Zoomies, everyone shows up at UPT with "plans." "I'm gonna fly Vipers then I'm gonna get stationed at Nellis then I'm gonna be a weapons officer then I'm gonna be a Thunderbird, then I'm gonna be awesome and marry a hot chick then I'm gonna get out and buy a house in Denver get hired by United, ski all the time, fly Vipers in the guard cause everyone wants me then I'll be a 40 year old 777 pilot making a gazillion dollars and everything is gonna be awesome and, by the way, when is my dollar ride?". Things change when you get there. You cant predict the future, all you can do is the best you can where you are at and hope for the best. The AF and the industry are more than capable of breaking your heart any time along the way. Don't make plans beyond becoming a pilot!

 

Thanks for all the input. I agree with not making plans but sometimes its hard not to think about down the road. I also know that things will be very different by the time I am really considering these options. I'm just trying to hear the info from those that have done it, its interesting to see how things turn out and what options have presented themselves. And no worries, I'm studying for that GR during posts. To GBU, yes I'm still here

 

Here's another tip from a grad and a former UPT IP...DO NOT EVER talk about how you want to finish UPT and get out of the AF as soon as you can to go to the airlines. Like Deuce said, there are plenty of people along the way who can break your heart. If anyone at UPT even THINKS you're not all-in, they will make your life hell, and there are many easy ways for UPT IPs to make that a reality. We always said that at UPT, you're only 3 rides from the beach, because all it takes is 3 bad rides and you're gone, and it can happen in as little time as one week. If you're in AF pilot training, it should be because you want to be an AF pilot, period.

Now, having said that, once your committment is up, I and everyone else will salute you smartly and thank you for your service if you decide to leave.

Here's another tip, once you're a firsty, STAY OUT OF TROUBLE or be really good at not getting caught. You do not want to graduate late or spend your last year in your room...just sayin'.

 

Zoom,

Deuce hit it right on the spot and was the reason why I asked my questions.

Take his and my advice. You need to worry about what is right in front of you and not that long term. Your long term goal should be only a year or two out in front. Graduate...go to UPT...do the best you can...get your wings...fly what ever you can...plan the rest later. Who know's, maybe you'll want to stay for 20 or more. Leave this forum and check back in 10 years, it is not going to help at your stage of life/career. You shouldn't be making a career choice when you haven't even got a career yet. What the future is said to be today will not be what it is later. Good luck.

 

The best path here is to not get your heart set on anything except earning your wings.

There is absolutely no way for you to control which community you go to -- some of it is skill, but there is also an immense element of luck and timing to both track selects and assignments at UPT.

The paradigms for different airframes and different communities WILL change over the course of your career. There's no sense getting your heart set on one which,

1) You may not be able to choose even if you're the top grad in your class, and

2) which might have a totally different deployment/operations tempo by the time you get there...and which will probably change during the time you're in it.

So, it's all fine to explore the different communities and aircraft, and get an idea as to what life is like in them (there are TONS of threads about this all ready over at airforceots.com and baseops.net), but don't use that information to get your heart set on any one of them.

 

+100 on focusing on the here and now. I was in your shoes, then punched out of USAFA early...meandered about....now in law enforcement. Life's funny like that.

 

Thanks for all the input. As mentioned earlier, I agree that things will be very different and who knows where I could end up. I plan on just doing my best in UPT and Im sure I will come to love whatever I fly. Thanks for sharing all the stories and advice, it's neat to hear from those who have lived it.

 

Has anybody called up Tim Martins about this thread? I think he said he was an Academy grad.

 

PM when you can, then walk up to the mech department and we'll talk.

 

LOL, maybe thats how he got into flying F-16's?