Originally Posted by joepilot

One caution about AFROTC/Active Duty: In the recent past many newly rated USAF pilots were assigned to drones rather than actual airplanes. I'm not sure if this is still going on. Neither the FAA nor the airlines count drone operator time as flight time.

A good reason to go Guard or Reserves, if still true.

Joe

Originally Posted by BeatNavy

As a former army pilot, I wouldn’t advise many people to go fly in the army. Lots of army guys try to go to the AF (AD/ANG/AFR), don’t know of anyone in the other services trying to go into the army.

Warrants do staff jobs too. No CW4 billets at the company level. All are in the battalion/brigade level. They are more flying related than commissioned staff jobs, though. They also hold ridiculous additional duties while WO1-CW2 (environmental compliance, key control, property book, urine test officer, etc.), and better additional duties as CW3s (safety, stan eval, tactics, maintenance). They do stay flying most of their career though, and their additional duties are far less time consuming than the jobs of commissioned guys. And I don’t know how life in ARNG units compares to AD...maybe it’s better.

I’ve said it in other threads...army aviation is the armpit of all military aviation. Smallest pay (fewest flying bonuses and the whole warrant structure), the least focused on flying, prioritizing stuff like organized unit PT every morning, a big focus on being like everyone else in the army, and then you get to fly a few times a month. We went to the field (sleeping in tents) when not deployed, deployed for training deployments that were worse than real combat deployments, and other fun stuff. And we deploy 9-15 months at a time...closer to 9 now. And we (even warrants) didn’t fly a whole lot when not deployed. Flying attack in the army is fun. Shooting stuff from that close in is fun. I’m sure the UH/CH guys liked what they did too. But there’s a reason so many guys in the army try to go ANG/AFRES. If it’s what you want to do, it can be a great job for an 18 year old, and there’s always time to make the switch to the ANG/AFRES later if you decide the grass is greener in the AF.

Best way to put it is the Army is a ground force that happens to have helicopters to help support the ground mission...they are just another tool, the same as artillery or tanks. It’s more army-ish. The Air Force is a flying force that has other assets to support the flying. They are focused accordingly.

Originally Posted by Hobbit64

I continue to bristle at the 'Armpit' comments.... but, for a ring knocker this guy seems like he was raised well by some good Warrants.

And yes, the BigRig (AH-64) was a blast to fly. Should you delay Airline employment in order to close with your nations enemy and scatter them about the battle field in little pieces?.... well that's debatable.

Listen to this guy. While I Love flying as a Warrant Officer, you'll be years ahead by focusing on getting FW time in another service.

Originally Posted by ArmyFW

Do you think an ANG fighter unit would pick up a 29 year old army fixed wing warrant officer with 11 years active federal service and college complete?

Originally Posted by AirBear

Might want to check on what the age limit now is for Air Force UPT.

Back in 1980 it was 27. In my AFROTC unit we had a former Army WO who flew Cobras in Vietnam, had 500 hours of combat time and was shot down 3 times. He was a couple of months over the age limit and the Air Force wouldn't waive it.

Originally Posted by ArmyFW

Do you think an ANG fighter unit would pick up a 29 year old army fixed wing warrant officer with 11 years active federal service and college complete?