Well, I'm looking for a little expert guidance.

I am graduating college this December with a bachelors in aviation and I currently have my private certificate with around 70 hours. My goal once I have my degree is to serve my country by pursuing a pilot slot through whichever branch will take me, preferably the Air Force, Air National Guard or Navy but if it came to it I would look to the Marine Corps or Army. Recently I spoke with the recruiter at the local ANG unit near my home and they said that with a solid AFOQT and TBAS score along with getting a little face time at the wing I would be most competitive for their Fall hiring board. I am currently studying the AFOQT and ASTB type questions and I feel pretty confident on my ability to score well.

I know that everyone who thinks about flying in the military naturally gravitates to the Air Force. Along with their extensive ROTC units across the country (I missed the boat on that one hindsight is 20/20 there) and the academy I hear that is the most competitive. Are any of the other branches less competitive to get pilot slots? For example, I would be a third generation to serve in the Navy if I choose that. Would something like that have any pull on someone off the street getting selected? I believe that I'm well rounded but obviously I want to play the best odds. I appreciate any info on how I can further my career.

Thanks everyone!

 

Just like applying for an airline job, I would say apply for as many options as you can, then make your choice once you have a few acceptance letters. You don't really have a decision to make until more than one service is offering you a chance to fly for them.

 

GO NAVY!

....filler

 

"I know that everyone who thinks about flying in the military naturally gravitates to the Air Force"

Good joke dude

 

I was told by numerous recruiters from all branches that if you want to fly, NAVY is the way to go. I wanted to go NAVY but my bad eyes killed that chance. Air National Guard is what I am trying for now.

 

I was Navy, but if I had it to do all over again, I'd find an ANG unit that flew the kind of aircraft I wanted to fly. Why?

You go to the rest of the services and you roll the dice on what pipeline and A/C type you'll get based on the "needs of the service."

My example: The week I got out of Basic I had the highest grades of the six of us coming out. There were ZERO jet slots available so it was a choice between props and helos. The prop pipeline overwhelmingly supplied the P-3 and C-130 communities at the time. Because my ultimate goal was the airlines, I wanted props.

Unfortunately for me, 3 of the other 5 were married with families and the other 2 were ex-Orion aircrewmen. Seeing it was the end of the fiscal year and I was the only single guy, it was cheaper to move me from Corpus Christi to Pensacola. Therefore, the budgetary "needs of the Navy" got me assigned to helicopters.

I was at a party in SAT just after that and met a guy who was going through Air Force Officer School. "I'm going to fly F-4s!", he told me. I began telling him my story and he said..."I'm in an ANG unit and all we have is F-4s."

Granted this was back in 1980, but you get my drift. Find an ANG unit that flys Tankers, Fighters, Warthogs or whatever tickles your fancy. That deletes the risk of getting something you don't want.

 

Ditto to what Moby said, you will have much more control over your life if you go into a Guard unit, vs. active duty anything else; A/F, Navy, C/G, Marines, or Army. If you go Active Duty, they own you, for 10 years.

AND...the best part is, as soon as you return to your home unit after flight school, you are free to start applying to the airlines, if that is your goal, you don't have to serve out 10 years active duty first, you can start working in the part 121 world right away (assuming you have accumulated the flight time required for that).

I was a Guard guy, I started begging right out of college, took 2 years to get interviewed, selected and sent to UPT. I was flying part 135 full time for those two years. I cannot tell you how many times I've had other pilots from every service say to me, "Damn...wish I had known about that Guard program!"

While you are waiting to graduate, and for your Guard interview/pilot slot, get as much instrument training as possible, that will help you get through pilot training and show your Guard unit you are serious about learning to fly.

 

Navy = Care about their boats and have some aircraft (lots of helos). Spend lots of time on a boat with tons of dudes...could be a pus if you're a chick.

Army = Care about their tanks/infantry/etc....and have some fixed wing. Enjoy your one year deployment every 15 months.

Marine Corps = ooooaaaaarrrrraaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!

Air Force = Care about their planes and have lots of them.

Having said all that, join the Air National Guard and never look back! If I had a nickel for every time I've heard "should've joined the guard," I would never have to work again. I have never heard a guard guy say...man, I wish I would have joined AD.

 

"Are any of the other branches less competitive to get pilot slots?"

Come on, really asking that? Try a different attitude. I understand where you are coming from, but you really should change your outlook.

 

Another vote for ANG.

That will be competitive too though.