Joining national guard and regional airlines
#1
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Joined APC: Apr 2017
Posts: 28
Joining national guard and regional airlines
I am currently time building. I estimate I'll be around 1500 hours sometime in Fall 2020.
I've always wanted to serve in the military. My intentions are to work for the regionals and simultaneously serve in the infantry in the national guard. My state offers many advanced training opportunities for infantrymen and each opportunity would see me sent away for months at a time.
How should I approach this with the regional job? Should I mention during my interview what my intentions are? Should I join before hitting 1500 hours so they already know I'm in the guard and can expect I'll be gone a lot?
I don't want to start my career off on the wrong foot and it seems like I'd put a target on my back if I got hired and then dropped military leave right away as a surprise.
I've always wanted to serve in the military. My intentions are to work for the regionals and simultaneously serve in the infantry in the national guard. My state offers many advanced training opportunities for infantrymen and each opportunity would see me sent away for months at a time.
How should I approach this with the regional job? Should I mention during my interview what my intentions are? Should I join before hitting 1500 hours so they already know I'm in the guard and can expect I'll be gone a lot?
I don't want to start my career off on the wrong foot and it seems like I'd put a target on my back if I got hired and then dropped military leave right away as a surprise.
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2016
Posts: 123
I am currently time building. I estimate I'll be around 1500 hours sometime in Fall 2020.
I've always wanted to serve in the military. My intentions are to work for the regionals and simultaneously serve in the infantry in the national guard. My state offers many advanced training opportunities for infantrymen and each opportunity would see me sent away for months at a time.
How should I approach this with the regional job? Should I mention during my interview what my intentions are? Should I join before hitting 1500 hours so they already know I'm in the guard and can expect I'll be gone a lot?
I don't want to start my career off on the wrong foot and it seems like I'd put a target on my back if I got hired and then dropped military leave right away as a surprise.
I've always wanted to serve in the military. My intentions are to work for the regionals and simultaneously serve in the infantry in the national guard. My state offers many advanced training opportunities for infantrymen and each opportunity would see me sent away for months at a time.
How should I approach this with the regional job? Should I mention during my interview what my intentions are? Should I join before hitting 1500 hours so they already know I'm in the guard and can expect I'll be gone a lot?
I don't want to start my career off on the wrong foot and it seems like I'd put a target on my back if I got hired and then dropped military leave right away as a surprise.
I'm an Air Guard pilot... I would definitely not tell them. They aren't legally allowed to make hiring decisions based upon your military status, so why bring it up?
Also, at the airline, you're a number and that's it. You drop Mil Leave, they find someone who walks/talks/looks like/flies like you in two seconds and put them on the schedule.
I've been at my company about 2 years and four months, and at least a year of that has been Mil Leave (deployments/training/etc.). I use the automated submission page, and I have NEVER talked to anyone about my leave (except when coordinating re-qual after coming back from a 7-month deployment). It's an easy process, because if they raise a fuss, they deal with USERRA, and they lose... Ask Delta.
If you want to serve, good on you... Go do it. It can be the best and worst part of your life, from moment to moment. Enjoy the good parts.
Good luck.
#3
What is your state and do they have any flying positions in their guard or reserve? I have to admit, I’ve never been an actual infantryman, but I’ve seen enough of them on deployments in my previous job, and can’t say I see the allure.
That said, USERRA:
https://www.esgr.mil/USERRA/What-is-USERRA
Gives you rights to reemployment. That said, it’s kind of regarded as ‘dirty pool’ to sign in at indoc and then immediately leave on orders. It starts your seniority, but it also kept someone out of that seat and sort of wasted that slot. And the further along you go the worse it gets economically. Unless you can stay around until consolidation (100 hours after award of your type rating), they are essentially going to have to retrain you from the start if you have any prolonged absences.
That being said, I’d still try to get the first slot available at your regional and try to put off military orders until after consolidation. But That would also give you substantial clout applying for an ANG or Air Reserve flying slot. That would be a whole year away, but your regional seniority clock would be running the whole time.
That said, USERRA:
https://www.esgr.mil/USERRA/What-is-USERRA
Gives you rights to reemployment. That said, it’s kind of regarded as ‘dirty pool’ to sign in at indoc and then immediately leave on orders. It starts your seniority, but it also kept someone out of that seat and sort of wasted that slot. And the further along you go the worse it gets economically. Unless you can stay around until consolidation (100 hours after award of your type rating), they are essentially going to have to retrain you from the start if you have any prolonged absences.
That being said, I’d still try to get the first slot available at your regional and try to put off military orders until after consolidation. But That would also give you substantial clout applying for an ANG or Air Reserve flying slot. That would be a whole year away, but your regional seniority clock would be running the whole time.
#4
Line Holder
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Apr 2017
Posts: 28
I'm an Air Guard pilot... I would definitely not tell them. They aren't legally allowed to make hiring decisions based upon your military status, so why bring it up?
Also, at the airline, you're a number and that's it. You drop Mil Leave, they find someone who walks/talks/looks like/flies like you in two seconds and put them on the schedule.
I've been at my company about 2 years and four months, and at least a year of that has been Mil Leave (deployments/training/etc.). I use the automated submission page, and I have NEVER talked to anyone about my leave (except when coordinating re-qual after coming back from a 7-month deployment). It's an easy process, because if they raise a fuss, they deal with USERRA, and they lose... Ask Delta.
If you want to serve, good on you... Go do it. It can be the best and worst part of your life, from moment to moment. Enjoy the good parts.
Good luck.
Also, at the airline, you're a number and that's it. You drop Mil Leave, they find someone who walks/talks/looks like/flies like you in two seconds and put them on the schedule.
I've been at my company about 2 years and four months, and at least a year of that has been Mil Leave (deployments/training/etc.). I use the automated submission page, and I have NEVER talked to anyone about my leave (except when coordinating re-qual after coming back from a 7-month deployment). It's an easy process, because if they raise a fuss, they deal with USERRA, and they lose... Ask Delta.
If you want to serve, good on you... Go do it. It can be the best and worst part of your life, from moment to moment. Enjoy the good parts.
Good luck.
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2019
Posts: 537
#6
Line Holder
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Apr 2017
Posts: 28
What is your state and do they have any flying positions in their guard or reserve? I have to admit, I’ve never been an actual infantryman, but I’ve seen enough of them on deployments in my previous job, and can’t say I see the allure.
That said, USERRA:
https://www.esgr.mil/USERRA/What-is-USERRA
Gives you rights to reemployment. That said, it’s kind of regarded as ‘dirty pool’ to sign in at indoc and then immediately leave on orders. It starts your seniority, but it also kept someone out of that seat and sort of wasted that slot. And the further along you go the worse it gets economically. Unless you can stay around until consolidation (100 hours after award of your type rating), they are essentially going to have to retrain you from the start if you have any prolonged absences.
That being said, I’d still try to get the first slot available at your regional and try to put off military orders until after consolidation. But That would also give you substantial clout applying for an ANG or Air Reserve flying slot. That would be a whole year away, but your regional seniority clock would be running the whole time.
That said, USERRA:
https://www.esgr.mil/USERRA/What-is-USERRA
Gives you rights to reemployment. That said, it’s kind of regarded as ‘dirty pool’ to sign in at indoc and then immediately leave on orders. It starts your seniority, but it also kept someone out of that seat and sort of wasted that slot. And the further along you go the worse it gets economically. Unless you can stay around until consolidation (100 hours after award of your type rating), they are essentially going to have to retrain you from the start if you have any prolonged absences.
That being said, I’d still try to get the first slot available at your regional and try to put off military orders until after consolidation. But That would also give you substantial clout applying for an ANG or Air Reserve flying slot. That would be a whole year away, but your regional seniority clock would be running the whole time.
Thanks for the suggestion with the ANG. I am actually familiar with that as I applied for UPT for years and years. I wasn't able to get selected and once I hit 30 years old I moved on.
The Army guard offers all sorts of opportunities. I am excited about the various schools and training you can attend and also find it appealing to have diversified experiences in things outside of just aviation. Of course, if a UPT slot presented itself today I would go but after some thought I am pretty excited about the infantry route as well. Just the way I am I guess.
The bolded part is somewhat concerning. If I understand you correctly, it seems like it is mitigated by sticking around until consolidation? I wasn't even aware of the consolidation milestone, so I will certainly aim to stick around at least until then.
Last edited by JabroniJohn; 05-25-2019 at 02:16 PM.
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2016
Posts: 103
Massachusetts.
Thanks for the suggestion with the ANG. I am actually familiar with that as I applied for UPT for years and years. I wasn't able to get selected and once I hit 30 years old I moved on.
The Army guard offers all sorts of opportunities. I am excited about the various schools and training you can attend and also find it appealing to have diversified experiences in things outside of just aviation. Of course, if a UPT slot presented itself today I would go but after some thought I am pretty excited about the infantry route as well. Just the way I am I guess.
The bolded part is somewhat concerning. If I understand you correctly, it seems like it is mitigated by sticking around until consolidation? I wasn't even aware of the consolidation milestone, so I will certainly aim to stick around at least until then.
Thanks for the suggestion with the ANG. I am actually familiar with that as I applied for UPT for years and years. I wasn't able to get selected and once I hit 30 years old I moved on.
The Army guard offers all sorts of opportunities. I am excited about the various schools and training you can attend and also find it appealing to have diversified experiences in things outside of just aviation. Of course, if a UPT slot presented itself today I would go but after some thought I am pretty excited about the infantry route as well. Just the way I am I guess.
The bolded part is somewhat concerning. If I understand you correctly, it seems like it is mitigated by sticking around until consolidation? I wasn't even aware of the consolidation milestone, so I will certainly aim to stick around at least until then.
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2017
Posts: 659
Massachusetts.
Thanks for the suggestion with the ANG. I am actually familiar with that as I applied for UPT for years and years. I wasn't able to get selected and once I hit 30 years old I moved on.
The Army guard offers all sorts of opportunities. I am excited about the various schools and training you can attend and also find it appealing to have diversified experiences in things outside of just aviation. Of course, if a UPT slot presented itself today I would go but after some thought I am pretty excited about the infantry route as well. Just the way I am I guess.
The bolded part is somewhat concerning. If I understand you correctly, it seems like it is mitigated by sticking around until consolidation? I wasn't even aware of the consolidation milestone, so I will certainly aim to stick around at least until then.
Thanks for the suggestion with the ANG. I am actually familiar with that as I applied for UPT for years and years. I wasn't able to get selected and once I hit 30 years old I moved on.
The Army guard offers all sorts of opportunities. I am excited about the various schools and training you can attend and also find it appealing to have diversified experiences in things outside of just aviation. Of course, if a UPT slot presented itself today I would go but after some thought I am pretty excited about the infantry route as well. Just the way I am I guess.
The bolded part is somewhat concerning. If I understand you correctly, it seems like it is mitigated by sticking around until consolidation? I wasn't even aware of the consolidation milestone, so I will certainly aim to stick around at least until then.
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