Just wondering if there are any USAFA grads out there willing to share their path from UPT to where they are now (still flying for the AF or on to commercial aviation).

Haha, currently flying the hell out of my desk! Think I'm approaching the 1,000 hour power point patch. I still owe a few more years though... I plan on staying in as long as there's hope of going back to a fighter. The second mother AF decides to send me to drones I'm punching.

yes. Get your minimum number of posts so you can send and receive private messages. I think the number is 20.

Will do, thanks

And Pilgrim, what were you flying before the desk?

Posts like this make me think DoDMERB was the greatest thing to ever happen. Should have been class of '09 (and/or '10)but...

Graduation in 95, UPT grad from Corpus Christi in Feb 97, got to Okinawa flying MC-130Ps from 97-2000, 9th SOS from 2000-2003 at Eglin AFB, FL, 14th WPS 2003-2005, left AD. Flew the whole time, did the copilot, AC, IP, EP, Weapons Officer route. Got hired by 5th SOS, USAFR, at Eglin AFB, FL flying same airplane from 2005-2008, also got hired by FedEx. Flew 727 F/O at FDX for a year, went on mil leave back to the 14 WPS for a year, moved to Memphis and checked out as A-300 F/O in 2007. Moved back to Destin, FL in 2009, learned to fly the MC-130E Combat Talon (the 5th stopped flying MC-Ps) for the 711th at Duke Field, FL, went back on mil leave from 2010 to present working man days at 623 AOC, Hurlburt Field, FL, fly about once a week up at Duke. Met amazing people, had amazing experiences, wouldn't change a thing, and at 38 I'm still very excited about my future in the AF and at FDX. And I owe most of it to being a USAFA grad as I probably wouldn't have gotten a UPT slot without being one. I've loved every minute of it. If you want to fly airplanes for your whole career, then fighters are probably not the best choice. Especially given the current environment. Too many pilots, not enough fighters but plenty of UAVs.

Wow, great post, thanks. I agree that the trend seems to be away from fighters at this point. I came in thinking thats what I wanted but the more I think about it, heavies seem like a better deal. Im hoping to eventually make it to an airline, but thats a ways down the road. As far as fly for FedEx, do you enjoy not having pax? I have heard that its fits some personalities while others enjoy having them onboard. I'm sure thats a sweet job though. As a new F/O what aircraft do you usually start on and how long does it take to get up to widebodies?

Zoomies12,

I'm assuming you are still at AFA?

I appreciate the question but I won't answer it. Frankly, it doesn't matter to you right now. The landscape will be completely different for you in 2023, which is likely the earliest year you can leave active duty. I can't say how long it will take to upgrade and I can't even say what airplanes FDX or any other airline will be flying. As for pax, I don't care one way or the other. I'd fly someone's grandma in a cessna if they paid me enough. For now, focus on your next GR, your next PFT, and finals coming up. That's probably the best thing you can do to make it to UPT. One step at a time, bro.