Reserves and School
06-03-2008, 11:00 AM
#1
Line Holder
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Posts: 49
Reserves and School
Hi all,
I have recently been offered a pilot spot with a Reserve unit and I am hoping that I can be off to OTS in the October to January timeframe; from what I have been told.
With that being said....
My question is, as a part time pilot in a Reserve unit, would it be feasible to plan on going to grad school? I am looking at a medical graduate level school that requires full time study for 27 months year round, and requires an agreement from students that students "should not" work more than 12 hours a week due to school committments. I would want to be fair to the unit and my studies, but obviously the unit would come first.
I know things differ from unit to unit and that I will just have to wait and see when the time comes, but I was hoping to get some opinions about whether or not this would be something remotely possible, or if I should just step away from the crack pipe.
Also, does anybody know if the Reserve has any sort of tuition assistance for officers?
Thanks
I have recently been offered a pilot spot with a Reserve unit and I am hoping that I can be off to OTS in the October to January timeframe; from what I have been told.
With that being said....
My question is, as a part time pilot in a Reserve unit, would it be feasible to plan on going to grad school? I am looking at a medical graduate level school that requires full time study for 27 months year round, and requires an agreement from students that students "should not" work more than 12 hours a week due to school committments. I would want to be fair to the unit and my studies, but obviously the unit would come first.
I know things differ from unit to unit and that I will just have to wait and see when the time comes, but I was hoping to get some opinions about whether or not this would be something remotely possible, or if I should just step away from the crack pipe.
Also, does anybody know if the Reserve has any sort of tuition assistance for officers?
Thanks
06-03-2008, 11:41 AM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: A-300 F/O
Posts: 281
you are obviously too smart to be a pilot, run and save the UPT slot for dumber guys who can do nothing but pull on a yoke to make an airplane manuever through the sky.
Seriously, from a heavy perspective, you could probably do it, if there were no deployments. Most 130 units have enough local flying and one or two day weekend training missions where you could stay reasonably proficient by flying local training sorties (show up 3.5 hours before takeoff/msn plan/brief/fly2-2.5 and log two pay periods RUTA/FTP or GTP/FTP--don't worry about that until much later) two days per week or three days some weeks.
Having not flown fighters, but having been an EWO way back in the before time in B-52s, keeping current on all the threats, plus knowing all your parameters for weapons release, how to work your APG-xx air to air radar, would seem like an impossible task to chew off with grad school. Fighter guys please jump in. Albie/Magnum?
I will let the tanker guys and the C-17 guys chime in for their perspectives.
Whatever you fly, I would at least be a guard bum/reserve trougher for a good year after you come off your seasoning orders to get really comfortable in the plane and with the missions.
Good luck, it will be difficult. I have a friend working on a Phd program in physics. Now an O-4, been plugging away since O-2/O-3, but that is with lots of deployments.
One last thought, are you young enough to do the grad program first then do UPT? Would the slot still be available? There is a way too smart for pilots guy at Laughlin going through for UAVs now and he will work for NASA at the Ames research facility when he is finished with training.
Seriously, from a heavy perspective, you could probably do it, if there were no deployments. Most 130 units have enough local flying and one or two day weekend training missions where you could stay reasonably proficient by flying local training sorties (show up 3.5 hours before takeoff/msn plan/brief/fly2-2.5 and log two pay periods RUTA/FTP or GTP/FTP--don't worry about that until much later) two days per week or three days some weeks.
Having not flown fighters, but having been an EWO way back in the before time in B-52s, keeping current on all the threats, plus knowing all your parameters for weapons release, how to work your APG-xx air to air radar, would seem like an impossible task to chew off with grad school. Fighter guys please jump in. Albie/Magnum?
I will let the tanker guys and the C-17 guys chime in for their perspectives.
Whatever you fly, I would at least be a guard bum/reserve trougher for a good year after you come off your seasoning orders to get really comfortable in the plane and with the missions.
Good luck, it will be difficult. I have a friend working on a Phd program in physics. Now an O-4, been plugging away since O-2/O-3, but that is with lots of deployments.
One last thought, are you young enough to do the grad program first then do UPT? Would the slot still be available? There is a way too smart for pilots guy at Laughlin going through for UAVs now and he will work for NASA at the Ames research facility when he is finished with training.
06-03-2008, 11:54 AM
#3
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,307
A couple of thoughts...
It is important to note that although federal law protects a reservist's civilian employment, I know of no such protection afforded to students. If your military service conflicts with school, the school is not required to grant you extensions, late exams, refunds, etc. They can even fail you for not completing classes, or drop you from a program for lack of attendance/progress.
Various states and schools might have specific policies, but there a no broad protections that I am aware of.
Also, what are you career aspirations? This is very important because you need to prioritize these two opportunities...
If you want to be a career pilot, military flight training is the equivalent of an advanced degree in that industry. The slots are generally not easy to get, and you should consider it your golden opportunity. In this case I would consider the guard my priority and try to fit in the masters where you can.
If you want to do something else, and this master's program will start you in that direction, then you have to decide whether to join the guard for fun now and defer your education and career, or just get started on your real career.
Generally it would probably be easier to do the guard first while you are young and have a slot in hand. There are no age limits in education, so you can come back to that...but you have to decide your priority.
The reserves do offer a GI Bill program for reserve personnel, including officers. It doesn't pay as much as active-duty GI Bill, but it's something. I assume guard guys get this also.
It is important to note that although federal law protects a reservist's civilian employment, I know of no such protection afforded to students. If your military service conflicts with school, the school is not required to grant you extensions, late exams, refunds, etc. They can even fail you for not completing classes, or drop you from a program for lack of attendance/progress.
Various states and schools might have specific policies, but there a no broad protections that I am aware of.
Also, what are you career aspirations? This is very important because you need to prioritize these two opportunities...
If you want to be a career pilot, military flight training is the equivalent of an advanced degree in that industry. The slots are generally not easy to get, and you should consider it your golden opportunity. In this case I would consider the guard my priority and try to fit in the masters where you can.
If you want to do something else, and this master's program will start you in that direction, then you have to decide whether to join the guard for fun now and defer your education and career, or just get started on your real career.
Generally it would probably be easier to do the guard first while you are young and have a slot in hand. There are no age limits in education, so you can come back to that...but you have to decide your priority.
The reserves do offer a GI Bill program for reserve personnel, including officers. It doesn't pay as much as active-duty GI Bill, but it's something. I assume guard guys get this also.
06-03-2008, 11:58 AM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: 767 Captain
Posts: 3,988
Originally Posted by shane123
Hi all,
I have recently been offered a pilot spot with a Reserve unit and I am hoping that I can be off to OTS in the October to January timeframe; from what I have been told.
With that being said....
My question is, as a part time pilot in a Reserve unit, would it be feasible to plan on going to grad school? I am looking at a medical graduate level school that requires full time study for 27 months year round, and requires an agreement from students that students "should not" work more than 12 hours a week due to school committments. I would want to be fair to the unit and my studies, but obviously the unit would come first.
I know things differ from unit to unit and that I will just have to wait and see when the time comes, but I was hoping to get some opinions about whether or not this would be something remotely possible, or if I should just step away from the crack pipe.
Also, does anybody know if the Reserve has any sort of tuition assistance for officers?
Thanks
I have recently been offered a pilot spot with a Reserve unit and I am hoping that I can be off to OTS in the October to January timeframe; from what I have been told.
With that being said....
My question is, as a part time pilot in a Reserve unit, would it be feasible to plan on going to grad school? I am looking at a medical graduate level school that requires full time study for 27 months year round, and requires an agreement from students that students "should not" work more than 12 hours a week due to school committments. I would want to be fair to the unit and my studies, but obviously the unit would come first.
I know things differ from unit to unit and that I will just have to wait and see when the time comes, but I was hoping to get some opinions about whether or not this would be something remotely possible, or if I should just step away from the crack pipe.
Also, does anybody know if the Reserve has any sort of tuition assistance for officers?
Thanks
A couple of follow on questions:
What kind of aircraft does the reserve unit fly?
Will your reserve unit deploy while you're in school?
Can you take a break from school if you deploy?
Can you live on part time reserve wages while you attend school?
I don't know that much about GI bill stuff or tuition assistance but it appears that reservists that are activated for a deployment can have access to tuition programs. Here's a link to check out. A quick google of what's out there should give you more info than I have.
http://www.military.com/NewContent/0...010405,00.html
06-03-2008, 12:55 PM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2007
Position: A320 CA
Posts: 1,530
Talk to your Squadron Commander, find out what his expectations for you are when you get back. Getting a slot that guys would kill for then only putting in the minimum (and not be able to deploy or go TDY) when you first get back is bad juju.
06-03-2008, 01:06 PM
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Position: 757 Capt
Posts: 2,418
Grad school is a possiblilty, just not in your near future.
You need to take the time to decide which path you want your future flow through.
If it's Grad school sooner than later, heading off to pilot training will only bring you heartache. And skipping pilot training will burn the bridges you've worked for to get a pilot slot. A feat that isn't easy to do in this day and age.
OTS is just the tip of the training you have in store for you.
After OTS, you are off to a year of pilot training, followed by another 4 to 12 months of specialized training.....followed by a period of consolidation training at your unit to get you to operational status (and build the habit patterns that will save you for the rest of your flying career).
If you head directly to grad school, min running your participation at your unit, you will only **** off the people that you will be flying with for an extended period of time (could be a 10-20 yr grudge for some folks)
If you really, truly, want to fly and have been working towards that goal. Then I would highly recommend you continue on that path. Get into your unit and take a class or two of requisites/continuing education towards your Grad school goals and revisit grad school in about 5 years. While that seems a long ways away, 5 years will go by fast.
School will always be there and always be a possibility.
You need to take the time to decide which path you want your future flow through.
If it's Grad school sooner than later, heading off to pilot training will only bring you heartache. And skipping pilot training will burn the bridges you've worked for to get a pilot slot. A feat that isn't easy to do in this day and age.
OTS is just the tip of the training you have in store for you.
After OTS, you are off to a year of pilot training, followed by another 4 to 12 months of specialized training.....followed by a period of consolidation training at your unit to get you to operational status (and build the habit patterns that will save you for the rest of your flying career).
If you head directly to grad school, min running your participation at your unit, you will only **** off the people that you will be flying with for an extended period of time (could be a 10-20 yr grudge for some folks)
If you really, truly, want to fly and have been working towards that goal. Then I would highly recommend you continue on that path. Get into your unit and take a class or two of requisites/continuing education towards your Grad school goals and revisit grad school in about 5 years. While that seems a long ways away, 5 years will go by fast.
School will always be there and always be a possibility.
06-03-2008, 01:14 PM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Spartan
Posts: 3,652
As a new fighter guy returning to the squadron from RTU, grad school will be all but impossible due to time commitments at your unit. You will average well beyond 12 hours a week even when you transition to traditional(part-time) status. It can be done later, but it will never be easy...
06-03-2008, 04:44 PM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: Student Pilot
Posts: 409
Originally Posted by rickair7777
A couple of thoughts...
It is important to note that although federal law protects a reservist's civilian employment, I know of no such protection afforded to students. If your military service conflicts with school, the school is not required to grant you extensions, late exams, refunds, etc. They can even fail you for not completing classes, or drop you from a program for lack of attendance/progress.
Various states and schools might have specific policies, but there a no broad protections that I am aware of.
Also, what are you career aspirations? This is very important because you need to prioritize these two opportunities...
If you want to be a career pilot, military flight training is the equivalent of an advanced degree in that industry. The slots are generally not easy to get, and you should consider it your golden opportunity. In this case I would consider the guard my priority and try to fit in the masters where you can.
If you want to do something else, and this master's program will start you in that direction, then you have to decide whether to join the guard for fun now and defer your education and career, or just get started on your real career.
Generally it would probably be easier to do the guard first while you are young and have a slot in hand. There are no age limits in education, so you can come back to that...but you have to decide your priority.
The reserves do offer a GI Bill program for reserve personnel, including officers. It doesn't pay as much as active-duty GI Bill, but it's something. I assume guard guys get this also.
It is important to note that although federal law protects a reservist's civilian employment, I know of no such protection afforded to students. If your military service conflicts with school, the school is not required to grant you extensions, late exams, refunds, etc. They can even fail you for not completing classes, or drop you from a program for lack of attendance/progress.
Various states and schools might have specific policies, but there a no broad protections that I am aware of.
Also, what are you career aspirations? This is very important because you need to prioritize these two opportunities...
If you want to be a career pilot, military flight training is the equivalent of an advanced degree in that industry. The slots are generally not easy to get, and you should consider it your golden opportunity. In this case I would consider the guard my priority and try to fit in the masters where you can.
If you want to do something else, and this master's program will start you in that direction, then you have to decide whether to join the guard for fun now and defer your education and career, or just get started on your real career.
Generally it would probably be easier to do the guard first while you are young and have a slot in hand. There are no age limits in education, so you can come back to that...but you have to decide your priority.
The reserves do offer a GI Bill program for reserve personnel, including officers. It doesn't pay as much as active-duty GI Bill, but it's something. I assume guard guys get this also.
I cant speak for every school, however, MTSU, granted me extensions on a case by case(class by class) plan. Meaning. I had to contact every teacher I had, And let them know I was not going to be attending and why. I did this by showing them a copy of my *orders of deployment*. Most were like, "I had know idea you were a soldier, take as much time as you need, here is my person cell #, if you get the chance, look at this material, and call me with any questions... Some where more like, "You are still responsible for this class Mr. McDaniel. I expect your work to be turned in, no matter how late it is." SOO long story short, It can be a big pain, but if that masters is your goal, it can be done.
06-03-2008, 05:26 PM
#9
Line Holder
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Posts: 49
Originally Posted by Tweetdrvr
you are obviously too smart to be a pilot, run and save the UPT slot for dumber guys who can do nothing but pull on a yoke to make an airplane manuever through the sky.
First time I have ever been accused of that!
One last thought, are you young enough to do the grad program first then do UPT? Would the slot still be available? There is a way too smart for pilots guy at Laughlin going through for UAVs now and he will work for NASA at the Ames research facility when he is finished with training.
First time I have ever been accused of that!
One last thought, are you young enough to do the grad program first then do UPT? Would the slot still be available? There is a way too smart for pilots guy at Laughlin going through for UAVs now and he will work for NASA at the Ames research facility when he is finished with training.
Thanks for the help!
06-03-2008, 05:28 PM
#10
Line Holder
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Posts: 49
[quote=rickair7777;396101]A couple of thoughts...
Also, what are you career aspirations? This is very important because you need to prioritize these two opportunities...
Flying and fighting for my country are my life aspirations, they come first. You make a good point the school may have to wait. We'll see, thanks man.
Also, what are you career aspirations? This is very important because you need to prioritize these two opportunities...
Flying and fighting for my country are my life aspirations, they come first. You make a good point the school may have to wait. We'll see, thanks man.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Bengalsfan
Major
21
01-26-2006 05:00 AM
