the easy route
 

Does anyone know if there is a way to fly corgo and or personnel in the military without taking a 2-4 year collage degree

Join the Army and fly helos.


And if you want to join the military, dont ask if there is an easy way!

In order to get accepted an complete training for army helos you will have to show more motivation than most college students.

And a military helo background will not get you an airline job...you will need extensive fixed-wing experience, (with one exception that I know of).

You really need a degree to seriously pursue this career, military or civilian...you will be handicapped without it.

The military is the more economical way definitely not the easy way. If you're not motivated enough to do what it takes (4 year degree in this case) it isn't for you!

Here is the way I am going to direct my kids in the event they want to do this. If you are in your late teens without a degree, it is what I would recommend for you as well.

1. Join ROTC at a school they want to go to.
2. Have the military pay for their schooling.
3. They pay the military back by serving in their MOS (Pilot) for predetermined years.
4. Fly their asses off in the military and if they decide not to make a career of it, then bail and sell it to the airlines....lol.
5. I would like to see them make a career of it (atleast 20 years) and then sell it to the airlines.

I joined up and flew helicopters for the Army for 12 years and then put in for the fixed wing transition and flew C-12's the last 8 years and am now hoping to get on with Southwest. It was a longer, harder way to do it, but for me, it was perfect and I wouldn't change a thing if I had to do it over again.

Good luck to you in whatever way you decide to go.

dude..there is no easy route with military flying..trust me...

Yeah, kinda worried about your motives there Prospect Pilot. Your post is titled "easy route" and you don't want to do a 2-4 year college degree. I dunno man, but seems like life tends to reward effort.

Nice picture Nort. ;)

Just outta curiousity...I know the army has fixed wing, seem them fly in all the time when I worked vipers. But how does one get selected for fixed wing anyway? I vaguely recall speaking with them regarding WOFT, but I didn't know at the time (years ago) that they had fixed wing, and have since gone ANG. From what I gathered with 9999's post you have to put in for the transition later.

Again, just curiousity at it's best.

Every Warrant Officer tracks helicopters out of flight school at Ft. Rucker. Annually, the requirements for the Fixed Wing course are posted and if you meet those requirements and submit a DA Form 4186 through your chain of command up to Department of the Army, you have a shot of getting it.

The year I got accepted (1998), the requirements were as follows:

-PCS status
-No ADS0 (active duty service obligation)
-Certain amount of actual weather time (which I had)
-Graduate of the Army Instrument Flight Examiners course (which I was)
-Top block OER's

There was a year back in the late 80's or early 90's when DA was letting Warrant Officers who were the top graduates of their flight class go directly to the fixed wing course. However, they have since stopped that and I am uncertain why.

The RLO's have the option to do either and most take helicopters because it is better for their Army career to do so. If you get a 60, Delta model or Apache and get stationed in a line unit, the chance to shine is greater for them. This results in good OER's (Officer Evaluation Reports....report card) and quicker promotions.

Warrant Officers only need to be high school graduates to fly in the Army. You will need to have a degree to stay competitive with your peers the longer you stay in. I had a BA prior to entering and opted to be a Warrant because they do the flying in the Army. The position of a Army Warrant Officer is much like the position of a LDO in the Navy in that we specialize in a certain area. This has been changing over the years though. You now see Warrant Officers commanding small companys, detachments, etc.. We are cheap labor for the Army and always do a great job. ;)

Hope this helps clear up any questions you may have.

That absolutely cleared it up. I used to watch the fixed wing taxi by as I was doing EOR and always wished I had pursued the WOFT road...even if I did have to take the helo route first. I had always heard the WO's did most of the flying. Maybe I'll take another look into it. Thanks.