I just answered another thread by recommending the military to someone with over 750 hours who was looking for some more multi time. I want to start out by saying the military isn't for everyone. In most branches, you are sworn in to be an officer first, and a pilot second. Many fail to realize that, and therefore, fail those who are depending on them outside of the cockpit. Lots of "taking one for the team". Enough of that...

When I went through Navy flight school, the guys who had their FAA tickets rocked the program and had their pick of aircraft they wanted to fly. Within a year, they were getting shot off the front of aircraft carriers, while their civilian buddies were selling blood plasma to try and get enough hours to make part 135 IFR mins. Good stuff, but not as exciting. Here's what I posted on the last thread...

Join the military.. with your hours, you'll probably get your choice of airframes right out of flight school. The best flying you will ever see.. the books written about it don't even do it justice. When I tell some of my civ friends what we do.. they just have this blank look on their face like they can't even comprehend what was just said.. Go for it.. you have nothing to lose and everything to gain,, Doesn't matter what you fly or in what branch.. all great stuff.

You're talking about 25 hours in a piston twin when you could be talking about cat shots off the front of a carrier loaded to bare with enough weapons to do some serious population control and landscaping.. or flying a helicopter into the mountains to pickup a downed pilot with your crewmen locked and loaded with miniguns and hellfires. The Navy C-2 COD pilots trap on the carrier all day then party like rock stars in hotels in Hong Kong, Bahrain, HI, and Australia..

Think past leveling off at FL 360 on autopilot and calling KC center to ask about ride reports so some idiot doesn't spill his coke. You can do that after you get your retirement check... Then you can tell this industry to kiss your A$$ and go live on the beach in a hammock.. How's that for a plan B ?


If I were looking at the industry in the condition it's in now and still had the dream.. I would fly for the military in a heartbeat... You will never regret it!

If anyone is considering it, you can pm me, but with all of the experience on this site.. just start a thread and ask the former mil guys to chime in.

 

Ive been seriously considering the AF here the last couple of weeks. The only thing stopping me is my girlfriend who I am serious with. Sounds like it is hard to beat though, would I rather build time making more money and flying better equipment, with the probability of govt retirement or build time flight instructing/ flying freight?

 

you are right. lots of guys join the military because they want to fly. what they don't realize is that there are several guys in the airforce that fly the fighter jets and after 10 years only have 2000-3000 tt. you are an officer first, pilot second. you are responsible for groups of guys, not just going out and flying the plane around. the military isn't what it used to be anymore either.... pro's and con's to both sides.

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/sh...ad.php?t=27082

i know this is just one thing, but a buddy of mine that flew f14 tomcats, yes we have more than a couple of them here at pinnacle, says things just got so mundane after a while and that when he finally moved up in rank they sent him to fly a desk. he was proud to have his anchor, but it just wasn't the same for him. Another guy here that flies f-16's in the airforce. he flies the older models and by the end of next year they are retiring his units f-16's and he will be flying predators from a trailer. as you can imagine he isn't to thrilled about that either.

 

That's all true.. lot's of less than ideal jobs out there for a pilot in the military when you're on a non flying tour.

The skills you learn from some of the non flying duties are the same things that make successful managers and leaders in the business world. Military officers are highly sought after for that experience. I stayed in the cockpit my whole career, which is very rare. I paid for that by not promoting as high as I could have.. it's a trade off. Most (in the Navy), will do a non flying tour or two over a career. This could range from a desk/staff job, to being the guy that helps run the deck of the carrier. To be honest, after a couple years of flying, they are fun breaks while you work on your MBA with the mil paying for it.

If some guy gets bored flying F-14s, how do you think he'll feel after a couple of years at FLXXX on autopilot? I understand though.. After awhile, I got bored with lots of the flying.. but nothing like the boredom I feel now flying the jet routes. Some days I want to scream.. but it's still better than a desk job or selling insurance.
I haven't found anything yet that compares with the helicopter mountain SAR I did years ago.. Crazy stories.. Something you can only learn in the military..

 

i don't think he was bored with they flying but the entire military lifestyle. he said his first deployment was great, then came the next one and he was gone for 6 months, then the next was a little over a year. i think that is what he was reffering too. just getting worn out by the lifestyle. he has a pretty good gig here right now. been here about 8 years and gets pretty much what he wants schedule wise so i think that helps. he also said its kinda funny because the cruise speed in the tomcat is the same as the rj, a nice slow .74! i thought they would cruise faster but he said that was about the optimal speed for fuel use. he also told me funny stories about mid air refueling and the tomcat seemed really prone to compressor stalls and that it was always a fun time.

 

If you want to do it, don't let the GF hold you back unless she is the ONE...if so, marry her immediately. Let girlfriends influence your plans for the weekend, not your plans for life.

The USAF at least is making artificial jet fuel, so they won't be grounded if oil keeps going up.

Heavy guys fly almost as much as airline guys, depending on circumstances.

Fighter guys fly less, but it is mostly quality time, as opposed to AFCS in "newspaper mode". Majors recognize this and will readily 1000-1500 hour fighter guys.

Generally, a military officer will need to get promoted three times (to O-4/ major/lieutenant commander) in order to be allowed to stay in for 20 years to get the pension. The first two promotions are usually easy, but the O-4 promoton is more competetive. However it comes right about the time your training obligation expires (8-10 years), so it's a good time to leave if you want to, or don't get promoted.

 

Or an officer first, and a pilot not at all.

At least they're starting to consider Lasik. You don't want to lose PQ after signing up for 5-8 years.

 

yeah.. the military lifestyle does take it's toll. The deployments now come pretty frequent. If you're young and single it's a blast. It's difficult with family at home with nothing but an email to keep in touch for 6 months.

JS081285... Never let a girlfriend change the course of your life.. A wife is different.. You can't imagine the number of girls you'll meet at an air show with the military. Truly amazing...

 

Everyone read this line of advice five times.

Been there done that. We broke up anyway, didn't get the T-shirt.

 

Ok, so how does one go about getting into a program? Right now I"m 23 (24 in January), I fly for a regional and just finishing up my last few credits online to get my degree (dumb move, leaving college with 12 credits and 1 semester to go, to fly and have fun on the west coast, idiot idiot idiot!!!). Is there any hope for a reserve slot?