rickair7777

1. You get mil leave for either active duty or reserve. That includes unlimited leave for initial training AND any service obligation incurred in training. This means you could join the navy, do training, stay in for ten years or so, and then return to your airline with full accumulated seniority...as though you never left. Actually you also get five years discretionary mil leave in addition so you could stay until about the 15 year point. So you're not risking your regional job (unless they go bankrupt or furlough someone senior to you).

2. You would be giving up the major airline opportunity for a long time...given current industry dynamics, that's a lot of seniority and pay at the back end of your airline career. As much as I like the navy, I probably wouldn't do it knowing what I know now...golden opportunities are rare.

Instead, join the guard or USAF reserves...that way you're only out a year or two for training and then can resume your civilian career. Career timing might be a wash anyway, since you'll be able to check the military box and *should* get picked up by a major that much faster.

Yazzoo

Wow, thanks for all the replies! You guys are fantastic.

I want to fly fast movers, and I live in California, so I'm looking into the 144th Fighter Wing (stationed in Fresno, flies the F-15). Last I checked, they had just finished the selection process and were not taking applications. I'm going to check in with them in a little bit and see if that's changed.

Do the Navy Reserves work in a similar way to ANG/AFRC as in I keep my seniority and also get to land on the "boat?" Because if so then that might be my main focus.

The money and the seniority would be nice, but I've thought about it and 15-20 years at a major would be plenty for me. For me the satisfaction of serving in the military would more than make up for the lost time at a major airline (and as I understand, officer pay and a military pension are a good deal).

MongoEP3

"Do the Navy Reserves work in a similar way to ANG/AFRC as in I keep my seniority and also get to land on the "boat?" Because if so then that might be my main focus."

Short answer - No. Navy Reserves only take winged aviators. I could be wrong, but I believe ANG is the only military entity that takes reservists off the street for flight training.

Grumble

True statement.

If you want to be a tailhook aviator you have to go all in.

If you live in Fresno, rush those guys. They're always hiring because no one in their right mind wants to live in Fresno.

MikeF16

I've seen a couple guys with a lot of civilian time go through USAF pilot training and they all did extremely well, assuming no attitude issues. You sound pretty motivated and while there are no guarantees, good airmanship in T-6s usually means a T-38 if so desired.

That said, I think you'd be crazy to go AD. Get a guard/reserve job and get the best of both worlds plus insurance if there is another global recession/war/terrorist event. Good luck.

PRS Guitars

I say go for it. I've had several AF UPT T38 students that were regional pilots, most did well. Go in with a good attitude though. When airline guys do poorly it's usually due to a poor attitude, not lack of skill.

A couple things though.

Recruiters will lie to you, so be careful. For the Air Force you need to find an Officer Assecion recruiter. Your local strip mall recruiter can't help you but will try to convince you to enlist anyway. Navy recruiters will likely try to talk you into any job but pilot, and not cool jobs like surface warfare or submarines but supply officer or something like that.

Go reserves/guard if able. While you are trying to get hired by a unit, try to get on with a major. If you could get both jobs you'd be a hero, you'd spend your first few years at the major gaining seniority without the PITA of being a new hire.

You have to be your biggest advocate. You'll deal with lots of hoops and people that really don't care if you make it through the hoops. If you fail any medical requirements...look up the regs and fight it.

While waiting for UPT, hand fly a lot more than normal, and turn off the auto throttles. If you have VNAV, at least back it up with some mental math. You should be ahead of the curve at least through T6's, T38's tend to level the playing field a bit since it doesn't really fly like aircraft that you're used to.

Don't quit your regional job, just use military leave. Feel free to PM me.

Yazzoo

How does rushing work? Is it true that you need to enlist in a squadron and "do your time" before they will consider you for a pilot slot?

PRS Guitars

(Enlisting)That might be the case for a fighter unit in a highly desirable location. Not nesacarily they case at undesirable locations or heavy units. As far as rushing, always a good idea to see them in person, bring a bottle of Scotch or Bourban and don't be a D. Bag. I started on AD, so never rushed for what it's worth.

Scraggly Heron

I'm in the process of leaving AD for the reserves. If I were in your shoes I would not go to Active Duty; like most others here I would recommend trying for that ANG spot.

If you go Active Duty there's no guarantee that you'll get the aircraft you want at the end of pilot training, and a strong possibility that you'll end up flying an RPA (remotely piloted aircraft). There's nothing wrong with RPAs; in fact, it's one of my top choices for a reserve job. But I suspect it's not what you're looking for.

If possible, see if you can get a back-seat ride in an F-15 or F-16. I had a lot of fun teaching in the T-6 and pulling 3-4 Gs; when I got a ride in an F-15, I got to pull a little over 8 Gs. It's a different (unpleasant) experience.

2loud

That's funny and true. I believe they want you to live within xx mile radius of the unit. Fresno is Compton II.
If you want to fly fast movers, as many have suggested, go find a reserve/guard unit that has pointy nosed jets. There are too many unknown variables on active duty Air Force. If you want to go all in, then go get a pilot slot in the Navy and get jets but you'll be throwing away your airline career and will have to start from scratch when you get out. I'd suggest the guard/reserve gig.