Should I Enlist First
 

I recently visited the ANG unit (fighter unit) in my hometown. The pilot who I talked to strongly recommended enlisting in the ANG after I graduate high school in one year. This would be the only way to get a pilot slot in this unit specifically because they only hire from within. Though, is it truly worth it to enlist when many units take guys OTS after they graduate college?

Would love to hear your opinions!

Thanks

You are asking if you want to be a fighter pilot in a typically laid back Guard unit or take your chances after OTS and UPT and maybe wind-up in a blizzard in a God-forsaken Dakota airbase staring at an antique B-52 frozen to the ramp? Tough choice.

If a local pilot in that unit said so, there must be at least some truth to it. It's certainly true in at least a few units.

It's not true system-wide, so you could just rush other units after college. But you would probably get a real leg up by being enlisted in a particular unit if you really want a slot in that unit.

But you have to make sure you shine, any performance or inter-personal hiccups could torpedo your chances at any unit, since your CO will have to endorse you for a commission of any sort in any branch if you're enlisted. You would need to hold yourself to officer standards from day one, even if other enlisted folks don't.

Thanks for your feedback!

If I enlist in my local guard unit and I never get a pilot slot in that unit, then would being prior enlisted be helpful when applying to other units?

Yes, assuming your CO gave you a good endorsement.

If you don't get a slot you'll probably be asked about why you didn't get selected or they'll ask behind the scenes "what's the deal with this guy?"

The guy made it seem like if I met the basic qualifications I would have a good shot. He himself is on the hiring board.

So many variables. Impossible to know your quals, what the interest rate is in the unit from other applicants, how many slots they have or will have, whether or not you'll pass an FC1, etc.

When I was rushing, most people told me to apply to as many places as possible, and eventually I could transfer if I wanted to. Most guys I met rushing were applying to a lot of units. I know a couple who applied to one unit and got picked up. I know some who enlisted first, and eventually got picked up. I know some who enlisted first and never got picked up and were rushing other units as their time was coming up. So it's all over the map.

Hard to give advice based on your unique situation, and you are better suited to make the decisions for yourself since we know nothing about you, your unit, etc. There is one fighter unit I rushed that used to only hire from within the unit. They had a really high washout rate for the guys they sent to UPT, and so they changed the policy to accept external applicants. So that could happen right after you enlist and are working on your degree. Commanders change every couple years, and so do their hiring practices/policies. You're 5 years out from having a degree...a lot can change in that time. Will you be able to get your degree while doing your guard job if you enlisted?

Enlisting in a unit can absolutely help get you hired to fly there, or potentially be required. It can give the bros a chance to get to know you. It gives you more access to the unit and its people than any external applicant. It can also hurt your chances if they don't like you or if you don't fit their mold. Lurk or ask on baseops.net forums and get some more opinions. Good luck.

Thanks for your help. I have talked to about 10 air force pilots and asked them what to do and they all give me a different answer. I will check out the baseops.net forums.

That's pretty good. (?)

If you asked 10 Pilots the same question and got only 10 different answers...That's better than average.

You should have gotten a MINIMUM of 11 different answers.

I'd check some of those guys credentials... You sure they were ALL pilots?

:)

Stimpson