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Originally Posted by d22block (Post 613801)

..... But, I'm saying, if I forsome reason do not fly in the military when I have to serve, but I did fly at Purdue, what are my chances of actually getting that top of the line some day?

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Your chances would be the same as if you just graduated with the flight experience you received in college and applied. It's unlikely your military non-flying service would have much bearing at all. So, you'd be ?4-ish years behind your peers who didn't serve (assuming you were able to get out right at the 4 year point).




I'm pretty sure most of the ATC slots are enlisted positions. You may want to research that. It's likely that you'd be in a supervisory role and not doing much hands on ATC work if you did get into that field. They do use officers as GCI (ground control intercept) controllers and AWACs controllers. In that capacity you aid fighters and attack aircraft using ground and AWACs radar, passing information on enemy aircraft positions, IDs, etc.

I hope you have really educated yourself on the current state of the airline/cargo industry as well as its future. Why do you really want to do this?

If your Dad, some uncle or a neighbor has what you think is some great airline job and you want the same, just realize that reality is going to be harsh.
Not to dash your dream, but I would NEVER steer a high school senior toward an airline career in 2009.

If someone wants to be a professional pilot, the only way I would recommend they do that is in the military. Serve 20 years, retire and THEN pursue an airline job if the timing's right.

A job as a regional airline pilot is not what it used to be. It once was a stepping stone job toward a major airline. Now major airlines farm out a huge percentage of their flying to regionals. Pilots at those regionals are starting to realize that for many of them, that's their final stop in their career. Those jobs have always had low pay, minimal retirement benefits and poor work rules because the employers knew they could always get some chump to do the job for peanuts so they could build flight time. Now the reality is that many will be stuck there for the rest of their career. Maybe that will force change eventually and things will improve but I doubt it.

There are a small number of good flying jobs out there but getting one is similar to winning the lottery. Cargo is the place to be now. That may change in the future. It’s likely that you might see unmanned cargo aircraft in your career. That will definitely affect that career path. Major airlines are hurting right now and most have had their contracts raped during the post-911 bankruptcies. They will all try to regain some ground once the economy turns around and their contracts come up for renewal. They will probably be able to make some improvements. Improvements are relative, however. Many improvements will only return them to parity with where they were 10, 15 or even 20 years ago. Many airline pilots are working for the same wages (in 2009 dollars) that they were working for shortly after they got hired. They’re working longer hours and more days for those same wages too.

The bottom line is this: You really need to understand the reality of the career you are pursuing. If you do and you are willing to accept the risks, you may get lucky. You may not. I’m on my third airline with my Fedex job. I spent over 4 years at United, got furloughed, spent a couple of years at a charter airline and then got on w/ Fedex. Three times on first year pay, on probation is enough. I was making less than 40K a year for 4 of the last 10 years from age 34-44. That’s kind of pathetic when you think about it but I would also count myself as one of the lucky ones.

It’s highly likely that you will spend your twenties in the regionals flying for less than 50 grand a year (assuming you make Captain at some point). Less than 30 grand if you get stuck as an FO. In your early 30s, you may be competitive for a job at a major airline or cargo carrier. So will all the other pilots who want those jobs. Hopefully you have some connections or a relative who can write letters of recommendation or somehow nudge you past your competition. If you’re lucky, you’ll get hired by the time you’re 35. You’ll probably take a paycut for at least a year assuming you’re a regional Captain when you get hired. Starting pay at most majors is less than 35 grand a year for the first year. If you get hired at the start of a hiring boom, great. You may get lucky and move up quickly. Realistically, you’ll probably spend 5-10 years as an FO and be lucky if you can break the 6-figure mark in your salary. It’s likely you will be threatened with at least one furlough and possible you might be out of work for a couple of years during your first 10 years. There is no guarantee that the airline that hires you will be in business by the time you retire. They may merge with another airline and that 10 years of seniority you just built up might evaporate or be diminished significantly during the merger. And you’re willing to deal with all this…….why? You love to fly? You think it’s a high paying job? Do yourself a favor. Start a business, get a real degree, do something other than flying for a job and buy an airplane. Get your flying jollies that way. Being gone half the month for poor wages and work rules is not the way to pursue your love of flying.

Yah, I know I’m not Mr. Sunshine. Just trying to give you a reality shot (and I’ve got one of the good flying jobs for now). Wait until a regional guy or a UAL guy gets on here and gives you his two cents.
Good Luck.

Federal military service commitment is 8 years total. Part of that can be active, part can be reserve, part can be individual ready reserve (meaning you live a normal civilian life until the military really really needs you back.

Army commitment is 4 years Active. After flight school you 6 more years Active, meaning you'll still owe about a year left to uncle Sam but could leave. Any time during that 8 years uncle Sam can change the contrat.

Army ROTC won't gaurentee you a flight slot, so you could very well wind up leading an Infantry Platoon. You can take ROTC as an elective to try it out and then apply for a 3 or 2 year scholarship. If you wait until you are already on campus, however, you may miss out on the chance to get free room and board. Flight time for Captains and Lieutenants could vary from 0 hours per year to 110 hours per year to over 600 hours. All depends on your unit, your "real job," and if you are in combat or recovering from combat. Fixed wing is possible, but a very low probability of getting it... I'd say 1 in 200.

If you want to serve your country, fly in the Army, earn a salary high enough to pay off your student loans, and gain valuable flight experience that WILL help you get into the airline industry provided the airlines are hiring, the you want to talk to a recruiter about becoming a WARRANT OFFICER. If you pass the aptitude test and physical you can go straight from Basic, to Warrant officer candidate school, and to flight school. If I could go back to my college days that's what I'd do. Captains and Lieutenants in teh army are aviation managers that fly, not pilots.

Oh, and Military Service is a Stepping Stone to a Civilian Career, regardless of what some Navy Studs would have you believe.

True, but we'd be doing young folks like d22block a disservice by advertising military flying as a means to an end. Too much pain involved to market it as simply a flight time building experience (you didn't but it was slightly implied).

We all leave the military for another career. It's just hard to think about the time in your logbook when you're sitting squadron duty officer at 0300 and you get a call about a junior sailor, airman, or Marine who has just performed -insert one of the following- (domestic violence, underage drinking, suicide gesture, DUI, life threatening motor cycle accident, other).

A few major character filters occur upstream of earning military wings. The trade itself attracts the personality that is required (this being the first stage, or course screen filter). The majority of people who say, "I really want to do that" and take action to make the dream reality, can actually perform the job. The percentage of them that aren't what military aviation is looking for are weeded out in officer and flight training.

It may be a good idea to paint the most realistic picture for those who are thinking, "I really want to do that". This may save them grief down track.

On another note, USN obligatory service is now 8 years after winging for pilots going to all communities.