mcartier713

anyone have any information or know anything about joining a guard OSA unit?

Clue32

Try APTAP Forum. "Who wants to be a C-12 Pilot?" thread. Not too many Army Guard guys here on APC.

WeaselBoy

Best bet is to contact a unit directly. They would give you the most up to date and correct information. Just about any Guard aviation unit will be able to get you in touch with a POC.

mcartier713

how do you contact the unit directly? lol

DustoffVT

Sorry, but not much of chance of hiring directly into OSA. There are two reasons: #1 C-12 slots are few and coveted, #2 Commanders need you to be a deployable asset (C-12 does deploy but rotary deploys much more, in the Guard). Yes, you will fly rotary at flight school, and have an advanced airframe (Chinook, Hawk, Apache), but I wouldn't want to pull you from fixed wing to bring you down range in an aircraft you have very little experience in(although it defintely does happen). Main reason, though, is really the seniority thing.

If you are interested in reserve component fixed wing, many Army Reserve fixed wing units are short pilots to staff deployments. I don't think they are hiring straight off the street yet, because you wouldn't be a deployment asset for 2 years or so. But it's probably coming due to post-deployment retirements.

Clue32

APTAP bud. Guys in the units are posting vacancies for their units and they can get you in direct contact with the pilot / officer recruiter.

Yes, coming in off the street to be a FW driver is a long shot but it is possible. The two year train up is spot on because you'll have to go to WOCS, flight school, SERE C, and the basic course. Then you'll be put to the front of the line to train up for deployment and then head overseas.

Rotary Wing would be much easier to get into and it would help with getting one of the coveted FW slots down the road.