Regionals to WOFT
 

Currently at a regional, about to upgrade to Captain within the next couple months. Does anyone have any experience with going from a part 121 to WOFT, then back to part 121? I do realize that WOFT is active duty and it surpasses the 5 year limit that the USERRA imposes to protect your civilian job. I specifically want to fly apaches.

I’ve been trying for the Air Guard/Reserves for a little under a year, and no such luck thus far. Very competitive.

Any insight on this is appreciated.

Here's some insight...


NO, YOU WILL NOT TOUCH ONE SINGLE MINUTE OF YOUR FIVE YEAR LIMIT.

There are NUMEROUS exceptions to the five year limit, you'd have to try pretty hard to actually burn any of it.

Initial military training is exempt.

Initial military obligated service is exempt.

Any addition obligation incurred by training/education commitments is exempt.

It's actually possible for an aviator to do his ten year initial obligation and THEN carefully incur additional obligations for training/education at key junctures and drag it out long enough to get a 20-year pension (probably have to use some or all of the five year limit for that).

So you can do 8-10 years or whatever the ask is, go back to the regionals with seniority intact as though you never left, and then finish out 20 in the guard/reserves. And still have all of your five years available (routine reserve/guard duty does not count either).

USERRA protections apply equally to active duty service regardless of whether you're guard, reserve, or regular AD.

I would get to a major first, personally. Second, I would not want to join the army after already being an airline pilot. There’s a reason a ton of army guys are trying to come to the regionals. QOL (and pay as a young-mid warrant) is terrible compared to regional captain and major airline pay. Your opportunity cost of going to WOFT and delaying getting to a major is in the millions of dollars. And the QOL hit would be even bigger imo.

I would recommend you keep trying the Guard or Reserve route considering you are about to upgrade to Capt. As said above, active duty life would be a lot different than airline life. Look into the Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve as well. They have multiple helo units out there. It’s not Apaches, but it’s still pretty awesome flying.