Good advice, like what runge, USMCFLYR and many others have given me. I apologize if I don't appreciate the cheap jabs and the "you should NOT join (even though I'm going to conveniently forget to tell you why)". The majority of advice has been great, and I appreciate it. I was under the impression it was quite clear what I was looking for here.

Blujay, take my advice. I'm not a military pilot, but I'm looking to be one.

Ignore the uptights. I don't think it is a myth that quite a few military pilots think they're hot stuff. Take in the advice you've been given for consideration.

Also, do you want to fly fixed-wing or helicopters? I'm pretty sure they don't sudden;y switch you over from f-16's to blackhawk helicopters.

SoCal -

You are starting to sound immature and you don't seem to like the type of advice you are getting on here and you seem to have fairly thin skin.

As for the bolded above - two points.
LEARN to deal with the "uptights" because you will be working for them, have them working for you, flying with them, and maybe even going to war with them. Ignore them and it will be the end of you.

Second. You're darn right military pilots think they are "hot stuff". If you don't - then you don't belong in military aviation. It is an incredibly competitive environment and you had better think you are good at your job or again - it will be the end of you

By that I mean professionally. It is better you learn this now than checking into your first unit (of any kind).

Yes blujay - listen to SoCal. Ignore the people living it - some for longer than SoCal has been alive.

I'm a moderator here. It is my job to guide thread, help people out, answer questions, and handle problem children when they appear; but I also won't sit idlely by and listen to blatant misinformation and genuine crap.

USMCFLYR

As you know, I'm a mod on another site and deal with the same thing lol. I think what a lot of folks aren't used to is the ready room type banter. It's the net so things are sometimes difficult to read through but a lot of military pilots bring the atmosphere of the rr to the net when dealing with many topics. We aren't so nice on my site with the wannabe's who approach with attitude. Things are a bit more conservative on this site but being it's mainly non-military..probably the right thing to do. I will agree that listening/taking advice from anyone who has never been there done that is absolutely the wrong thing to do. Want to be a military aviator, start with growing some thick skin as well.

Well all I said was to take the advice given by the people on here, and ignore the uptight comments. :D I've notice people have REALLY been on blujays case. All I got was a comment about me being just another geeky HS senior who wants to be a hotshot pilot after being at an airshow. Poor blujay is getting it left and right...

And USMCFlyer, you were actually one of the guys on this forum who DIDN'T seem uptight in anyway.

And I'm not looking to be granted with open arms. I just ain't fond of getting some crap from regulars because I asked some questions. This is no flying club, and I'm trying get as much info as possible before I make the big commitment. If you feel I have an attitude, well I can't help you there.

ANYWAYS, I'm done arguing. Putting aside all the fuss, thanks to the few people who gave me some information to proceed further. If I offended anyone, sorry about that. I didn't MEAN to come off as a smart-@ss high school student.

One thing about AW is they have merged and stickied several threads regarding the basic questions about those initial military questions (in AW's case, Naval Aviation). All in all the approach at AW seems pretty good... someone who wants in being kicked in the e-balls every now and then kind of gives a gut-check about the reasons for joining... better now than later I guess.

I'm not sure if the mods can merge threads here but there appears to be more and more of the "considering miliary pilot route" threads popping up.

I had the opportunity to ride on a MCFOP flight, and one of the Capts started telling me about an e-mail he had gotten regarding a "Lead Ensign"....sure enough a search on AW turned it up also. The Capt. said the e-mail had made it to probably every officer in the USN and USMC - and who knows where else. Rightly or wrongly (maybe he had good intentions) that "Lead Ensign" has a painful road ahead.

Lesson learned: Don't be that guy! :eek: The internet can get you in serious trouble!!!

I've seen the e-mail - as has every IP at both training squadrons in Lemoore. From the e-mail chain I saw - probably every VT/HT squadron Commanding Officer and IP has probably seen it too. That certain guy will be the laughing stock at EVERY squadron he checks into and will be fighting UPHILL from day one! All because of a certain *attitude* that he has already exhibited before taking step 1 1/2.

USMCFLYR

I wonder if some people are already thinking of callsigns

"Dumbass" comes to mind.

Is this 'email' publicly available? It of course sounds interesting, but I imagine it would be a good read for knowing 'what not to do' (though it sounds like its a matter of just having common sense and using your head; i.e. not being a tool).

Myself being a guy working for an ANG pilot slot, I'd be curious to see this! (Though, I don't think I'm a tool! :D)