Civilian flying career and officer in military

CoBuilder

CoBuilder

New Member
Hey guys, I was wondering if it was possible to be an officer in the military and have a civilian flying career in a smooth manner. I can't fly in the military because I don't meet the vision requirements with my eyes being close to 20/200 uncorrected. So going through OCS or warrant for flight is out of the question. I am talking about a non flight branch as an officer and have a civilian flying career. Is that possible? Would the reserves be a better choice rather than army? I'm set to graduate with a BS 0n Dec. 2007 with up to MEI. Thanks for any input.
 
CoBuilder said:
Hey guys, I was wondering if it was possible to be an officer in the military and have a civilian flying career in a smooth manner. I can't fly in the military because I don't meet the vision requirements with my eyes being close to 20/200 uncorrected. So going through OCS or warrant for flight is out of the question. I am talking about a non flight branch as an officer and have a civilian flying career. Is that possible? Would the reserves be a better choice rather than army? I'm set to graduate with a BS in Dec. 07 with up to MEI. Thanks for any input.
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I don't know about being an officer... but I am active duty enlisted and have the opportunity to be a flight instructor. Schedule would be a little full... but that's to be expected with two jobs, regardless. I don't think being an officer would be any more demanding. At least based on the officers I'm around all the time! :)
 
Unless you want to be a CFI only I would advise you to look into the Reserves or Guard. Active duty and fly full time part 135 or 121 ain't gonna happen though.
 
gypsimac said:
I don't know about being an officer... but I am active duty enlisted and have the opportunity to be a flight instructor. Schedule would be a little full... but that's to be expected with two jobs, regardless. I don't think being an officer would be any more demanding. At least based on the officers I'm around all the time! :)
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Speaking of officers the army will be about 3,000 officers short next year and USAR will be 10,000 officers short. I am seriously thinking of looking into OCS and just scrap this whole airline scene. I've always felt an obligation to serve. My problem will be college debt and I don't know how it will work with the reserves and flight instructing at the same time. I'm looking at a 480 dollar monthly payment for debt. If only I had my priorities straight from the beginning huh.
 
Hey Bro,

If you're regular or active duty military there is no way that you'll be able to have a second job, especially now. Your chain of command would have a ****-fit if any aspect of your second job interferes with your military duties. If you're talking about the guard or reserves, its definately doable.

Take it from me, I'm the definition of an officer and a gentleman, now excuse me while pinch this one off and down my 8th beer of the evening, being that I'm not flying until tomorrow afternoon so its perfectly alright if I show up hung over.

Best of Luck!
 
I'll look and research the reserves and guards. Thanks for the suggestion.


Isn't PRK just for lasik waiver? I'm not going for lasik.
 
pm C650-cpt. with any questions. he is a reserve/guard pilot and has a civilian corp gig as well.
 
I'm not 100% about this, but I think that according to the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice) officers are forbidden from holding another job, but enlisted are not. At least for active duty. Guard and Reserves obviously doesn't apply, but I thought I remembered something like that from a law class in my academy days.

I know that even enlisted need to get permission to have a second job, and that it can't interfere with duty. (Again talking active duty only, not Guard/Reserve).
 
A friend of mine did it, former S-3 NFO, now a Brasilia captain at SkyWest. SkyWest even accepted her 450 hrs of right-seat S-3 time. She got all her ratings and even did some freelance instructing when she was on active duty, then instructed full time once she separated. She'd been out less than a year when she got the call.
 
the air force has no need for new non-rated officers. usaf has been bustin its balls to get rid of em.


justttt enough to keep the pipeline flowin!
 
Just as a side note, we do have active duty enlisted folks that are hired by Services to be a Flight Instructor where I'm at. They are not fulltime, but fly when they can...
 
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