"easier" route: ANG vs. USAF reserve?
03-19-2008, 07:34 AM
#21
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Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Spartan
Posts: 3,652
Originally Posted by nwaf16dude
The best way to get a pilot slot from a guard or reserve unit is to join the unit as an enlisted troop and then work the pilot slot from the inside. Takes time, (a few years) but guard units have a great deal going and they know it, so they very rarely hire any one off the street into a pilot slot. They are hiring you for life, so they are very careful about who they hire. Same applies to reserve squadrons.
They might, on a very rare occasion, hire "off the street," but if you aren't able to "hang out" with the unit on several drill weekends, you don't have a chance.
My experience is strictly in the fighter business, so I can't speak for the heavys, but I'd imagine it's about the same.
They might, on a very rare occasion, hire "off the street," but if you aren't able to "hang out" with the unit on several drill weekends, you don't have a chance.
My experience is strictly in the fighter business, so I can't speak for the heavys, but I'd imagine it's about the same.
03-19-2008, 07:47 AM
#22
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Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: What do you have?
Posts: 104
Originally Posted by Slice
Maybe we're an anomaly in DC but only one guy selected for UPT in the last 10-12 years has been from the unit. The rest were off the street with no direct connections on the inside.
One note to the OP, guys who really aren't cocky and don't feel they deserve a job rarely feel the need to continuously point out that they aren't cocky and don't think they deserve a job. Don't get upset -- just a word to the wise as you go through your job search. As was mentioned, if you're thinking of getting into military flying, you'd better have a thick skin and be ready to be the "humble" new guy -- especially in the guard or reserve where you will be flying with guys who have TONS more experience than we mere mortals can ever hope to attain.
It also bears repeating to be careful about who you p-ss off today as that person may be the one you need to talk with about a job tomorrow. Sometime the best course of action in life is to bite your tongue. 
03-19-2008, 07:59 AM
#25
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Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Spartan
Posts: 3,652
Originally Posted by FlyHappy
Just curious, did your unit not have internal apps or were they from people who the unit didn't want to send to pilot training? I haven't ever heard of a unit hiring more off-the-street folks for UPT than taking internal apps, so was just wondering about the situation there. Maybe the OP needs to apply to DC.
One note to the OP, guys who really aren't cocky and don't feel they deserve a job rarely feel the need to continuously point out that they aren't cocky and don't think they deserve a job. Don't get upset -- just a word to the wise as you go through your job search. As was mentioned, if you're thinking of getting into military flying, you'd better have a thick skin and be ready to be the "humble" new guy -- especially in the guard or reserve where you will be flying with guys who have TONS more experience than we mere mortals can ever hope to attain. It also bears repeating to be careful about who you p-ss off today as that person may be the one you need to talk with about a job tomorrow. Sometime the best course of action in life is to bite your tongue.
One note to the OP, guys who really aren't cocky and don't feel they deserve a job rarely feel the need to continuously point out that they aren't cocky and don't think they deserve a job. Don't get upset -- just a word to the wise as you go through your job search. As was mentioned, if you're thinking of getting into military flying, you'd better have a thick skin and be ready to be the "humble" new guy -- especially in the guard or reserve where you will be flying with guys who have TONS more experience than we mere mortals can ever hope to attain.
It also bears repeating to be careful about who you p-ss off today as that person may be the one you need to talk with about a job tomorrow. Sometime the best course of action in life is to bite your tongue. 
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