I though air force pilot slots
- Thread starter thehobbit
- Start date
Every 6 months or so, I get the incling to join the military, and go on all those sites you linked to. After about an hour of searching, I end up more confused that when I started, and give up. Everything I read concerning joining the military is aimed at Highschool graduates with zero flight time who are wanting to get their college funded. Information about my situation just isn't out there. God knows I've tried looking.
JA Yawd Bwoy
Well-Known Member
Although in the past I have said that I am not very interested in military flying, this is a very interesting offer, especially since I don't live that far from Maguire AFB which houses a lot of refuelers and cargo planes. I am very interested in this, Butt, you said that they appeal to HS students, do you think it would be a big deal if you had a PPL and Instrument rating? I am really interested in this, especially after seeng those pics of the guy who flies the KC-10 Refueuller all over the world! More info please.
Matt13C
Well-Known Member
I believe that Mcguires pilots are all active duty. Atlantic City has an ANG base that flies F-16's but as you would expect the slots are very competitive.
I am curious if I sign on to fly cargo plane is it then possible after flying them to move to a fighter unit if a spot opens. Do you have to stay with type once you are passed the age of 30 or is once you are in you are in and can transfer between planes if you are hired by the new unit.
Hacker15e
Who am I? Where are my pants?
Well, it's not like there are people here on JC that you could ask or anything.
frog_flyer
FredFlyer
That says it all.
E6BAV8R
Well-Known Member
If you sign on to a heavy unit and fly heavies, you can not go back to fighters. If you start in fighters, you can then move to a heavy unit if you desire.
....don't ask me why.
Matt13C
Well-Known Member
Thanks! I am sure they have a reason, does not really seem to make sense but oh well.
Hacker15e
Who am I? Where are my pants?
It's because of the SUPT training pipeline. T-1 students cannot track to fighters without additional training, but the reverse is possible due to the years that the T-38 was the *only* Phase 3 option.
I've looked and looked, and have found nothing. What are you trying to say here?
yeah, "do a search" is very useful advice.
Hacker15e
Who am I? Where are my pants?
Okay, let's just slow this train down for a moment. When asked by you originally, "what do I do", I replied that there is no one-stop-shop to guide you through the process. I replied that unfortunately, you need to go read some resources, filther through the information, and find out what applies to you in your specific situation.
You replied that you'd done that several times, couldn't find what you were looking for, and quit your search.
My reply was that there were people here on JC who could potentially answer specific questions if you had them.
The reason why you get answers like "do a search" is because forums get people asking the same questions over and over again. Asking "how do I start?" is asking someone to hold your hand and lead you, when the information is out there for you to read and process on your own.
Here's a reality check for you: the process may be confusing, but you're going to have to figure out a way to get the answers to your questions. I'll reiterate that nobody is going to hold your hand through this process, and if you're not able to figure things out at this level, I question how you're going to be able to figure things out for yourself at higher levels of the military flying training process. This is a skill that you're going to need in order to be a successful military aviator anyway.
In the military we use the phrase "it's a big-boy program" to mean that you've got to have some initiative to make it through, because having trust placed in you to go fly one of these expensive jets comes with corresponding responsibility for you to know what to do, or how to find out what to do. It is the skill required when you're confronted with a 3-foot tall stack of books, and you're told essentially "read all of this stuff this week, study what you think is important, then we'll test you on what WE think is important at the end of the week." Again, with the understanding that nobody is going to lay it all out for you in easy to understand tidbits because people just don't have the time for that. You have to figure out ways to solve that problem...and hundreds of guys seem to be able to make it happen every year.
Sometimes the correct way to get an answer you can't find on the web is to specifically ask someone in the know. People are GLAD to help when you have a specific question about the process that isn't easily answered. I don't have the time or tolerance to be everyone's personal service to evaluate your station in life and develop a plan for you to get hired to fly military aircraft. I am, however, more than willing to help you over roadblocks that have popped up in the process that require answers which are not common to the other hundreds and hundreds of dudes going through the process every year.
Does that all check with you?
What is the specific question that seems to be holding you back?
HeyEng
Well-Known Member
McGuire does have reserves. They have a C-17 reserve squadron and a KC-10 squadron. Also Dover has two squadrons as well....C-5 and C-17.
You can move around, but like Hacker said, you won't go to fighters after tankers/airlift. Besides, I haven't met too many heavy guys that wanted to do the fighter thing. The mission (at least on the C-5) can REALLY spoil you.
Oh yeah, Hacker....geez, why can't you just answer ALL the guys questions?!? You fighter guys are just mean...
Matt13C
Well-Known Member
McGuire does have reserves. They have a C-17 reserve squadron and a KC-10 squadron. Also Dover has two squadrons as well....C-5 and C-17.
You can move around, but like Hacker said, you won't go to fighters after tankers/airlift. Besides, I haven't met too many heavy guys that wanted to do the fighter thing. The mission (at least on the C-5) can REALLY spoil you.
Oh yeah, Hacker....geez, why can't you just answer ALL the guys questions?!? You fighter guys are just mean...
Thanks for the correction and information Galaxy and Hacker.
What is so great about the C-5 mission, other than the fact that it is a HUGE jet?
MDPilot
Well-Known Member
It only goes to major bases, and it breaks wherever it goes, giving crews 24-72 hr mx layovers in nice locations. You usually have 10-15 people on each crew, so it's a ready made party with high perdiem rates!
Matt13C
Well-Known Member
Basically all I need to know is will by 1200 hours mean anything to the air force/navy/coast guard/whatever if I were to join? In my internet searching adventures, it seems to me the overwhelming majority of people who fly for the military, joined right after high school with zero time. I'm not finding any instances where someone had a semi-established civilian career and then decided to go military. I've spent a lot of money and time getting the training and time, I'd hate to throw it all away and start over from scratch. I don't expect to jump right into the fighters or C-5s right off the bat; I know I'm going to have to go through at least a few months of training and stuff, I just need to have some kind of feeling that my hours are going to good use.
I'm also reading a lot of things about pilot slots pretty much being a raffle of sorts, partially determined by luck and a multitude of SAT type amplitude tests. Is this process only for high school entry, or will I be subjected to the same kind of dependence on good luck? I don't really want to sign an 8 year contract or whatever and get stuck peeling potatos because my QMBZXTYONU scores were too low to get a pilot slot or something.
Also, could you give me a brief rundown (like a sentence or two) of what kind of flying is done in each branch? Or is each branch more or less the same kind of thing? The kind of thing i'm looking for:
navy - mostly fighters, C-5's, easy to get a flight slot
coast guard - helicopters, some fighters, lets civilian's with a lot of time right in without much hassle.
airforce - tankers, fighters, helicopters, very very competitive
army - only light prop planes, near impossible to get a flying slot.
that sort of thing...
A few weeks ago I got the opportunity to sit through a Lear type rating course my company was doing for two future lear captains. I was just sitting in just for the heck of it. After day three, the other two guys' heads were spinning. I, on the other hand, had no problem following along and absorbing the information. I guess I'm just good at those sorts of things. I have no doubt that if I were to be thrown into a C5 training course tomorrow, I'd finish and pass the checkride just as easily as the other classmates. This is the reason why I'm so interested in joining the military. I know I got what it takes to cut it. The problem is figuring out whether my hours will convince the Navy/Air Force/Coast Guard, etc, that this how it is...
germb747
Well-Known Member
Doesn't mean much; you're lumped into a class with newbie pilots and are treated exactly the same. They're looking for well rounded people, and anything above about 200 or 250 will get you the same Pilot Candidate Selection Method (PCSM) score. In other words, it's a small part of a big picture, and you will compete on many factors.
I'll write more later if I have time. FYI, there aren't any C-5's in the Navy
