I appreciate any advice or opinions people have for me. My background is I'm a Navy Hawkeye pilot currently serving as a T45 instructor pilot. By the time I finish my current set of orders I'll have 13.5 years of service, age 36, rank as an O4, have about 2300 hours TT and over a thousand as an advanced strike instructor pilot in the T45. I also have an MBA and a tour as a ROTC instructor. Given this, how competitive would I be to get hired by a fighter ANG unit? Totally open to any locations.

 

Anything is possible so I'd encourage you to contact units and see what they say. Navy pilots hired into my F-15 unit came out of the Hornet. I know of similar situations in F-16 guard units. With no real fleet experience in a fighter, you're not going to be the typical O-4 type pilot rushing a guard fighter unit. You're going to be competing with 2 and 3 tour instructor pilots and maybe a weapons school grad or two depending on the unit. So, you're probably going to need to find a unit looking to diversify and that's willing to use one of their "new guy" positions on you. Most likely you're going to need a full up B-course to get trained in the unit aircraft.
The good news is, the airlines are hiring like crazy so there may be full time positions available at some guard units as new airline guys in the unit switch to part time status. If you're willing to commit to a full time spot (again, unit dependent) they may be willing to consider you.

All that is semi-educated speculation based on my experience from a few years back. It certainly can't hurt to knock on some doors and see what they say. Good luck.

 

Is this common in today's training command?

 

Thanks for the advice. Any units that you'd recommend focusing on? What do you think of the 104th FW in Mass? Or the 148th in Duluth?

 

If you're referring to Hawkeye pilots training strike pilots, yes it is. Hawkeyes require jet grades from students since they land on carriers. Also, all Hawkeye pilots get about 100 hours in the t45 in order to carrier qualify.

 

If you are asking if he flys both....then no. First tour E-2, second tour shore duty T-45 instructor. If staying in and flying is an option... how does that work in T-45 land? How do the reserves work in the T45? Highly competitive?

 

Well, any squadron that flies the mighty Eagle is ok by me. I really can't claim to have my finger on the ANG pulse, so I can't really give you much of a steer. Do you like teaching ACM or dropping bbbb....b-words more? I think the best advice I could give you is cast a wide net. Maybe visit here and see if anyone has some info: Forums - Baseops Forums

 

Yes...that is what I was referring too.

I knew of E-2 pilots teaching in the SF pipeline *back in my day*. My first LSO was a Hawkeye guy, but I didn't see Hawkeye guys in the Advanced SF squadrons.

I didn't know once the transition to the T-45s was made if that became a more regular assignment.

 

The last time there was a big hiring wave and people were bailing from the military (mid to late 90s), I was doing an Active-Duty exchange in the T-34C as a USAF guy. I got out and went Reserve as a T-38 IP. A Navy and Marine helo driver from that sqdn both got picked up for the USAF Reserve on the T-37 side of the house. One guy stayed through retirement.

I would say if you pursue this option, you could probably get hired in a T-6 or T-1 slot, especially at a base such as Laughlin or Vance.

Just a guess on precedent, as I've been retired from the Reserves for a few years, and don't follow current trends.

 

Most guys roll out to the airlines and many try for the reserves. With airlines hiring a lot of guys trying to do that currently.