Which I believe is absolute BS. If they required you to have a degree in a specific field I could maybe understand it, but to say that you must have a 4 year degree, but we don't care if it's a degree in basket weaving, doesn't make a whole lot of sense!

I'll make my case:

Pilot A: After high school pilot A spent the next 4 years of his life at Joe Smoe College earning a Bachelors of Science degree in the field of
Psychology, while also getting his pilots license and teaching on the side as a CFI. Spent the next 8 years flying for a regional, then applied to the majors.

while...

Pilot B: After high school pilot B spent the next 9 years of his life serving in the US Army. Has been around the world multiple times putting his life on the line for good ole God and Country. After his service, he spent a good portion of time and money to get his licenses, and then taught as a CFI. Spent the next 8 years flying for a regional, then applied to the majors.

So you're telling me that Pilot A is a better qualified pilot than Pilot B because he spent 4 years learning something that has NOTHING to do with his current career??

Someone PLEASE explain this to me.

 

I agree with you buddy. That was my case, up and joined the Navy after high school, did 3 deployments in 4 years while *still* flying and taking classes. Now I'm out and kind of sweating bullets that not having a completed bachelors degree with reduce my chances of a regional airline job. I'll have it done before a major, but it's still stressful thinking one could get turned down because they lack a degree, any degree. The world we live in.

 

You'll be fine for the regionals, don't worry about that. I just realize that the regionals will be as far as i can go unless a the cash tree i planted in the back yard actually starts to grow! lol.

On top of the rest of my debt i'll never be able to afford college. I'm ok with that though. I've been sitting behind a desk for the last 15 years of my life, flying for a regional the rest of my career would present a much preferred outlook than i have currently!

 

For the most part, a four year college degree from an accredited institution is indicative of one's ability to follow through on complex long term tasks. There are PLENTY of candidates that have four year degrees, so to be competitive you need one.

Your US Army example could obtain a degree fairly easily using the GI Bill right?

 

In theory. But the GI Bill is only good for 10 years after seperation, AND most likely our Pilot B has used a good portion of that to help pay for his flight training and doesn't have enough for a 4 year degree also.

Do you truly believe someone spending 4 years in college shows ability to follow through on complex long term tasks MORE than someone spending 9 years in the service? (This is just a question, I don't mean for it to sound harsh)

 

quinny89 -

I always highly encouraged all members to use the educational benefits available to them while in the service. I am disappointed that I never put them to use myself.

If your goal is a major at some point in your career then you will find a way to finance that degree - even if you do it over a longer term than normal. One thing that the military usually does a good job in instilling in a person is perseverance.

Yes - the college degree is a hurtle that many occupations use as a defining point. If you want the upward movement then presently (with the ability to pick and chose in this environment) it is practically a requirement. It is a screening tool. One can always come up with disagreements with any screening tool, but that is just beating your head against a brick wall and usually a argument of one who finds that it has put another hurtle in the way of a goal.
If that goal is that important to them, they will find a way to pass that hurtle.

IMO - finishing a required time in service (whether it be an initial contract or a reelistment) at least has some teeth behind it, in that you just can't up and quit the first time you find disappointment. Staying the course through college through difficulties, whether they be personal, financial, or academic reasons does show commitment.

USMCFLYR

 

I don't disagree with anything in your post besides the fact that it's only going to take 2-3 years. That's assuming you can even find a job as a CFI, then a job as a 135 freight operator, then a job at a regional, and then you're finally looking at a job at a major. For most, it will take 5-10 years.

As for having a four year degree vs military experience...

College is you paying to put up with a ton of BS and still pushing through it, which makes it easy to walk away from or skip altogether for many.

The military is you getting paid to put up with a ton of BS, which makes it hard to walk away.

Also, there's no reason why you couldn't have done reserves/guard/rotc right out of high-school should you have desired. You took the easy road out, now you have to take the hard road back in.

 

I agree with you wholeheartedly USMCFLYR. I'm not saying I'm not going to do it down the line somewhere if it looks like it'll be advantageous to me. Widebody International IS a career goal, but at this stage in my life I'm not sure it's attainable (40 yrs old, lol).

It's just disheartening when people believe that a college graduate is a "better" prospect than a vet cause they 'made it through' 4 years of college. I know I've made it thru a few things (and i'm sure you have to) in my career that have been a little harder than sitting in a classroom listening to a boring lecture!! lol

Brother, if you had any idea what i've had to endure taking the 'easy road' you'd probably crawl into the fetal position and pee yourself.

 

I'm not saying the military is a walk in the park (and I appreciate your service), but in my view, going straight into enlistment is the easy way out compared to going to a four year school. One is gainful employment, the other is spending away your life savings for a piece of paper. It's a lot easier to pick the route that you make money than the route that causes you to lose it.

 

No, I don't think that at all. Unfortunately a lot of employers don't seem to feel that way anymore though. Maybe it's due to clueless HR departments, I don't know. All I was saying is why they like four year degrees, which is in no way a slam on you guys.