Training: Military:Civilian

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youngflyer

Well-Known Member
So for the people who are airline pilots here, who has had there training in the military or civilian part. Which do you think is better? Going to college and training for all your ratings there or going to college to be a pilot in the airforce and then once the 10 years are up going to a major airline. Which is the smartest.
 
Oops I didn't read. I'm not an airline pilot. I'm a fright instructor though, does that count?
 
Back in my day, the military was the way to go, especially if you didn't have the money for flight training. However, we only had a 7 year commitment and that started after you got commissioned. If you go military now, its probably best to stick out your whole 20 year career then go to the airlines, especially if you get in right out of college (ROTC).

If I could do it all over, I'd go ANG for sure. You know what type of A/C you're going to fly. Find a Tanker outfit and go for it.

That said, if I was starting today, I'd take the Civilian route. Go somewhere like UND, UAA, Purdue or some other college program. Get those hours, get a regional job and move on as fast as you can. Seniority waits for no one and seniority counts.
 
Velocipede said:
Back in my day, the military was the way to go, especially if you didn't have the money for flight training. However, we only had a 7 year commitment and that started after you got commissioned. If you go military now, its probably best to stick out your whole 20 year career then go to the airlines, especially if you get in right out of college (ROTC).

If I could do it all over, I'd go ANG for sure. You know what type of A/C you're going to fly. Find a Tanker outfit and go for it.

That said, if I was starting today, I'd take the Civilian route. Go somewhere like UND, UAA, Purdue or some other college program. Get those hours, get a regional job and move on as fast as you can. Seniority waits for no one and seniority counts.
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Thats what I was thinking that I should do. Go to UND and pay my way for commercial license and then find some little job to get 1000 hours.
 
I went through civilian training and have a civilian job now flying 1900s. I'm also currently inprocessing into the ANG to fly KC-135s (assuming I pass all these insane med checks etc etc).

In this case, this move will slow down my career overall. I have a year and a half before flight training would even start, and by the time that's finished I'm a year or more behind where I could be as far as working towards a seniority list at a major.

The other candidate for my unit is a girl who flies for Alaska. She's in a much better position as she has a seniority number that she'll be coming back to once she finishes with military flight school.

That said, I'm doing this becuase I want to. I can give a few reasons (in no particular order) that looking at the guard can be a good thing to do, even if it will mean a lower seniority number down the road.

First, and possibly overlooked by some, is that it's allowing you to give some service to your country.

Second, it will be a second job. If you ever get laid off from a major, you'll still have a source of income, even if it isn't as much.

Third, I think it should be a really enjoyable experience.


Of course, there's the opportunity to "guard bum." Basically after you work x days in a month you get the full time pay (believe it's 20 days). You can always do it like a full time job and never actually do the major airline deal. Most of the people I'm working with right now are doing the guard full time, in their cases they are actually hired as full time employees (this includes some aviators).



A down side is you have to start from scratch in flight training as far as the military is concerned. Even the guys with the majors flying heavy jets have to start in military flight school from scratch. They give you credit for your private license, but that is becuase now they require everyone to start flight training with a civilian private license.


Basically, if it's something you've wanted to do then go towards it. Seniority does make a big difference sometimes, but there are more important things in life as well.


It is possible to get into a unit without having prior civilian flight training, but most people who get in are either prior service or already have flight training and maybe even an airline job.


Commitment for the guard is 10 years after you finish flight school. You can transfer units, but I wouldn't go in planning to do that. After 20 years you'll have a retirement check waiting for you once you turn 65. Some states have their own retirement contributions to members based on years with the particular state's guard, which will have their own time requirements (could be as little as a couple years).
 
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