Missing the Hiring wave for UPT
02-08-2018, 03:51 PM
#13
Line Holder
Joined APC: Mar 2017
Posts: 66
Originally Posted by SuperEighty
Greetings everyone,
I’m 24 and a 2nd year regional pilot looking for some advice from the experience on the forums. Last fall, I was selected as the 1st alternate for my local ANG unit and was encouraged to reapply for next year. This is the unit I’m most interested in because it is local and when looking long term, driving to work is the goal for both jobs (I commute right now).
My background consists of a aviation bachelor’s giving me the restricted ATP. I am also half way through a Aviation Management Master’s degree that will be done in the fall. Following that, I should be able to hold captain at my airline in a year from now based on my projected flight time and seniority, which is great.
I strongly desire the comradery and flight training the AF has to offer, as well as the experiences that come with that. Being a part of that history and legacy really appeals to me. However I don’t want my young eyes to be skewed by the realities of the military which I don’t know about, as well as the lifestyle that comes with being a reservist combined with the airlines.
Here is my dilemma: If I was hired the next go around at the local unit, I will upgrade in the airlines soon after. It will then be at least a year to go to OCS, leaving me as a captain at my current job logging PIC with a hopefully competitive application for the majors. However, I don’t wanna dig my own grave as the majors wouldn’t be able to use me until UPT is done essentially if they chose to hire me during that time. I don’t know if majors like that or not.
I just wanna hear your opinions because I know my generation has a golden opportunity to get hired very early than most have never had before. I don’t wanna miss that window by doing something that my not be worth it. As someone young and new to the game, it’s tough to see those next decades and the realities in them.
Thanks for reading and the responses.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I’m 24 and a 2nd year regional pilot looking for some advice from the experience on the forums. Last fall, I was selected as the 1st alternate for my local ANG unit and was encouraged to reapply for next year. This is the unit I’m most interested in because it is local and when looking long term, driving to work is the goal for both jobs (I commute right now).
My background consists of a aviation bachelor’s giving me the restricted ATP. I am also half way through a Aviation Management Master’s degree that will be done in the fall. Following that, I should be able to hold captain at my airline in a year from now based on my projected flight time and seniority, which is great.
I strongly desire the comradery and flight training the AF has to offer, as well as the experiences that come with that. Being a part of that history and legacy really appeals to me. However I don’t want my young eyes to be skewed by the realities of the military which I don’t know about, as well as the lifestyle that comes with being a reservist combined with the airlines.
Here is my dilemma: If I was hired the next go around at the local unit, I will upgrade in the airlines soon after. It will then be at least a year to go to OCS, leaving me as a captain at my current job logging PIC with a hopefully competitive application for the majors. However, I don’t wanna dig my own grave as the majors wouldn’t be able to use me until UPT is done essentially if they chose to hire me during that time. I don’t know if majors like that or not.
I just wanna hear your opinions because I know my generation has a golden opportunity to get hired very early than most have never had before. I don’t wanna miss that window by doing something that my not be worth it. As someone young and new to the game, it’s tough to see those next decades and the realities in them.
Thanks for reading and the responses.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
03-02-2018, 08:27 PM
#14
Line Holder
Joined APC: Dec 2013
Posts: 30
Originally Posted by duece12345
I’ll give you my experience. Wanted to be an airline pilot since I was 17. I ran out of cash for flight training, so I went to UPT with guard heavy unit. After years of deployments and guard bumming I finally landed the dream job I wanted from the beginning. Here is what I learned....
Airline flying has zero substance to it. It is literally boring as hell. Don’t get me wrong, it is a GREAT paycheck and awesome way to pay the bills, BUT THATS IT. Guard Squadron life is the 100% opposite. I fly with my best friends and have an awesome time doing it. The flights I do are fulfilling and enjoyable. I have a vested interest with guys I fly with. You have to deal with military BS occasionally, but it is worth it IMO. I wouldn’t have done it different even if it set me back 3 years seniority.
Airline flying has zero substance to it. It is literally boring as hell. Don’t get me wrong, it is a GREAT paycheck and awesome way to pay the bills, BUT THATS IT. Guard Squadron life is the 100% opposite. I fly with my best friends and have an awesome time doing it. The flights I do are fulfilling and enjoyable. I have a vested interest with guys I fly with. You have to deal with military BS occasionally, but it is worth it IMO. I wouldn’t have done it different even if it set me back 3 years seniority.
03-03-2018, 07:18 AM
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2016
Posts: 187
Originally Posted by duece12345
I’ll give you my experience. Wanted to be an airline pilot since I was 17. I ran out of cash for flight training, so I went to UPT with guard heavy unit. After years of deployments and guard bumming I finally landed the dream job I wanted from the beginning. Here is what I learned....
Airline flying has zero substance to it. It is literally boring as hell. Don’t get me wrong, it is a GREAT paycheck and awesome way to pay the bills, BUT THATS IT. Guard Squadron life is the 100% opposite. I fly with my best friends and have an awesome time doing it. The flights I do are fulfilling and enjoyable. I have a vested interest with guys I fly with. You have to deal with military BS occasionally, but it is worth it IMO. I wouldn’t have done it different even if it set me back 3 years seniority.
Airline flying has zero substance to it. It is literally boring as hell. Don’t get me wrong, it is a GREAT paycheck and awesome way to pay the bills, BUT THATS IT. Guard Squadron life is the 100% opposite. I fly with my best friends and have an awesome time doing it. The flights I do are fulfilling and enjoyable. I have a vested interest with guys I fly with. You have to deal with military BS occasionally, but it is worth it IMO. I wouldn’t have done it different even if it set me back 3 years seniority.
I like being a airline pilot. It’s a great job and good paycheck. But, I love going to hang out with guys (and gals) in squadron. The AF has a lot of BS, but the experiences I’ve had in the AF far outweigh the airline life. That doesn’t mean I want to do it forever, or full time, but I will never regret doing it.
03-11-2018, 08:01 AM
#17
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jan 2018
Posts: 62
I agree with all the other that say take the UPT slot if you can get it. It sounds like you want to be there for the right reasons and that means you're probably the type of person who will never regret your time in.
The most likely event to cause a global airline slowdown is a national security event that will cause military flying to increase. It is nice to have the option to pick up more military flying if you're furloughed.
Not a reason to join, but if you join the military for the right reasons, you'll want to go where the action is anyhow. Therefore, it is nice to know you have a buffer against a downturn in your civilian job.
The most likely event to cause a global airline slowdown is a national security event that will cause military flying to increase. It is nice to have the option to pick up more military flying if you're furloughed.
Not a reason to join, but if you join the military for the right reasons, you'll want to go where the action is anyhow. Therefore, it is nice to know you have a buffer against a downturn in your civilian job.
03-14-2018, 07:27 PM
#18
On Reserve
Joined APC: Mar 2014
Posts: 17
When I saw the title of this thread I came here to tell you to stay the hell out and get your seniority number but I've had a crappy day, I'm about to deploy, and I love *****ing about the Air Force. Now that that's out of the way, I'll echo what everyone else has said. I never thought of flying as work until I flew for the airlines. It may be flying for a living, but there is a whole world flying experiences/awesome TDYs out there waiting to be had. My top personal "I can't believe I'm getting to do this" moments as a heavy reservist: 300 AGL through the Carpathian Mountains, 9 ship over the Alps to the largest personnel drop in Europe since D-Day. In between flights you'll drink their wine and meet their women. UPT was the best worst year of my life and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I managed to turn some weird USAFA grads into friends and got paid to take some of the best flight training in the world. The queep blows, would do again 0/10. Hope that helps.
06-05-2018, 10:56 PM
#19
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jan 2016
Posts: 67
If you want to experience military flying, I’d say go for it. Regardless of airframe and mission, military flying is way more challenging, fun, and fulfilling than any airline flying by a large margin. Having said this, why not try for a fighter unit? I don’t mean to turn this into a fighter vs. heavy thread but if you’re shooting for maximum fun factor, there’s nothing like the tactical jet world. I have many friends who chose to fly heavies and enjoyed the mission but I would never trade my experience flying a pointy nose jet and pulling more Gs than a human body can handle.
I wish I had known about the ANG in high school before I chose the academy route. Guard/reserves path is more enjoyable than the active route, in my opinion.
I wish I had known about the ANG in high school before I chose the academy route. Guard/reserves path is more enjoyable than the active route, in my opinion.
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