Highschool Senior..
 

Good afternoon guys,

I just have a few questions..

What would be the best way to land a spot flying for the ANG?

-Should I enlist at the local unit starting my freshman year of college and hope for the opportunity to become a pilot once I graduate?

-Apply to become an officer after college?

-Have any prior flight experience before applying?

Thank you for any advice.

In the ANG or AF Reserves, you will have to have, at least, a Private Pilot license. In fact, you'll need it for active duty.

Any of those routes will work, the details are your situation. If you need college money, enlist, take the ANG's tuition assistance. Realize that chances are your Guard commitment could interfere with completing college in four years. We had a number of enlisted crew who lost a semester or two after the activations of 9/11. Enlisting or minimally, "rushing" a unit as a sophomore gives you the best chances at getting picked up. You have a maximum age to enter UPT, so the more years you are seeking a very competitive position, the better the odds. I was introduced by a guy I did some flying with, he encouraged me and got me thru the hoops. I was an out of stater and not enlisted, but it worked. As I said elsewhere, guys and gals get Reserve UPT slots by many routes.

GF

Absolutely not true (as of 2 months ago) that you must have a license to get picked up for a pilot slot in the ANG.

I certainly agree, though, that a serious applicant will work toward that goal.

So going to a cheap college and earning a PPL while enlisted would be the way to go?

Seriously? No, not at all.
Get a quality education. If you become a pilot, you'll need it at some point (probably after your furlough).

Who do you think the boards will offer a UPT slot to:
a. graduate of a well known Ivy League school.
b. graduate of Podunk Community College.

I recommend you excel in all areas if you want to compete with top performers.

Theoretically, no you won't need a PPL for UPT, but your odds without one are slim to none unless an in-unit star enlisted troop. In 18 years and 20+ UPT students, not one didn't have at least a PPL. The guy I mentioned had only a PPL and less than 100 hours. At the other extreme, a B747 pilot got the nod. Story is too specific for the telling here.

GF

What if I was in an AFROTC program in college. Can I still enlist at the local ANG unit?

Well, I don't know much about your observations... but I do know of someone that graduated college this past June, and got picked up for a UPT slot with less than 10 hours of flight time, and no prior military service.

I don't know... but cannot think of any reason you couldn't. In fact, I think it would be a plus.

How could he do both? If he enlists, then he is making a commitment to that ANG unit for the duration of his enlistment. If I'm not mistaken, that enlistment usually extends beyond college.
Enrolling in AFROTC will eventually result in a decision point during college to continue by joining the POC, thus incurring a commitment to serve at least 4 years on active duty as a commissioned officer. I don't see how he could do that if he's already enlisted in the ANG - so what would be the point of joining ROTC in the first place?

So would earning alot of flight time during college help me stand out?

Hugh,

In my experience in two units, he's very lucky. I had one guy like that ROTC cut all UPT slots, post Desert Storm, he came to our unit and was sent. On-base recommendation helped.

Montey,

Some flight experience is helpful, if only to show interest and basic ability. 100-200 hours is good, after that, not so much.

GF

So just obtaining ust a ppl rating is good ? I am leaning towards enlisting instead of rotc. I think it will be a great opportunity to enlist as soon as I turn 18.

You are absolutely correct.
My error due to poor reading comprehension.

Doing both probably is a non-starter.

Use caution enlisting. I've seen plenty of folks enlist with grand designs of getting Commissioned and on to upt that got quite comfortable and established in their post-high school routine. Their ambition and drive faded as their personal responsibilities grew and they never went beyond.

Not that there's anything wrong with a career enlisted in the guard or ad, but if you go that route, remember WHY you went that route and your goals.

I'll will do whatever it takes to become a pilot. Even if it takes ten years from now to become commissioned.