Tenacvols

I was prior enlisted with a wife and 3 kids when I started flight school at the ripe age of 28. The key to this story is and will always be your wife. There are/were sacrifices that my family made with respect to me being gone alot, however, I was fortunate to have an outstanding wife who could handle the homefront on my numerous deployments. I would do it all over again....

Stitches

The road to getting your wings is long and difficult for even the most highly motivated and not all of them succeed. The fact that you are having doubts before you even start is a huge red flag.

On the other hand, if you want to do it then you wont regret it but do it because you want to be a Naval aviator, not because you might be able to make an airline career out of it on the back end. Same advice applies to choosing a community. Picking P3/P8 because you might end up in a 737 is a recipe for dissapointment.

Stitches

No such thing as a 6 month cruise. Try 7-8 months, with 6 months off. Google USS Vinson, nevermind, I did it for you.

Ships leave less than 6 months after homecoming - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

tomgoodman

Having too many career opportunities can be a real problem if you keep changing your mind. Whichever road you take should command your full attention. If in doubt, chose the one which will never again be possible, and head for Pensacola. Good luck!

UPTme

Here's what Lance Armstrong thinks about it:

"Quitting" in Dodgeball - Lance Armstrong - YouTube


I doubt the grandkids will love the "I had the opportunity to be a military pilot" story.

propfails2FX

I've been digging online for supporting information, but I think the VR slots that were handed out in 2005-06 have gone away. They were short-term fixes for an excessive amount of pilots in the FRS's (RAG's).

The best info I could find is:

https://www.cnatra.navy.mil/images/ppln_pilot.jpg


The flow chart seems up to date, but the CNATRA website still has reference to Turkeys, Hoovers, and Navy Phrogs.

WRT best community to track towards an airline gig, a jet guy will get more turbine PIC time than a P-3 bubba will. I caught the very tail end of the good deal VP Navy before fatigue issues put a hurting on flight time and deployments. Left with 550 A time (PIC) from a 3 year tour. From what I've been told, first tour JO's are leaving with half of that now.

Looks like the P-8 makes it to VP-16 in July. Airwarrior forums state that students are being selected for it. I'm sure it's a good option in a lot of respects, I'm just thankful I was able to cut my teeth on what is now becoming an ancient relic. Does a new plane mean the end of VP minutiae?

To the OP: Doesn't matter what community you select, a loyalty eventually takes hold. This despite an O-4 department head telling you to get your priorities straight and focus less on flying and more on your collateral duties.

Helos have some pretty cool missions and intense flying. Fishfreighter and tons of other rotor heads made the jump from helicopters to the airlines. It might have been a little harder for them, but it's still doable. Besides, priorities change and the military to airline path may not be the most important factor in your life further down track. Promotability and career progression might be.

Strong doubts before starting flight training is a red flag. If the FBI is remotely appealing now, I can tell you that it'll look even better when you get to API and Primary.

After you get winged, you'll report to the FRS and realize you know nothing. Then you make it to the fleet and it dawns on you that you REALLY know nothing. It is a solid four years of studying from street to aircraft commander or some of the advanced single seat quals. After studying tactics in red binders, you'll beg to study a flight manual (the blue sleeping pill you hated in the FRS).

It's worth the pain.....everyone who's been through the process will say it is. But signing for an airplane, and taking responsibility of a crew takes lots of time and hard work.

So despite you fighting to get a slot, starting a family, and being a little older what has changed? Military flying is still cool. Not what you dreamed it to be, but still good.

Who knows what it'll be like in 10 years? And you won't be flying for all 10 of those years Jeffmt. An IA to somewhere (whoever we're fighting in 8 years) or a disassociated sea tour will lurk in your future. An eight year post-winging obligation has changed things. I owed 7 after winging, and still had to extend my training command orders for the 6 months between rotation date and end of obligated service. At the time (2007), if you owed a year or more you were up for follow on orders to somewhere. And almost all of those billets were non-flying. I hope someone on this forum who is still AD Navy can speak to officer career progression WRT the IA/disassociated sea tours.

Stetson20

Tough decision. Been there. Have the Wings Of Gold. Never regretted it.

Stetson20

Fishfreighter

Well, you have to remember that my info is over 20 years old, but back in the day VQ guys didn't have the deployment schedule that VP did. He was concerned about family stuff.

That's the only reason.

Silver2Gold

Good call. How many of us have heard the "I was gonna be an Air Force/Navy pilot but, ........."

It's usually delivered with a pretty heavy dose of regret, or wishing that it had worked out. Of course there are exceptions, but I haven't seen too many

rickair7777

If you want an aviation career, I would take the navy slot assuming you don't mind hard work, really want to do a military mission, and have the FULL support of your wife. Military aviation, despite all the hassles, is still a more reliable career than the civilian track.

Despite all the talk about cutting retirements, I'm 85% sure they will grandfather anyone who gets his foot in the door while OEF is still going.

Ultimately if you end up deciding on the airline track you will be much more competitive for a major job than the average regional pilot (assuming fixed wing). And it will take you about the same amount of time to get there, but at least in the military you can avoid poverty wages and no benefits along the way.