AnotherPilot

I posted before about considering the ANG.

Here's my questions: I am graduating in about a year from college and will have my ratings through CFI. I figure I will take the AFOQT tests in about 6 months and apply to several units. I'm working on making contacts and references. Is that all I really need to plan for? I'm really just unsure how I'm going to get from where I'm at to being hired by a unit.

What kind of pay can I expect as an officer? I've read they sometimes offer $20,000 reimbursement for college loans. My debt will be about $60k and is a big concern for me to be repaying.

How are living conditions as far as marriage is concerned? What could I tell my wife to expect? How much will I be away, daily life, etc???

41DS

If you google DOD or Military pay rates you can find the pay rates. You can also find the flight pay and the BAH (basic allowance for housing) / Cola rates if they apply. The housing will depend on where you live.

jdt30

I've never heard of anyone having their college loans reimbursed, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

Concerning pay, the money is good, you will be alot better off with the military than going to a regional.

Married life, if you are still married after pilot training you should be okay.

Spongebob

Until your first deployment.

Actually, seems to me the folks that had problems, had them when the went to shore duty and got to go home every night and found out they didn't like each other.

1Seat 1Engine

Visit/Call the ANG unit's you're interested in.

The money is better than the regionals.

My theory on military married life is: it provides just enough challanges to find out if she really loves you. Most of the divorced couples I know probably should have been divorced anyway. The military just made it easy for them to find an excuse.

Jusme

Dude, I'm in the same boat (in-regards) to college debt. I'm a recent ERAU Grad., dazed and confused due to such a cyclical industry . First it would be behoove of you to try and get out of debt. What ever it takes via-ENLISTED Military (Army WO or Airforce) 20,000 SLRP!!!!! Second, find a decent Federal Job that will pay off the other 40,000 you owe to Uncle Sam. (FBI,CIA OR DOJ) All offer SLRP up to 60,000 with a 3 year commitment. This way you are killing two birds with one stone (ie.. networking with guard units while being enlisted; but still getting out of major debt). If your aspiration is to eventually make the (AIRLINES), you need to have as little over-head cost as possible. <<<< SO U CAN PUT UP WITH THEIR CRAP>>> "PAY,FURLOUGH ETC.

ALSO DON'T LIMIT YOURSELF TO ANY PARTICULAR BRANCH!!! Remember once you're a rated pilot you can transistion to any branch of the Military!!!!!!

Just my .02 (But what do I know)

1Seat 1Engine

I don't know anything about "free money" to pay off student loans, but I know that they used to allow you to defer paying off your student loans for a number of years. I think I defered mine for five or something before I started paying on them. You have to be active duty...although I think that ANG under AGR or orders would count.

Spongebob

Not necessarily easy to do if:
a.) the branches are paying people to leave. You only get to switch if (1) your branch/community is over manned (based on the retention trend) and (2) the branch you want to go to is under manned (otherwise they can't get the money to retrain you. VSP, etc. is a sign that they think they are over manned.
b.) you start out as an Army CWO. No place to go from there.

HTH
Spongebob

Split S

SB is dead on, but let me tack on further - Transitions from the USAF/USMC/USN to the USCG require a drop of one rank with a maximum transfer rank of LTJG (meaning LTJG to ENS, LT to LTJG, LCDR to LTJG!) Also there is a maximum age req for IST to USCG. Air Force is not currently accepting IST's (interservice transfers) with only three exceptions F-16's and F-22's and you must be fighter trained from your current service, and U-2's which has it's own spooky interview process (and may not necessarily be around for the long term). USMC is not likely to every release you for an IST due to critical manning in all areas. So, as we in the service say "choose your rate, choose your fate" - Make sure you join a service branch you will be happy in because you will more than likely be required to serve your entire commitment there.

-SS

41DS

It's almost impossible to switch from one service to another until your intitial obligation to your original service ends. I have a couple friends that have tried to switch and no luck. Once your intial obligation is up then your free to switch. For Marines or Navy that means 6-8 years after you get your wings and the 6-8 depends on what you end up flying. So figure closer to 7 to 10 years before you could switch due to how long it takes to get winged.