lol u mad

 

Just to clear things up... From what I remember in AFROTC (2001-2006), those on scholarship were committed on the first day of class of sophomore year. Those who were not on scholarship didn't have a commitment until after successfully completing field training.

Also, grad students were in the ROTC program but none of them were competitive for a pilot slot because they were only in ROTC for about two years which did not give enough time to get facetime with the cadre and do the whole UPT selection process. One grad student from my unit tried and got an ABM slot. I don't know how it was at other schools, but we had a pretty high selection rate for pilots, and those who didn't get selected usually got a nav slot. The guys who got ABM usually were not medically qualified for a pilot or nav slot or weren't even put in for one.

Also, having flying hours hardly counted for anything. 200 hrs would max you out for the PCSM score, and even then the PCSM score only counted for about 15% of your application. I knew guys who got UPT slots with PCSM scores in the single digits (99 was max score), because commanders ranking and GPA were much bigger parts of the package so to speak.

 

4chan is not for you.

 

Actually, quite the opposite. Flying the jet I have wanted to fly since I can remember, no 6 months to the desert...followed by TDY after TDY when I get home, no additional duties, no 14 hour work days, work when I want, fly more than most of my active duty bros...I couldn't be happier!

You want to see mad, talk to some of my UPT/B-Course classmates that just got picked for a "sweet" gig flying UAVs at Cannon! Or read this thread from baseops!

Force Shaping - VSP - Baseops Forums - Page 46

 

The Guard/ Reserves is the only way to go these days. Active duty is terrible. Last one out don't forget to turn off the lights.

 

Again.... thanks to everyone who actually gave advice and not a kick in the teeth. I posted this for information and my questions have been answered. It also confirmed the "gut" feeling I had of not going through with it. My B-I-L and a few friends said look into it, and I did. Plain and simple.

Feel free to keep this topic going even though my questions have been answered and my mind made up.

 

I guess that's because I've run across many a pilot who did the flying, the staff deployments, the majcom assignments, in residence PME, etc., etc., and all the while they were outstanding officers, yet they also came into the service with the intention of going to the airlines before they got to 20. So, believe it or not, there are those who want to serve their country, but at the same time aren't joining with the intent of making it a career. Sure, some end up making it a career, but their intent (for some) was not that originally. And you know what? That's OK! The mindset that you have to sign up with some robotic mindset from the holier than thou crowd is really nauseating after a while. That's akin to the Sqn CC who gives one of his people a ration of s#!+ when they tell him they're not signing up for another 4 or 6 years after finishing their initial commitment, as if they're a disappointment to their country and haven't given enough. To that I say, "Shut it, and thank this individual for their service."

Would you say the same thing to a guy who finished Med School, had a love for medicine and wanted to serve as a doctor in military? "UH, sorry, you may or may not get that assignment; officer first, doctor second. In fact, you may be an SP officer for a few years before we get you that med slot. You are dedicated to the AF, aren't you?" How good of an SP do you think that guy would make? Probably not the best, just like a guy who has an undeniable love for flight if you put him into a job he told you he would not want if you told him ahead time what to expect.

 

I really wish you understood my post better... I never said anything about retiring early or bailing once the 10 yr commitment is up.

Also, physicians are guaranteed direct commission into the medical field in the military because they have actually busted their butt to earn it. As a ROTC cadet you can work hard but thats not nearly enough to guarantee yourself a spot in your desired career field.

 

The Air Force will get its commitment out of you, whether you do it for patriotism or not. However, loyalty goes both ways, from the service member to the service and vice-versa. With a RIF upcoming this Fall cutting 7,500 officers from the USAF, some might feel that the AF isn't fulfilling its commitment to its members. The AF has 'self-interest' just like an individual; in this case it's budget constraints that require personnel cutbacks to sustain higher priorities. 'Service before self' is a noble endeavor until the service decides to RIF you.

 

Have you even asked more or looked into the Guard or Reserves???

Shortly after 9/11, while serving as an active duty crew chief on C-17's, I found myself in Germany. My wife and I had spent the summer looking at RJ schools in FL. You know, the "we promise you an interview" schools. I wanted nothing more to do with the military. At the time, I had put in 6 years and was done. I ended up talking with a buddy of mine over pizza at the Rhein-Main BX food court area. Long story short, he tells me about the Reserves and what it would entail. I tell him I have no interest in going through all the training, I don't need to learn to fly loops. I just need to learn to fly to get a job. This was the advice he gave me.

Go from where you are right now and look out 5 years from now. Where will you be?

If you go civilian, you'll be in debt (tens of thousands), most likely have to work for the school you go to, in order to build time. If you get your interview and hired by a regional you can look forward to working for about 5 days straight. You can expect to earn (in your pocket) less than $30K a year. Maybe by that fifth year, you might be looking at Captain upgrade and maybe something around $40K a year.

If you go Reserves, it's a total of 2 years of training. Everything from Officer school, pilot training, survival school, and your weapon system. You won't owe anyone a dime. You'll be paid and gaining rank the whole time in fact. Once you are done, your next 3 years are spent flying heavy, multi engine planes, most likely trans oceanic flights. You choose how much you work, when, and so forth. You can get another job if you like. If you choose to work a lot, you can easily make the airline mins for a job after a few years. I have over 2,600 hours in about 4 years.

Now, yes, the military training is sometimes hard and it is a commitment. But with the Reserves and Guard it is a part time job. Unless you want it to be more, that is all anyone expects. Do your currency flights, show up for your weekends, and that's the commitment. It is the best kept secret in aviation. It's a flying club really. Your destiny is really up to you.

Looking at all that, I choose to go the Reserve route, obviously. Now, the really cool thing, is that you go to the units you want to fly for. So, let's say you want to fly C-5's, or C-17's, or whatever. You find bases that have those planes, and apply to those units just like you would any civilian job. You turn in resumes, go for interviews and such. Once they hire you, you are locked into that squadron and plane. You go through all the training with a guaranteed plane, squadron, and base. No matter how you do, that won't change. There's no competing with the rest of the class for a spot, or anything like that.

Now, also, factor this in. Let's say you get that civilian job and the company goes under, there's another 9/11, the economy takes a dump again, whatever, you have a guaranteed back up job, something that will give you a second retirement one day (in one form or another) to your civilian retirement. You will never have to worry about getting a paycheck because you can always go back to your squadron and work.

So, that's my sales pitch. I understand your concerns because I was there once. But you are facing these concerns as if you are going active duty. Realize the Guard and Reserves are nothing like active duty and most of your fears are kind of misplaced. Not to slam you or anything like that. Just pointing out that it really is a different, better world.