USAFA grads?
 

Just wondering if there are any USAFA grads out there willing to share their path from UPT to where they are now (still flying for the AF or on to commercial aviation).

Haha, currently flying the hell out of my desk! Think I'm approaching the 1,000 hour power point patch. I still owe a few more years though... I plan on staying in as long as there's hope of going back to a fighter. The second mother AF decides to send me to drones I'm punching.

yes. Get your minimum number of posts so you can send and receive private messages. I think the number is 20.

Will do, thanks

And Pilgrim, what were you flying before the desk?

Posts like this make me think DoDMERB was the greatest thing to ever happen. Should have been class of '09 (and/or '10)but...

Graduation in 95, UPT grad from Corpus Christi in Feb 97, got to Okinawa flying MC-130Ps from 97-2000, 9th SOS from 2000-2003 at Eglin AFB, FL, 14th WPS 2003-2005, left AD. Flew the whole time, did the copilot, AC, IP, EP, Weapons Officer route. Got hired by 5th SOS, USAFR, at Eglin AFB, FL flying same airplane from 2005-2008, also got hired by FedEx. Flew 727 F/O at FDX for a year, went on mil leave back to the 14 WPS for a year, moved to Memphis and checked out as A-300 F/O in 2007. Moved back to Destin, FL in 2009, learned to fly the MC-130E Combat Talon (the 5th stopped flying MC-Ps) for the 711th at Duke Field, FL, went back on mil leave from 2010 to present working man days at 623 AOC, Hurlburt Field, FL, fly about once a week up at Duke. Met amazing people, had amazing experiences, wouldn't change a thing, and at 38 I'm still very excited about my future in the AF and at FDX. And I owe most of it to being a USAFA grad as I probably wouldn't have gotten a UPT slot without being one. I've loved every minute of it. If you want to fly airplanes for your whole career, then fighters are probably not the best choice. Especially given the current environment. Too many pilots, not enough fighters but plenty of UAVs.

Wow, great post, thanks. I agree that the trend seems to be away from fighters at this point. I came in thinking thats what I wanted but the more I think about it, heavies seem like a better deal. Im hoping to eventually make it to an airline, but thats a ways down the road. As far as fly for FedEx, do you enjoy not having pax? I have heard that its fits some personalities while others enjoy having them onboard. I'm sure thats a sweet job though. As a new F/O what aircraft do you usually start on and how long does it take to get up to widebodies?

Zoomies12,

I'm assuming you are still at AFA?

I appreciate the question but I won't answer it. Frankly, it doesn't matter to you right now. The landscape will be completely different for you in 2023, which is likely the earliest year you can leave active duty. I can't say how long it will take to upgrade and I can't even say what airplanes FDX or any other airline will be flying. As for pax, I don't care one way or the other. I'd fly someone's grandma in a cessna if they paid me enough. For now, focus on your next GR, your next PFT, and finals coming up. That's probably the best thing you can do to make it to UPT. One step at a time, bro.

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?

That's funny... smoke on ready now!

Sage advice. I was good at not getting caught (or maybe just lucky). My navy roomate, not so much...he spent his ENTIRE senior year doing restriction musters 3 times daily (6 on weekends).

And for Gods sake, don't play with drugs, theft, or cheating...if you're gonna do that, go to State U you'll save yourself a lot of heartache (and maybe a life-defining dishonorable discharge and/or prison time). If you're stupid enough to do that kind of crap in the fish-bowl of a service academy, you're not smart enough to get away with it. Seems they have to drive that point home to a bunch of kids every year.

Can't agree more about all of the solid advice given here. I can still remember sitting in my room in Vandy wondering if all this work was really worth it and for me it was and then some. In 12 years, I've flown KC-135's and G-V's and am close to hitting the 5,000 hr mark. I've been there for Northern and Southern Watch, Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, and Odyssey Dawn. Looking back, here's a few things that have stood out:

I haven't met many mil pilots that don't love what they do or their community...you have a lot of great choices ahead of you.

Nobody joins the military to become rich, but the money you'll make is surprisingly good.

I wasn't very good at predicting my path along the way, but whether it be luck or fate, it has always turned out great. So as said before, take it one step at a time.

Best of luck in your future.

Great advice, thanks. Always nice to hear that stuff