Airline qualification military discharge

J

JonPH

New Member
Hello,

I am not sure if this is the right place to pose this question, but here goes, feel free to move if necessary.

In 2010 I was discharged from the Army honorably under Chapter 5-17. I have a re-enlistment code of RE-3 which essentially means that if I tried to re-enlist, the condition for which I was discharged would need to be waivered, but I am not barred from re-enlisting. I have no current physical or medical conditions which bar me from getting a class 1 medical and as stated above, my discharge was honorable.

I read somewhere that when applying to an airline the two most important things on your DD-214 are the characterization of your discharge (aka: honorable, dishonorable, other than honorable etc.). I was curious if anyone in a hiring position could clue me in as to whether a re-enlistment code of RE-3 is disqualifying? I currently hold a PPL and would like to pursue the rest of my ratings, but I would hate to spend the money only to find out that I am ineligible to fly for the majors or even the regionals.

I appreciate any input from fellow pilots, but I am most interested in responses from those who have direct experience with this type of situation.

Thanks in advance!
 
First off thank you for your service.

I did 7 years in the Air National Guard and my regional airline didn't even ask to see my 214. Not sure about the majors.
 
Shouldn't be an issue. Standard background checks used nationwide throughout all industries usually only check to see if you have a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge. Some federal or contract jobs that require security clearances may have beef with an other than honorable, but an honorable discharge should be fine for just about everything other than that, including airlines. The only way that you'll find out for sure though is by applying, and your honorable service on the resume might actually set you apart from some of the civilian applicants who may only have a series of fast food jobs and volunteer work at the church Sunday school on their resume.

The regionals are hiring pretty much anybody that has 1,500 hours right now, by the way. From what I'm hearing, they aren't doing much checking of anything when they sign guys on.
 
From what you posted, sounds like you will be doing the regional route. I take it you didn't log flight time in the military? I wouldn't worry about it.
 
My regional also didn't ask for my DD-214. Skywest is the only one that I know of where it is part of an application packet. I'm sure if you call a couple of the regional's recruiting phone numbers they can help clue you in.
 
5-17 is physical or mental condition, right? The interesting question is whether you will disclose the physical or mental condition that prompted the discharge under medical history.

Unless you were a military pilot, I can't imagine an HR department being interested in anything other than using your 214 to confirm that discharge was honorable.
 
Neither one of my regionals have asked to see my DD-214. I have no idea about the majors and other competent employers.
 
Soku39 said:
Neither one of my regionals have asked to see my DD-214. I have no idea about the majors and other competent employers.
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A legacy will ask to see it, though I think it won't carry as much weight with 121 time behind it as opposed to someone coming straight from the military.
 
hook_dupin said:
I'd offer that the average HR department doesn't even know how to read the damn thing except to look for the word "honorable."
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I actually have a DD214 that has no classification of discharge (August 2009 version of the e-form, Member).

At the DMV, I had a hell of a time trying to convince them that my Retiree ID meant that, by definition, I had to have an honorable discharge.
 
Hacker15e said:
I actually have a DD214 that has no classification of discharge (August 2009 version of the e-form).

At the DMV, I had a hell of a time trying to convince them that my Retiree ID meant that, by definition, I had to have an honorable discharge.
Click to expand...

Why would the DMV care what your discharge status is?
 
Hacker15e said:
I actually have a DD214 that has no classification of discharge (August 2009 version of the e-form, Member).

At the DMV, I had a hell of a time trying to convince them that my Retiree ID meant that, by definition, I had to have an honorable discharge.
Click to expand...

What? I need to visit JC more frequently. You're retired Sir?
 
MikeD said:
Curiously, is that incumbant on one's discharge type, or just the fact that one is a veteran?
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Not sure, I'd have to go look. Based on the circus I went through with so many different levels of supervisors trying to find Box 24 on my DD214, it seems to have some contingency on an Honorable Discharge.
 
Pilot Fighter said:
5-17 is physical or mental condition, right? The interesting question is whether you will disclose the physical or mental condition that prompted the discharge under medical history.

Unless you were a military pilot, I can't imagine an HR department being interested in anything other than using your 214 to confirm that discharge was honorable.
Click to expand...
THIS!
The issue of your discharge may come up if your medical disclosure results in a restriction. Otherwise I don't think they will know anything about it unless one of them reads JCs forums.
 
Here, or should I say way over there in Georgia where my cars are, with my DD214 I receive "Veteran" license plates and pay $1 per year as opposed to somewhere in the vicinity of $150ish if I remember correctly.
 
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