CFII looking to join...
 

Hello Everyone,
I'm a 27 yr old CFII with 400 hours or so and would like some opinions on my best shot for getting a pilot slot in the military. Any help would be much appreciated.

Justin

For one, the search function works like a charm! :rolleyes: You will find tons of info from previous threads.

Secondly, it helps to know which branch of service you are considering.

Assuming you are interested in an airline career in the long run...

Look at the ANG/UASFR first...that will allow you to progress your civilian career in parallel with your military career. The US Army guard and reserve might also be an option since they are getting more fixed wing airplanes, although you would probably start in helicopters.

Next look into active duty USAF, Navy, US Army, USMC, USCG in that order. think that will give you the best shot at a fixed-wing assignment which will important for your civilian prospects. But once you find out what airframe you will be flying it's too late to back out...

If you are looking for an active-duty military career, pick whichever service has the mission which interests you the most. Keep in mind this will involve more desk jobs than flying.

Apply to everything, take the first one that says yes. You're knocking on the age limit door and right now the Military can/is being picky. Your best shot for acceptance is not being narrow about air frame. There are a lot of C-130 units hiring over at baseops.

Rickair7777 -

I'm wondering why you placed the USA in that list as number three if looking at FIXED wing spots.

USMCFLYR

If you have any medical issues at all don't even waste your time. I spent a year gathering LORs, taking tests, and interviewing with officers to get into the USAF. After all that I was denied because I had shoulder surgery in high school stemming from a hockey injury. I had all medical records including letters from the surgeon as well as physical therapist stating my shoulder was fine and I was "medically released with no stipulations." I was never able to turn in my package or see a USAF doctor to at least look at my shoulder before being denied. The whole process left a sour taste in my mouth as to how officer recruiting is handled.

Same. I applied to the Air Force Academy and was basically told if I got my medical cleared, I would get an appointment. I was medically denied in a similar situation and no amount of doctors visits, medical exams, phone calls or anything would convince them that I was medically fit. It was simply the "history" of my condition that disqualified me.

Best part was, I worked my way up the lines with the actual individual who rejected me. While he would not budge, I was told had I not listed my condition on my medical eval form, I would not have been rejected. I told him I chose to not "Lie, steal or cheat" and he said while he appreciated that, it was what rejected me. No good deed, eh?

Oh well. I got to have fun in college and while my not so well paying CFI job is not air force career, I am happy with the way things turned out.

But yeah, unless you medical history folder is completely empty, chances are they will find SOMETHING to get you on.

/thread hijack.

While the above two stories DO sometimes happen, the opposite is also true sometimes.

I recently had two friends with medical histories get hired by AFRC units, and pass their medical screening at Brooks-City AFB this past summer. One had serious surgery as a young-adult and was initially DQ'd....he called some of his high-ranking contacts and was granted an ETP (Exception to Policy) - granted those are rare. The other one had various injuries as a child, nothing major, but passed his FC-I with no trouble.

Personally, I had LASIK in 2009 and got a waiver.

Yes there is a lot of luck involved, but never give up. I was told initially that I wouldn't even be allowed to goto Brooks because of my "Pre-Surgery refraction was too high..." (This was told to me by some AFRC recruitment doctor.) Well luckily I had studied up on the regs to a T, and was able to fax him documentation highlighting WHAT the reg said, and PROOF that I was inside the limit.

The road to a commission is long, and there will be many people along the way that tell you certain things you don't want to hear. KNOW YOUR SH!T, often times they will not be telling you correct information. (Hell, half the guys at my hiring unit didn't even know LASIK was waiverable).

To answer the original poster's question, I would look into submitting applications to ANG and AFRC units. At 27, you're running low on time. (You need to have a degree, and have taken the AFOQT and TBAS)

Good question, my answer might have been different a few years ago.

Army is getting more FW, recently some folks have been assigned FW very early on. The main difference with the Army is that since everybody traditionally starts in helos, their FW aircraft are manned by helo pilots who later transition...they have an established path for helo-to-FW.

In the other services, you normally spend a career in your initially assigned aircraft. Possible exceptions if your airframe is decommed or for IP tours but those are not guarantees. My understanding with the army is that if you want FW and stick around long enough you will likely get it. Any Army bubbas please correct me if things have changed.

Regarding military medical screening: Yes, it can be a real crapshoot with no guarantees of a sensible outcome. It seems that different personalities have wide latitude in how they evlauate and interpret things, especially with waivers. Ultimately the purpose of the system is to make sure no weak links get in...it is not to ensure that EVERY good link will get a fair shot, they err on the side of caution sometimes. This may have gotten worse recently due to the need to send many folks form other services on Individual Augmentee (IA) assignments to work for the army in CENTCOM. You have to complete some basic combat training for that and they have had a whole LOT of people who are unable to do that due to existing medical conditions. The navy reserve seems to lose about half of those nominated for various medical reasons which are not disqualifying for normal navy duty. I suspect they may have tightened up on admissions criteria for that reason, but don't really know.

I would like to hear from some of the Army pilots too - because although I know some former helo pilots getting C-12 spots (and flying their butts off it seems!) - I was not under the impression that this was the normal progression - at least total percentage wise - but I don't know the numbers and would like to see them if someone in the Army training system has something to share.

Yes - it other services you may spend a career assigned to a particular airframe - though often as you mention there are opportunities to transition to other airframes (without your airframe being decommissioned) and certainly opportunities to instruct in FW as a Helo pilot - easily getting all the FW time that you need to be competitive if you chose to get out after your initial committment.

As for medical screening. I was denied 7 times for various reasons for commissioning!! Never say die goes a long way and it still came down to a one-on-one talk with a young Navy Surgeon in the screening room at OCS on Day 2 when he had it within his power to 'yeah or nay' me and he decided that I deserved a chance and if I made it through then there was nothing wrong with my leg and if I didn't, then at least I could say that I had my chance.

USMCFLYR

Luck seems to smile greater on those that apply to ANG/USAFR units at this point in time.

FWIW, I'm at 20+ and only 2yrs non-flying. Not typical these days.

That said, a desk looms in my future should I stay. Which is why I won't.

The biggest constant in the AF personnel world is change. If more airlines starting to hire again, there are a lot of guys right behind me who will be retirement eligible in the next few years, as well as the lion's share of the 10yr commitment UPT grads.

To the OP - decide what you want (quickly - you're in a time-limited situation) and remember that there are waivers to about anything, depending on what they need and how bad they want it. There is a chance that they're going to want pilots very badly in the near future.

Especially in the Guard/Reserve, where for every Air Force Instruction (And I'm sure this applies to other services), there is an equal and opposite Guard waiver.

Going back to your actually question prior to all the additional information and sidetracked explanations...

I will tell you this first hand, you are getting to a critical point in age. What you had at one time going for you is falling by the wayside and thats prior flying experience. You said 27, 400+ hours, CFII... Pick a type of aircraft you like or would like to persue if you are going guard/reserve.. You also need a location. I don't recommend AT ALL, shotgunning resumes out to especially guard units.. they are families, they DO NOT like hearing or finding out that you are just hoping or trying to get a job anywhere... ANG is a long term commitment. They look to see ifTHEY want to keep you around for twenty years, unlike the active duty world where you are stationed to fly for 3 - 4 years at a time. Your flight hours proves you have air experience, but know all new UPT candidates have to go to the wash out program in Pueblo, Co.

Your age is what is going to affect your ultimate decision. Again, first figure out branch, then active/reserve/or guard and if the latter... pick airframe and paticular unit. If you apply at more then one be ready to explain to the unit in a face to face board why you shotgunned your resume...

Good Luck.

I respectfully disagree with you sir, it worked for me... as a matter of fact the unit never said anything about it really - and later expected that...saying that if you were serious about getting in, you'd apply to every board you could - many of the guys on my board applied to a lot of units. I guess it just varies from unit to unit... luckily I got to an awesome unit at a great location with an awesome airframe.

But for every unit that says you should enlist, you'll find a unit that takes mostly outside guys.... for every unit that wants you to visit, you'll find one that doesn't allow it... for every unit that wants a local, you'll find one that takes mostly outside guys....

If I was asked that question about shotgunin' apps... I'd point out there's no guarantee my "hometown" unit will hire me - I would be stupid to not expand my chances to serving, regardless of what the board thought.... if they have a problem with it, oh well! Maybe that's not the unit for me!

The interview goes both ways - you're interviewing them as well.

Thanks for all of the info. It's a big decision. I know that I would like to fly C130s. So that should help me narrow my search. No known medical conditions, but I broke my leg when I was about 12.

I did have a misdemeanor expunged from my record. Will that disqualify me? Thanks again for all of the good info!

Dude, don't let other opportunities pass by while telling yourself something goofy like, "I will only fly the KC-135 at Pease Air National Guard Base for the New Hampshire Air National Guard." Plenty of folks interview at many units, often in the same weekend or even day, since drills are held on the first weekend of each month. I did, told each one what I was doing, and it worked out well all the way around.

Is there a way that we can get Ryan's words to the top of the search results?

What he said is true, and the point is that you can't stick to just one unit you've got a crush on. Even within units, hiring boards change composition from year to year, and the head of the board might be 180 degrees from the previous chief. A unit that only hires internals might pick up 2 or even 4 external applicants with zero service.

One more thing, since it's late and I'm ranting; I'm tired of reading dudes who got medical DQ'd for some reason and tell others not to pursue it. Forget that - GO FOR IT. The worst they can tell you is no; big deal. There are plenty of guys (myself included) who had some sort of big, goofy medical issue that might seem like a show-stopper, but wasn't.

If you've got time to read an internet forum for 100 reasons why you SHOULDN'T apply to for a pilot slot, you've got time to submit a package and see what they say.

If it has been expunged should not be a problem. You will be asked for your clearance if you have ever been arrested, so don't like about it. Its not that big of a deal.