It always makes me laugh when I here guys complaining about active duty.
In the early 90's I was complaining to my friend who had retired from the Air Force in the 60's. He had flown P-51's in Europe, F-86's in Korea, and Helicopters in Vietnam. He said "Do you like flying your airplane? Then shut up, your not complaining about anything we didn't complain about since the 40's"

Then we are not doing anything different than your friend did...who I'm sure had valid *****es then...just as our *****ing is valid today...I'm not sure how he filled his day without our daily drumbeat of Sexual Assault Awareness, Alcohol Awareness, Suicide Prevention, Repeal of Don't Ask, PII, IA, Terrorism blah blah.....
But hey, if you don't complain how do you expect anything to change?
I vote more flight time, and less Powerpoint Time.....all in favor??
Hurrrrrrumpf!
Would I do it all over again?? Of course!!!

Just curious, can a Guard/Reserve guy get more time annually than a AD guy ?

Yes!! At least back in the day.

Finished UPT at CBM in Sept 93.

Guard Bum from 1994 to 1998=2,000 Pri/Sec TT in the C-130.

AGR in T-37s from 1999-2001, Reserve trougher 2002-2003 = 2,000 plus IP time in Tweets.

Trougher in the T-6 2003-2004, Airline dude commuting TR since 2005 = 2,300 IP T-6 hours.

21 years all flying. PME by correspondence only, never really been in charge of anything but a 6,000lb ish blue and white AETC airplane.

Sadly the days of doing that in the Reserves are probably gone, and the ANG door on that type of career is likely closing as well.

Flight records grand total butt in seat rated pilot time IP/Pri/Sec only no other time included north of 6,300. Divided by 24 hours in a day means I only have 262 days airborne or about 9 months of flying experience.

Sad but true. Exactly what I remember about active duty. Go ANG or reserves. I wish I had known about the ANG/reserves.

...and I can personally vouch that this guy (an O-5 mind you) never wrote an OPR. Frigg'in well done my friend.

I think you could still do this today as a TR.

If you have a choice, join a unit that does not share jets with AD.

Those associated units always suffer from more of the AD downsides.

I just graduated with a 4 year degree in ATC. About half way through I realized I had gotten sucked into the program because of the guaranteed job and six figures blah blah blah but honestly I realized I wanted to fly. So I got my private SEL and even finished up with my dispatcher certificate in my last year. So this past winter I took a shot and applied with the Navy for a pilot slot. I met all the requirements and coming from a Navy family it was a no brainer. Well after a few months of waiting I got the call and sure enough I got it! Right around graduation the FAA axed the CTI (ATC) program to hire off the street, a knee jerk reaction to diversity issues, but because of this no one I was graduating with was getting jobs. I was extremely lucky to have a plan B and honestly I wish I would have been focused on this career all along because I could have done ROTC and be commissioned already instead of waiting in limbo for an OCS date.

But my advice to anyone like yourself considering this career is to just take a shot and apply. If you meet the requirements and do well on the testing you make yourself a competitive applicant. Sure having a PPL and dispatch certificate probably helped, but from what I understand the Navy in particular is looking for a lot of pilots this year and the few boards that have met this year have had 75%-90% acceptance rates so anything could happen. Good luck and Fly Navy!

If you apply to the Air Force for Officer Training School (OTS) and are accepted you will know your job before any commitment is made. If you don't get selected as a pilot, you can decline whatever job they offer you. If you wash out of pilot training (unlikely) you'd owe a total of 4 years including the time you'd already spent on active duty. It is competitive, yes your hours help to some extent as well as your aviation knowledge for the AFOQT test. Being an athlete also helps.

Someone already said it, go to an Officer Accession recruiter. Do not go to a normal recruiter. They can not get you a pilot slot or any job as an officer, but they might lie to you and say that enlisting is your best shot. This is not true.

I was a CFII when I joined and definitely think my hours helped in the T6, the T38 does not fly like any civilian plane out there so it was less help there, but just knowing the instrument regs and being familiar with the AIM still helped somewhat. I hear a lot that prior experience hurts you. As a former UPT instructor I'd disagree with that. On balance it helps. There is the occasional attitude problem or DB of course.

Baseops.net is where you need to be doing your research. Most of the military guys on here (myself included) have been in too long, we aren't as familiar with the hiring process anymore.

Feel free to PM me with questions.