Why fly Guard? Why fly AD?
 

Having just read through several threads on this board about how its becoming more and more common for pilots to get comparatively undesirable assignments straight out of training or from being plucked out of their desirable equipment assignment, I am finding myself posing the ANG vs. Active Duty question.

I'm about 12 mo's from completing a BS at ASU and have been considering a military flying career for sometime now, but I'm not too sure how keen I am at rolling the dice to end up driving UAV's or doing something else that was not a part of the 'vision' I have.

With that said, I also see on here many people who talk up one of the advantages of flying guard being you get to choose what aircraft you apply for (If I understood correctly). This sounds tempting, after having read the otherstuff about AD pipelines.

And lastly, and this is more of a silly personal beef, but I've always told myself that if I go mil to fly, Im going Navy. And the thought of piloting an AF aircraft nearly sounds traitorous! :D (Not really of course, I'm just most drawn to the Navy) :cool:

I'm a single guy right now, and nothing is really tying me down after finishing college.

So, I guess I pose this to you, gentlemen: If you had the opportunity to start a military flying career fresh from the start in today's world, given the circumstances that seem to be occuring as I described, how would you react? If fighters were your thing, is it worth possibly being handed a PC-12 (as an example from the other thread) just to fly AD?

Why are you drawn to the USN? You know Top Gun was only a movie, right? :D Must be all that water in Tempe! The guard is the way to go if you can get a slot. You can live and fly what you want if you can get selected. It doesn't get much better than that. If I couldn't get a guard slot and had to go active...would I risk a PC-12, yes. Risk a UAV, no. If you want to be a fighter pilot, go for it. If I had to do it over again, I think I would have flown the hawg(A-10). A/G is where it's at. If your ultimate goal is the airlines and you aren't into fast movers, find a heavy unit. You'll build time faster and may be able to get to a major without going to the regionals...

AZ -

I'm starting to sound like a borken record on this one but I really do feel it is sound advice. DO NOT JOIN THE MILITARY IF ALL YOU WANT TO DO IS FLY!
Realize that joining the military is much more than just the job. It is overall responsibility and there are SO many more things that you will be doing than just flying. Even without the UAVs or the PC-12s (if that is a bad deal) coming out of flight school, you may very well spend a significant amount of time out of the cockpit. One of the BIGGEST issues right now in the USN are Individual Augments - assignments OUT of the cokcpit for upto a year at a time - mostly doing something very far removed from flying (Personnel Officer for example in one case)

Point being. Join the military for the right reasons. Realize the sacrifices that are required and that it won't always be rosy. But if you do fly - be ready for some of the most exciting times that you can imagine!

Oh.....take all of this with a grain of salt - epspecially if you decide to apply for the new Navy Warrent Officer flight program (something akin to the Army's program)

USMCFLYR

A few family members are former Naval aviators....I've been brainwashed to think that Navy is superior! (because it is ;) ) And come to think of it, my water does taste kind of funny. Next I expect you to tell me that Final Countdown didnt really happen!

I didn't want to go into it too much in my original post, but what you say there in the quoted section is the exact reason why I am still at the "I am considering the military" phase of my life. I've got at least a year to make that decision for myself. But thanks for the reply, none the less.

One of the things that Im trying to sort out right now is whether or not if the fact that I can't sit here and say to you that I definitely want to join and do it all means that I shouldn't do it. I know personally some people who have taken enlisted jobs in the military ONLY because they couldn't think of anything else to do with themselves. I'm not that guy. If I *do* decide that mil flying and all that comes with it is really what I want, I'll go full force with it.

I just can't decide if not being 100% sure about the choice right now is a sign that I just shouldn't do it at all. Does that make sense? And this whole ANG vs. AD thing is making it tougher.

Also, the horrible instability and unpredictability of the airline industry is becoming a major turn-off to flying airlines. This is just adding to the mess! hah.

AZflyer-I am in a similar situation, and going through the process of trying to get into the Air Guard, Reserve, and AD right now.

I understand that you may be undecided at this point, or considering different options, but I have found out that no one is just going to walk into the military and be handed a flight spot. (Not saying you expect that). My point is if you are 12 months from graduation then start the process now, even if you are undecided. I have found that it can be a long process with many hoops to jump through. Make the phone calls, see the recruiters, schedule your tests, etc. etc., and start today.

Hopefully going through this process will help you make your decision, and after another year you will understand whether or not you will want to go military or not.

AZ -

"If I *do* decide that mil flying and all that comes with it is really what I want, I'll go full force with it."

Now that is what I'm talking about! :D

It is a tough decision. I was wondering what the heck I was doing as I was walking down that jetway to go to Quantico.

USMCFLYR

Sounds like you have the right attitude. While I'm a big fan of the navy, if you want to fly in the military and keep your civilian flying options open the ANG/USAFR is probably the way to go. Two big bennies...you can opt for a fixed-wing aircraft and you can fly at a regional while working in the ANG. If you go navy (or USMC/USCG), you have a high chance of getting helos...fun to fly, but won't do much for your civilian career. Also, the regular air force has more fixed-wing than the sea services.

While I agree with the above I don't think its necessary to beat every kid over the head with this...if he's asking about the military, in this day and age, I don't think we really need to ask if he's considered everything that goes with the job. Being from California I got plenty of strange looks when I told people I was leaving for OTS.

Blastoff -

I certainly don't want to "beat a kid" over the head with this but they need to know what they are getting themselves into. One thing that burns me is when I hear kids (or anybody) in the military complaining about what they expected to do once they join the military. By this I mean - [what do you mean I have to spend time away from my family in the desert? I didn't know I might have to go somewhere and fight] Heck Blastoff - I spend a fair amount of my time practically *recruiting* for the military - but I also believe that they need information - and going into the military thinking that all you're going to do is fly is going to set one up for diappointment.

USMCFLYR