so about a ten-year obligation from commissioning, assuming you go pretty directly to flight school.

 

In this case the chevy and cadillac will both get you there on the civilian side.

But the military will pay you to drive their lambo.

That's understandable. But try not get owned by debt either... mil will own you for a decade, but if you have to take student loans that will own you until you get off probation at a top tier airline. Knew several regional pilots who were crushed by debt, and a couple who quite the airlines after the recession because aviation stagnated and they needed a higher income than regional FO to pay off their training debt.

 

There are much less expensive civilian options than Riddle.

I got tossed from AFROTC in college due to a stupid medical (non) issue which cost me a scholarship, and later rejected from Rated positions by MFS for a different stupid medical (non) issue losing an ANG pilot slot.

My heart was broken, but neither stopped me from being a widebody CA before 40 and my student loan debt was paid off in <6 years, before being hired at my current employer.

The civilian + ANG/AFRES dual track is absolutely what I think “checks the most boxes fastest” for a 20something without children.

 

Correct, I was talking about the enlisted commitment, but it's a good point of clarification. Aside from getting the engineering degree and being able to get a regional job before UPT (none were hiring), my post was almost exactly what I did. Some people worry about that 6 year enlistment in the ANG, so I was highlighting the clock starts the day you sign the enlistment papers, which for me, was midway through my senior year of high school. Today, I'm extremely thankful for those enlisted years because while I've hit my 20 years, many of my buddies still have 4-5 years to go. I'm notw impatiently waiting on my 3 years as an O-5 to bail this summer! It's been a great ride, and I'll forever be grateful for the opportunities, but it's time.