cloudkicker1981

Hello,
I'm sure this thread has been done a hundred times by now but please help guide me in the right direction. Currently, I fly for a regional in the NE and have been trying to fly in some kind of military outfit every since I was in collage. The recruiters always said they could probably get a medical waiver for a metal rode i had through my femur from a car accident in 96, but it never happened. First it was the army(rotc for 2yrs), then i tried the navy, and then even the marine corp( no offense just they really wanted pilots when i was in collage). It never happened so I got my ratings and time then went to a regional. But i have never lost the dream of flying something faster then 500knts. So a few months ago i went under the knife and had that metal rode out. Ive been training hard and am 100%, i would have know problem passing QFT. Also just passed my first PC ride with the company and did really well. I'm looking to upgrade in 4-6 months. In the mean time I have been accepted to the (well the federal program for pilots) and been studying to take the ASVAB. My plan is to get started on the application process for the guard now and when i upgrade here to captain, start interviewing for a slot. My questions are

1). Besides the ASVAB how do i go about putting a package together, i have talked to a recruiter but it was for a unit and he pretty much wanted me to go enlisted first. So is there a common point of contact for this because i have no specific unit i want to be with and plan on interviewing with as many units as possible?


2). How do i get more competitive, I really didn't do much in High School and Collage besides ROTC and flag football. My grades in Collage were average around 3.3GPA. ?

3). Any other advise would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks a million for your time.

FX Bone Guy

Each guard unit does it's own recruiting.
Each guard unit does it's own hiring.
Each guard unit has their own application process.

To get hired: pretty universal truth here... They hire who they like.

They like guys they know (so being enlisted in the unit DOES help)

They like guys they know will get through pilot training - Not every regional guy will be able to do it. Wash out rate is still high, even for 4.0 type young guys out of the AF Academy. At the guard unit I was at, sat on a pilot hiring board, it was tough to pick guys --- the last three guys (one girl) flunked out at pilot training -- so we started only seriously looking at guys that we've flown with in aeroclubs, flight instruction, previous jobs, etc.

They like guys they know. - So apply to EVERY unit you'd be happy at, and the ones that give you a nod - VISIT them every UTA Friday afternoon, drink w/ them, hang out with them, go to church with them, let them get to KNOW you some how.

Be ready to explain why you quit so many commissioning opportunities. Most units don't want to hire just a pilot. They're hiring an OFFICER. I'd probably not give you the thumbs up unless I got some good answers. If you're willing to serve the unit in an enlisted position, then you're willing to serve your country - which is important for showing you're not just wanting to fly a cool jet.

I spoke with a Guard commander just last weekend about his hiring process, because I speak with a lot of kids about USAF Academy, ROTC, and National Guard stuff. He said it's important to find someone who wants to be a part of the unit - not just fly the jets. In other words, willing to move close to the unit, and volunteer for a whole bunch of flying, a whole bunch of deployments, because they want to be in the war against terror. He shys away from guys that just want to fly for fun or work toward an airline job.

Specific advice for you: I'm a poor speller, but collage is spelled college unlesse you're writing about "An artistic composition of materials and objects pasted over a surface, often with unifying lines and color." College grades DO count, so go get a Master's degree in something technical to make you appear that you will be able to handle pilot training. High AFOQT scores matter a lot.

Probably not the news you wanted to hear, but TRUTH.

FX Bone Guy

...and oh, tell me WHEN you get hired. If it's all worth it to you, you'll take my advice.

L-1011-500

Well said above FX Bone Guy. I also am in the Guard and have sat on a few pilot boards. Every Guard unit is different. The last board I sat on we had guys come in who couldn't look up from their shoes. So from first hand experience watching these guys go get some interview pointers too before coming as well. Even if you think you interview well everything helps. Plus it helps to be in the unit already as an enlisted guy. You then become a known quantity. Good Luck

cloudkicker1981

I appreciate the constructive criticism and will take any I can get that will help. The studying is going well, and I am taking the AFOQT in SYR the 15th. Good points about getting competitive. Whats the Fridays about, can anybody go hangout? Interviewing prep is a great idea, I have done fairly OK in interviews but could always use the practice.

Hornet Pilot

FX Bone Guy,
Are you talking about part time or full time jobs? I am looking at the possibility of getting out of the Navy and getting into a Guard unit full time. Is it better to get a part time job with a unit and then look for a full time job, with the possibility that they may never have enough money to hire you full time? Or should I hold out for a full time job that may never happen anywhere? I have heard that a lot of units just don’t have enough money for full time guys and the jobs are taken forever.

Slice

It's much easier to get a part-time gig these days. Pre-9/11 full-time jobs were more plentiful. Most of the furloughed guys at my squadron are starting to get recalled. Most if not all are accepting and immediately(as in same day)going back on mil leave status because the $$$ and schedules at the airlines aren't what they use to be. They get 5 extra years to see how it all pans out. Bottom line, if you hold out for full-time employment, less doors will be open to you.

Hornet Pilot

How much can somebody make working part time in the Guard? I have talked to people about the possibility of taking more ground jobs, and "drilling" as much as you can, but know that the money to do that can be limited. I just don't want to move somewhere thinking I have a chance to make a decient living and find out that I can't afford to live there.

T-tail

As a pure traditional flyer, it is easy to make $30k a year. That is working about 6-7 days a month. If you are a True Guard Bum, you can make a full year's pay. Minus the health care bennies.

1Seat 1Engine

Timing is everything when looking for a ANG/Reserve Job. Right now, the part time jobs are much easier to get BUT depending on where you are, a "part time" job with a year's worth of guaranteed orders full-time is possible depending on where you go.

One big detractor is that you'd have to go to RTU but I know of a couple units that have a big Navy/USMC mafia already in the unit (Sacremento for example).

You really need to shop yourself around, pledge hard and talk yourself up. As airline hiring and recalls have picked up in the last year, things are loosening up.