You realize how many helo opportunities exist in the above bolded services correct?
You are MUCH more likely to fly helos in at least the USMC and USCG than you are fixed wing.

 

Yep, i do understand that. The point I was hoping to get across is the Army is generally rotary wing until you reach senior warrant status. The chances are nearly zero for a junior warrant. The other point i tried to articulate is the Army uses the warrant officer for pilots so a high school diploma or associates degree maybe sufficient to get a flight slot as opposed to obtaining a O-1 slot in the other services. At least in the other services fixed wing is a semi-realistic opportunity for a young guy. I was also trying to point out the 135 possibilities in the rotary wing world. Unlike the airplane world there truly is a pilots shortage today.

 

It's been said a lot already, but most definitely look at Guard and Reserves.

 

I wish I could find that post from another user who thought his recruiter was telling him that he would be going right into Army fixed wing. Some of us were telling him that it seemed unusual. I'm assuming that you would agree?

It is good to hear that opportunities exist for helo pilots out of the military. Many years ago when I asked a similar question about post-service flying jobs I was basically told (just advice from a few - nothing statistical) that helo jobs were hard to find for exactly your previous point - the market was flooded with ex/former military pilots.

 

This is the most important post in the whole thread. I'll add a few things and make some general comments.

First, just like civilian job offers, go with the first one to hire you in a guaranteed fixed wing pilot slot. You'll probably look back and think you chose the right service at the end of your career no matter which one you choose.

Second, I don't think you said it here, but chances are you want to leave yourself a chance at an airline job at the end of your active service, whether that's at two years (end of flight school in the ANG), eight years (end of obligated service, or whatever that is now) or 20+ years with a full retirement. Even if you don't think you want an airline job in the end... leave yourself the option. As cool as I think flying a helo would be (I still don't understand how they work), it's still a more difficult path to go rotary to airline than from fixed wing. What does that mean? All else being equal, give yourself the best chance of fixed wing. ANG is obviously first, AF probably second (how many are getting drones?), Navy third, though with a shrinking land based patrol plane fleet their percentage of helo slots is probably rising, Marines (more helos than fixed wing), Army (overwhelmingly rotary wing) and Coast Guard (mostly rotary and you've got to drive a ship first... warning about dealing with boat drivers... I've yet to hear an aviator say anything better than it's a hit and miss experience and they eat their young.)

Once you've sorted through that, you've got the service differences. What everyone says about ANG is true... I've never heard a "Guard Baby" say they wished they had gone AD. Having said that, I look back on my time on AD fondly, and you will probably have to begin at a commuter when you look for a job after ANG training.

AF is probably the best choice for quality of life as the wars in the Middle East wind down and deployment cycles reduce. That can change.

Marines and Navy are probably roughly the same. Life on a boat can suck, but 3/4 of your career will be shore based. While QOL is probably better in the AF, the cultural and coolness factor probably belong to naval aviation (not that it means much when your deployed).

There are a couple of great tongue in cheek pieces, one from Bob Norris (Navy fighters), and one from a (I assume) fictitious AF C-130 pilot that address cultural differences in a humorous, but essentially truthful manner.

 

Funny, I know a naval aviator who has an air to air kill and flies U-2s. Most tailhookers have done section landings... how many AF pilots have done a simo shot off the bow/waist cats?

And for the OP, this is the main point. We rib each other in jest and think our service is the best, but we respect the hell out of the others.

 

curious, but who gets more flight time, ANG or AD ?

I would imagine that ANG with (my understanding) the role of "mostly flying" versus AD with the role of (my understanding) of "fly", "collateral duty" "leadership development" , "other BS" that the ANG guy might actually fly more.

Just wondering

 

The other main point -- make your own damned decision and do your own research. Show up to flight school with the "please feed me info/guidance, I don't know what to do" and you're done for. The internet is a great tool for sure but wow, does it expose some weak sisters and the "Mr. Helper" guys. Dude, figure it out for yourself.

How about the other guy, Mister I-am-31-and-want-to-be-a-military-pilot, am I too old? Pathetic -- another "feed me, feed me Mommy, I want the info, please anonymous google machine tell me what to do"

All you Mister Helper guys -- just the mil types, step back 20 or 25 years when you were all starry eyed and dreaming, were you as stupid and ill-prepared as some of these guys? "There is no such thing as a stupid question" -- sorry, there is. Some of the questions asked are ridiculous, zero background knowledge, zero research -- lazy, what's with you "helper guys" -- do you not find the lack of preparation sickening?

What a great story for the kids. "Daddy, why did you join the Marine Corps and fight the bad guys? Son, I didn't know what to do so I asked the Great Google Machine for divine guidance, and it was so"

To the OP, if I met you in a bar and you asked me the same question accompanied by the same comments, I would probably laugh -- because you're not serious.

 

Sickening? In general no. Some are naive and some aren't. Responders reach their own level of - 'this is too stupid to respond to or help'.

Stepping back 30 yrs what did I do? I asked every guy that I could what they had done to get where they were. There was no internet to search for info. Good books were hard to find if they existed at all. Face to face was the only choice. The questions in the begining where similar to the one's we see here.
And they have the choice of googling it or trying to electronically 'face to face' it. This is the 'face to face' electronic place.

 

I posted what I did to have a little fun. Sorry that it made folks feel the need to spin-up and re-engage.

I know Meat also,... and the first section landing he ever accomplished was with me in a T-38. I guess they didn't do them in the Tomcat,... but what do I know?