I’m not 100% sure but I do not think that is necessarily true.

It’s not, just like if you leave before 2 years you have to pay back the sign on bonus.

How can guys leaving before two years not payback that bonus? They all signed an agreement stating they would have to pay back in full if they left in year one and that it would be prorated in the 2nd year.

RTP
 

Helo guys have such a varied background. id guess the lack of x-country in actual IFR in controlled airspace. No chip in the whole branch war thing but army/ANG seems to treat helo's like driving a garden tractor. This plane demands that you have a good grasp on aeronautics and SOP's.

I didn’t come through an RTP program, but I did serve, I then got out and used my G.I. Bill to get my certificates, then raked together the time I needed doing everything from meat bombing to instructing to 135, all while supporting a family on an average of 35K a year. I don’t speak for everyone, but free education, 7 years of a guaranteed pay check, with money for rent and utilities, not to mention most meals free. Meanwhile civilian tax payers work harder and make less money, with more education than I had!? The tax payers have thanked me far in excess of my service. We all volunteered, your gratitude is appreciated, but not necessary.

Many of us (me included could for sure) could have more solid IFR skills, but I’d be hard pressed to be against us flying anything like a tractor or not having a grasp of SOPs/aeronautics. combine that with our training in CRM and emergency procedures and you begin to under stand why the we have branch mottos like “above the best”

I think as a whole military aviators have skill sets civilians do not and to a degree vise versa.

I don't know about all that. I had 260 total PIC Airplane 1600 Helo 3hrs actual IMC and maybe 10? in the IFR system when I got to the airlines and I made it through training just fine.

I didn't use my GI Bill though. It was all my skin in the game. To paraphrase the guy who taught me how to fly who is a retired CWO/IP, has done more things in the civilian world most pilots only dream of including his award winning Air Show act "I'll hire a civilian over a military pilot any day" (he was a 135 CP among other things)

His reasoning was that civilians have skin in the game. Military pilots have had everything handed to them on a silver platter. He was a ruck marching airborne before accession, real salt of the Earth type.

Maybe these RTP guys just have it too easy? (Only in some cases obviously...)

Well, I know for sure if I was expected to just hop in a rotor bird and fly combat missions there would be a steep learning curve for me. So I get the struggle

I’ve flown with military aviators that were great pilots and those that weren’t. I’ve flown with civilian pilots that were great pilots and those that weren’t. There are good pilots and bad pilots. In the military and in the civilian world. Just like there are good doctors and bad doctors. It is what it is. I don’t think one path or the other better prepares one for 121 jet ops. It is what you make of it.

I'm sure a Helicopter is quite the handful. As stated, this program in reverse would be quite a mess. ( RJ- Helicopter). Anyway kudos to all those that stepped up to serve their country. Great folks, just hope PSA's giving them the tools to be successful in the switch.