Steps to becoming USAF cargo pilot?
04-02-2017, 07:38 PM
#42
Aviator Extraordinaire
Joined APC: Oct 2013
Position: Freight Dawg
Posts: 115
04-03-2017, 07:15 AM
#44
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,624
I second that opinion. The AF allowed me to go places and do stuff that would otherwise have been impossible, plus it got me to a Legacy airline by age 30, with a savings account and no debt. In addition, I was reasonably assured of a secure job in case the airlines didn't hire for years. It seems unlikely today, but that could happen again. Guard/Reserve would have been a good deal, but at that time ('70s), most of their slots went to pilots with a few years of service, and Regional airlines were barely getting started, so the choice of Active Duty was pretty clear.
Go Guard. Build up as much flying time as possible. Get into a regional. Build time faster.
If you can't get into a guard unit, go into the reserves. If you can't do that, only then would I recommend active duty.
I'd consider the USN or USMC first. USAF has a ten year active duty service commitment AFTER flight school and that fun training center in WA. And considering what's happening at the Pentagon and USAF HQ, I could see an even longer service commitment down the road.
A lot is going to change in the next 10-12 years, I'd rather be a free man than be stuck on active duty for that length of time.
04-03-2017, 07:55 AM
#45
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,839
PTB -
The question was about recommending Active Duty service.
I said that wouldn't change my time. My not working for an airline or TG being retired doesn't change that - our opinions on that point are as valid as yours.
I said in my post that I didn't know anything about the Guard or Reserves - and if the question is specific to coupling with an airline career then there are other countries considerations that I'm not qualified, nor pretend to be, to give advice on - I'll leave that you the rest of you! :-)
The question was about recommending Active Duty service.
I said that wouldn't change my time. My not working for an airline or TG being retired doesn't change that - our opinions on that point are as valid as yours.
I said in my post that I didn't know anything about the Guard or Reserves - and if the question is specific to coupling with an airline career then there are other countries considerations that I'm not qualified, nor pretend to be, to give advice on - I'll leave that you the rest of you! :-)
04-03-2017, 06:01 PM
#46
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jan 2016
Posts: 149
No! Don't let the Marine who doesn't fly for the airlines or the retired guy tell you any different (no disrespect to y'all). Times are different right now.
Go Guard. Build up as much flying time as possible. Get into a regional. Build time faster.
If you can't get into a guard unit, go into the reserves. If you can't do that, only then would I recommend active duty.
I'd consider the USN or USMC first. USAF has a ten year active duty service commitment AFTER flight school and that fun training center in WA. And considering what's happening at the Pentagon and USAF HQ, I could see an even longer service commitment down the road.
A lot is going to change in the next 10-12 years, I'd rather be a free man than be stuck on active duty for that length of time.
Go Guard. Build up as much flying time as possible. Get into a regional. Build time faster.
If you can't get into a guard unit, go into the reserves. If you can't do that, only then would I recommend active duty.
I'd consider the USN or USMC first. USAF has a ten year active duty service commitment AFTER flight school and that fun training center in WA. And considering what's happening at the Pentagon and USAF HQ, I could see an even longer service commitment down the road.
A lot is going to change in the next 10-12 years, I'd rather be a free man than be stuck on active duty for that length of time.
04-03-2017, 06:56 PM
#49
Moderator
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,807
If you talk to the Guard, do NOT talk to a recruiter. Call the base operator and ask to talk to someone in ops...and ask for a pilot. Recruiters don't really have a say in the process, at least in my squadron. The pilots handle it all.
Trust me, it's worth it! Flying in the military is unlike anything you'll ever get to experience, the camaraderie is 2nd to none and the memories will last forever. Even after only 7 years and 1300 hours of flying fighters, I've gotten to do a lot of stuff I never thought possible. Heck, tomorrow I get to go fly a low level, sling 6 bombs onto the range and shoot a few hundred rounds of 20mm, with 3 of my best friends...that's a great days work! I wouldn't trade it for anything, to include a few years of seniority. Airline flying just doesn't hold a candle to the stuff I've gotten, and continue, to get to do...and I actually love my airline job.
Go to the Guard, kick butt in training. Come back, be the best wingman/flight lead/co-pilot/aircraft commander you can be. If you're not flying enough, go to the regionals. I did that and I'm convinced that having the combination of mil/regional time is what got me hired by multiple legacies before almost all of the high time instructors in my squadron.
As a Guard fighter guy, when I was full time, I would fly 6-15 times a month. When I was an LT, I would fly as much as 18-20 times a month, although I think those days are long gone. Realize this is only 0.8 to 1.5 hours at a time. I'm not sure about the heavy world, but most of my bros fly all they want. If you don't think fighters are for you, that's cool, our heavy bros get to do some cool stuff as well, I'll let them speak to that.
04-03-2017, 08:44 PM
#50
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2016
Posts: 187
Try the Guard, then the Reserve and a DISTANT 3rd would be active duty. No way I would lose control of my future for that amount of time. It's actually closer to 12 years when you consider your 10 years doesn't start until you graduate pilot training.
If you talk to the Guard, do NOT talk to a recruiter. Call the base operator and ask to talk to someone in ops...and ask for a pilot. Recruiters don't really have a say in the process, at least in my squadron. The pilots handle it all.
Trust me, it's worth it! Flying in the military is unlike anything you'll ever get to experience, the camaraderie is 2nd to none and the memories will last forever. Even after only 7 years and 1300 hours of flying fighters, I've gotten to do a lot of stuff I never thought possible. Heck, tomorrow I get to go fly a low level, sling 6 bombs onto the range and shoot a few hundred rounds of 20mm, with 3 of my best friends...that's a great days work! I wouldn't trade it for anything, to include a few years of seniority. Airline flying just doesn't hold a candle to the stuff I've gotten, and continue, to get to do...and I actually love my airline job.
Go to the Guard, kick butt in training. Come back, be the best wingman/flight lead/co-pilot/aircraft commander you can be. If you're not flying enough, go to the regionals. I did that and I'm convinced that having the combination of mil/regional time is what got me hired by multiple legacies before almost all of the high time instructors in my squadron.
As a Guard fighter guy, when I was full time, I would fly 6-15 times a month. When I was an LT, I would fly as much as 18-20 times a month, although I think those days are long gone. Realize this is only 0.8 to 1.5 hours at a time. I'm not sure about the heavy world, but most of my bros fly all they want. If you don't think fighters are for you, that's cool, our heavy bros get to do some cool stuff as well, I'll let them speak to that.
If you talk to the Guard, do NOT talk to a recruiter. Call the base operator and ask to talk to someone in ops...and ask for a pilot. Recruiters don't really have a say in the process, at least in my squadron. The pilots handle it all.
Trust me, it's worth it! Flying in the military is unlike anything you'll ever get to experience, the camaraderie is 2nd to none and the memories will last forever. Even after only 7 years and 1300 hours of flying fighters, I've gotten to do a lot of stuff I never thought possible. Heck, tomorrow I get to go fly a low level, sling 6 bombs onto the range and shoot a few hundred rounds of 20mm, with 3 of my best friends...that's a great days work! I wouldn't trade it for anything, to include a few years of seniority. Airline flying just doesn't hold a candle to the stuff I've gotten, and continue, to get to do...and I actually love my airline job.
Go to the Guard, kick butt in training. Come back, be the best wingman/flight lead/co-pilot/aircraft commander you can be. If you're not flying enough, go to the regionals. I did that and I'm convinced that having the combination of mil/regional time is what got me hired by multiple legacies before almost all of the high time instructors in my squadron.
As a Guard fighter guy, when I was full time, I would fly 6-15 times a month. When I was an LT, I would fly as much as 18-20 times a month, although I think those days are long gone. Realize this is only 0.8 to 1.5 hours at a time. I'm not sure about the heavy world, but most of my bros fly all they want. If you don't think fighters are for you, that's cool, our heavy bros get to do some cool stuff as well, I'll let them speak to that.
As for lifestyle... not as cool as fighters but you'll see dozens of countries and there are a few fun things we get to do.
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