Is this worth trying?
03-04-2020 | 05:09 PM
#11
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New Hire
Joined: Mar 2020
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That's pretty much exactly what happened with me back in 1999, with the exception that I had been at a regional for about a year when I was hired by my Guard unit. I had to wait until early 2001 (about 2.5 years at the regional at that point) to start training with the military, and then Sept 11th happened, so my airline career didn't work out quite as planned. I did gain a lot of valuable experience at the regional, though, and your line of thinking is a good one.
I would highly recommend going to a regional that has a flow through...that way you have a chance to flow to the mainline carrier. That doesn't restrict you from applying at the other majors/legacy in the mean time. If you want to be a Guard guy and fly for a major, flying at a regional will help bolster your flight time a lot quicker than being a straight Guard bum or taking a technician or AGR gig at the Guard unit.
Word of advice - if you wind up flying for the regional for a while before going on active duty for training, when you show up at UPT, zip your lip and minimize your background/experience. You are there to learn the MILITARY way of aviating. Let your actions speak for you. My flight commander literally had to pull me into his office to finally get the real story about my background (I had about 4,000 hours when I finally reported to UPT) because I did not want to come off as a know-it-all. Hopefully this already occurred to you, but I thought I should mention it just in case.
Lastly, if you see one of your classmates struggling on a subject you are strong in, approach them away from everyone else and offer to go over/tutor them on it. It's never too early to pay it forward and mentor someone if you can.
Best of luck!
I would highly recommend going to a regional that has a flow through...that way you have a chance to flow to the mainline carrier. That doesn't restrict you from applying at the other majors/legacy in the mean time. If you want to be a Guard guy and fly for a major, flying at a regional will help bolster your flight time a lot quicker than being a straight Guard bum or taking a technician or AGR gig at the Guard unit.
Word of advice - if you wind up flying for the regional for a while before going on active duty for training, when you show up at UPT, zip your lip and minimize your background/experience. You are there to learn the MILITARY way of aviating. Let your actions speak for you. My flight commander literally had to pull me into his office to finally get the real story about my background (I had about 4,000 hours when I finally reported to UPT) because I did not want to come off as a know-it-all. Hopefully this already occurred to you, but I thought I should mention it just in case.
Lastly, if you see one of your classmates struggling on a subject you are strong in, approach them away from everyone else and offer to go over/tutor them on it. It's never too early to pay it forward and mentor someone if you can.
Best of luck!
And yes I plan on going into UPT to learn how to do everything the airforce way. I am always shocked to hear every so often about pilots washing out who have 1000s of hours w/ ATPs, but apparently they were unable to conform to the USAF way of doing things.
And if I am in a position to help I definitely will. This community is awesome, and is completely different than my previous nonflying job in the private sector where no one helped anyone. I have had nothing but great experiences thus far. You guys have literally saved me so much time and effort, and hopefully I can pass that on to others. Thank you!
03-04-2020 | 06:13 PM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,064
Likes: 37
From: 767 Captain
If this thread was on baseops.com I think it would’ve gone a little differently by now. Here it’s two pages of advice to the fighter pilot hopeful to position himself for his airline career. But I’ll be the crusty old fighter pilot and inject some reality into this discussion.
You’re about to embark on one of the most challenging courses of training available to you. That needs to be your number one priority for the foreseeable future. Very early into your training, your prior time isn’t going to really do anything for you.
It’s good that you’re going to try to go full-time after seasoning. I hope that works out, because the guys that go successfully into the part-time fighter pilot positions in the ANG usually have years of flying fighters under their belt and are experienced instructors. It’s going to take you at least a year of full-time flying after getting back to your unit and finishing MQT before you’re not the weakest link in any formation you’re employing that aircraft in. So just make sure that your number one priority is just focused on the next task at hand. Officer training, then UPT, IFF, B-course, MQT, being the best wingman you can be, etc. Airline stuff needs to wait. Good luck to you.
You’re about to embark on one of the most challenging courses of training available to you. That needs to be your number one priority for the foreseeable future. Very early into your training, your prior time isn’t going to really do anything for you.
It’s good that you’re going to try to go full-time after seasoning. I hope that works out, because the guys that go successfully into the part-time fighter pilot positions in the ANG usually have years of flying fighters under their belt and are experienced instructors. It’s going to take you at least a year of full-time flying after getting back to your unit and finishing MQT before you’re not the weakest link in any formation you’re employing that aircraft in. So just make sure that your number one priority is just focused on the next task at hand. Officer training, then UPT, IFF, B-course, MQT, being the best wingman you can be, etc. Airline stuff needs to wait. Good luck to you.
03-04-2020 | 06:51 PM
#13
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Joined: Mar 2020
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If this thread was on baseops.com I think it would’ve gone a little differently by now. Here it’s two pages of advice to the fighter pilot hopeful to position himself for his airline career. But I’ll be the crusty old fighter pilot and inject some reality into this discussion.
You’re about to embark on one of the most challenging courses of training available to you. That needs to be your number one priority for the foreseeable future. Very early into your training, your prior time isn’t going to really do anything for you.
It’s good that you’re going to try to go full-time after seasoning. I hope that works out, because the guys that go successfully into the part-time fighter pilot positions in the ANG usually have years of flying fighters under their belt and are experienced instructors. It’s going to take you at least a year of full-time flying after getting back to your unit and finishing MQT before you’re not the weakest link in any formation you’re employing that aircraft in. So just make sure that your number one priority is just focused on the next task at hand. Officer training, then UPT, IFF, B-course, MQT, being the best wingman you can be, etc. Airline stuff needs to wait. Good luck to you.
You’re about to embark on one of the most challenging courses of training available to you. That needs to be your number one priority for the foreseeable future. Very early into your training, your prior time isn’t going to really do anything for you.
It’s good that you’re going to try to go full-time after seasoning. I hope that works out, because the guys that go successfully into the part-time fighter pilot positions in the ANG usually have years of flying fighters under their belt and are experienced instructors. It’s going to take you at least a year of full-time flying after getting back to your unit and finishing MQT before you’re not the weakest link in any formation you’re employing that aircraft in. So just make sure that your number one priority is just focused on the next task at hand. Officer training, then UPT, IFF, B-course, MQT, being the best wingman you can be, etc. Airline stuff needs to wait. Good luck to you.
I just have a lot of time between now and then with the 24 month wait. If I can get paid to fly while I wait that would be great. And if full time is not available after MQT I'll set myself up now to be in the best position with the best regional possible if that situation occurs.
But I am definitely looking forward to the challenge and thank you!
03-05-2020 | 08:03 AM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 138
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If this thread was on baseops.com I think it would’ve gone a little differently by now. Here it’s two pages of advice to the fighter pilot hopeful to position himself for his airline career. But I’ll be the crusty old fighter pilot and inject some reality into this discussion.
You’re about to embark on one of the most challenging courses of training available to you. That needs to be your number one priority for the foreseeable future. Very early into your training, your prior time isn’t going to really do anything for you.
It’s good that you’re going to try to go full-time after seasoning. I hope that works out, because the guys that go successfully into the part-time fighter pilot positions in the ANG usually have years of flying fighters under their belt and are experienced instructors. It’s going to take you at least a year of full-time flying after getting back to your unit and finishing MQT before you’re not the weakest link in any formation you’re employing that aircraft in. So just make sure that your number one priority is just focused on the next task at hand. Officer training, then UPT, IFF, B-course, MQT, being the best wingman you can be, etc. Airline stuff needs to wait. Good luck to you.
You’re about to embark on one of the most challenging courses of training available to you. That needs to be your number one priority for the foreseeable future. Very early into your training, your prior time isn’t going to really do anything for you.
It’s good that you’re going to try to go full-time after seasoning. I hope that works out, because the guys that go successfully into the part-time fighter pilot positions in the ANG usually have years of flying fighters under their belt and are experienced instructors. It’s going to take you at least a year of full-time flying after getting back to your unit and finishing MQT before you’re not the weakest link in any formation you’re employing that aircraft in. So just make sure that your number one priority is just focused on the next task at hand. Officer training, then UPT, IFF, B-course, MQT, being the best wingman you can be, etc. Airline stuff needs to wait. Good luck to you.
Absolutely spot-on with all the things related to what is soon to be coming down the pike for him on the mil side.
Having said that, he is not wrong in getting his foot in the door at a regional NOW rather than LATER. If he just got selected in January, he probably won't be going to training for another year at a minimum. No harm in going to a regional, getting 12 or 18 or 24 months in before he goes on MIL leave, THEN forgetting about everything else and focusing on the military 110% when the time comes.
I'm taking absolutely nothing away from your suggestions on how to approach military training, but with the way things are in today's military, getting a full time slot right off of seasoning days can be a crap shoot. I would recommend he volunteer for every flying opportunity the Guard has, but it's definitely not the same world you and I experienced as Lieutenants and having a backup to coming off seasoning orders is a good thing.
Besides, through USERRA he'll have five years to return to a civilian employer. Plenty of time to go through training, do seasoning, pick up as much mil flying as possible after that, and then potentially flow over to a major.
Sounds like a smart go-getter to me.
03-05-2020 | 10:34 AM
#15
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 44,895
Likes: 690
From: Engines Turn or People Swim
The five year thing is commonly grossly misunderstood. None of your initial required training counts at all. Regular drills and AT, as well as anything required for an obligation or currency/proficiency doesn't count. He does not have to worry about it at this point. Only mid/senior officers who do a lot of orders, especially staff, might have to keep track of that.
Last edited by rickair7777; 03-08-2020 at 06:24 AM.
03-07-2020 | 12:25 PM
#16
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,433
Likes: 434
If this thread was on baseops.com
I think it would’ve gone a little differently by now. Here it’s two pages of advice to the fighter pilot hopeful to position himself for his airline career. But I’ll be the crusty old fighter pilot and inject some reality into this discussion.
You’re about to embark on one of the most challenging courses of training available to you. That needs to be your number one priority for the foreseeable future. Very early into your training, your prior time isn’t going to really do anything for you.
I think it would’ve gone a little differently by now. Here it’s two pages of advice to the fighter pilot hopeful to position himself for his airline career. But I’ll be the crusty old fighter pilot and inject some reality into this discussion.
You’re about to embark on one of the most challenging courses of training available to you. That needs to be your number one priority for the foreseeable future. Very early into your training, your prior time isn’t going to really do anything for you.
Ya, because those guys can't get over themselves and can't fathom anyone following a path different that the one they took. Sure, he needs to be pushing to get all his proverbial ducks in a row to go to training, and when he leaves for training, it must be his number 1 priority. However, there is nothing wrong with getting a civilian career lined up before going off to UPT. Noone is saying that they'll work less hard while in the AF training or while back in your squadron. In fact, when I interviewed at my Guard fighter squadron, I was asked multiple pointed questions about what job I would be doing to support myself when they kicked me back to part time after seasoning because they likely wouldn't have full time available.
03-08-2020 | 09:55 AM
#18
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,899
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From: Leftof longitudinal
Would I try to go to a regional now? Yes. Gain what ever track you prefer. Once headed military, protected by USERRA where you are currently employed. So want the regional job before headed to OTS and UPT. As Rickair pointed out, would be eligible for any flow through with USERRA protections.
03-08-2020 | 07:17 PM
#19
SrFOorJrCAisthe?
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 279
Glad I read all the way through the posts...I was thinking the same thing. To the OP: Congrats on the pick up for UPT. Get your commercial (if you don't have it already) and get a Part 91 gig somewhere to get paid and get your hours/experience up. Good luck.
03-08-2020 | 07:38 PM
#20
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 44,895
Likes: 690
From: Engines Turn or People Swim
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