Airforce route

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zomzom

Active Member
Hi everyone! I wanted to ask for some advice.

I’ve been changing my plans a lot, but I’m currently thinking about finishing my associate degree first, then enlisting in the Air Force and working on my bachelor’s while I’m serving. After my time in the Air Force, I was thinking about using the 9/11 GI Bill for flight school and working toward becoming a pilot.

Do you think this path would work, or is there something I should consider doing differently? I’d really appreciate any advice or experiences you can share. Thank you!
 
Yeah, it will work. What I like about your post is you didn't say, "I must be an airline pilot at Delta". So many jobs in aviation are possibilities. As you take your time and work through it you'll see many doors open career wise. Don't be afraid to ask questions here and tell us how things are going. It's a long road. Best of luck.
 
I'm sure you have considered this, but there is also a path to become a pilot in the Air Force, which can easily translate later to airlines/corporate/135/whatever.. Several paths to be honest. Not for everyone, but since you are considering military service already, it is a much more efficient path to your end goal. They pay you pretty well to learn to fly too. But they also have you by the balls (or other anatomical parts) for quite a bit longer than a single enlistment, of course. Nothing wrong with your plan, but something else to think about as well.
 
zomzom said:
Hi everyone! I wanted to ask for some advice.

I’ve been changing my plans a lot, but I’m currently thinking about finishing my associate degree first, then enlisting in the Air Force and working on my bachelor’s while I’m serving. After my time in the Air Force, I was thinking about using the 9/11 GI Bill for flight school and working toward becoming a pilot.

Do you think this path would work, or is there something I should consider doing differently? I’d really appreciate any advice or experiences you can share. Thank you!
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Tell us more. Age, financial status, relationship status, parenting status, areas of interest?

Normally, I’m a finish-what-you-started kinda guy but the AF and other branches may not value an associates degree at all.

There are lots of success stories of folks obtaining a degree while serving and using educational benefits thereafter. That said, your educational pursuits are secondary to the demands of the military.

Beyond that, many folks join the military with a plan like yours and end up married with a kid and in debt. They are trapped, to some extent.

@///AMG was suggesting AF ROTC as a path to becoming an AF pilot. ROTC (any branch) may also be a good path outside of military aviation. You complete your degree and gain invaluable experience as an officer. You will be able to fund your own pilot training while you serve.
 
Also consider that military service (I was Army, non-aviation), could interfere with continuing education. I knew guys who took classes here and there, but no one earned a degree as an enlisted soldier until they were already E-6+ which takes a lot longer than just going to school full time.

Have you considered the Air National Guard? My buddy went to college for some sort of aviation, got minimal qualifications (I'd have to ask him, SEL, commericial, IFR maybe?) and then got hired by his local guard unit, went to OCS, and airforce flight school. He got enough experience with the guard flying multi-engine turbines that he quit ATC and went to a regional for like 2 years and now he flies widebodies at a major and is close to retiring from the guard. He's 42. [edit: he went to the regionals 12 years ago]
 
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GolfChuck said:
I knew guys who took classes here and there, but no one earned a degree as an enlisted soldier until they were already E-6+ which takes a lot longer than just going to school full time.
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In practice, 4 years ROTC and 4 years active (non-aviation) is probably the fastest, cheapest, and most predictable path.

If you’re enlisted and have a wife, a kid, a mortgage, and no control over deployments, that degree will be elusive.
 
GolfChuck said:
Also consider that military service (I was Army, non-aviation), could interfere with continuing education. I knew guys who took classes here and there, but no one earned a degree as an enlisted soldier until they were already E-6+ which takes a lot longer than just going to school full time.

Have you considered the Air National Guard? My buddy went to college for some sort of aviation, got minimal qualifications (I'd have to ask him, SEL, commericial, IFR maybe?) and then got hired by his local guard unit, went to OCS, and airforce flight school. He got enough experience with the guard flying multi-engine turbines that he quit ATC and went to a regional for like 2 years and now he flies widebodies at a major and is close to retiring from the guard. He's 42. [edit: he went to the regionals 12 years ago]
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Im 100% civilian, so I was going to stay out of this. However, I have flown with alot of guys who had success with the path you describe. Air National Guard enlisted while finishing degree. Finish Degree, reapply for a flight slot in the same Air Guard Unit. Get Hired to be a pilot then sent off to flight school with an airplane and mission already established. Then later still have some flexibility to join civilian airlines while still being in the guard. That has always seemed like a really good path to me... and they make great airline pilots too because they often have had their hands in civilian and military aviation prior to becoming and airline pilot.
 
Kingairer said:
Im 100% civilian, so I was going to stay out of this. However, I have flown with alot of guys who had success with the path you describe. Air National Guard enlisted while finishing degree. Finish Degree, reapply for a flight slot in the same Air Guard Unit. Get Hired to be a pilot then sent off to flight school with an airplane and mission already established. Then later still have some flexibility to join civilian airlines while still being in the guard. That has always seemed like a really good path to me... and they make great airline pilots too because they often have had their hands in civilian and military aviation prior to becoming and airline pilot.
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Jump in.

It sounded like @zomzom was referring to a regular enlistment in the Air Force (full-time) vs part-time enlistment in the ANG or AF Reserve.

(There are also active duty folks in both the ANG and the Reserve).

Previous comments suggested that pursuing a degree while active duty (full-time) is challenging.

The ANG is an excellent route to help fund a degree. Get the degree and pursue ANG and/or AF piloting opportunities.
 
If you have an associates already, unless you’re in a high deployment field finishing a bachelors should be easily doable while enlisted. Aside from the GI Bill you get up to $250/credit hour up to $4500/yr in tuition assistance while on active duty. Know plenty of people who did it. I spent 6 years enlisted AF if you have any questions. I got out in 2014 though so things have changed I’m sure. I also didn’t pursue education so can’t help in that regard but for general af enlisted stuff I will if I can.
 
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