Vets Returning home having a tough time finding work?

Army Aviator

Army Aviator

Member
Just wondering out there who has come back from war to find things suck?

Just keeping it real here fellas.

The job market sucks. I wan to just fly a King Air and it is proving to be challenging.

--AA
 
Well fly one with dignity and support my wife and kids. I know why do we stay in this profession? Insanity of chasing the dream.
 
There's often been a saturated job market for vets following a drawdown from a conflict, especially as the military finds itself overmanned with personnel that were built-up from the needs of war, and now are no longer needed. Everything from early retirement options, voluntary separation, involuntary separation, then RIF, are all options that get put on the table. Look at post-Vietnam, post-Desert Storm, and we're seeing it now. Likely was the same post-WWII; definitely on the military side, but Im not sure on the civil job side.

Now today, and speaking specifically of the aviation sector, there has been all sorts of ups and downs; but the jobs are out there. Whether or not they're convenient in location, type, etc, is another thing; but I agree that the "mainstream" jobs have definitely been affected.
 
There is always a job- it just depends on what you're willing to do, and where you're willing to go to do it.

I left active duty this Fall and work part-time as a Guard bum. I work as an intern with a business consulting company and I'm starting my own business. Its tough to make ends meet, but this is the path I chose. There is ALWAYS work available.
 
There is ALWAYS work available.

NY,
Uhh, thanks for the advice.

This thread was just a form of venting for me but I got a great basic review of I can get a job and jobs exist. Most people here like flying jobs and I'm one who wants one a good one, one that I can be interested in on a daily basis that happens to involve aviation.

When you are as old as I am and already did Business IT consulting and left it to go back into the military not for money but for a passion in what one likes to do.... you look at things differently.

As I continue to walk on this path of broken glass barefoot, I need to remember I am glutting for punishment. I guess its a sickness and I'm fortunate to not suffer from "AIDS" yet.

--AA
 
What did you do in the Army? Where you an MTP or IP? If so there are still some contracting for DA jobs still out there. If you're active duty getting out you may be able to go to Guard/Reserve unit. In aviation it seems you have to move to the job than the other way around.

I commend you on still wanting to fly after the Army, it has sucked any desire to fly again out of me years ago.
 
Oddly enough, I wanted to be an Army helicopter pilot and do a deployment and "do my part".

OK, been there done that now so I gotta get a job preferably on DOD contract in a King Air and stay m-day guard/reserves to finish my 8 yrs until I can retire.

With the right brethren around Army flying can be fun even still.

--AA
 
Low_Level_Hell said:
What did you do in the Army? Where you an MTP or IP? If so there are still some contracting for DA jobs still out there. If you're active duty getting out you may be able to go to Guard/Reserve unit. In aviation it seems you have to move to the job than the other way around.

I commend you on still wanting to fly after the Army, it has sucked any desire to fly again out of me years ago.
Click to expand...

Fly fixed wing. I talked to some guys at FSI while I was doing my 1900 type, and they were going to school for the 1900s out in Europe somewhere for the Army, frankly, it sounded like the army rotor world sucked balls in comparison.
 
tryn like hell right now to find a FW opportunity in ARNG/USAR but being a senior O-2 non UH60PC with low time is tough. I'm a super low risk for transition in my opinion with prior flt instruction experience and 1400 TT FW with 150 Multi.
--AA
 
Army Aviator said:
tryn like hell right now to find a FW opportunity in ARNG/USAR but being a senior O-2 non UH60PC with low time is tough. I'm a super low risk for transition in my opinion with prior flt instruction experience and 1400 TT FW with 150 Multi.
--AA
Click to expand...

Those are just tough to find period for an RLO.
 
ppragman said:
Fly fixed wing. I talked to some guys at FSI while I was doing my 1900 type, and they were going to school for the 1900s out in Europe somewhere for the Army, frankly, it sounded like the army rotor world sucked balls in comparison.
Click to expand...

To be more specific, the rotor flying is fun, the Army makes it suck. Same with flying in the AF.
 
MikeD said:
To be more specific, the rotor flying is fun, the Army makes it suck. Same with flying in the AF.
Click to expand...
That seems about right. Actually, I'd say that basically takes the cake for all of it. Flying is fun...but, you're going to have to work for someone if you wanna do it for a living, that will entail various degrees of suckiness.
 
Actually, for the most part, I've enjoyed Army aviation. I've been an Army infantryman as well... so I guess one's definition of suck is relative.
 
After 11B time anything is 'Mo Nice'. Admittedly though no one has perfected taking a non college grad having never touched the controls of an aircraft to produce good tactical trainees from a flight training program like the Army does.

I got some CP time sitting in the back for an AFTP today with a newbie from Rucker(Cmdr's Eval) and he damned near flew as well as I do with much more time.
 
Here's a bit more fun poking about my type....
I looked up RLO to see what google defined the acronym as and found to new definitions that apply to O's in Army Aviation

Acronym, Definition.
RLO, Reusable Learning Object (CWO's definitely re-use us on a daily basis)
RLO, Right-to-Left Override
(i.e. Right Seat "Turning left....."(tree is on the left side of the acft/nvg flt CP can't see it).....Left Seat "No you're not...."....Right Seat "You're right , No I'm Not....")

:eek2:

--AA
 
Army Aviator said:
I got some CP time sitting in the back for an AFTP today with a newbie from Rucker(Cmdr's Eval) and he damned near flew as well as I do with much more time.
Click to expand...

This is not normal.

While waiting for the IP course I've become a unit trainer. I get to take RL 3 guys out for Instruments and RL 2 guys out for mission training. Sometimes I wonder if some guys did flight school by correspondence or something...
 
I find there are plenty of jobs available for Veterans, and they are also preferred. I know of two jobs where I with 5 years experience, and the vet with 1 (talked to them at the interview) was able to land the job. I do appreciate all the veterans out there, but it does make finding work for us non veterans even harder. If you have a clearance that is still active, there are a few sites with jobs for you. They might not all be flying, but they pay well.

USAjobs.gov also has a high veteran preference.
 
Yes, I have heard the same about veterans preference.....blah....blah. Not to down play what you're saying but at clearancejobs.com everyone almost is a veteran and has a clearance so I have determined, it's all relative and I am not all that 'Special'

I keep hope alive......Hope and Change....Right?

Fight the Powa!
--AA
 
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