erictgill

Sorry about the confusion about the Air national guard thing. the main reason I wouldnt bother with the Air national guard is there are alot of hoops to jump in getting in and qualified. I am dont with active duty for sure. I had a buddy re-enlist with a promise that he would go to warrent officer school for the army. Turns out he re-enlisted for 3 years and drop his packet and had his ordereds torn up by his unit and he was told that he was going to iraq instead of warrent officer school. its the sad part about the military (or at least active duty). I said I will look into air national guard to see all the guidelines and look for things the could raise flags for qualifications.

Slice

Well, sorry to burst your bubble but aviation is the same way minus the job security. Run Forrest, run!!!

Grumble

Damn good point.

I have to wonder why you would give up a job security and a good paycheck in this economy. With the downhill slide of Europe it could get real ugly real fast around here.

rickair7777

There are just as many hoops to jump through to get a decent job in civilian aviation. The only difference is that the military gives you steady pay and benefits in the process.

Don't screw yourself because somebody else had a bad experience.

Coming from AD you are used to being housed, fed, and taken care of. If you start from zero in civilian aviation, you are essentially homeless and unemployed. What are going to do for food, housing, and medical care? Medical insurance is probably over $1000/month and flight schools and entry-level aviation employers do not offer medical or any other benefits.

Want a week off from your instructor job? If they even let you, it will be no-pay.

If you can possibly swing it, go for military aviation...it's a much better deal at the entry level. If you happen to be a misfit as an enlisted person, you probably won't last long in civilian aviation either.

I know this isn't what you want to hear, but the people here are all experienced. There are plenty of folks in aviation who will tell you EXACTLY what you want to hear, and it will sound too good to be true...flight schools and all the other folks who want to take your money.

erictgill

Both of you make very good point. I cannot argue the fact that military is a safe choice. Ill reconsider my options and look into the Air National guard. I dont hate the military by any means but enlisted side of the house in a combat arms unit isnt where i want to be for the next 20 years. I've done my share of grunt work and theres alot to love about it but theres alot I want no part in.

hindsight2020

Nobody is telling you to go back to infantry work as part of an application to military aviation. Don't take what an ARMY Reserve (biggest oxymoron I've ever heard....there's no reserve in the ARMY, you're going too LOL) recruiter puts on the table regarding upflows into the warrant helo world as descriptive or indicative of the application, training process and job particulars of military aviation in the Air Force Reserves or the Air National Guard. You're correct, Guard and Reserve gigs are nominally tougher to get than even AD pilot slots, but by no means are they a backdoor draft "warrant helo school" bait and switch promise to put you back in asscrackistan on the ground with an M-16.

As to civilian flight training, airline job prospects and the expenditure of money to attain that end? ....Don't do it, that gig is dead for the median. That means you by the way, the median. Get an education that leads to a vocation you can tolerate and make enough money to take care of your life needs and allow you to fly for fun. Believe me, A/P engage gets old after a while. You won't be doing any tactical flying at the airlines either and getting paid in ILSs doesn't appease the mortgage bank, to add insult to injury.

Good luck to you.