Would you still advice against this with the current climate?

I don't think I advised against it six years ago. Just said that it's not going to make you much more than a civilian-track pilot with a military background. The connections you make with pilots (esp. if guard/reserve) could be very helpful.

If you want to be an airline pilot, an AD backseat job will cost you some time...given the near-term legacy retirements I'd probably avoid committing 6-8 years during which your only option for professional flying will be part-time CFI at the base club.

Guard/reserve you could do in parallel with a civilian flying track, wouldn't cost you much time and you'd make some great connections.

Looking at the Guard/Reserve route. Thanks for the response.

I am an active duty F-15E WSO and I got my ratings up through CFI. I even now fly on the side with a Cirrus 135 operator.

If you want to be a pilot, just go be a pilot. I couldn't be an AF pilot for medical reasons, but still wanted to serve.

2 cents from a prior 15E WSO turned pilot: If the AF has need for pilots to the extent that you stand a good chance of getting picked to go to UPT as a Nav, then there a good chance to work on just getting a UPT slot to begin with. I'll admit its been well over a decade, but here's my story: No flying slot upon ROTC grad, applied to both UNT and UPT once active. Slots were few and far between - 25 UNT/25 UPT slots and 6xx applicants. My fellow classmates that were also trying to get to UPT told me NOT put in for UNT, as the UPT slots would be opening up in a year or so.

They were right. I got a UNT slot and spent the next 4 years working through UNT/RTU plus a short ops tour while my fellas went to UPT the following year. I really enjoyed the WSO job, and it definitely gave me a huge advantage in UPT, but I would've rather just gone to UPT a year later. I can't get that time back and I would not have stayed for a career of having 49% of the vote in the jet, even though it was awesome. UNT is a BIG commitment of your time.

Unfortunately, UPT is not an option but still want to serve while I work on an Airline career. Curious as to how I could leverage all that with a CFI/CFII/MEI ticket come airline application/interview time. I have heard that the Reserve/Guard bros do help when you have the minimums. Connections seem to help in this industry.

Thanks all for the response.

Sorry Cavepilot, I suppose I could've read the original post. Guard/reserve sounds perfect.

If UPT is not an option, give some thought to the 18X/RPA field while working on your hours/airline career. No, the RPA time does not count for anything. But, as a guard guy, the bumming opportunities are tremendous. It is hours of boredom punctuated by ten minutes of balls to the wall. RPA's are contributing to the fight, just not very glamorous. You don't deploy and the pay is pretty good considering the options. It's not for everyone in the long term, but done right it has a lot of upside, especially for a new guy. Plus you are in a Guard/Res unit that probably has a lot of airline guys in it.

Are you applying to reserve units? If not why not?