FNG1

For you guys in Active duty, right now I'm a junior in Embry-Riddle and I will finish up college with 50k student loans. My dream is to get into the USAF but I dont know if thats going to be a good idea financial wise since I will be paying a lot for student loans.

What you guys think?

NOTE: Loan repayment will be something like 500 a month
I'm doing the Aeronautical Science major and will finish up with CFI-II and MEI and planning to also finish my masters

Deuce130

In short, yes. No other job will pay you as well as quickly as the AF. 500$ a month should be doable at all ranks, providing that you don't get married young and start popping out kids. Plus, you'll get great training, great experience, have a ton of fun, and set yourself up for other jobs down the line.

1Seat 1Engine

They used to have a program that allowed you to defer payback of student loans if you were on active duty. Check into that.

Also, I don't know how you can match the income of a Lt or Jr Capt in the USAF vs a junior guy at a regional airline. I think the military pay is in most cases far superior.

Not to mention that judging by the posts around here, the job satisfaction in the USAF appears much higher. Even with the higher workload and frequent TDY's.

If you properly manage your career, you should be fairly competitive for a jump straight to the majors after 10 years in the military, or who knows, maybe stay for 20, go to the majors then, and still have 20+ years to retirement collecting mil retirement the whole time.

Honestly, I don't know why that isn't everyone's career path choice.

mike734

If you can fly fighters in the AF go for it. I don't think I would like the military life if I was flying long range transports though. In any case you should be able to handle the payments on the military salary. Don't finance a new car! (always good advice)

TankerDriver

Here is a breakdown of monthly pay for a newly commissioned 2LT in the military.

$2,469.30 (base pay)
$ 125.00 (fly pay when you start UPT)
$ 600.00 (Typical Housing Allowance - this varies with zipcode)
$ 192.74 (Basic Allowance for Subsistence)
-----------
$ 3,387.04 * 12 months = $40,644.48.

Good luck making that kind of money even on 2nd year FO pay at a regional, much less a CFII. Also, keep in mind that housing and subsistence allowance is not taxed. So, the IRS doesn't even see a good part of your income. If you are based in a pricey area, like say Travis, Dover, McGuire, etc... and your housing allowance is $1,500 a month, that's $18,000 a year that the IRS doesn't see and doesn't tax. You will get a yearly raise of 3-4% and also get the time and service and grade raises. The big ones in mind are from 2LT to 1LT and 1LT to Capt. A Capt with 4 years time in service using a housing allowance of $1,000.00 per month and flight pay of $206 a month is making $69,488.88 per year. Housing allowance for a married Capt around here is almost $2,100 a month. That's over $82k a year. Good luck making anywhere near that after 4 years with a regional, even in the left seat. It'd take you 4-5 years in the right seat of a 737 at a major airline to make that kind of money.

The money is good in the service as an officer. Quality of life and what seems to be a never ending supply of bull$hit to put up with may be another story, but that comes with the territory. It's what you make of it.

1Seat 1Engine

Not to mention the tax breaks. Usually, no state income tax. Deployed to a combat zone?=No federal tax. No vehicle tax. BAH doesn't count as taxable income. Full medical.

Jusme

To answer your question: HELL NO It's not worth it going active duty. You do the math!!! Being 50,000 Dollars in debt is no joke, and 500 dollars will add up each month. What I would recommend is that you try to go reserves or guard, and get a damn full-time government job that will pay back < =60,000 of your student loan's. With only maybe a 3-5 year commitment. That way you are debt free, and able to do as you please!!!!

By the way 40,000 is ok for humble living standards but isn’t a lot at all.
40,000-6,000(Yearly Student Loan Payments)=You do the math.

So Wonwee

Are you saying you don't understand why everyone does not want a 20 year career? I could write a dissertation on that.

Or are you saying you don't know why every aspiring pilot doesn't join the service to fly? Simply put, the service is clearly not for everyone and flying is not always a given.

Back to the original question on loans... Financially speaking, joining up is a good idea. But please consider what you are getting yourself into. Understand there is a serious amount of sacrifice that goes with joining the military. Think about the whole picture. Best of luck with that decision.

JSTARSPILOT

The endless crap you put up with in the Air Force isn't worth the money.

TankerBob

So where are these Gov't jobs you speak of and how do I get one?

Yeah I would second the whole going guard thing... much much better... As far as fighter verse heavy, well flying fighters aint top gun, iron eagle, or Falcon 4.0, and flying heavies isn't as boring as some people seem to think. I wont get into it on this forum but if you are serious pm me and also check out baseops.net