Have you considered flying for the military?
06-07-2008, 03:45 PM
#21
Line Holder
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Posts: 82
I went from strictly civilian to the reserves. Had about 200 hours when I got hired with a CMEI. It's a long process but extremely worth it. Units are hiring all the time, mine just hired 4 plus an alternate, plus a nav, out of 8 candidates. Pretty good odds there...
06-07-2008, 04:04 PM
#22
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,837
Originally Posted by cruiseclimb
Reserve and Air Guard slots are a different animal.. Usually they pick guys already qualified and getting out of active duty.. ESPECIALLY during times when the airline industry is bad. The furloughed mil guys just go back to their old units to get a paycheck.. We can cover that in another thread.
To get into the mil as a pilot, you have to go to the OFFICER recruiting.. not the general recruiter at the strip mall. He recruits for the enlisted ranks. They have been know to lie about getting you into a flying job. You need to go to what is called a MEP center. That's the regional recruiting office where officers are recruited. the first step is to arrange to take the written exams. Study up on some of the test prep books in the local library. Usually a two part test.. general math, english blah, blah.. and a flying aptitude test.. once you pass this they will arrange for a flight physical, put together and application package, then send it to a selection board. If you are selected, they call you and tell you when to report to OCS.. The officer version of boot camp. Enlisted go to boot camp, officers go to OCS.. After you finish OCS, you report to flight school which can take from 18-30 months depending on what you fly. Your commitment to the military starts when you get your wings. After wings you report for training in whatever platform you will fly (fighters, transport, helo etc)
Make sure you are applying to an officer billet, going to Officer candidate school (OCS), with a promise of flight school.. You should be talking to an officer recruiter for all of this.. Most branches want you to have completed OCS by the time you are 27 yrs old.
To get into the mil as a pilot, you have to go to the OFFICER recruiting.. not the general recruiter at the strip mall. He recruits for the enlisted ranks. They have been know to lie about getting you into a flying job. You need to go to what is called a MEP center. That's the regional recruiting office where officers are recruited. the first step is to arrange to take the written exams. Study up on some of the test prep books in the local library. Usually a two part test.. general math, english blah, blah.. and a flying aptitude test.. once you pass this they will arrange for a flight physical, put together and application package, then send it to a selection board. If you are selected, they call you and tell you when to report to OCS.. The officer version of boot camp. Enlisted go to boot camp, officers go to OCS.. After you finish OCS, you report to flight school which can take from 18-30 months depending on what you fly. Your commitment to the military starts when you get your wings. After wings you report for training in whatever platform you will fly (fighters, transport, helo etc)
Make sure you are applying to an officer billet, going to Officer candidate school (OCS), with a promise of flight school.. You should be talking to an officer recruiter for all of this.. Most branches want you to have completed OCS by the time you are 27 yrs old.
USMCFLYR
06-07-2008, 04:05 PM
#23
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 147
The age thing is incorrect. You must be 30 by your start date for UPT although there are waivers. And yes, they do give them out.
The problem lies in the fact that if you go ANG you are not just hired by your unit and sent to UPT. You are given a FC1 medical. This medical is then sent through the unit followed by the State Guard Bureau and then finally the ANGB. This process generally takes a year.
This is followed by waiting for a AMS (Guard) class date. This is your commission. Unfortunately they do not like to load the classes up with pilots and the class start dates are usualy 4-6 months out unless your unit can pull strings or you are age critical. Generally around week 4 or 5 you will find out your class start date for UPT which is anywhere up to another 6 months away.
It is a long process. Units are very picky and preferential. Reserve units are a good way to go as well. You will have to really want it to get it. Just because you are successful in civilian flying does not always translate to AF SUPT. It is the hardest program you will ever take a part in. That being said good luck if you choose to do so but also know that you are not going to just be able to walk in and pick a unit. Many units will have 50-60 apps for one or two slots.
Deep thoughts eh?
The problem lies in the fact that if you go ANG you are not just hired by your unit and sent to UPT. You are given a FC1 medical. This medical is then sent through the unit followed by the State Guard Bureau and then finally the ANGB. This process generally takes a year.
This is followed by waiting for a AMS (Guard) class date. This is your commission. Unfortunately they do not like to load the classes up with pilots and the class start dates are usualy 4-6 months out unless your unit can pull strings or you are age critical. Generally around week 4 or 5 you will find out your class start date for UPT which is anywhere up to another 6 months away.
It is a long process. Units are very picky and preferential. Reserve units are a good way to go as well. You will have to really want it to get it. Just because you are successful in civilian flying does not always translate to AF SUPT. It is the hardest program you will ever take a part in. That being said good luck if you choose to do so but also know that you are not going to just be able to walk in and pick a unit. Many units will have 50-60 apps for one or two slots.
Deep thoughts eh?
06-07-2008, 04:11 PM
#24
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,837
Originally Posted by js081285
Thanks for the advice. The gf is the one, Im just weighing the positives and negatives. I havent graduated yet so I'm not marrying her yet b/c I have been waiting on getting a job. Thats the big negative to me is the deployments, but I dont really know how they work in the af. As for the aircraft to fly, I would be just as happy flying heavies as opposed to fighters.
At least for the near future (no matter who is in the White House), deployments are in your future should you join the AD military. I don't know exactly how the Guard/Reserves deploy for the most part; but current times are different and the Guard/Reserves have been deploying more than ever before.
I'll only speak for myself, but even when we were not in a time of war I spent my first 4 years in the fleet deploying nearly 12 months out of 18 months (a 6 month deployment, followed by 1 year "at home" time of which you were gone between 4-6 months on work-ups).
USMCFLYR
06-07-2008, 04:37 PM
#25
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2008
Position: In the green room
Posts: 105
Concur with USMCFLYR. I worked the same service active duty and now I fly the reserves. During my active service, I was gone frequently-more than just the Middle East combat deployments. Expect each year on average 5 months gone. Some years more. Some years less. If you can accept that, flying in the Marines is money! I fly Herc tankers. I wouldn't trade it for anything. As an airline guy now, I find that my "country club" is my reserve unit. My company is fun, but my reserve unit is home to most of my friends. Its a brotherhood.
Incidentally, my wife was a big-"I don't date jarheads" girl. She eventually did and she suffered through a year of Iraq deployments with me. Point--they can hack it if you can hack it. Better be comfortable with the possibility of helicopters or ospreys if you come to gun club. Though, it truly is about who you fly with and not what you fly--at least in the Marines.
Incidentally, my wife was a big-"I don't date jarheads" girl. She eventually did and she suffered through a year of Iraq deployments with me. Point--they can hack it if you can hack it. Better be comfortable with the possibility of helicopters or ospreys if you come to gun club. Though, it truly is about who you fly with and not what you fly--at least in the Marines.
06-07-2008, 04:40 PM
#26
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Posts: 116
Originally Posted by USMCFLYR
Then I would give you the same advice as I always pass to young people that I am talking too - DO NOT JOIN THE MILITARY.
At least for the near future (no matter who is in the White House), deployments are in your future should you join the AD military. I don't know exactly how the Guard/Reserves deploy for the most part; but current times are different and the Guard/Reserves have been deploying more than ever before.
I'll only speak for myself, but even when we were not in a time of war I spent my first 4 years in the fleet deploying nearly 12 months out of 18 months (a 6 month deployment, followed by 1 year "at home" time of which you were gone between 4-6 months on work-ups).
USMCFLYR
At least for the near future (no matter who is in the White House), deployments are in your future should you join the AD military. I don't know exactly how the Guard/Reserves deploy for the most part; but current times are different and the Guard/Reserves have been deploying more than ever before.
I'll only speak for myself, but even when we were not in a time of war I spent my first 4 years in the fleet deploying nearly 12 months out of 18 months (a 6 month deployment, followed by 1 year "at home" time of which you were gone between 4-6 months on work-ups).
USMCFLYR
06-07-2008, 04:51 PM
#28
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,837
Originally Posted by js081285
How do AF deployments compare to other branches of the military?
USMCFLYR
06-07-2008, 07:11 PM
#30
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Posts: 248
Originally Posted by USMCFLYR
we were working with the F-15 Eagles out of Kadena and they were going to make a first deployment outside of Japan (Okinawa). I think it was '95 for anyone who might have been around during that time. We were joking because they were making a big deal out the 90 day deployment to the Middle East...
Of course, none of the Eagles are deploying now days.
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