ANG
AFRES (You get to wear the FUBIJAR patch if you want)
Navy (in my experience more laid back than AF)
Air Force

Just my 2 cents....

Good point about the missions. Flying for the CG has been awesome for me.

Being 'XTweet' and now flying C-130s for the CG, I take it that you made that lateral transition at some point in your career. What helped with the decision to switch services? When in your career did you make the jump? We're you -130s in the USAF too?

Sorry for the shotgun'ed questions - just very interested in the process since I never made the switch and often consider it a missed opportunity.

"Photocopies of vintage aircraft art"... "holiday decor"... Wow, fun police in rare form!

I never did. I flew Tweets and didn't really care for the helmet/mask combo. Flying the airplane was fun but I was educated enough to know that's only 5% of flying fighters...they work hard in that 1.3 hour sortie. You'll work hard in other platforms too, but don't aim for fighters thinking it's going to be airshow flying or something out of the Top Gun movie because it's not.

I started my career in the Army flying medevac. I loved flying helicopters but honestly unless you're happy being capped at regional captain pay for the rest of your life, career options are limited. The Army had some cool aspects that were different from other branches (we were organized into battalions and brigades instead of squadrons and wings) but ultimately in the Army, aviation is an afterthought. If you do want to fly helos, go the warrant officer route and then try to swing a C-12 gig later to get that fixed-wing ME ticket.

I did 12 years in the active Air Force and that branch is only getting smaller and more political as budget woes force it to cut manning. If you love to fly, avoid the AD Air Force and go Guard or Reserve. Much less pressure to climb the corporate/leadership ladder.

Whether you choose heavies or fighters, there's plusses and minuses to each, and the minuses can be overcome. If you fly fighters, expect the focus to (rightly) be on tactics and killing bad guys, and less on worldwide airfield ops and things of that nature. If you fly heavies, expect it to be more of an airline atmosphere (with a few exceptions like C-130s). It's really up to the individual to decide where they want to go, and either way you can find your way to a good post-military flying career.

If I had it to do all over again, I'd be sorely tempted to go the WO route in the Army. Of course, a dream job would be AH6, but the WO program really is a pretty well kept secret if you just want to fly. The down side is, aviation IS an afterthought in the Army...

This would be the other choice I'd have considered if I knew then what I know now.

While I've never been assigned to any other squadrons other than C-130s, I have been immersed in various other squadrons for various reasons. And while that's not the same as being assigned to a squadron, I can tell you confidently that the C-130 squadrons are generally more relaxed than others. They're NOT airline style squadrons (although a few do have some of that flavor), they are mission focused (although with very few exceptions, the majority are doing far more high-level trash haul than they ever have in the past), you're expected to know how to think (and not just the books), there is good deal of 'fun' in the flying, particularly the low-level, and you always hear, "except for you C-130 guys" from both sides; the heavies and the fighters - always in what us 130 guys consider a positive way. ;)

Arguably the most versatile aircraft in the world, it's tough to beat the four fans of freedom...but I'm biased. ;) I'm still flying them in the 'after life' of retirement too! :D

Arguably the most versatile aircraft in the world, it's tough to beat the four fans of freedom...but I'm biased. ;) I'm still flying them in the 'after life' of retirement too! :D[/QUOTE]

Sweet! Did you land a contract gig in hercs?

I was full time with ARINC doing MX Check Flights and Ferry - still part time with them.

Now on with Lynden though - nice planes. ;)

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WELL DONE

If you do decide to go the guard route, be aware that many units are on unsure footing. Many fighter units nationwide are changing to Reaper/AOC units. We have a lot of guys here that are flying the Reaper (and getting combat air medals for the same) who are locked in by location or rank. All of the younger guys went to other flying units.