Military Time Building
08-01-2016, 12:38 PM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2007
Position: A320 CA
Posts: 1,530
Originally Posted by rroulette
I just want to know if I am wasting my time pursuing the reserves, especially since I have no prior military flying experience. I have heard full time AF pilots are having enough trouble getting into the reserves.
08-01-2016, 02:17 PM
#12
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jul 2016
Posts: 6
Originally Posted by Mooseflyer88
First off, good on you for doing the research while you're still in school. I lost count of how many 28 & 29 year olds came into the squadron looking to get hired. We won't consider anyone much beyond their 28th birthday due to the lengthy application/hiring process (west coast C-17 unit). You need to find an officer accessions recruiter for the AF reserve/ANG. He/she will explain the process to you and ensure you are qualified. They will also point you in the direction of some flying squadrons you can talk to. It's a long process, but if you're motivated and know what you're getting into, very rewarding.
08-06-2016, 07:43 AM
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: Window seat
Posts: 5,211
Go ANG or reserve. If you want to be an airline pilot AD is not the best path.
Get hired by a regional airline with a f/t agreement and take mil leave for your ANG/USAFR pilot training. While you're in military training you'll be advancing towards your flow through date.
Get hired by a regional airline with a f/t agreement and take mil leave for your ANG/USAFR pilot training. While you're in military training you'll be advancing towards your flow through date.
08-10-2016, 06:44 AM
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2016
Position: P-28
Posts: 151
Second the recommendation to go ANG/Flying Reserves of some form.
From a Navy POV, active duty Navy would be a poor choice. Many people want the P-3/8 just for the purpose of being able to switch over to the airlines, so it is a bit more competitive than some people might think. There are those that want a pointy nose or helos as well, but it really would come down to who is in your winging class and what slots the Navy needs to fill that week. I was hoping for P-3s back when I winged, but there were no slots available so I ended up flying helos.
In the Navy hours are starting to be a bit harder to get (at least in the helo community). Junior pilots used to leave their first flying tour with 1000+ hours and now that average is will below that. You might leave your first flying tour and head to instructor duty someplace where you can build hours pretty fast, but that is not a guarantee. You might end up sitting a desk for a couple of years before you can get back in the cockpit.
I was fortunate and was able to stay in the cockpit for the better part of the last 18 years with the service and will be looking to get out and go to a regional to build my fixed wing hours. Luckily, I have quite a bit of fixed wing time compared to majority of the rotary pilots in the Navy.
From a Navy POV, active duty Navy would be a poor choice. Many people want the P-3/8 just for the purpose of being able to switch over to the airlines, so it is a bit more competitive than some people might think. There are those that want a pointy nose or helos as well, but it really would come down to who is in your winging class and what slots the Navy needs to fill that week. I was hoping for P-3s back when I winged, but there were no slots available so I ended up flying helos.
In the Navy hours are starting to be a bit harder to get (at least in the helo community). Junior pilots used to leave their first flying tour with 1000+ hours and now that average is will below that. You might leave your first flying tour and head to instructor duty someplace where you can build hours pretty fast, but that is not a guarantee. You might end up sitting a desk for a couple of years before you can get back in the cockpit.
I was fortunate and was able to stay in the cockpit for the better part of the last 18 years with the service and will be looking to get out and go to a regional to build my fixed wing hours. Luckily, I have quite a bit of fixed wing time compared to majority of the rotary pilots in the Navy.
08-10-2016, 08:30 AM
#17
Furlough Fodder
Joined APC: Aug 2013
Position: 320A
Posts: 117
First, there's nothing wrong with using the reserves to boost your resume as long as you have a little honor and humility and understand and accept that Uncle Sam owns your ass when you're in the uniform. A lot of guys are in the reserves for personal or financial reasons, so if you're a good dude, you'll probably fit right in.
Second, if your reason for doing the reserves is because you don't want to be away from your new family, you might want to think it over a bit more... World events and the needs of the DoD might have you away from home more than you think.
Best of luck, though... If I were in your shoes, I'd be trying to do exactly what you are.
Second, if your reason for doing the reserves is because you don't want to be away from your new family, you might want to think it over a bit more... World events and the needs of the DoD might have you away from home more than you think.
Best of luck, though... If I were in your shoes, I'd be trying to do exactly what you are.
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