CFI or military
09-13-2013 | 05:30 PM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
If you are asking those questions, you have a lot of work ahead of you.
Go to: Baseops Military Aviation Forums for info about the AF + Guard
Go to: www.airwarriors.com for info about Navy/USMC/USCG
Please do yourself a favor, and spend a week or two reading and lurking before you ask any questions - they've all been asked before, and with a little research, you can find the answers.
But to answer your question specifically, each service has several commissioning programs. Once you pick one, you will have to sign a contract with the recruiter. The answer lies in the details of that specific contract.
I had an aviation contract with the USMC. Which meant that as long as I didn't poke my eye out going through OCS, and then through 6 months of TBS - they would send me to flight school. But I wasn't guaranteed anything except the opportunity to train. After primary training, everybody branches off to either helicopters, jets, or props - and it is based on performance + needs of the service, with a heavy emphasis on the needs of the service.
Some people go into a service with an open contract, which means they have to compete for their job. For example, when Navy ROTC students graduate, they will select pilot, surface warefare officer, submarine, etc...
As far as I know, the only way to be guaranteed a specific airframe is through the Air National Guard. You could walk in, get hired, and go to flight school with a guaranteed spot for the aircraft you want to fly. However; chances are high that some other college kids with a 3.1 are applying, and want the same deal. Right now you need to focus on the grades, and then do some research on the side.
Go to: Baseops Military Aviation Forums for info about the AF + Guard
Go to: www.airwarriors.com for info about Navy/USMC/USCG
Please do yourself a favor, and spend a week or two reading and lurking before you ask any questions - they've all been asked before, and with a little research, you can find the answers.
But to answer your question specifically, each service has several commissioning programs. Once you pick one, you will have to sign a contract with the recruiter. The answer lies in the details of that specific contract.
I had an aviation contract with the USMC. Which meant that as long as I didn't poke my eye out going through OCS, and then through 6 months of TBS - they would send me to flight school. But I wasn't guaranteed anything except the opportunity to train. After primary training, everybody branches off to either helicopters, jets, or props - and it is based on performance + needs of the service, with a heavy emphasis on the needs of the service.
Some people go into a service with an open contract, which means they have to compete for their job. For example, when Navy ROTC students graduate, they will select pilot, surface warefare officer, submarine, etc...
As far as I know, the only way to be guaranteed a specific airframe is through the Air National Guard. You could walk in, get hired, and go to flight school with a guaranteed spot for the aircraft you want to fly. However; chances are high that some other college kids with a 3.1 are applying, and want the same deal. Right now you need to focus on the grades, and then do some research on the side.
09-14-2013 | 12:30 AM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: A-10
I did exactly as you were doing but I had a lot more experience before joining the military. This is all good advice but I have some more advice for you. You don't join the military to fly airplanes. It's not just another avenue to get flight time. It's a decision that shouldn't be taken lightly. Yes, as a military aviator you get to fly great equipment that most people dream of but it's much more that that. Join because you have a passion to serve your country. What we do is dangerous. You will have friends that die, you will get shot at and maybe killed yourself. Depending on what you fly, you may kill people. My point is, if you just want to fly and your goal is to be a captain then just consider staying civilian. There is a lot more behind the scenes that is going on in the military that you never know about until you are here.
09-14-2013 | 11:29 AM
#15
Thread Starter
New Hire
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Yea I am still stuck on what I should do. I do know that there are many risks in the military, and the only thing I guess I would want to do in the military is fly. That is another reason I am kinda moving towards going civilian. If I am not 100% ready to serve the country then I know I shouldn't join because it would just be a living hell I feel like. Thanks for the advice though, much appreciated!
09-15-2013 | 05:59 AM
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
Haha, yea I am a senior in college, this is all great info everyone. Thank you for all giving me some advice on the military topic. And by the way I have a 2.9 gpa, hopefully this last year I can get to 3.0, kind of low. But it is what it is, I have been raising it every year now. Um but about the military, I have heard stories about pilots going to officer training and then never even flying. How does that work? Seems like such a gamble, but an awesome gamble. ha.
Otherwise, you can fly for the Army. If you want to fly Helos, and you have a degree, you might as well go to OCS in the Marines, AF, Navy to become an Officer, rather than the Army where 99% of the pilots are Warrant Officers.
The Coast Guard also has an unlimited budget. If you can get a pilot gig there I promise you'll feel like a superstar flying those choppers.
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