Decision

A

acro189

Well-Known Member
Was hoping to get some advice from the military folks here. I have been applying and interviewing the last year with ANG fighter units. Interviewed at 4 and and was selected as alternate by 3 of them. One has decent potential of turning into a primary spot. I also applied via the active duty route and just found out that I was selected for a pilot slot. Now I'm desperately trying to decide if I should turn down the active duty slot in hopes of going the Guard route. Would you recommend holding out for the Guard?Also, would turning down the slot negatively impact my chances with the Guard?
Thanks in advance!
 
My knee-jerk answer is to say go with the active duty position. However, that could be changed by whatever reason you see the ANG as being preferable to active duty.

Being Reserve or Guard can be very hard on a civilian career. The law says that an employer cannot discriminate against someone for serving in the Guard / Reserve, but the reality is that they and often do.
 
There could easily be an epic post of Guard vs Active Duty. I'll sum it up quickly: do you want to fly or lead? If you just want to fly, look for a guard job. If you see yourself flying, then transitioning to be a leader...go active.
 
hook_dupin said:
There could easily be an epic post of Guard vs Active Duty. I'll sum it up quickly: do you want to fly or lead? If you just want to fly, look for a guard job. If you see yourself flying, then transitioning to be a leader...go active.
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The guard is my first choice, however, I'm concerned that turning down the active duty slot might negatively affect my chances of getting picked up by a guard unit. Will they see that as a possible lack of commitment?
 
acro189 said:
The guard is my first choice, however, I'm concerned that turning down the active duty slot might negatively affect my chances of getting picked up by a guard unit. Will they see that as a possible lack of commitment?
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You don't have to tell them...
 
Do you have a job that will coincide with being in the ANG? Don't turn down the sure thing. Post this over at Baseops.net you will get a better response.
 
Another thing to consider is how much hiring the guard will be hiring do to budget issues, there is a thread over at airlinepilotforum.
 
acro189 said:
Was hoping to get some advice from the military folks here. I have been applying and interviewing the last year with ANG fighter units. Interviewed at 4 and and was selected as alternate by 3 of them. One has decent potential of turning into a primary spot. I also applied via the active duty route and just found out that I was selected for a pilot slot. Now I'm desperately trying to decide if I should turn down the active duty slot in hopes of going the Guard route. Would you recommend holding out for the Guard?Also, would turning down the slot negatively impact my chances with the Guard?
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

There are four possible outcomes here: 1) go active duty and get a fighter slot; 2) go active duty and DON'T get a fighter slot; 3) hold out and get an ANG fighter slot; 4) hold out and DON'T get an ANG fighter slot. Your chances are 50/50 no matter which decision you make. Make a choice and live with the consequences.

That said, reading between the lines of your post, it appears that you are mostly interested in an ANG slot (i.e. "in hopes of going the guard route"). That further suggests that your motivations are personal rather than altruistic. Not faulting you for it, but active duty may not be the best fit for you.
 
If flying guard fighters is your dream, then go for it. I assume you've done your homework and know the fiscal climate, about BRAC, and reduced flying hours. You would also know about the lifestyle of Active Duty fighter pilots, and all pilots for that matter on AD.

One thing you did not mention is your age. If I were over 27, I would go take the AD slot. If younger, I'd think about waiting out the Guard and reapplying through OTS ( can you still do that if you turn it down?). I'd also apply to AFRC fighter units. Send a pm to mhcasey and get the Viper run-down from him. If you want to hear about the rockstar heavy life, contact me for AFRC or ian for AD style.

Cheers.
 
If you want to fly military airplanes, I'd suggest saying yes to the first entity that says "yes". Maybe that is overly simplistic and doesn't account for your personal desires, but there are many of us (i.e. more than the opposite) that signed the AD dotted line and went on to fly fighters and haven't looked back at all. From the inside looking out, we don't need any no loads who who are simply looking for a good deal. It isn't a **** flying club, and we aren't here to boost your hours or help you out getting into the airlines. If you want a job leading warriors and flying God's jets, then say so. If you want to work a 5 days a month and do nothing worthwhile other than strap on a jet you don't know how to fly, then carry on. I think my opinion can be read between the lines :)
 
And BTW MH, sorry if that last post came off as antagonizing to guard types....that wasn't the intent, I was just trying to suggest that he might be a fool for passing up an opportunity right now, for one that he feels might be a better one down the road. In the end, they are both flying jets (hopefully)......I'm not familiar with the QOL differences between active and guard on the AF side, so obviously that could be a consideration that you would know a lot more about than I. Anyway, sorry if I came off as a dickhead.....long week, etc etc.
 
I would be careful with guard fighter units. Like you I had a good flying job already and wanted to get a fighter slot in a guard unit. I got hired at a heavy unit and fighter unit at around the same time. Ended up agonizing over the decision and picked the heavy. Just too much insecurity with fighter units these days, especially the unit where I was picked up. I am almost positive I made the right decision but I'm still slightly jealous of the guys in the 38s. Whatever happens whether its active or guard/reserve, heavy or fighter, you can't go wrong. Good luck.
 
Gives the current (and near future) budget woes, I don't think "security" can be said with any military choices, Guard, Reserve or AD.
 
scoobs said:
Amg have u seen a reduction in flying?
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Not at all. In fact, I have been flying more. That said, the reductions in hours have not been equal across the board, so while I may be flying a lot, other commands are flying a lot less or not at all.
 
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