Questions about the Air Force
07-07-2009, 03:52 AM
#31
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: Legacy FO
Posts: 4,096
I second many other's comments in here. Knowing what I know now, I would definitely try to steer someone into the Guard / Reserve -- especially if they are looking at joining an associate reserve unit that flies three-holers who *rarely* get activated ... if ever.
On a side note, joining ROTC and competing for a pilot slot is not that big of a deal. All you can do is your best and that is what is expected for you. If you do not get a pilot slot, they'll make you do another job for 3-4 years. But don't worry, you can STILL compete for a slot while active. I know several folks who went to pilot training this way.
Flying is great and I love it, but I would also like to have another resume bullet in case furloughs come. And having "I managed 300 people in a MX squadron for the USAF" or "I worked on XXX program designing whatever" are great things to have on a resume.
On a side note, joining ROTC and competing for a pilot slot is not that big of a deal. All you can do is your best and that is what is expected for you. If you do not get a pilot slot, they'll make you do another job for 3-4 years. But don't worry, you can STILL compete for a slot while active. I know several folks who went to pilot training this way.
Flying is great and I love it, but I would also like to have another resume bullet in case furloughs come. And having "I managed 300 people in a MX squadron for the USAF" or "I worked on XXX program designing whatever" are great things to have on a resume.
07-07-2009, 03:59 AM
#32
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jun 2009
Posts: 21
Originally Posted by GunshipGuy
Too many have made the mistake of bringing up what is just a scratchy throat--do the tech a favor and don't mention it.
07-07-2009, 06:35 AM
#33
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: A-300 F/O
Posts: 281
Originally Posted by majortom546
Also, I am not yet a United States Citizen. I was born in England and hold a permenant resident card that expires in 2012. Would I be better off applying for citizenship now or waiting?
Have you thought about enlisting in the guard or reserves to help in your quest for a pilot slot? Being enlisted will give you education benefits, it will give you a more complete picture of what it takes to serve in the armed forces, which will help your ROTC pilot slot chances. Being enlisted in the guard or reserves may help you gain a leg up on a flying slot with the unit you are with or with another unit.
You can be enlisted in the guard and reserves until you become a citizen and or a contracted cadet. This may also help you gain citizenship quicker. It will give you the chance to play both sides of the house to maximize your chances. Enroll in the 4 year program of ROTC, it counts as your Phys Ed elective in most schools because of the PT requirments and you can do the first two years as a non citizen. Do well, keep your nose clean, and don't brown nose it. Evaluate the detachment. If your GPA is high and you are in a small detachment that only commissions six or seven a year, then they will get one or two slots and your chances are pretty good. Meanwhile do well in the guard/reserve unit, keep your nose clean, don't brown nose, but be a team player. Talk with your supervisors and make sure they know you want to interview for a commission and a pilot slot opportunity especially if you are not working directly with the flying squadron. If you do enlist, try to enlist for a flying position if available or maintenance or life support shop so the people who will ultimately judge your application package and interview will already know you. At the end of your two years of ROTC and you are already a citizen, if you are in line behind a bunch of others for slots at your guard/reserve unit and ROTC is looking better, signing a contract to enter the POC will get you out of any ANG/Reserve commitments. If ROTC is not looking good, detachment never gets slots, way too many cadets with higher GPAs and better rankings, and test scores than you had, stop taking ROTC it was just an elective and don't go to camp. Two years later, after you have a degree, if you still haven't gotten a slot with the reserve components, try again with active duty and OTS.
Good luck, but get your citizenship!!
07-07-2009, 12:31 PM
#34
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jun 2009
Posts: 21
Originally Posted by Tweetdrvr
This is a show stopper for being an officer in the armed forces of the United States. I am not sure you can even get contracted, or be on scholarship as a cadet in the POC portion of AFROTC or any ROTC for that matter if you are not a citizen. Being a contracted cadet in the last two years of the 4 year program or for the two years of the 2 year program basically means you are in line for a commission as soon as you finish the academic/military training requirements, and therefore must be eligible for a commission, which means being a citizen. I doubt they would even send you to ROTC field training (summer camp) because they could potentially be wasting a slot.
Have you thought about enlisting in the guard or reserves to help in your quest for a pilot slot? Being enlisted will give you education benefits, it will give you a more complete picture of what it takes to serve in the armed forces, which will help your ROTC pilot slot chances. Being enlisted in the guard or reserves may help you gain a leg up on a flying slot with the unit you are with or with another unit.
You can be enlisted in the guard and reserves until you become a citizen and or a contracted cadet. This may also help you gain citizenship quicker. It will give you the chance to play both sides of the house to maximize your chances. Enroll in the 4 year program of ROTC, it counts as your Phys Ed elective in most schools because of the PT requirments and you can do the first two years as a non citizen. Do well, keep your nose clean, and don't brown nose it. Evaluate the detachment. If your GPA is high and you are in a small detachment that only commissions six or seven a year, then they will get one or two slots and your chances are pretty good. Meanwhile do well in the guard/reserve unit, keep your nose clean, don't brown nose, but be a team player. Talk with your supervisors and make sure they know you want to interview for a commission and a pilot slot opportunity especially if you are not working directly with the flying squadron. If you do enlist, try to enlist for a flying position if available or maintenance or life support shop so the people who will ultimately judge your application package and interview will already know you. At the end of your two years of ROTC and you are already a citizen, if you are in line behind a bunch of others for slots at your guard/reserve unit and ROTC is looking better, signing a contract to enter the POC will get you out of any ANG/Reserve commitments. If ROTC is not looking good, detachment never gets slots, way too many cadets with higher GPAs and better rankings, and test scores than you had, stop taking ROTC it was just an elective and don't go to camp. Two years later, after you have a degree, if you still haven't gotten a slot with the reserve components, try again with active duty and OTS.
Good luck, but get your citizenship!!
Have you thought about enlisting in the guard or reserves to help in your quest for a pilot slot? Being enlisted will give you education benefits, it will give you a more complete picture of what it takes to serve in the armed forces, which will help your ROTC pilot slot chances. Being enlisted in the guard or reserves may help you gain a leg up on a flying slot with the unit you are with or with another unit.
You can be enlisted in the guard and reserves until you become a citizen and or a contracted cadet. This may also help you gain citizenship quicker. It will give you the chance to play both sides of the house to maximize your chances. Enroll in the 4 year program of ROTC, it counts as your Phys Ed elective in most schools because of the PT requirments and you can do the first two years as a non citizen. Do well, keep your nose clean, and don't brown nose it. Evaluate the detachment. If your GPA is high and you are in a small detachment that only commissions six or seven a year, then they will get one or two slots and your chances are pretty good. Meanwhile do well in the guard/reserve unit, keep your nose clean, don't brown nose, but be a team player. Talk with your supervisors and make sure they know you want to interview for a commission and a pilot slot opportunity especially if you are not working directly with the flying squadron. If you do enlist, try to enlist for a flying position if available or maintenance or life support shop so the people who will ultimately judge your application package and interview will already know you. At the end of your two years of ROTC and you are already a citizen, if you are in line behind a bunch of others for slots at your guard/reserve unit and ROTC is looking better, signing a contract to enter the POC will get you out of any ANG/Reserve commitments. If ROTC is not looking good, detachment never gets slots, way too many cadets with higher GPAs and better rankings, and test scores than you had, stop taking ROTC it was just an elective and don't go to camp. Two years later, after you have a degree, if you still haven't gotten a slot with the reserve components, try again with active duty and OTS.
Good luck, but get your citizenship!!
07-08-2009, 04:57 PM
#35
Moderate Moderator
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: Curator at Static Display
Posts: 5,681
Medical
Major T:
When I went to pilot training at Williams AFB (Phoenix, AZ), about 50% of my fellow student pilots (myself included) developed hay fever for the first time in April, when flowers came into bloom.
And once you are in, it's OK.
When I went to pilot training at Williams AFB (Phoenix, AZ), about 50% of my fellow student pilots (myself included) developed hay fever for the first time in April, when flowers came into bloom.
And once you are in, it's OK.
07-08-2009, 05:36 PM
#36
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jun 2009
Posts: 21
Originally Posted by UAL T38 Phlyer
Major T:
When I went to pilot training at Williams AFB (Phoenix, AZ), about 50% of my fellow student pilots (myself included) developed hay fever for the first time in April, when flowers came into bloom.
And once you are in, it's OK.
When I went to pilot training at Williams AFB (Phoenix, AZ), about 50% of my fellow student pilots (myself included) developed hay fever for the first time in April, when flowers came into bloom.
And once you are in, it's OK.
07-08-2009, 07:43 PM
#37
New Hire
Joined APC: Jun 2009
Posts: 5
Dude, if I were you, I'd ditch the Aero Engineering and pickup History or something. If you have a 4.0 in History, you'll be more competitive than the kid with a 2.5 in engineering.
So, unless you scored 800 on the math section of the SAT and your goal is to be a test pilot/astronaut then forget that major. Besides, when you graduate/commission you'll be getting paid the same exact amount as that engineer standing next to you who didn't get laid for 4 years.
So, unless you scored 800 on the math section of the SAT and your goal is to be a test pilot/astronaut then forget that major. Besides, when you graduate/commission you'll be getting paid the same exact amount as that engineer standing next to you who didn't get laid for 4 years.
07-08-2009, 07:47 PM
#38
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Spartan
Posts: 3,652
Originally Posted by UAL T38 Phlyer
Major T:
When I went to pilot training at Williams AFB (Phoenix, AZ),.
When I went to pilot training at Williams AFB (Phoenix, AZ),.
Yes, I'm jealous. I'd have loved to go to Willie over The Rio.
07-09-2009, 12:42 PM
#40
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jun 2009
Posts: 21
Originally Posted by Flugzeugmann
Dude, if I were you, I'd ditch the Aero Engineering and pickup History or something. If you have a 4.0 in History, you'll be more competitive than the kid with a 2.5 in engineering.
So, unless you scored 800 on the math section of the SAT and your goal is to be a test pilot/astronaut then forget that major. Besides, when you graduate/commission you'll be getting paid the same exact amount as that engineer standing next to you who didn't get laid for 4 years.
So, unless you scored 800 on the math section of the SAT and your goal is to be a test pilot/astronaut then forget that major. Besides, when you graduate/commission you'll be getting paid the same exact amount as that engineer standing next to you who didn't get laid for 4 years.
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