As of August 8th 2014 Using GI Bill For Pilot Training

[ElihuSmails]

I am in the Navy, currently stationed at Offutt AFB and about to PCS to Whidbey Island NAS near Seattle. I have a PPL and expect to have Instrument when I arrive in WA (all on my own dime). I would like to work on multi and commercial on arrival.

I'm currently a reservist at NASWI. The flying club got shut down. Long story I could tell you over beers at Flyers. Anyway, they were only Part 61, so it wouldn't have done you much good for using your benefits. I don't know of any other Part 141 options for you outside of Seattle.

If you Could get orders to NAS Jacksonville, you'd be in business. The flying club is 141 and you could use your benefits to get your commercial - super cheap. That's the best military flying club I know of. Got my private there a while back.

PM me if you have any questions once you get to Whidbey. I used my GI Bill to get all my stuff done in Memphis on my shore tour - which is another great place to train and use your benefits if you get orders there. Good luck!

 

[Parafiddle]

Ian - I asked the same question when I was talking to the folks at Aims Community College. Didn't seem like a big deal to them if I just took some classes and didn't do the whole degree. They said they had a lot of airline pilots do that who already had degrees. I would suggest you talk with both the aviation dept. at the school you are thinking about attending as well as the VA. I looked things up on the VA website under GI Bill as far as changing schools/programs without finishing and all it mentioned was filling out a form. However, I would still call the VA and talk with a real person to confirm that changing schools/programs or not finishing a program won't impact future GI Bill eligibility.

Bottom line - I think you should be able to take classes and then quit without finishing the degree without any negative impact, but I recommend verifying that with both the school and the VA.