Riddler

326 AS in Dover (C-17s) is a great unit! PM me if you'd like.

Some other things to consider: what do you really want? Do you want to be a traditional (part time) reservist and build hours for an airline career? Do you want to look for a "full time" normal civilian job on the outside? What kind of work would you like to do? Are you married / where does your wife live/work?

Dover is actually quite rural and quiet. It's about 1.5 hours from Philly and the DC area. Pittsburgh is a great town with a much lower cost of living.

Grumble

Disregard.

kme9418

I would be surprised if a single person on here who has experience in both (yes, I do) would recommend active duty. Go Reserve.

Billy Pilgrim

I would second staying away from AD if you just want to fly - and that's coming from someone just about finished with their decade long UPT commitment.

Hueypilot

I second that. I had every intention to stay in and retire at 20 about 5-6 years ago, but that changed in just the past few years. The focus on "career grooming" has hit a fever pitch. Guys and gals that are good line pilots and aren't worried about making rank are winding up on the street or in UAV squadrons.

I finally bailed last year and I'm in AFRC, it's much better. Get on with the ANG/AFRC and bum as much as you can until you get the hours, then get on with a regional. With the majors hiring in larger numbers in the next few years, you should be able to move to the left seat faster. With a mixed military/121 background, you will be competitive for any major airline or cargo operation. IMO you can probably get to that point (being competitive) within the next 6-7 years if you bum enough, which won't be at the very front of the hiring wave, but definitely in the middle of it. If you go AD, you won't be available for a 121 outfit until 2024 (10 year commitment after winging).

Also, if you're looking at Dover, consider McGuire too. It's not too far away, just more options.

hjs1971

ANG/AFRES...as a guy that has done both, I think AFRES has a smaller pot of money now, maybe it used to be bigger than ANG but I think ANG has more now (mostly because of alert lines but those are slowly going away). I think the -135 has more fun and more time off, the -17 guys are getting beat up on the road. Just my $.02...

C-17 Driver

I sent the OP'oster a PM about Dover and he hasn't responded to me yet. I don't know if that was a wish list or if he has been contacted our hiring bubbas. I just hope he was not being a little presumptious. I haven't heard his story yet in the squadron. (I'm a Dover reservist).

Yes, we are hiring.

JPF16

Dont go Reserves go guard different pot of money and you have to get a masters, PME and all the other BS.

Mustangcbra

Thank you everyone for all of your input it has been extremely helpful.

Mustangcbra

Hey sent you a PM. Did you receive it?

Sorry I have not been keeping up with the board. Not a lot of time with UPT in full swing a cross country this past weekend and a sick 9 month old.

I just sent my packet in last week but I believe it may have went to your Squadron commander so I am going to try and resend it to the hiring e-mail address.

I was not trying to make Dover or Pittsburgh sound like a sure thing. I'm only in the initial phase for both. I'm merely saying that those are the two units I am considering the most right now based on what I have heard regarding hiring, location and airframe.

Ill try and PM you again. I have a bunch of questions if you would not mind answering them.