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Airline to OCS

Old 08-05-2017, 05:07 AM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by FLYMIA View Post
Thanks for all the input. I'm still trying to get as much info as I can. I have met with an Army Guard recruiter who has put others through OCS. Some Red Flags out the gate were that I would have to enlist prior to OCS. I know other branches don't do this. From what I have been putting together is that Army/GUARD/RES does do this and it is in your contract that you will discharge if not completing OCS. Are there any Guard or Reserve Army Officer's here that can confirm?
I'm going to add some variables here...

First, like you, I began my effort to become a military pilot a little too late. That was back in the 1980s when age waivers were nearly impossible to get in the ANG. I did get a slot but became medically disqualified. At the time, I could have gotten out but chose to stay in non-aviation positions. It turned out to be one of the better decisions I ever made. Now, I'm retired and flying in the airline world.

Second, while I did enlist, there is no absolute requirement for one to enlist before being able to compete for pilot training slots in the ANG/ARNG. It seems to help more with the ARNG. Some recruiters, not all, will tell an applicant they must enlist first. As others have said, this is not true. At the same time, recruiters have their mission and if someone like you walks in, they will attempt to get you to sign the on the dotted line first. Once you've done so, there isn't much they can do for you regarding flight school.

I'm retired from the ARNG, Signal Corps.

Best of luck to you!
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Old 08-05-2017, 06:32 AM
  #12  
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I was about to add what BeatNavy wrote, but he beat me to it! Check out warrant officer flight training. They deal mainly with flying unlike OCS. Make sure that you contact a warrant officer accessions recruiter directly, though; they have specialized recruiters who handle packages of this ilk and they will give you more accurate details on the process. This site is pretty useful as well APTAP.org - Professionals Helping Professionals. I know it's possible to go directly from civilian to warrant officer aviatior in the army guard/reserves, but doing so hinges entirely on the state's WOCS rules and it will take some research. I've only just begun to research this stuff myself, if I find out anything else, I don't mind PMing you info that I find out!
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Old 08-05-2017, 08:40 AM
  #13  
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Originally Posted by SaltyDog View Post
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA 38 U.S.C. 4301-4335) protects your civilian job while serving our country in the military.
Employers are not legally allowed to discriminate and not hire solely for your current service. You do have to start employment at your employer (airline) at the time the employer needs to hire an employee.
Ideally, you would use the USERRA protections from where you want to be, not necessarily where you are currently employed.
What Salty's saying is your best bet would be to get hired at a major, then go to military training. But given your age, the timing to fly RW might be kind of tight unless you're sufficiently competitive (turbine PIC, grades, training record, whole person) that you can get called by majors immediately.

If you really want to fly military, better go do guard/reserve RW right now. The bigs will still be hiring (even more so!) when you get back to your regional plus you'll have military wings. You'll trade a little major airline seniority for a personal passion.

If your priority is major airline seniority, then get the apps out, pound the pavement and get hired at a suitable career destination airline. Then join the military, perhaps fly RW if still young enough, otherwise in a non-flying capacity (age limit for the later is 35 or even up to 40 IIRC).
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Old 08-08-2017, 08:07 AM
  #14  
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Originally Posted by BeatNavy View Post
The caveat to that is that if you are sent to OCS/WOCS in any service, you have to enlist prior to commissioning kind of as a placeholder rank while "in" but not yet having earned a commission/officer rank.
I think this may be what my recruiter meant, but I'm not sure and will have to certainly clarify it with her when she returns to town later in the week. The confusion seems to be for me that I have to swear in or enlist at MEPS, I may have some incorrect terminology there, and then attend Basic training. So it's not that cut and dry as just saying your an officer candidate who goes to OCS. I'll try to get some clear answers soon.
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Old 08-08-2017, 01:04 PM
  #15  
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An enlistment in the Guard isn't the dealbreaker IF one isn't counting on any guaranteed flying/OCS position. One would also have to be comfortable fulfilling the commitment to the end.

The good thing about it is you could keep your day job, after the training absences.

I enlisted in the Guard at 17(with parental permission). I never had expectations with any follow on promises.

As usual, you have to bounce it off the other courses of action you have available. That includes doing nothing and sticking with the status quo.
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Old 08-10-2017, 08:36 AM
  #16  
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There is a way to go active while keeping you seniority going. Not sure how it works but have a few friends that are active duty and still have seniority ticking at the majors. I think it's a win win for every one.
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Old 08-10-2017, 08:46 AM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by Homeshopper View Post
There is a way to go active while keeping you seniority going. Not sure how it works but have a few friends that are active duty and still have seniority ticking at the majors. I think it's a win win for every one.
Yes, it's easy. Hardest part is getting hired by a major while young enough to qualify for AD flight training. If you can do that, then you are totally protected with your civilian job while...

1) Undergoing initial military training.
2) Serving out any obligation incurred from #1

So that takes you to about 12 years. Then you get five years of voluntary mil leave, so you could do 17 years of AD before you had to return to save your job. But there are other types of duty and incurred obligations which would extend that, so there's a good chance you could find a way to get a 20-year AD retirement and then return to the airline with 20 years seniority.

The five year limit is grossly misunderstood...it only applies to truly voluntary military service which is not in support of war efforts. You'd have to try hard to find a military job which is both voluntary and has nothing to do with war efforts right now. I've been in the reserves for decades and have used exactly zero of my five-year limit.

Last edited by rickair7777; 08-11-2017 at 08:15 AM.
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Old 08-10-2017, 09:53 AM
  #18  
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If it does all work out, and you find yourself at military flight training, be sure to do it THEIR way. I went through USN flight training years ago with an x-regional guy who could fly circles around me....but he didn't like doing things the Navy way and he was promptly shown the door.
Good Luck!
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Old 08-20-2017, 08:07 AM
  #19  
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I'm sure this has been repeatedly asked, so I apologize, but what are current regularly given max waivers for age?

Someone said 40 on this thread and I find that incredible.
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Old 08-21-2017, 07:22 AM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by PotatoChip View Post
I'm sure this has been repeatedly asked, so I apologize, but what are current regularly given max waivers for age?

Someone said 40 on this thread and I find that incredible.
I would believe 40 for non-pilots. I can't imagine a pilot waiver beyond 35 years at the outside, the goal is for you to be able to pass a flight physical 20-25 years later as a squadron or wing CO. Not everybody gets there, but they want to stack the deck from the get-go.

Army aviation seems to be more liberal on the age.
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