Possibly starting down the path. Need help.
 

This'll be a long post, but if anyones willing to throw me ANY advice it's more than appreciated.

I'm a junior in university interested in applying for a pilot slot and so far I'm focused on the Air National Guard or the Coast Gaurd. But, I'm not sure if I'm even a canidate to begin with.

To begin, I hold a PPL and I'll be working on my IFR this summer and I've got no medical restrictions. I'm a natural born U.S. citizen, and i'm working on a bachleors at the University of Toronto in Canada. But heres where my problems begin: While this University is ranked extremely well around the world, it's notorious for spanking its 50 some thousand students. The enforced average GPA is a 2.30, and as of the end of this year I'm looking at a 2.31 which I would probably be able to bring up to a 2.5 by graduation. This might look like I've been lazy or not smart enough, but if it helps I've met a boatload of people here and I've yet to meet one with a gpa above 3.5. I also know some of the websites mention a SAT score requirement and I think I scored a 1300.

That being said, I'm pretty certain I have all of the other requirements down (No medical restrictions, physically active. If references would even be necessary, I have a retired Army Major for an uncle and my childhood best friend's mom was the first woman in the Air National guard.

I've focused on the Air National Gaurd and the Coast guard specifically because from what I've been told, I'd have the ability to directly help Americans and be able to do so in a fixed wing aircraft.

I'm not interested in joining just for the fixed wing training and I'm definitely not aspiring to pilot a Hornet. Hell, I'd even pay for my own training at this point just to get into one of these programs. I really would love to be able to directly help Americans, but I'm also joining to kick-start the aviation career.

So with this not-so-hot GPA in mind, is it a waste of time for me to aspire to military flight? Am I better off just feeling my way around with civilian hours? Once again, thanks for taking the time to read this, if you have ANY input I'd love to hear it.

I'm not sure that the AF can distinguish between a 2.5 from Harvard and a 2.5 from Eastern Southern Western Community College. You'll likely be competing with students with 3.5 GPAs and better.

If you're interested in civilian aviation a 10-year AF commitment is going to sidetrack your goal. If you just want to fly cool missions and your civilian aspirations can wait, then throw your package in with the rest of 'em.

You said you don't want to be a Hornet pilot, but the Marine Corps has C-130's too. The Marine Corps took me with a 2.3. Just food for thought.

I would apply, and include a statement explaining the school's grading policy and any supporting documentation. It will help if you have a technical/hard science degree. Certain US service academies also grade that way...

You could not afford to pay for military flight training, even if that were an option...it's probably several million dollars these days.

Haha, I was under the assumption that some of the base training was the same or very similar as the outside. I know now, civilian ratings may make you more attractive to other branches but civilian time or training doesn't replace military time.

Thanks for the responses folks, theyre much appreciated.

The more I research it, the more I find myself in a grey area as applying goes. I wouldn't mind being deployed to live combat if it was needed, but I'd want to primarily be involved in the emergency relief/humanitarian side of things and from what I've heard, you don't go in choosing that; you're more or less assigned to the projects as need dictates. I most definitely wouldnt mind putting down 10 years if I knew I was going to be doing something on the humanitarian side of things. But, I'm not in favor of being in a combat role until I'm 33-38 years old and from what I understand, it's pretty much a gamble for someone of those interests.

I honestly don't know how competitive you would be for the Coast Guard. It might just boil down to how well rounded your OCS application package would be. I'm also guessing that your school doesn't qualify for the Blue 21 program.

If fixed wing is the route you want to go, the Coast Guard is a viable option. Most of our flight applicants want to be rotar heads so the door is wide open. You would definitely find the flying to be gratifying and rewarding.

I'm interested in the ANG selection and training process. I'm a furloughed 121 guy and made some connections with a exec transport ANG and they have a opening. I currently am 23 and am in good health. The only disqualifying things could be my size 6'7'' and I do wear glasses with a light prescription. Would those even matter if I'm not flying a combat aircraft?

What training I would have to go through to get a pilot slot? I know I would have to go to basic OCS (i already have degree) would I have to do any basic military flight training?? Or would they send me straight to aircraft specific flight training?

I appreciate any insights....

You're height may disqualify you. You're vision is waiverable. Yes, you have to go through basic training, then undergraduate pilot training.

For both of you: The United States is at war. The primary purpose of nearly all (except some vip aircraft) military aircraft is to either 1) kill the enemy 2) help kill the enemy 3) drop off supplies for others to kill the enemy

If the above is averse to you at all, the military is not for you.;)

You will go to Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) for a year just like everybody else before ever setting foot on a big jet. You'll also go to Combat Survival School and have some "Unpleasant" experiences. No amount of civilian experience makes you special enough to skip that. Airline Pilots with thousands of hours have washed out in the past. You are going to train in the T-6A, a tandem-seat aircraft with a Martin-Baker Ejection Seat, an aircraft also used as a "Combat Aircraft" by other countries. So yes, your sitting height matters.

Jesterc (and to anyone else who might be thinking about joining the military)

This is not meant to scare you, but I want to be upfront and honest.

The military offers invaluable experience at exceptional pay rates with one of the best retirement plans that very few can match. However, DO NOT join the military if you aren't willing to serve as an Officer first, pilot second, in one of our Nation's air forces.

In most cases, you will be a COMBATANT unless you are in a medical or JAG career field (note, pilots are combatants).

There's absolutely no guarantee that you will pass UPT. You could end up in another career field that you do not like. You could end up medically disqualified which could put you into another career field.

You will be expected to meet extremely high standards and will be incharge of enforcing those standards.

As you progress through your career, the flying part will become secondary to your desk / ground job. (you'll have one, two, maybe three other jobs when you aren't flying). You may even have a tour in which you aren't flying.

I think if you are wanting to serve and help Americans directly, then you need to look into the Coast Guard or some other domestic type of government agency. The CG I think sees more face time with America. In the USAF (just going off my experiene), rarely will you support something here in the states.

Also, I don't want to discourage you. Recruitment teams always look at the "total person" concept. You can be a little lacking in one area, but make up for it in another. However, you control just about every factor in your package.

Focus on getting better grades ... that's a first priority.
Make sure you are in perfect health and physical fitness.
Get more references. Whether they be military or not. Examine your network of family, friends, co-workers to see if they know anyone of any value. examples of good people to use as a reference (teachers, clergy, employers, social orgainizations, anyone who can attest to your character, desires, and work ethic ..etc).
Do community service -- show the recruitment team that you want to help individuals.
Get more flight time.

As another has said, generate a cover letter for your package and explain to the recruiters why you want to serve. You have a noble cause so that will help. Make sure to explain your low GPA -- it can only help you.

Lastly, be honest with yourself. If you aren't willing to become a combatant (something you'll almost certainly be in the USAF, USA, USN, USMC), don't join.

I hope this helps you.

Fjeter and Jesterc-
I'm a 21 year old wisher, dreaming of being an ANG pilot like yourselves and have spent PLENTY of time researching. First of all the ANG is QUITE a bit different when it comes to recruiting for pilots than active duty military branches. When they recruit, they recruit by Base. Each base usually has one or two pilot slots open up every year. Applying for those slots is alot like applying for a job. You send in your package, and if your lucky, you get a call for an interview. JESTERC, this is where you'll have the biggest trouble. Cause here you can't really explain the GPA. But IF you DO get the interview, be prepared to have a good explination about it and make it sound good. In the interview its ALL about the person as a whole. Make the board (Who by the way is made up of the actual pilots who are in the squardron you are applying for, and potentially flying with) understand it and think its not a big deal cause your such a great guy.
And to Fjetter, you actually don't HAVE to go through any training to GET the pilot slot! It only helps your chances of getting the slot. once you GET the slot, then you have to go to basic and UPT.
Now the biggest difference of the ANG and other branches comes at UPT. All the others go to UPT competing with each other for the best pilots spots, and don't nessicarily get what they want, and DEFINATELY don't know where they will end up before hand. In the ANG however you DO know. Though you go to the EXACT same school as they do, while they compete against each other, you are only competing against yourself. When you get the slot and go to UPT, you know what your flying and where your flying, and only have to prove that you deserve the spot you've been given.

You guys do realize the Air Force Reserve exists right? All this talk of ANG and no love for the Reserves:D.

Most units require a cover letter with application packages. It may be a good idea for you to address your GPA issue in that. If I were you, I'd call up the unit(s) you're interested in and start rushing them. Once you get to know the bros in the squadron, bring up your low GPA to the sqcc, do, chief pilot or someone who's going to have some pull in the hiring process. Make friends with the Lt or Capt who's collecting packages too (everyone loves booze). I guarantee you that units would take a good dude with a 2.31 over an asshat with a 4.0.

ANG4me, don't rule out AFRC: very similar to the ANG, except there is no obligation to the Governor. AFRC units still do help with disasters (airlift people out ahead of a hurricane, etc). Some say that the ANG avoids the Active Duty BS better than the Reserves do, but I'm not in a position to compare.

Best of luck to both of you.

Very true but a Big difference between the two, that may make a difference for these guys, is that in the AFRC, you don't know where or what your flying before UPT. Other than that thought, plenty of love here for the AFRC! And I'm definitely not ruling it out for myself.

I think you're confusing AFRC with going through the OTS (AD) application process. Reservists are hired by individual units just like they are in the ANG.

There are AFRC/ANG threads posted in this forum on a seemingly weekly basis. Take some time to read through them and get the info you need. Also head over to baseops and wantscheck and read. Key word: read. Don't ask questions that have already been asked and certainly don't make statements that are blatantly incorrect. Edit: I'm not trying to be mean here, just trying to save you some hassle over on those less friendly boards.

No need to jump on a high horse and put other people down. I'm not hear to say I know more than you, and will be the first to admit that I've done minimal research on the AFRC and what info I have gotten may very well have been false. A simple your wrong would have done.

The Reserve (AFRC) system from hiring to juggling civilian/Military life works identically to the ANG. Don't miss out on quite a few units that I guess you accidentally ignored. In the same token, when you go to Units, don't go to a Reserve guy and ask about the "Guard" or go to a Guard guy and ask how he likes the "Reserves." As with any interview in life, know who your interviewer actually works for. We're kind of like twins, but you better know our names.

The ANG DOES avoid the active duty BS better than the Reserves. I'm sure there are reservists on this forum that could chime in with their own examples. Stories I've personally heard from reservists is how different their promotions are and their deployment schedules. There is a lot less red tape for the Air Force to go through to abuse a reserve unit compared to a guard unit.

Good luck to everyone in the job hunt. I was 20 when I was hired and am thankful every day for it. Hard to believe it was 10 years ago.

Honestly, its not enough that it should turn a kid away from the reserves. It also depends on Airframe. If dealing with just a little (we're talking VERY little) more crap turns you're stomach, you don't belong in any component of the Air Force. We're talking about street hires with no prior service, they're getting a pretty sweet deal for a free Commercial-Multi and various type ratings, and career stability. You might spend a month or two deployed longer than in the Guard over a 20 year career. Not a big deal. And while it is easier to activate an entire Reserve Unit, it's still hard to do. Honestly, the BS you're talking about shouldn't even be on the radar of a 21 year old, and most of that is at Reserve Associate Units. There are still plenty of Unit-Equipped Reserve Units that operate just like the Guard in every way.

I agree that it is going to be unit/airframe specific. Several guys from my guard unit have transferred to reserve units and all I'm doing is passing along some of the gripes I've heard from them. These same gripes I've heard at my civilian job from reservists. If a 21 year old wants to chaff it off, fine. I'm not telling them the reserve is crap, just that there ARE differences.

BTW, the guard isn't perfect either. There are some bad squadrons/units out there.

Thats interesting!! any in particular? and why? So i know that much more when i'm deciding where to send packages? ( I'll probably send them there anyway..... it would be dumb not to)!

Send your app, things could change.

I'm not going to list units on here that I didn't like. I've just seen a little bit in my short 7 years flying the viper to get an IDEA what works and what doesn't in a guard unit. One of the biggest things I've seen is taking care of the part-timers. If they are treated like the B team, good luck getting volunteers for the next exercise, deployment, etc.

There are other things, but nothing you should worry about now. You'll figure a lot of it out as you go. Just like we all did.

If anything, I learned to appreciate my guard unit more after seeing how others operate.

Good luck!