Vasyacer

Advice needed.

I am a E-5 soldier, currently in Illinois ARNG. I want to become an airline pilot and I want to continue serving in ARNG.

Option1.
Recently I became very curious on how to become an Aviation Warrant Officer in ARNG. From what I understand an aviator is busy, more than one weekend a month. Putting together a packet for WOFT will take me at least 1 year. Graduating Ft. Rucker and coming back to my unit - another 2 years. So, in about 3-4 years I will have ~ 200 hours of rotary wing experience. And slowly start getting my ratings for fixed wing (2 years maybe).

Option 2.
I will continue doing the one weekend a month, doing what I am doing, and start throwing my money and get my fix wing PPL. After that, with my money and GI Bill (on VA website they said VA will pay only $12k - $13k a year) I can get all my ratings and qualifications up to multi engine with in about 2 years of hard work. Probably I will have ~ 280 - 300 hours of fix wing experience.

Option 3?
Is there any way I can combine option 1 & 2?

Is being an aviator in the ARNG a bonus, or will drag me back for whatever reason (schedule, responsibilities, etc...)?
If God knows how and I get those 1200 - 1500 hours and I I can apply for airlines, they will have a problem hiring me knowing that they have to share me with the ARNG and mess with their schedule more often then they like to?
Are there any pilots here that are doing both, ARNG Aviation and flying for airlines (if this is a thing) and would like to share their experience, I will greatly appreciate it.

I don’t mind any corrections if I said something that is not true or real, I am looking for advice for my specific situation.

Thank you.

Hobbit64

Going to IERW will slow you down from the stand point that you will be flying rotary wing aircraft and not building the fixed wing time that you need. You will probably only get around 200 hours of RW time. It has been a few decades since I went through Rucker so someone more recent should have better data.
Now, if you could swing a slot in the C-12 detachment, you would be better off going to IERW... but those slots are usually pretty tightly held for ‘select’ folks.
Head over to RTAG Nation on facebook. Lots of folks there with current info that would love to help out. There a few E2A threads popping up as well.

Do you have a degree?
Have you thought about Air Guard or Reserve slots?
Good Luck. It is doable

155mm

You said you want to be career guard. Obviously, if you get selected for the Warrant Officer flight training track then go for it and still pursue your fixed wing civilian ratings. Otherwise, times are good and pursuing the CFI SEL and Instrument instructor initially will open doors. The multi engine rating$$ can come later!

rickair7777

Yes, do both option #1 and 2.

The airlines are more flexible than most jobs, so it's entirely practical to do both airlines and a guard/reserve career. Many (most probably) of us here do it. Our lives are more hectic than our civilian airline peers, but it's just something you get used to (you'll still have more net days off than nine-to-five). The camaraderie is sure nice too... higher quantity and quality than in the airlines (which in turn is higher quantity and quality than in the nine-to-five world).

The challenge will be hustling to get your civilian ratings knocked out while chasing a WOFT slot. In a perfect world you would want to get your civilian ratings, 1500 hours, and start a job at a regional BEFORE going to WOFT. That way your regional seniority would accrue while you're on active duty for initial training.

If that's not practical, then take the opportunities when they present themselves. Even if you lose a little airline seniority along the way, you have to consider the fulfillment aspect... some things you only get the chance to do when you're young.

goinaround

I went from enlisted army guard to an air guard FW pilot. If that interests you, you could kill multiple birds by going that route. My unit has interviewed more than a couple ARNG applicants.

Vasyacer

I joined RTAG Nation after you told me. Very good group. I didn’t knew about it.
Thanks.

Av8tor0773

Why will it take you a year to put you WOFT app together?

I would start looking at all the states that have C-12s and see if you can IST to get a slot...

What do you do now for employment? Do you have time to do flight training? Go to ATP or look for accelerated training opportunities - they are out there and can be a good deal and a smart way to go (Im a CFII/MEI and do accelerated training, so if you just look around, you can find ways to knock out your ratings). Use VA benefits for what you can and then take out a loan for the difference if needed. 13,986 is what VA will pay yearly for vocational flight training - if you go to an approved school.

An example of how you could approach this:

Use VA for private, pay for an accelerated IR (6-10 days), use VA for CML, pay for ME (1-2 days). Take a look at CFI Care online - quick way to get you CFI/II.
Or, use ATP or someone equivalent - and do the whole thing through them...

You have lots of options, you really need to compare pros and cons and determine what is most important - money or time?




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sourdough44

If you can swing it now, progressing towards a PP license will help all of it. I’d look at what options are available nearby.

Military flight training is always a plus. If you are presented with a pathway to Ft Rucker(expenses paid) I’d surely lean to taking it. There are serious obstacles for many paying for flight training.

Regardless of all right now, trading towards a PP license will only help. It’s a logical place to start.

crewdawg

If you really want to go airlines, get hired with the Air National Guard and don't look back. C-130 units in Peoria and Louisville, F-16s up in Madison, KC-135s in Milwaukee and Scott AFB, ILL and A-10s over in Ft Wayne...just to name a few. If you don't have a degree, finish it up with your education benefits. I'm fairly certain you'll be happy with the jump. One of the best pilots we've hired was a prior enlisted ARNG guy. He talks all the time about how thankful he is for jumping to the ANG.

goinaround

And....QOL in the ANG is vastly better than is was in the ARNG. Just as QOL in the airlines is vastly better than the ANG.