Is the Air Force a viable option to furlough from regional??
 

Even though nothing has been mentioned at all about Furlough's at my company (ASA), I still want some realistic plan b's to be set up in case things dont turn around. Let's be honest here, if gas continues to rise I think everyone will furlough.

I am wondering however about the Air Force and any opinions/info you guys would have on it. I know they have a website, but any opinions on joining up in case of furlough would be cool.

I believe you can be no older than 29 at the time of your commissioning and you must serve 10 years after graduating from flight training. I don't know how old you are, but that might be a consideration.

Join the USAF/ANG/AFRES because you want to serve your nation first and foremost. The committment will seem like an eternity if you are just counting the days until you can get back to commercial flying.

Who wants to go back to commercial flying?

Ha, good one!:) But I must admit that after a bunch of time in the sandbox last winter, sleeping in a trailer surrounded by sandbags, and getting shot at on occasion, even a Midland, TX overnight was beginning to sound appealing.

My only point, if I have one, is just make sure you think it all the way through before signing on the dotted line. If you're only doing it for a paycheck, then it might be a long unpleasant experience. On the other hand, if you want to put on a uniform, help win the war on terror, and maybe even get a chance to blow some evil-doers back to the stoneage, then come on in, the water's fine.

Joining the military should never be a plan B! :rolleyes: I don't want to go to war with someone who is only looking for a paycheck!

tell that to military recruiters. and current ad campaigns try to get people to enlist strictly for the financial benefits. granted its a little different on the officer side.

plus the new GI bill is sweet. I think theres no shame in making the military plan B. youre still serving your country

Yeah, as long as you go in with the intent to give it your all, it doesn't really matter how you came to that decision. Just make sure you are ready to step up to the plate before you pull the trigger.

So, if there's no threat of furlough this thread wouldn't exist...sorry, I don't like it. If you want in, get in. If you are going it for a paycheck you'll be miserable because there's way to much bs for the money over a 10 year enlistment. Recruiters, even lower than used car salesman on the evolutionary scale.:rolleyes:

There realy is only one reason to join the military: you want to serve your country.

The financial benefits are just a nice little bonus. My signing bonus and 1990 era GI bill totaled about $18,000 for six years of service or an average of only$3000 per year.

It's different today, especially for officers drawing incentive or specialty pay. The pay is very competetive with all but the most lucrative jobs in business and industry.

Did I mention that the Marines fly Hornets, but not Intruders?

And did you get that beer yet?

Boomer

Go Guard! Baseops.net Flight Planning and Aviation Weather

Just FYI

I was talking to a navigator on the B-52 the other day. He told me pilots on the B-52 average about 100 hours a year.

Officer first, pilot second.

Could be different for other aircraft I guess. Do what you want.

You also have to score high enough on your initial test to get into USAF flight school and you can only take it once.

So I am probably too old, but is there any chance I would qualify for a flight slot in any of the armed forces? I am 31 and given the state of the industry I am actively seeking alternatives both in and out of flying. I think I remember reading one time that you could get a helicopter slot with the army up till 32?

Do NOT attempt a flying career in the military as a "fallback" to your regional, especially on the ANG level. Recruiters that work with Pilot candidates can see straight through the BS...plus you'll have to be in good to great physical shape and be qualified well beyond simple flight hours on your resume. The process is long and arduous even if you are a competitive candidate...most boards only meet once or twice a year and it'll take you at least 3 months to get all the paperwork and tests completed.

Every day I damn my thick corneas for causing my ocular pressure to read high and causing me to lose my ANG pilot slot three weeks before AMS...

Check out the Marines' ads. Their approach is a little different from the others. Never mentions money for college or a job skill that transfers to the outside.

Every enlisted is a future SgtMaj of the Marine Corps and every Officer (though you won't see commercials for them either) is the next Commandant.

I have to totally agree with Slice though. Having the military as your Plan B is going to be very tough to swallow when you are sleeping in a fighting hole with the rain pouring down on you. You're going to start to wonder where you went wrong. It was my Plan A and I still wondered!

USMCFLYR

The military pays well, has great benifits, and a fantastic retirement if you stay the long haul. But, there are times that are just simply is not easy. Long deployments, working under "that guy", and sometimes things just dont make sense but you gotta do them anyway. Military flying is undoubtedly the most exiting flying you will ever do. I say go for it, but you have to meet the criteria first:

1. Are you over the age limit (29 to be an officer, which is required to be a pilot)?
2. Can you tolerate military life?
3. Could you stand to be away from your family for long periods of time? (Usually 6 months minimum per deployment)?
4. Are you within the body fat criteria? (no more than 22% body fat)
5. Is your vision correctable to 20/20?
6. The military flight surgeons are much more strict on medical screenings than your local flight doc. Will you pass a flight physical?

Those are just a few of the things you want to consider. To be a pilot- your a great candidate if you pass all of the above. You will likely have your pick of planes upon graduation with your experience. As an officer, I dont think you will get the GI Bill, but your pay will be much higher.

Hope that info helps

They also check to see if you know your military aviation history and current opposition general aircraft. They want to see that you have a passion for military aviation. A buddy of mine took the test there and didn't know any of the military history answers, like "What was the first serviceable US Air Force jet?" (Don't answer that because we'll never know if you just googled it and answered it that way) I'm just say'n. Needless to say my buddy was not sellected.

I don't remember any kind of question like that when I took the AFOQT or the BAT, or when I did either one of my two ANG board interviews. Then again my unit flew Hercs, not pointy-nose airplanes...

Yeah, theres nothing like that on the AFOQT or BAT (or whatever the new BAT is called). I'd say a good guess is the P-80, but I think there was an earlier model. I don't recall it seeing combat duty though.

I took the AFOQT about 5 years ago and remember NO such questions. Passed that the physical, had the letters.... had the WHOLE package - completely selectable...Than I met my wife to be :eek: I think if you have the desire and personality for it - GO FOR IT. Job Security, retirement, benies... I certainly wish I had not met my wife sometimes :D

I remember the questions like that (navy, 1980's). There was even a question about one of the gemini astronauts.

It changes regularly, but sometimes there are waivers up to early thirties but usually for prior-enlisted personnel.

I doubt they are granting many waivers in the current climate, but I would check with each service to be certain. A lot of the advice you get on the internet might be outdated, but the somebody at baseops.net might have the latest on that.

Ha! Yea i had plenty that day & night man, good times were had.

1. I'm 23 years old, turning 24 this month.

2. My father is ex-AirForce, so i was raised a little bit strict.

3. Thats my only downfall

4. I regularly work out (former Track star in high school:cool:)

5. No lie here, last medical i got i had 20/15 vision, was told i should join
the Navy with my eyes.

6. Physical would be a breeze.


All in all, I would love the oppurtunity to serve my country flying heavies or fighters. My original passion for avaition comes from my admiration of fighter jets. However the 10 year commitment was the only thing that made me shy away from joining up.

I've flown with plenty of older civilian pilots who were interested in military flying, met all the requirements in their youth, but shied away for one reason or another. They pretty much always regret not doing it.

Dude, sounds like your motives are pure. You wouldn't be the first guy thinking 10 years is a long time, and in reality it is. It's a long time to make the best friends you'll ever have, create your best flying memories, and to have the honor of serving the greatest nation on earth.

Question: Sounds like you have a family (wife, kids?). If so, better talk to momma and make sure she's on board. Your dad may be able to share some insight with her on what being married to the AF would be like. Oh, and depending on your beliefs a little guidance from the Man upstairs never hurts.

Good luck!

I was in your exact shoes 4 years ago with the exception of a military father - Don't pass it up - The flying biz is in the crapper. I would already be almost half way through that 10 year commitment by next year and it just seems like yesturday. :(

Ok- you certainly fall within the criteria for what they are looking for. Let me tell you a little about myself:

I am 30 yrs old and enlisted. Too old for the pilot option if I were to become an officer. Im looking at possibly becoming an NFO (Naval Flight Officer), who flies in the back of P3 (737 here in a little bit), F-18s...etc. I regret not doing it sooner and Im sure that if you go that route, you will not regret it. The military life takes some getting used to, but all-in-all, it is well worth it in the end.

One last question-

Do you have a Bachelor's degree?

If not, you will not be able to go straight in as a commissioned officer and, therefore, will not be able to be a pilot. You can certainly still enlist, but no guarentees on what you would fly in (not fly, fly in the back of) in that case. So, if you were wanting to pursue the military strictly to be a pilot, you must have a 4-yr degree from an accredited institution first and foremost.

Curtiss P-59 flew before the P-80 (1943ish?) but never saw combat. The first operational jet in the AAF would be the P-80, which was later used in Korea. Unless they mean the first USAF jet, which I dunno cause that would be 1947 and several aircraft could fit the bill. Is it multiple choice?

No, I didn't Google it, and don't remember any such questions on the AFOQT or ASVAB back in the 80s. But you had to know that kind of stuff off the top of your head if you wanted to eat at the good ole' USAFA. I dunno about OCS or whatever they call it these days.

Nah no wife and kids, just a very sick mother and a very serious gf.

Yea I have a bacelors in Aviation Science :confused:. To this day i wish i could go back and get it in management or something else that would net me another job to fall back on.

My deepest sympathies regarding your mother. That is a life event that only you will know how best to handle.

With respect to your serious girlfried, my only advice is that should you decide to enter the service, wait until you are all finished with all flight training to take anything to the next level with her (ie marriage). Just don't tell her I said that.;)

CaribPilot -

Question: "3. Could you stand to be away from your family for long periods of time? (Usually 6 months minimum per deployment)?"

Your answer: "3. Thats my only downfall"

Then I would suggest that you seriously think about this endeavor that you are considering and make darn sure that you have discussed it with any immediate family members that may be affected by your absence.
When I'm talking to the younger guys and they are already complaining about the time away from family during their first operational tour of duty and they are on the fence about staying or getting out - I tell them to leave the service. I thank them (and their families) for their service that they have given and wish them the best of luck but I tell them that many future deployments are in their future if they remain in the military. In my service (and sister service) even the one time "safe jobs" like instructor duty and certain staff jobs are prime candidates for the Individual Augment billets now. We have people coming over for their "shore tour" and are met at the door with 1 year IA orders to OIF/OEF.

I don't know if anything will be changing in the near future and how thsoe winds might blow - but know what you are getting into.

USMCFLYR