unrealistic plan?
 

Hi everyone. First post, but I wanted to get a little feedback. I won't even bother with flightinfo, and APC seems a little more positive than the other site.

So, I'm 18, and am leaving for Navy bootcamp on Monday. I have a four-year enlistment, and want to go to the airlines when I get out. I'm a person who likes to have a good plan, but I want to get some feedback from people who can relate to what I am planning on doing.

Like I said, Navy for 4 years, and during that time I plan and taking online classes, and using the Navy college program to earn an AA degree, 100% paid BTW, and also fly off the side whenever I'm not working and out at sea (which may be pretty rare), I have about 65 hours already, and I'm darn close to getting my PPL. My plan is to have an AA and at least a CPL SEL-I when I get out with about 300TT, and go to Ari or Skymates (expects GI bill funding) and go through their CFI course, then CFI until I have upwords of 1200-1300TT with some solid ME and instrument under my belt, then apply to the regionals. Being from Michigan, it would be awesome to go back and fly for Pinnacle. From what I hear that place sucks right now, but hey anything's better than working 16 hour days and living on a ship for 4 years right?

Thats my plan guys/gals, and if anyone did the military enlisted route, and then to the airlines, I'd certainly appreciate and advice or basically what you did. Or if anyone has any advice. If my "plan" seems unrealistic, let me know.

Thanks!
Cory K.

You should work on getting as much college done as you can, towards a 4-year degree. With all the breaks and restarts in flight training you'd have to go through, due to deployments/exercises/PCS/being stationed overseas, as well as an often irregular work schedule, it'd just be inefficient, and ultimately wasteful of money and time. It may be possible to get a rating during each of your annual 30-day leave periods, but that's quite a gamble.

Get as much college as you can, and wait until ETS to start flight training.

welcome
 

Welcome Cory. First off, at least you have a plan, which in itself goes a long way. Secondly, I would really try to get a 4 year degree instead of a 2 year associates. Thirdly, have you considered letting the U.S Navy pay for your training and giving them years of service back in return? I myself did not go the military route, but just trying to give you some options.

Good luck on your journey.

Right, I completely understand the importance of the 4-year degree. But the way I see it, I'll be in for 4 years, working and more than full-time job, it'll be highly unlikely to get that done within my 4 years, so I'd like to have at least an AA done, and have as much done towards a 4-year when my enlistment is up, was what I was trying to say.

Uncle Boss, I hear on that. I'm hoping I'll be able to get something done. If not, I'm not going to stress, Ari Ben as well as Skymates accept GI funding, so I can use that towards a Professional Pilot Course, something I'd rather not do, because I'd like to use that towards finishing off my BA during flight training/CFI-ing.

I guess we'll see when we get there. :-)

Thanks guys!

Cory

Coryk,

Have you given any thought to getting that 4 yr degree, applying to OCS/OTS, joining a reserve/air guard unit (as a full-timer), and letting the Navy/Marines/Air Force pay for your flight training? That way you won't be saddled with the expense (upwards of $50k). Gain time flying with your unit, then apply to the airlines. Yes, you will have to give them some years, but it is'nt that bad ( you've given them 4 yrs already). Plus, you will always have a job to fall back on if you happen to get furloughed (have to keep that thought in the back of your mind. hope it never happens).

Just a thought. Good luck

Congradulations
 

Coryk,

Best of luck to you !! I think the military is a great place to start. As others have mentioned I would use all the benefits the Navy has to offer and consider a long term investment for a larger benefit.

Good Luck,

SKyHigh

I have thought about that, a lot actually. Although I never joined the military to fly, it was never my intention. My sole intention was to serve my country. Also once I discharge I'll have upwords of 40K through GI funding to fnd any unfinished flight training and/or my education. While it's not going to be paid for in full as if I were a military pilot, I won't be having to go out and get myself a 50K loan and have the worries of paying that off on regional FO pay. I'll still continue to be apart of the Navy after my 4 yrs are up, just with a reserve unit though. I'll cross rate to Master-at-Arms, if the $hit hits the fan, back to AD, or find a law enforcment position. Hopefully then I'd have mmy BA degree with military experience.

What is your MOS going to be? Maybe you can train in one that is more of a land based position. Something in support of P-3's would fit that bill. If you can avoid the boat your plan would be accomplished a little easier.

The military path is a good way to go. I was fortunate. I had a lot of money saved up. Made some good investments. I got some real good scholarships. And I jumped on the opportunity to go the civilian route. It is a little faster and certainly easier (and flexible). But if you don't have the money for college and flight training, the military route is a good way to go.

I personally feel an AA degree doesn't mean anything (in flying). There is practically no difference between a high school degree and an AA degree to the airlines (except that you are more educated). Since you know the importantce of college, you should get a 4 year degree.

The best way is to become an officer. You are 18, there is NO reason to enlist. Go to college. Get into ROTC. Let the military pay for a 4 year degree. When you are 22, you should try and get a pilot slot. I don't know the exact commitment (5-10 years depending on ROTC, AF Academy...), but continue to fly for the military for that commitment. When that commitment is up, go get an airline job. If the industry sucks, stay in the military. Pilot retention bonuses around year 9 get upwards of $25,000, and you could probably reach $100,000 around those years. Once you find a pilot job you enjoy, get out, but stay in the reserves. You will always have a backup if you get furloughed, and you will have an extra source of income.

Let me recommend with all my might that you become an officer, and not enlisted. You will get a 4 year degree. You will be paid more. The military can pay for your flight training. The difference between being enlisted, and being an officer (with respect to quality of life) is downright HUGE!!

I also recommend becoming an officer. The difference is night and day between enlisted folk and officer folk. I joined the Air Force for 4 years immediately after high school and have never regretted it. I then went to college and got all my ratings. I got out of college debt free thanks to Uncle Sam, but I also spent every dime I had in the process. Since you've already enlisted you're somewhat stuck. There are programs like boot strap and a.e.p.s. that have you go to college while serving and then you become an officer once you get your degree. These programs may have changed. I joined 20 years ago. Look into those. You can also look into palace chase which lets you transfer from active duty to the guard or reserve. Many states pay close to 100% tuition for their members. Getting into college ROTC isn't always easy, especially if your grades in high school weren't great. In the mean time, if you haven't been assigned a job yet, try to get a job in the Navy related to flying. I was an air traffic controller. That is a great job and it helps out immensely when you start pilot training. Try to find a land based job. You will have more time to take college classes. No matter what do the best you can at whatever you do. It is a long road. Don't give up!! Good luck.

I agree. If you are going to get a 4 year degree (which you really need to be competitive) I would get it in something that you can use to fall back on. I did that and it was the best decision I ever made. Good luck!

You sound like a pretty sharp guy...once you get into the fleet check out the seaman-to-admiral program. You need some college credits I believe, but if you are accepted you can go directly to OCS, flight school, the RAG, then an operational squadron tour. After your squadron tour, the Navy sends you to a civilian college to finish your degree with full active duty pay and benies at the O-3 level. Hard to beat. Also apply to Annapolis; there are slots reserved for qualified enlisted that are often not used...all you have to do is meet the minimums usually, you don't have to compete with the congressional appointment pool.

Warning: Navy/Marine Air has a lot of helos...fun to fly, but it is difficult to salvage an airline career after 10 years as a helo pilot. It can be done, but might involve starting over in the fixed-wing world.

The Air National Guard has two major advantages:
1) You can sign up for fixed-wing, no risk of getting stuck in rotors.
2) You can build 121 experience at a regional airline while doing the guard.

just get your private and tell your commander you wanna sign up for flight training, then youll go right to a big plane with out getting raped in the regionals, and in 15 years you can go right to a major without getting raped in a regional

(ps. im sure someone already said this but i dont read the entire post)

hey coryk i have nothing for u buddy since i was not a military man but took the civilian route into aviation and am cfi-ing now hoping to get into the regionals by the end of this year.

but can someone please shed some light on the 4 year degree for me? i'm a dual australian and us citizen, and i've got one more year to go in my bachelors degree in health science from the uni of sydney. but in australia, my and many other bachelor degrees are 3 year courses, not 4.

does anyone know if my completion of a 3 year bachelor degree as opposed to a 4 year one will affect my chances of being competitive with the airlines?

any thoughts appreciated guys

I believe that if you have a diploma that says "Bachelor's Degree" that is good enough. Check out some airline web sites and look at their hiring requirements...they usually do not specify 4 years, just the BS/BA.

Naturally they might be suspicious if your degree looks like it came from an online diploma mill or the Lower East Community College of Jamaica, but I think "University of Sydney" sounds authentic enough.

Are you referring to the Skymates at Arlington Municipal Airport in Arlington, Texas?

Correct. I know you'll probably say they don't accept GI funding, as someone else mentioned. Just this weekend I was told by the folks at Skymates they are in the process of becoming an VA approved flight school. They said it will happen shortly.

Ya man! STA-21 for sure. Although you have it somewhat mixed around. If you get selected for STA you will first start out at NSI in Newport, RI then you head to an ROTC unit, although you must both get selected for STA as well as gain admission to the college you plan to go to, and you will have 36 months to complete a BA/BS degree. You must first get the degree approved by a detailer (they can figure out if you can finish in the appropriate time) once you do that, your off to OCS, commissioned, and then head to training for whatever area you were selected for. One thing about STA is that when you submit your package, you will be applying for a certain field, whether it be NA, NFO, nuke, intel, etc, etc. So if selected you will have it written in your contract which field you will be going to. Pretty cool IMO. BTW, I'll be applying for that every year, but I'm not going to ruin myself if I don't make it, I'll just have to suck it up at the regionals for awhile.

Thanks for the advice. In all honestly I never wanted to be a "college-bound" kid, I like the adventure in life, while I'm young and single, mine as well commit to that statement. My high school grades weren't the best, partly because I lacked the desire... wasn't pushed hard enough. Thats why I made it a must for me to be enlisted military before I tried to accomplish anything as an adult. I need to experience, I need to strict lifestyle, and the yes sir/yes ma'am I will do as you ask mentality, and efficient work ethic. So in a sense, I'm not stuck, I'm right where I want to be.

Enlisting had nothing to do with flying, it was more about making me into a person that has more of a desire to accomplish things than the person I was throughout high school.

$hit... I hope I'm right :D

You have the right attitude to pave your own road dude...I didn't go to college...I learned life and it's hurdles by living it and exploring the world...The payoff?...I'm wealthy, CEO and Boardmember of a Corporation that I started, and have a great job flying an airplane around the world to boot...Eyes wide open and take it all in...You'll learn the opportunities that most colleges seem to overlook...Good luck!

Hey Corky, I did the 4 year enlisted route. I got my private pilots and time building at the Navy flying clubs usually on many Naval bases, and attended one of the satellite Embry-Riddle schools on base at night (this is the best kept secret out there for Riddle, its much cheaper and my grade point average was the highest until I went to Riddle full time in Daytona Beach) for about 40 hour of credit for the BS degree. I was shore based in a squadron that had a 72 hour contingency to go anywhere. I really had a great experience but it was very difficult to always get permission to take the night courses. (they don't want you to start a semester if they feel you will not be able to finish it, for a deployment or something). If you are going to be ships company, I don't know how they do things there, but you should enjoy the travels and explore new destinations and meet some great caricature in the Navy. There is a war on now and I wish you all the luck and hope you are able to continue positively towards your goals.... It can be done, just don't sacrifice to much for your destination and miss the journey.

a quick note on the skymates thing...it looks really good for them to say they are in the works of becoming VA approved, however they have been saying that for almost a year now and i am not sure on their progress. I was told they were working on it and almost 12 months ago and they are still saying the same thing. Who knows...hopefully they will get it done soon because it would be nice to have more choices.

I guess they changed it. A number of years ago you did the pipeline and JO tour first, then went to college. That way the college part fit into your normal sea-shore rotation as opposed to being an "extra" shore assignment.

I didn't know that Skymates was so well known. I got my PPL from Katie Hawk Aviation over in the main terminal at GKY. Now I'm a student at UND working on my CFI. I don't really know much about Skymates though.