TankerDriver

Ok, lots of people don't realize what you'd have to make as a civilian to live like you were in the military. I should have been a bit more clear, but it's not necessarily be $100k cash in your hand. I'm talking everything and in order to separate and live like you were as an O-4 when you're a civilian, you need to take all that into consideration.

O-4 base pay, according to 2006 scales is $5,131.80 a month with 8+ years of service. Flight pay, for someone who has been flying 6+ years is $650 a month. BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence) is $187.49 and BAH (Basic Housing Allowance) of course varies with where you live, but where I'm based, an O-4 with dependents makes $1,300 a month. At Travis AFB, it's $1,979. So, all that, using $1300 a month for BAH, an O-4 is making $87,231.48 a year. At Travis AFB, it'd be $95,379.48 a year. An airline is not going to adjust your income for where you live. In addition, BAH and BAS are not taxed. So that's $18k-25k a year that is untaxed. What about free medical? I pay $10 a month for my wife's dental coverage and that's it. Medical is paid for. Even working for a company with a benefits package, what are you paying for medical for a family? $100-150 a month? I have no idea. That's another $1,200-1,800 a year. I didn't even include deployments. Combat pay, tax free, family separation pay. Someone above mentioned the bonus. Take $90k+$25k=$115k a year for an O-4.

Last year, as an O-2, with 7 months of tax free, combat pay, family separation, etc... I made over $65,000. I only paid tax on about $30k of it. Again, I'm not sure why people only look at base pay when calculating what we make. Of course, when you retire, you only get a pension based off of your base pay.

L-1011-500

Bragging rights? Not too many airliners land on boats. IMHO half of the guys I have flown with in commercial aviation that were fighter guys had the worst CRM I've seen. If you want a commercial aviation career and that is your #1 goal in aviation go fly a C-130, C-5 or some other transport. You'll log much more flying time than anything single seat and develop important crew skills.
In one of the earlier posts was a good point. In the military you at least will not be broke. I would also consider going into the guard or reserves too. Anything that can get you into a pilot slot is better than not. Best of luck to you.

crewdawg52

What everyone is forgetting (which is VERY BIG) is the non-pay "bennies" that comes from serving active/guard/reserve. Using the commissary "grocery store", base gas station, rec facilities, golf course, etc. All of which will save you several thousands of $$$ each year. Pretty much saved me when I went out to HNL as a DC-10 F/E on probation (takehome was $1600 month and rent was $2000 a month) Was able to use Kaneohe Marine Base Hawaii and it was on an average about 25% cheaper to buy there than in Kailua.

GauleyPilot

Id say go with the millitary. I have always felt that a degree should be in something other than just Airplane Driving, so you have somewhat of a back-up plan for the day your pancreas goes tango uniform. (It is not in the MEL.)

rickair7777

Fighter guys generally have no trouble getting hired at majors. They can learn CRM. Fly fixed wing military if you can, and if you have the choice, select the aircraft that YOU would most like to fly, it won't affect your civilian career much either way.

Linebacker35

The only downside I can think of for going the military route is as a canadian I would be in the RCAF. Which our Airforce is a complete joke! If I went through a flight college in the States than I would be able to get a job lined up in the states after.
But I guess we are suppose to be getting the F-35s to replace our hornets so that would be good. Plus there is always the oppritunity to go to the US airforce test pilot school at edwards, I hear they take some canadians. That way I would be able to be loaned to either the US Airforce or Navy. But for that I would have to get fighters not helicopters(damn Sea Kings and HUEY's) or Transport.
I hear lots of stories about Canadian pilots on exchange with the US AirForce and Navy. Any of you military guys know any or anything about it?
Any of your opinions change that it is the Canadian Airforce, not the American?

rickair7777

I can't think of any reason to avoid RCAF, my buddy did an exchange tour (non-flying) and enjoyed it. As long as you get into fixed-wing, but that applies to the US services too. Hornet's a great airplane, I wouldn't ***** if you can get it. I do not know what their service commitment is, presumably no more than ten years?

tomgoodman

Back in the '70s, we had a Canadian exchange pilot at Edwards flying with the A-10 joint test force. He explained a scar on his forehead: "Had to jump out of an F-104 on a low-level flight." Someone asked: "Engine quit?" He said: "Naw---hit a tree."

Linebacker35

The service commitment is 7 years after training. Yah I would definitly want to get the hornet. But I think it would be preety cool to fly the Hurc or the aurora on sub patrols too.