navigatro

You guys are being too nice.

Listen here: if you are not 100% committed to serving your country, possibly going to war, and an 11 year commitment, then find another way.

Do yourself and the military a big favor.

BeatNavy

Not trying to be that guy, because I generally agree OP's tone shows lack of commitment to service, but to play devil's advocate I knew guys at the academy who were going just for a free year or two of college and resume building with plans to quit and who didn't really want to be in the Army, some who were planning on just doing 5 years, getting the service academy education and leadership experience and wanting to go to Wall St., and some who were complete clowns at the academy, showed no interest in being decent officers, and who I thought took up a slot for someone more dedicated to military service. Some, if not many of these guys/gals, ended up being better officers than most, and many stayed for longer than their commitment and will be lifers. They embraced it on the flip side, when the suck really got others like me to punch. Some of the most hard core guys who we thought for sure were going to be lifers bailed. So, I don't judge a guy for not knowing what he doesn't know...especially a high school/recent hs kid. Perhaps OP will love mil flying...decide once in to stay in forever, volunteer for a bunch of deployments, etc. Or maybe he won't.

criticalaoa

PMed you.....

NH115

Well for some time now I am pondering the same question as I'm sure most every other pilot has faced...

I'm only 19 years old with all my ratings up to CFI/CFII. Early last summer whilst just graduating high school, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University contacted me offering a sizable check that covers most of my tuition at the school if I promise to work for them for the four years I will be here whilst earning a degree in Aeronautics. I figured this to be a pretty sweet deal so how could I not accept it?

But the question I am facing is what I want to do with this career path I have chosen. Military or civilian? By the time I graduate from ERAU I will have well over 1500 hours so options are opening up. I have talked to many pilots trying to get there take on my dilemma. Some have said to join the military, but pilot spots are hard to obtain. Others say to join the airlines right out of college and obtain a great seniority spot.

The other day I met an Air Force guy who is a reservist but still flies regularly with his C-17 unit whilst flying 319/20's for AAL. This guy previously spent 10 years active duty and attended a military college in Virginia. Given my present position, I cannot take that same path... However a couple of days ago I came across the Air National Guard page and liked what they had to offer. At a minimum members are required to work one weekend a month and 15 days a year (for a specific unit). Being a member while holding an airline position sounds awesome, and I would love to make that a reality for myslef.

However the ANG has several requirements for people who have not served before. Some of these requirements include taking the ASVAB and attending Basic Military Training at Lackland AFB. How would this workout for me? Should I attend this after college and put a hold on joining the airlines right away? Or am I looking in the wrong direction entirely?

As far back as I can remember I have wanted to serve and be apart of the military family. However my pilot training in the past has naturally led me into the position I am in. The military is not an easy lifestyle as I am told, but it's something that my gut is telling me to do.

All in all I just want to know if I am on the right path and looking in the right direction. Should I go straight to the regionals, secure a job/seniority spot, then look into a military career? Or should I go for a military career right out of college? Any insight that you guys can provide would greatly be appreciated.

Respectfully,

Nelson

Voski

Nelson,

I admire the fact that you want to serve. Definitely talk to as many different military pilots as possible to get a well-rounded perspective about the realities of being a military pilot, it's definitely not for everyone. You will make sacrifices going the military route; expectation management and realizing it's a service to the nation first will help you out tremendously.

An excellent hybrid approach to help you achieve your goals is to take the scholarship, instruct your way to 1,500 hours while finishing your degree, and secure a seniority number at a regional airline. After completing your ATP, start rushing Guard units. If you get picked up to fly for the Air Force, your airline, under USERRA, will put you on 'military leave' from your civilian job and will hold your seniority number during your training. That way, when you return to part-time status after completing your training, you'll have your airline job waiting for you with increased seniority and the ability to structure your schedule to maximize flight time with the airlines and unit, building your resume for the 'next tier' civilian job. Win-win.

galaxy flyer

You have to have the degree to join the military as an officer. Just work your way thru ERAU, all the while being in touch with as many ANG/AFRC units as possible. Upon graduation, you’ll have a good chance to go into OCS and UPT soon.

GF

Slim11

First, are you interested in a reserve military career or a reserve military flying career? I ask because of what I did.

My first airline job was as a flight attendant at a legacy carrier. It was right out of college and it didn't take long to figure out I was on the wrong side of the door.

I tried to fly in the ANG but that didn't work out either. But, I stayed in and retired from at ARNG after 20 years.

If you start a job at an airline, then enlist in the Reserve/NG, your employer must give you time off to attend mandatory military training. That includes basic training.

If you want a flying career with an airline AND a military flying career in the Reserves/NG, then you will put in more than one weekend a month plus your annual training requirement every calendar year. I enlisted, was commissioned about two years later and stayed as a non-rated officer for the remainder of my military career. Believe me, I did put in extra time and not all of it was paid, especially when I was a company commander.

However, I recommend finishing college first. While I was a company commander, I had one soldier attending community college in the DFW area. He was going to miss a final exam while at annual training and the college was unwilling to accommodate his request for an alternate exam date. His platoon leader and I sent him home two days early with an advance detachment so he could be back in time for the exam. The school was under no legal obligation to accommodate his military training requirements whereas employers are.

If you don't fly in the Reserve/NG, I still recommend serving in a non-flying position. For me, it's extra retirement income and Tri-Care medical coverage once I turned 60.

rickair7777

Maybe. Depends on your priorities. You can make a better case for military reserve flying than non-flying.

Pros:
- Alternative source of income for dues-paying years
- No schedule conflicts with airline job
- Tricare
- Retirement
- Fallback position in case of furlough. Probably won't help with medical issues, if you can't fly, you're probably not healthy enough for AD.

Cons:
- Invol activations/deployments. Deployments are a hardship, sometimes more for your family than you.
- Monthly and annual bidding and vacation hassles. Your life tends to revolve around scheduled military duty periods.
- If military service (esp. deployments) delays your civilian career progression (especially right now), the pension may not make up for lost airline wages at the end of your flying career. Military reserve easily cost me five years of airline seniority. My pension will be about $35K, but I'll have to live to a ripe old age for that to get out in front of the lost seniority.

This all assumes you have an actual desire to serve. If so, by all means sign up and do it, but don't automatically commit to 20+ years without considering all factors.

That said, reserves was an absolute no-brainer for me as a member of the lost generation. But that was then, this is now.

Cobra Commander

I have a dumb question. What is this "seasoning" thing I keep reading about, and how long does it take? From what I've read it's time in your reserve squadron post FRS or whatever the AF calls it. Are you just joe-shmo squadron pilot (sweet), or do you get to be the urinalysis coordinator and ride the duty desk (not sweet)? Also, what determines whether or not you have to go through various phases of UPT?


Thanks

Also, for the guy who started this thread: The Marine Corps does guaranteed pilot slots before you accept a commission. In order to be eligible you must love long hours, sexual harassment prevention training, getting your sh*t pushed in, and drinking heavily.

Thunder Pig

While on seasoning your primary responsibility is to get comfortable flying your aircraft and getting fully mission qualified/ready for operational missions. You may be assigned an additional duty (snacko) but the focus is on flying. Seasoning is between 3 and 7 months depending on the airframe and funding. And as far as I know, everybody goes through every phase of UPT regardless of past flying experience. Those who have a PPL can bypass IFS but that’s not part of UPT.