De La Ghetto

Hello Gentlemen,


I am seeking some guidance regarding my situation and intentions.

All my life I wanted to fly. With this vision in mind, I enrolled at an aviation college, which I am currently attending. I am currently working on my flight ratings and have acquired a private license thus far. My goals in life surpass becoming just an airline pilot, as I would also like serving as an officer and pilot in the military. I must note that I am not using the military as a stepping-stone to an airline career.

I have recently decided to enlist into a fighter guard unit with the hope of eventually earning a UPT slot. I’ve been thinking about it for a while (years), but never made moves. But anyways, I met with a recruiter a couple days ago and I look forward to taking the physical next week.

I have made it known that I don’t want to miss too much time out of college, therefor I would be interested in a career field that doesn’t require two semesters off of school. The recruiter suggested that I become an aircraft fuel systems specialist since the schooling is relatively short (6 ½ weeks) and it also offer a bonus incentive that I could use to help with my flight expenses. He told me that I shouldn’t miss more than one semester of college… Can anyone confirm? I personally would prefer to become a boom operator but maintaining currency and becoming mission qualified seems to take much time away from my college schedule. (please correct me if I’m wrong)

Also, I really want to transfer to either Embry-Riddle or the Florida Institute of Technology once I get my CFI(or sooner). Therefore I look forward to a future transfer between guard units, which my recruiter said is possible as long as the job is available at the unit I’m trying to get into.

I’m wondering what you guys think about what I’m intending to do. How would a guard unit view me if I move to a different state to finish my degree and return a couple years down the road? Am I taking the wrong approach to this? I Just want to make sure I am doing the right thing. Sometimes it seems too good to be true.

WARich

I understand you not wanting to miss to much college, but the position you choose could make a difference in getting a UPT slot. You mentioned being a boom operator, that to me would make much more sense, you'll be a part of the crew. Plus you might fly with the chief pilot, squadron commander, wing commander etc (which can help getting that UPT slot). As someone in MX, you'll have to work especially hard to get to know the people doing the UPT hiring. As a crew member, you'll fly and perhaps deploy with the important people that will be making a UPT decision. This will give them a chance to get to know you and if you make it known you want to go to UPT and they like you it will be a no brainer for them.

I can think of more instances in my previous Guard/Reserve squadrons of enlisted aircrew members being selected to go to UPT than folks in MX. Just my 2 cents and some food for thought.

UAL T38 Phlyer

Don't waste your money on an aviation school. I teach UPT, and most of those guys are no better than the others...but they ARE a lot more in-debt.

Go to a regular school. Get a normal degree. If you have the mind for it, I still think a technical degree helps (engineering, math, chemistry, etc).

Take some flying lessons, maybe even get your private. But do what you can afford.

Anything more than that will not help at UPT. But some exposure prior might help get you a Guard slot.

Good luck.

JerkStore

^^^this.

I was in a similar situation years ago. I enlisted, became a fuel systems technician on the F-16, and did my one weekend per month, and 2 weeks in the summer. I did have to deploy once, but that comes with the territory. I finished up my bachelor's and applied to all the squadrons I wanted to fly for. 6 interviews and 2 job offers later, I took a tanker job. So, it is possible without an aviation degree.

On another note, if you did decide to enlist as a boom operator, your UPT slot would be a given as long as you don't make enemies. I know of a boom right now who didn't even have to go to the interview board because he's liked around the squadron, and his 4 years as a boom operator was enough of an interview.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

De La Ghetto

Thanks for the replies guys!

Being a boom sounds like a lot of fun. However, wouldn't I only be limited to online classes if I decide to take the job? I remember speaking to a recruiter about this position and I remember he telling me that I'll do 3-5 trips per month (reserves). How then would I finish my degree without taking online classes?

I remember that there was a wait list for the position to become a boom. I remember the recruiter saying 6-10 month wait. If I do Fuel Systems Technician, it would only be a 3-5 month wait. Is it worth the extra wait?

Also, my major is in aviation and I'm only about four classes away from my Associates degree. There are no decent four year aviation schools around me unless I transfer to Florida. The closest tanker unit to me flies the KC-10, and from my understanding, there are not KC-10 units in Florida but they do have a KC-135.

I know aviation degrees are not recommended, but like I said I'm already two years in and can't see myself starting all over since most classes will probably not transfer.

WARich

First off, be careful about putting all your eggs in one basket based on what the recruiter says. You're in the Reserves/Guard, YOU make your schedule. Typically you give the scheduler what you're availability is and they fit you into flights that are in those time slots. Once again, YOU CONTROL your schedule in the Reserves/Guard, unless you're activated. Other than that, you're civilian life is what you make of it and your Reserve/Guard duty you fit in around it. Typically all the squadrons desire is that you maintain your currency.

Try to get ahold of some boomers in the squadron you're interested and talk to them. Once again, be very cary about what the recruiter says he's just out to meet his quota. The recruiter really has no clue typically about the in's and out's of the flying squadron. Talk to folks in the squadron who are aircrew. Enough said about the recruiter?

Another suggestion actually, if I were you I would call out to the flying squadron you're interested in and ask to talk to the chief boom operator or someone in that area and ask if you can come out on a UTA weekend and talk to them about being a boom operator. By doing that, you'll get some face time in, and you'll get the real skinny as opposed to the recruiter skinny.

Once again, not to hammer over and over about it but don't make your decision based on what the recruiter says. Talk to the squadron dudes first. By the way, were are you located? Somewhere near McGuire?

tankerdude

I'm a UPT grad and I found that my aviation degree made UPT a joke and finished top of my class with no issue. If you want to be a pilot, an aviation degree makes sense. You go to med school to be a doctor right... if you're good enough you dont need a fall back degree

JerkStore

Yeah, you don't have to take any trips if you don't want to. Just gotta show up for UTAs and other mandatory squadron events. (Inspections, deployments etc)

WARich

Ok, I'm changing my post to help out the original poster and not to ridicule tankerdude for his post. Tankerdude, we both know that UPT know matter what your experience is not easy. You're idea of easy may be the norm for you because you're use to working your butt off. But don't give the false impression to people that it's a walk in the park just because you have an aviation degree. That's doing him an injustice. Typically from experience, most students I fly with who have prior aviation experience have a slight leg up sometimes with just basic aircraft control, but they still have to figure out how to land the aircraft and all the local procedures. (case in point, I've had students that have been prior regional RJ dudes and honestly there are guys in the class with very little aviation experience that have been doing better) Now with instruments typically they do a little better because it's instruments at normal airports, but formation, can be iffy. My point, don't sell a bill of goods that's not reality.

E2CMaster

I would temper this with we are all one medical hiccup away from not being able to fly for a living.

When it looked like I was done flying for good when a flight surgeon for lack of a better term screwed the pooch on my bloodwork during a long form physical when I turned 30, it was good to have a backup plan. Even though I am fine, I became acutely aware of the fragility of having a medical.
(told me I had cancer, I was fine, they gooned up the math on some blood count, not realizing that a dl = 100ml not 10ml)